Young adult (YA) books offer some of the most beautiful, resonant and relevant writing being produced today. You can find YA books/novels dating back to before the 1960s, though the genre has become much more popular in the past two decades. Make no mistake, while young adult books/novels are aimed at young people as their primary audience, they also are fantastic reads for more mature readers. Anyone of any age can read a YA book and enjoy it. This list includes the best/greatest YA novels of all time, including some of the most well-known older novels as well as recent gems that have flown under the radar.

Top YA Novels

Young adult literature includes books for people ages 12-18. They explore coming-of-age themes reflecting the universal experience of teenagers, always with an imaginative twist. Some of the most popular and well-known YA books include Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give, Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street, and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.

Some of the top YA authors include Judy Blume, Nicola Yoon, Marie Lu, Cynthia Voigt, Suzanne Collins, Elizabeth Acevedo and Karen M. McManus. They all write in different genres, including young adult/YA mystery books and young adult/YA dystopian novels. These rankings are based on popularity of the books, critical acclaim, awards and impact.

30. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (2015)

Twins Noah and Jude have always been close, but the death of their mother, Noah’s struggle with his sexuality, and a traumatic event for Jude have torn them apart. This gorgeously written Stonewall Honor novel is told from two perspectives in different time periods.

This book is best for anyone who appreciates beautiful prose or is looking for a gay coming-of-age story. Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

29. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (2020)

Equal parts love story and journey of gender discovery, Felix Ever After follows transgender teen Felix, who begins receiving transphobic messages from an anonymous classmate. But even as he seeks revenge, he begins to find some redeeming qualities in his tormentor, which confuses him as he continues to question his gender identity.

This book is best for anyone who loves YA romance books. Lambda Literary Award winner Kacen Callender’s Felix Ever After is available from publisher HarperCollins.

28. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008)

Yet another dystopian novel, this is set in a future where the totalitarian nation of Panem holds an annual Hunger Games. Two children from each district are pitted against each other in a televised fight to the death. Katniss Everdeen volunteers so her little sister doesn’t have to go and changes the Games forever.

This book is best for anyone who loved the hit Hunger Games movies or likes dystopian literature. Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games is available from publisher Scholastic.

27. A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman (2015)

Veda’s entire life is her passion for dancing. After her legs are amputated below the knee following an accident, she struggles to adjust to using prosthetics. She refuses to stop dancing, though, and rediscovers what movement means to her as she also pursues a relationship with Govinda, who finds dance a spiritual experience.

This book is best for those who want to read about Indian culture or are looking for disability representation. Padma Venkatraman’s A Time to Dance is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

26. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (2020)

The first volume in this bestselling young adult book series introduces Avery Grambs, a whip-smart but troubled teen pulled into a world of puzzles, games and intrigue when she is named in the will of a mysterious billionaire. She alternately bonds and spars with the billionaire’s grandchildren.

This book is best for fans of The Westing Game and other clever mysteries. Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s The Inheritance Games is available from publisher Little, Brown.

25. A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich by Alice Childress (1973)

Novelist and playwright Alica Childress’s acclaimed novel, which was later turned into a film, tells the story of 13-year-old Benjie, who has a heroin addiction but sees little reason to treat it and focus on school. The innovative story is told by different people in Benjie’s life, including his mom, drug dealer and teachers.

This book is best for those interested in older YA novels. Alice Childress’s A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

24. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt (1981)

Cynthia Voigt won the Newberry Medal for her series about the Tillermans, four children who’ve been abandoned by their mother and walk across Connecticut to seek out a distant relative. The harrowing journey proves their resilience but also tells a sad story about bouncing back from abandonment.

This book is best for those looking for a more grown-up Boxcar Children. Cynthia Voigt’s Homecoming is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

23. The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan (2019)

Muslim teenager Rukhsana keeps her sexuality, and her girlfriend, a secret from her conservative parents. But just weeks before leaving for college, the two are caught by her family, who send Rukhsana to stay with relatives in Bangladesh. There, she learns more about intolerance and how to advocate for yourself.

This book is best for fans of forbidden romance. Sabina Khan’s The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali is available from publisher Scholastic.

22. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (2014)

Kwame Alexander’s Newberry Medal-winning book-in-verse, which also earned the Coretta Scott King Honor Award, follows twins Josh and Jordan, 12-year-old basketball prodigies who discover the terrible consequences of breaking the rules. The book earned year-end “best of” recognition from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal.

This book is best for basketball lovers and fans of books in verse or rap. Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover is available from publisher Scholastic.

21. The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (2020)

Nishat is closeted to her family, but she might risk coming out when she reconnects with her childhood best friend, Flávia. However, the two end up on opposite sides of a school competition that pits their talents as henna artists against each other. The Henna Wars received a Kirkus starred review.

This book is best for those who enjoy stories about artists. Adiba Jaigirdar’s The Henna Wars is available from publisher Macmillan.

20. Legend by Marie Lu (2013)

One of the most popular and acclaimed fantasy-dystopian YA novels, Legend combines action, adventure and romance. June, a teenage military prodigy, becomes enmeshed with Day, a criminal accused of murdering June’s brother. When they discover the truth of that crime, they realize the corruption in their post-U.S. country is far beyond what they’d imagined.

This book is best for fans of dystopian novels. Marie Lu’s Legend is available from publisher Scholastic.

19. Yolk Mary H. K. Choi (2021)

Estranged sisters and Korean immigrants June and Jayne are thrust back together after older sis June becomes ill with cancer. Jayne tries to help her sibling but refuses to admit that she, too, has an illness—and it’s just as capable of harming her. The haunting prose makes this a standout story.

This book is best for older readers and those seeking realistic portrayals of eating disorders. Mary H. K. Choi’s Yolk is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

18. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (2013)

The first in the bestselling YA fantasy trilogy, Shadow and Bone follows soldier Alina Starkov, who learns she has unanticipated magical powers while trekking through the Shadow Fold, a world of monsters. Her country’s elite become convinced Alina can destroy the Shadow Fold using her powers. The book became a Netflix series.

This book is best for fantasy fans. Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone is available from publisher Macmillan.

17. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (2013)

This World War II historical fiction novel follows two British girls spying on Nazi Germany who crash-land their plane. When “Verity” is captured by the Nazis, she is forced to confess, but she tries to find a way to spare her pilot, Maddie. The book won the Michael L. Printz Award.

This book is best for historical fiction and World War II drama fans. Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity is available from publisher Little, Brown.

16. We Are Not Free by Traci Chee (2020)

Prinz Honor-winning book and National Book Award finalist We Are Not Free follows 14 second-generation Japanese-American teenagers who grow up in San Francisco and whose lives are changed when people of their heritage are forced into internment camps. Will they come together or fall apart?

This historical fiction book is best for those interested in World War II and who may not have learned much about internment camps in American schools. Traci Chee’s We Are Not Free is available from publisher HarperCollins.

15. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (2017)

Karen M. McManus sparked a boom in YA mystery novels with this well-told tale of four disparate teens who come under suspicion for murder when they end up in study hall with someone who dies—and it begins to look like a murder. The book sparked two sequels and stayed a bestseller for years.

This book is best for mystery fans or those who liked the Peacock series. Karen M. McManus’s One of Us Is Lying is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

14. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (1999)

Everyone hates Melinda Sordino for calling the cops to a house party. That makes for a lonely school year—but her ex-friends and the others who are mad don’t know why she did it. Melinda stops talking to anyone, which means she can’t get help for what happened in this National Book Award finalist.

This book is best for those looking for books with nuanced depictions of sexual assault. Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak is available from publisher Macmillan.

13. The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed (2020)

This New York Times bestseller and William C. Morris Award finalist explores race relations through the lens of the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. Ashley is enjoying senior year with her friends until the verdict in the King case, after which the Black teen begins questioning who her friends and family really are.

This book is best for anyone who loved The Hate U Give. Christina Hammonds Reed’s The Black Kids is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

12. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (2014)

Angry Aristotle and academic Dante could not be more different, but when fate and geography smash them together for the summer, they slowly build a friendship that turns into something more. The Printz Honor book was made into a movie and spawned a sequel.

This book is best for fans of slow-burn friends-to-lovers romances. Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

11. The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)

A staple on ninth-grade reading lists, The Giver presents a society that appears utopian but is later revealed as dystopian after eliminating any possibilities of variance or difference. Twelve-year-old Jonas is selected Keeper of the Memory, but he struggles with the emotions it entails. The book won the Newberry Medal.

This book is best for dystopian fiction fans and those who like to ask the big questions. Lois Lowry’s The Giver is available from publisher HarperCollins.

10. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (2020)

The murder of popular high schooler Andie Bell still haunts Pip’s hometown. Pip starts a podcast to determine if Sal Singh, the accused murderer who then killed himself, actually did it. Pip teams with Sal’s brother, Ravi, to find answers. The bestseller spawned two sequels and an upcoming Netflix series.

This book is best for mystery fans. Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

9. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (2016)

Simon knows he’s gay and thinks his family would accept him if he came out—but he’s reluctant to upset the happy balances in his life. He begins a covert correspondence with another closeted classmate, and Simon begins to think coming out may be worth it to be with him. Also a great movie.

This book is best for romance and gay coming-of-age stories. Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is available from publisher HarperCollins.

8. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (2021)

Winner of the Printz Medal, Morris Award and American Indian Youth Literature Award, Firekeeper’s Daughter follows Daunis Fontaine, an Ojibwe teenager who dreams of finding her place at college after years of feeling out of place. Her plans are derailed after she witnesses a murder and becomes entangled in an FBI investigation.

This book is best for anyone who wants to learn more about Native culture or who loves a great mystery. Angeline Boulley’s Firekeeper’s Daughter is available from publisher Macmillan.

7. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (2017)

Teenager Maddy’s extreme allergies keep her indoors and away from everyone except her mom and her nurse—until Olly moves in next door, and the two improbably fall in love. The creative novel is told through diary entries, drawings and vignettes.

This book is best for fans of The Fault in Our Stars-style doomed teen romances or Colleen Hoover novels. Nicola Yoon’s Everything, Everything is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

6. Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy (2015)

Willowdean Dixon is loud and proud of her bigger body, even if her former beauty queen mom is always trying to get her to lose weight. When Willowdean develops a crush on a fellow employee who seems to like her back, she loses some self-confidence—but gains it back by entering a local beauty pageant.

This book is best for anyone who loved the Netflix movie adaptation or wants a book about positive self-image. Julie Murphy’s Dumplin’ is available from publisher HarperCollins.

5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)

Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest young adult books of all time, The Catcher in the Rye follows disaffected 16-year-old Holden Caulfield as he journeys home from his Pennsylvania prep school to his dysfunctional family in New York. The classic novel has sold millions of copies.

This book is best for anyone interested in one of the first YA novels. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is available from publisher Little, Brown.

4. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume (1970)

New kid Margaret is eager to fit in with the other middle schoolers, but her lack of religious identity becomes a stumbling block. As Margaret grows up and she and her friends navigate puberty, her private conversations with god become her own touchpoint. The bestselling book received a movie adaptation in 2023.

This book is best for anyone who’s struggled to fit in or grow up. Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

3. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (2018)

Told in lyrical style, this National Book Award winner follows Afro-Latina teen Xiomara, who struggles to stay out of trouble and hide her growing feelings for a boy at school from her religious family. She begins surreptitiously attending her school’s slam poetry club to let out her feelings.

This book is best for fans of books-in-verse. Elizabeth Acevedo’s Poet X is available from publisher HarperCollins.

2. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (1991)

The international bestseller follows Esperanza Cordero in a story told via vignettes as she enters adolescence in her Chicago neighborhood. Esparanza is at once proud of her background and struggles with others’ perception of her. It is based on Cisneros’ own upbringing.

This book is best for those looking for stories about early adolescence. Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017)

Angie Thomas’ first novel was famously inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. It chronicles what happens after Starr witnesses the unjust police shooting of childhood friend Khalil, who was unarmed. The 16-year-old has to decide whether to come forward and expose the shooting for what it was.

This book is best for anyone looking for a contemporary take on an important issue. Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give is available from publisher HarperCollins.

Bottom Line

Young adult books run the gamut from fantasies to mysteries to romances. What each shares is the coming-of-age perspective unique to those early to late teen years, which everyone can relate to. Readers of all ages can appreciate and learn from YA novels.