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Let’s Just Read!

To "just read and read more," the best approach is to make reading a consistent and enjoyable habit by finding books you love. How do you do that? Ask your friends and teachers to make recommendations. Search the American Library Association’s YALSA’s recommendations for young adult books.  Check the New York Times best seller list. When reading print books or eBooks, minimize distractions. Carry a book with you everywhere you go to fill downtime instead of using a cell phone. Make reading a family activity like on Sunday afternoons, while on vacation, or anytime.

 

 

2025 Best Fiction for Young Adults

*All the Fighting Parts. By Hannah V. Sawyerr. 2023. 387 p. Amulet, $19.99  (9781419762611). Gr. 9 - 12.

Sixteen-year-old Amina Conteh clashes with her religious father in many ways, and is forced to spend more time at their church because of her rebelliousness. When she is assaulted by a church leader, Amina uses poetry to find her voice and seek justice for what happened to her.

Another First Chance. By Robbie Couch. 2024. 360 p. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $19.99  (9781665935302). Gr. 9 - 12.

A year after his friend Dylan's death in a texting-and-driving accident, River Lang vandalizes a billboard honoring Dylan and is blackmailed into joining the Affinity Trials, a study for socially struggling teens. There, he reconnects with Mavis, Dylan's ex, and meets charming Nash, while uncovering unsettling secrets about the trials. 

Artifice. By Sharon Cameron. 2023. 387 p. Scholastic Press, $1999  (9781338813951). Gr. 9 - 12.

In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, Isa de Smit forges priceless art to fund the resistance and save her family’s gallery. This intricately plotted thriller delivers high stakes, moral complexity, and suspense as Isa risks everything for survival, loyalty, and the chance to fight back.

Bad Graces. By Kyrie McCauley. 2024. 308 p. Katherine Tegen Books, $19.99  (9780008612306). Gr. 9 - 12.

Twins Violet (Liv) and Everly are opposites. Liv, struggling with her past, steals Everly's identity and llands a movie set internship, but a storm strands her and the crew on an island, facing harsh elements and a mysterious monster.

The Blood Years. By Elana K. Arnold. 2023. 390 p. Balzar and Bray, $19.99  (9780062990853). Gr. 9 - 12.

In war-torn Czernowitz, young Rieke Teitler navigates the dangers of antisemitism and the horrors of World War II. Based on the experiences of Elana K. Arnold’s grandmother.

The Breakup Lists. By Adib Khorram. 2024. 328 p. Dial Books, $19.99  (9780593616390). Gr. 9 - 12.

Jackson keeps “breakup lists” about the worst features of former romantic partners for himself and his sister Jasmine until Liam, the seemingly straight swim captain, catches the attention of both siblings. Jackson insists he’s uninterested—until Jasmine asks for a breakup list with Liam’s name, and Jackson struggles to complete it. 

Breathing Underwater. By Abbey Lee Nash. 2024. 214 p. Holiday House, $18.99  (9780823457410). Gr. 9 - 12.

Seventeen-year-old Tess has been carefully balancing her grades and the swim team until a sudden epilepsy diagnosis upends it all. She's desperate to hold onto her swim career, but it seems like everyone is standing in her way: her parents, her doctors, and even the cute boy next door.

*Bright Red Fruit. By Safia Elhillo. 2024. 368 p. Make Me a World, $19.99  (9780593381229). Gr. 8 - 12.

When sixteen-year-old Samira's overprotective Sudanese immigrant mother grounds her for the umpteenth time, she  takes refuge in an online poetry community. There she meets Horus, an older poet. When she ignores her friends' warnings about him, there's more at risk than her reputation, risks her mom didn't prepare her for.

The Color of a Lie. By Kim Johnson. 2024. 325 p. Random House, $19.99  (978059311880-1). Gr. 9 - 12.

Calvin’s careful work of passing as white in the suburban Chicago enclave his parents have moved to comes undone as he is confronted by his feelings for Lily and the awareness that his employer is redlining other black families. 

Conditions of a Heart. By Bethany Mangle. 2024. 341 p. Margaret K. McElderry Books, $19.99  (9781665937634). Gr. 9 - 12.

Brynn Kwan had it all until a fight at school stripped her of her senior year activities and left her with a week-long suspension with nothing but time to focus on the chronic pain she has struggled to keep secret.

The Dark Parts of the Universe. By Samuel Miller. 2024.418  p. Katherine Tegan Books, $19.99  (9780063160484). Gr. 9 - 12.

When Willie and his friends start exploring the possibly prophetic Manifest Atlas app, the last thing they expect is to find a dead body. The deeper the group delves into the app's inner workings, the more they uncover their small town's racist history.

Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear. By Robin Wasley. 2023. 405 p. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $19.99  (9781665914604). Gr. 10 - 12.

Sid has never worried much about living on a fault line, one of the sites where the world's magic was sealed away because of its dangerous potential. But everything falls apart when someone opens the fault line, bringing magic back to the town along with zombie-like creatures and apocalyptic circumstances. 

*Dragonfruit. By Makiia Lucier. 2024. 356 p. Clarion Books, $19.99  (9780358272106). Gr. 8 - 11.

As a child, Hanalei and the princess of Tamarind were poisoned. Hanalei's father stole a rare dragon egg intended to resurrect the princess and fed it to Hanalei, forcing them into exile. Now years later, Hanalei has a chance to find a new dragon egg and right the past.

Eighteen Roses. By Shannon C.F. Rogers. 2024. 293 p. Feiwel and Friends, $20.99  (9781250845733). Gr. 9 - 12.

Almost eighteen, Lucia "Luz" Cruz faces a Filipino debut tradition needing eighteen friends but having only one: Esmé. With their friendship strained, her mom planning a surprise debut, and their favorite theater closing, Luz joins a comedy club to save both her friendship and the theater. 

Gather. By Kenneth M. Cadow. 2023. 336 p. Candlewick Press, $17.99  (9781536231113). Gr. 9 - 12.

Ian's dog, Gather, shows up at a time when Ian needs the companionship most. The name Ian gives his dog honors the members of the community who gather to support him after his mother dies of an overdose.

Grief in the Fourth Dimension. By Jennifer Yu. 2024. 334 p. Amulet Books, $19.99  (9781647009762). Gr. 9 - 12.

High schoolers Kenny Zhao and Caroline Davison are dead and trapped together in a mysterious alternate dimension where they watch their loved ones on a TV screen.  Can they find a way to help their friends and family from the other side ... or is it already too late?

The Glass Girl. By Kathleen Glasgow. 2024. 450 p. Delacorte Press, $21.99  (978052578087). Gr. 9 - 12.

Bella's near-death experience with alcohol poisoning leads to a month-long stint at Sonoran Sunrise where she learns new ways of coping with her dysfunctional family and the grief of losing a dearly loved grandmother.

The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky. By Josh Galarza. 2024. 299 p. Henry Holt and Co, $19.99  (9781250907714). Gr. 10 - 12.

Mexican-American comic artist Brett knows that drinking and binge eating are bad strategies for coping with his adopted mom's impending death, but what else is there? When someone posts his therapy journal online, will he accept a fat classmate's help or will he only spiral harder?

Gwen and Art are Not in Love. By Lex Croucher. 2023. 410 p. Wednesday Books, $18.00  (9781250847218). Gr. 9 - 12.

Gwen and Arthur are set up for a marriage that will cement the alliance between their families, except for two problems. One: they hate each other. Two: they're both gay.

I Loved You In Another Life. By David Arnold. 2023. 346 p. Viking, $19.99  (9780593524787). Gr. 9 - 12.

Evan Taft and Shosh Bell are drawn together by mysterious songs that only they can hear. They find solace in each other and their collective heartbreak and sadness. Across decades, centuries, locations, and the song, they continually find each other.

The Invocations. By Krystal Sutherland. 2024. 390 p. Nancy Paulsen Books, $20.99  (9780593532263). Gr. 10 - 12.

Three teen girls join forces to stop a brutal killer who is targeting witches.

The Judgment of Yoyo Gold. By Isaac Blum. 2024. 290 p. Philomel Books, $19.99  (9780593525852). Gr. 9 - 12.

Yochaved (Yoyo) Gold, the Rabbi's daughter in Colwyn, Pennsylvania, questions her community's hypocrisy after her best friend Esti is sent away, leading Yoyo to explore TikTok, post viral videos, and ultimately confront the complexities of honoring her faith, family, and true self. 

Just Say Yes. By Goldy Moldavsky. 2024. 312 p. Henry Holt and Company, $18.99  (9781250863232). Gr. 8 - 12.

Jimena Ramos is dreaming of college in LA with her best friend. Her plans come to an abrupt halt when she learns she is an undocumented immigrant. To save her future in the country she considers home, Jimena embarks on a mission to find her ticket to citizenship--a husband. 

*Libertad. By Bessie Flores Zaldivar. 2024. 417 p. Dial Books, $19.99  (9780593696125). Gr. 9 - 12.

Libertad Morazán creates an anonymous Instagram profile to share her political poetry about the 2017 Honduran presidential election, while trying to reconcile her feelings for her best friend, Cami, and her new girlfriend, Dani.  After tragedy strikes her family, Libertad has to decide the best course of action for her future.

*Looking for Smoke. By K.A. Cobell. 2024. 402 p. Heartdrum, $19.99  (9780063318670). Gr. 9 - 12.

When a Blackfeet girl is found murdered during a giveaway honoring a missing teen girl, four teens with complicated pasts find themselves named suspects. They have to work together to clear their names. But as time goes on, it looks increasingly likely that one of the four is the murderer.

The Maid and the Crocodile. By Jordan Ifueko. 2024. 280 p. Amulet Books, $18.99  (9781419764356). Gr. 7 - 12.

Sade, a disabled curse-eater, tries to find work as a maid where she can clean the spirit silt that weighs down the wealthy. However, she inadvertently becomes bonded with a dangerous god known as the Crocodile who might just kill her.

The Meadows. By Stephanie Oakes. 2023. 435 p. Dial Books, $20.99  (9780593111482). Gr. 9 - 12.

Eleanor dreams of being one of society's best and brightest, but quickly learns that to survive in her dystopian society, she'll have to cut out parts of herself. Eleanor must decide what's more important, being true to herself and who she loves or conforming to survive.

*The Merciless King of Moore High. By Lily Sparks. 2024. 365 p. Flux, $16.99  (9781635830965). Gr. 9 - 12.

Exiled from her school and left to fend for herself against the monsters outside, Kay seeks shelter with the rival school, Moore High, and its king. However, she soon discovers a deadly secret that could destroy both schools.

The No-Girlfriend Rule. By Christen Randall. 2024. 323 p. Atheneum Books, $19.99  (9781665939812). Gr. 9 - 12.

Hollis has always wanted to play Secrets and Sorcery, but her boyfriend and his friends hold strictly to their 'no-girlfriend rule.' So Hollis finds her own S&S group, joining an all-girl, queer-friendly game. 

Not About a Boy. By Myah Hollis. 2024. 330  p. HarperTeen, $19.99  (9780063341982). Gr. 9 - 12.

Seventeen-year-old Amélie Cœur navigates grief, mental health challenges, and the complexities of foster care while trying to rebuild her life.

Now, Conjurers. By Freddie Kölsch. 2024. 374 p. Union Square & Co., $19.99  (9781454951599). Gr. 9 - 12.

Nesbit Nunez and his friends make up the North Coven, a group of witches using their power to change the lives of their loved ones for the better, led by Nesbit's boyfriend Bastion. When Bastion is brutally murdered, Nesbit and his friends vow to find out who did it. 

Old Wounds. By Logan-Ashley Kisner. 2024. 326 p. Delacorte Press, $19.99  (9780593814741). Gr. 9 - 12.

Erin and Max, two transgender teens, are stranded in a small Kentucky town where a monster demands a female sacrifice. As they face transphobic locals and fight for survival, they must confront their past and the horrifying reality of the woods.

A Place for Vanishing. By Ann Fraistat. 2024. 453 p. Delacorte Press, $19.99  (9780593382219). Gr. 9 - 12.

Libby is feeling fragile from her recent suicide attempt when she moves with her mom and sister to a Victorian mansion with macabre stained glass windows and odd bug-shaped masks. The house has been the source of several disappearances over decades, and before long, Libby begins to uncover its sinister intentions.

Queerceañera. By Alex Crespo. 2024. 295 p. HarperTeen, $19.99  (9780063257405). Gr. 9 - 12.

Joaquin is out and proud. When his family decides to throw him a queerceañera, a queer coming out/coming of age party, Joaquin has to find a chambelán to escort him. Things get complicated when real feelings for his fake date surface amid Joaquin's mother's reluctance to publicly support her son. 

The Reappearance of Rachel Price. By Holly Jackson. 2024. 430 p. Delcourt Press, $27.59  (9780593374207). Gr. 9 - 12.

When Bel Price's mother, Rachel, suddenly reappears after being missing for sixteen years, Bel is sure that Rachel is lying about where she's been and is determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s sudden reappearance. 

Red. By Annie Cardi. 2024. 250 p. Union Square & Co, $18.99  (9781454951308). Gr. 8 - 12.

When church-going, Tess has a personal secret go public, she faces ostracism from her classmates, grandparents and faith community. Fortunately, she meets three new friends, who provide her with the love and support she needs to heal and break the community's cycle of abuse.

Remember Us. By Jacqueline Woodson. 2023. 178 p. Nancy Paulsen Books, $18.99  (9780399545467). Gr. 4 - 8.

Twelve-year-old Sage faces a summer of turmoil as mysterious fires ravage her Bushwick neighborhood. Struggling with shifting friendships and personal loss, she finds solace in her bond with Freddy, helping her navigate grief and resilience while discovering the transformative power of memory and community.

*Rez Ball. By Byron Graves. 2023. 357 p. Heartdrum, $19.99  (9780063160378). Gr. 9 - 12.

Tre Brun is trying to prove he's a great basketball player, but it's hard when everyone compares him to his older brother Jaxon who died in a car accident. Jaxon nearly took Red Lake Reservation High School state. Now Tre is ready to take his team to state. . .and win.

Running Past Dark. By Han Nolan. 2023. 324 p. Margaret K. McElderry Books, $19.99  (9781665931786). Gr. 9 - 12.

Scottie wants answers about her sister's death. Why was Cait in the car with the town hero, Coach Jory? Was Cait lying when she accused the popular coach of rape? As she returns to the hostile environment of school, Scottie finds healing through Hellgate--an Ultra Runner's nightmare.

Shut Up, This is Serious. By Carolina Ixta. 2024. 349 p. Quill Tree Books, $18.99  (9780063287860). Gr. 9 - 12.

Belén navigates her senior year while grappling with an absent father, academic challenges, and racial prejudices. Faced with her friend Leti's pregnancy, Belén seeks solace in temporary distractions, questioning her own future in this powerful debut that explores friendship, chosen family, and breaking generational cycles.

Sky's End. By Marc Gregson. 2024. 403 p. Peachtree Teen, $18.99  (9781682635766). Gr. 9 - 12.

Conrad and his airship crew must kill and harvest the most deadly gargantauns if he wants to win the gauntlet and save his sister from their murderous uncle.

Snowglobe. By Soyoung Park. 2024. 372 p. Delacorte Press, $20.99  (9780593484975). Gr. 8 - 10.

In a world plunged into eternal winter, only a chosen few get to live in the artificial climate of Snowglobe.  Chobahm's dream is to be a director in Snowglobe, creating reality TV for those outside, but she's given a different chance. She's asked to replace everyone's favorite star.

The Space Between Here & Now. By Sarah Suk. 2023. 310 p. Quill Tree Books, $19.99  (9780063255135). Gr. 9 - 12.

Aimee's mysterious condition causes her to time travel into her own memories. Her Korean immigrant parents offer little support, her dad withdrawn and her mother missing without a trace. When Aimee's condition worsens, the only way to reclaim both her past and present is to return to Korea for answers.

Strong Like You. By T. L. Simpson. 2024. 219 p. Flux, $14.99  (9781635830941). Gr. 7 - 12.

Football teammates and cousins, Walker and Sawyer, have a lot of reasons to be angry. When their fathers go missing, the boys vow to stay strong, just like their dads taught them to be. But as time passes, the new football coach shows them a different way to be strong.

A Tempest of Tea. By Hafsah Faizal. 2024. 338 p. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $20.99  (9780374389406). Gr. 9 - 12.

Criminal mastermind and tearoom/illegal vampire speakeasy proprietor, Arthie Casimir, forges a band of unlikely partners to bring down the corrupt monarchy threatening her tearoom's existence. But when their inner circle is betrayed, Casimir and her friends find themselves fighting for more than just the tearoom.  A captivating tale of vampires, found family and political intrigue.

That's Not My Name. By Megan Lally. 2023. 296 p. Sourcebooks Fire, $11.99  (9781728270111). Gr. 9 - 12.

Mary is trying to figure out who she is and why her "father" has forgotten critical details about her health. Drew is the main suspect in the disappearance of his girlfriend. His search for Lola leads him to Mary and some unexpected answers.

These Bodies Between us. By Sarah Van Name. 2024. 326 p. Delacorte Press, $19.99  (9780593646175). Gr. 8 - 11.

Callie is looking forward to a typical summer with her friends Cleo, Talia, and Polly, but her plans are quickly turned upside down. Cleo has found forums about girls turning themselves invisible, and she wants them all to try it. Callie's scepticism turns into amazement when they actually do it.

These Deadly Prophecies. By Andrea Tang. 2024. 244 p. G. P. Putnam's Sons, $18.99  (9780593524251). Gr. 7 - 12.

Tabatha Zeng finds herself drawn into the mystery behind the grisly death of her mentor, Julian Solomon. He bequeaths his entire sorcerer's legacy to her, but extracts a promise that she will stick close to his youngest son. Together, they attempt to identify who--or what--killed Julian Solmon.

Thieves' Gambit. By Kayvion Lewis. 2023. 364 p. Nancy Paulsen Books, $17.99  (9780593625361 ). Gr. 9 - 12.

Rosalyn Quest, a Black seventeen-year-old, is a master thief put into a desperate situation when her mother is captured and held for an unpayable ransom. The only way to save her is to participate in the dangerous Thieves' Gambit competition and win at any cost.

*Thirsty. By Jas Hammonds. 2024. 318 p. Roaring Brook Press, $19.99  (9781250816597). Gr. 9 - 12.

As a biracial girl from a poor background, Blake Brenner has just wanted to feel seen. Now four years into a relationship with her beautiful and rich girlfriend who enables her drinking problem, Blake must navigate the summer before college and pledging a secret sorority for women of color. 

This Day Changes Everything. By Edward Underhill. 2024. 280 p. Wednesday Books, $19.25  ( 9781250835222). Gr. 9 - 12.

Abby Akerman, from small town Missouri, plans to confess her love to best friend Kat at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Meanwhile, Leo Brewer, a trans boy from North Carolina, dreads being outed on live TV. They meet by chance in NYC, embarking on a journey that could change everything.

*Twenty-Four Seconds from Now… : A Love Story. By Jason Reynolds. 2024. 239 p. Atheneum, $19.99  ( 978-1665961271). Gr. 9 - 12.

Neon is just twenty-four seconds away from losing his virginity to Aria, but nerves are getting the best of him. Told in reverse, the story unravels the moments that brought Neon to this moment, highlighting the relationship advice he receives from significant figures in his life. 

Unbecoming. By Seema Yasmin. 2023. 323 p. Simon & Schuster, $19.99  (9781665938440). Gr. 9 - 12.

In an alternate Texas where abortions are illegal, best friends Laylah and Noor work together to publish a teen guide to safe abortions. 

*Under This Red Rock. By Mindy McGinnis. 2024. 326 p. Katherine Tegen Books, $19.99  (9780063230415). Gr. 10 - 12.

Neely, still reeling from her brother's suicide, has been secretly living with schizophrenia. She finds comfort and stability working as a guide in the caverns--until her coworker and crush Mila is found brutally murdered and Neely begins to worry she's the one responsible.

We're Never Getting Home. By Tracy Badua. 2024. 310 p. Quill Tree Books, $19.99  (9780063217805). Gr. 7 - 12.

College-bound Filipina Jana Rubio accidentally ends up at a music festival with the one person she wants to see least: her former best friend. Things go from bad to worse when their ride loses his keys, and she's already late getting home.

What the River Knows. By Isabel Ibanez. 2023. 404 p. Wednesday Books, $20.00  (9781250803375). Gr. 9 - 12.

Society teen Inez will stop at nothing to find out why her archeologist parents died in the Egyptian desert, even if it means disobeying her guardian Uncle and his stubbornly attractive assistant, Whit. 

Where He Can't Find You. By Darcy Coates. 2023. 395 p. Sourcebooks Fire, $11.99  (9781728278940). Gr. 10 - 12.

The Stitcher has terrorized the residents of Doubtful for as long as anyone can remember, dismembering and reassembling his victims.  When Abby's sister is kidnapped, she and her friends will risk their lives to discover the truth of their local serial killer.

The Worst Perfect Moment. By Shivaun Plozza. 2024. 309 p. Holiday House, $19.99  (9780823456345). Gr. 9 - 12.

Tegan Masters is dead and for some reason is stuck forever in the hotel that represents the worst weekend of her life.  Zelda, the angel who engineered Tegan’s heaven, must convince her this is actually her happy memory or else she will be sent to purgatory for a thousand years.

 

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