Almost all parents want their kids to become “book addicts” instead of “YouTube addicts”, but how many adults are truly well-versed in young adult literature? If you are a parent who wants your children to read but is guilty of not knowing enough about YA fiction/non-fiction, below are 7 must-reads for teenagers!
7 Must-Reads: Teenagers Edition
It’s hard to make history interesting to teenagers, but author Steve Sheinkin did just that. Detailing the nuclear arms race between Germany, the U.S., and the Soviet Union during WWII, Bomb gives a thrilling account of scientists, politicians, and even spies attempting to create the most dangerous weapon in the world. Sheinkin’s dramatic descriptions and bewildering stories remove all sources of boredom in history.
This book has everything. Romance, adventures, queer representation… With a backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world, All That’s Left in the World details how two complete strangers became survival partners and ultimately lovers.
Embodying the Black Lives Matter movement, The Hate You Give details the life of teenager Starr Carter. After her friend was murdered by a police officer, Starr not only had to deal with grief but also racism from people who saw the murder in the national headline. Following Starr’s battle against stereotypes and discrimination, the reader is left with a new and deep understanding of what justice is.
- The Hobbit + The Lord of the Rings by J.R.https://amzn.to/3O1Sx2RR. Tolkien
One cannot be a fantasy fan without reading these two novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. Vivid characters combined with a riveting plot make the adventures of Bilbo and later Frodo appealing to teenage readers. If you want to truly enter the realm of fantasy literature, these two books serve as the welcoming door.
Humans always view aliens as evil, monstrous creatures. However, is there the possibility that humans are the actual monsters? An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green explores this intriguing question by following the surreal experiences of protagonist April May.
Lord of the Flies is an allegory, meaning that the characters and objects in the novel symbolize our own society. The book tells an action-packed tale of a group of English boys struggling for survival and order on an island. Themes such as morality, justice, and savagery vs. righteousness are explored throughout the novel.
If your teen is looking for a funny and heart-warming reading experience, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens is the book to go with. Following sixteen-year-old Simon Spier’s struggle with his sexuality, the reader gets to experience all sorts of emotions: happiness, anger, love, sympathy…
Conclusion
I hope you are no longer stressed about not giving your teenagers good book recommendations. These 7 books are perfect to make your kids regular visitors to the world of literature. And who knows, maybe you will read them too!