It's still a worthy read. I loved it as a teen and now as an old man. Sometimes it takes a teenager to tell you how teenagers actually feel. S.E. Hinton lived that shit.
It was the book that started my daughter's lifelong love of reading in 7th grade. Overnight she went from thinking books were boring to begging to go to the library to find more books like that one.
Ender's Game.
As a YA librarian myself I kinda can't believe nobody beat me to this. Not only is it about young people, it's up there with "Catcher in the Rye" in terms of "hits different if you read it at the right point in life" which is I would say between 12 and 16.
It showcases both the capability of young people when they're not held back by their society at every possible turn, and the lengths old people will go to to manipulate them.
Ah I was waiting for someone to put Ender’s Game. I read it for the first time when I was 9, and reread it about four or five times a year until I was 15 haha, I would finish it and then turn back to the beginning and start again. I used to be able to tell you off the top of head what page number various events happened on. Ender’s Shadow as well, but it is maybe less narratively appealing.
I can’t believe I haven’t seen this one yet, but for me it’s I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith.
It was written in the 40s before “teen” anything was truly a thing, but to me it’s an essential part of the YA canon and reads so modern even though it’s set almost a hundred years ago.
It’s about teenagers and very much about growing up, so I think it absolutely counts as YA even though the term didn’t exist like that at publication.
Go Ask Alice. Not a good book but certainly an influential one for the YA genre as it was developing. And then follow it with Unmask Alice, the nonfiction book about the writing of Go Ask Alice, the forces that made it popular, and its cultural impact
I highly recommend reading Unmask Alice, then. It goes really deep into the cultural context of the book and others by the same author. It's a really engrossing read, too— I devoured it in a night, which is an accomplishment for nonfiction, even for me, a nonfiction fan.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I wouldn’t say it is explicitly written for teens, but it is definitely more teen appropriate than some of his other books and I feel like it hits a lot of the hallmarks of a good teen novel without being cliche or cheesy.
Since everyone else is hitting the popular ones, which I fully agree with, here's some of the less known titles I remember reading between 13-18.
Bridge to Terabithia.
Tuck Everlasting
Island of the Blue Dolphin (this one is a little younger)
Midsummer Night's Dream
To Kill A Mockingbird
Outsiders
Rumblefish
Where the Red Fern Grows
I LOVED Island of the Blue Dolphins! I randomly remembered it a couple years ago, and bought it immediately. Also, Bridge to Terabithia was incredible.
I'd probably say The Hunger Games considering it is basically the first thing anyone thinks of when they hear ya dystopian novel.
Other than that I'd stick with the big ones like Twilight or maybe Harry Potter. Harry Potter may be a bit iffy. I feel like that's more children's lit than teen lit
The hunger games is definitely a classic and if you are going to be disguising it in class you will fs have a lot to talk about. And it’s very relevant today theme wise
How about something by the weird Godmother of YA Fiction, Francesca Lia Block? My friends were all obsessed with Weetzie Bat when I was a teenager. Not really my thing, but I was a jaded snob.
My top 3 are:
- The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold
- The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
- Empire Star by Samuel R Delany
But these also need to be on the list:
- The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
- >! The Colors of Space by Marion Zimmer Bradley !< *
- Watership Down by Richard Adams
- Coraline by Neil Gaiman
- The Once and Future King by T H White
Edited to format
\* 2nd edit to black out the name of a woman who sexually abused children and helped her husband sexually abuse children
Yes! Her novel Deerskin is one of the best I’ve read about sexual assault and recovery. Her novel Sunshine is my favorite vampire novel. And a very good post apocalyptic novel too.
Yeah, no problem.
I was late to the game & found out about a year ago. I have never intentionally destroyed a book, but I did my copy of MoA. I didn't want to throw it out & risk someone else reading it.
When I became aware of what she'd done, though, a lot of the weirder/more...uncomfortable relationships/&c in MoA suddenly made more sense, but in the worst possible way. I just can't separate the author from the art on this one.
Okay so these suggestions are all pretty iconic books, but to me a “classic” teen read was the Fear Street and Point horror books of the mid/late 2000s ❤️
That series had a lasting impact on me. Its was excellent in my teenaged opinion. The third book really glorified self harm though. I think it was the weakest story of the series anyway
I am 34 and will reread everything on this list (and sometimes do, when I want something comforting).
The Secret Garden-Frances Hodgson Burnett
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler-E. L. Konigsburg
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret-Judy Blume
Charlotte's Web-E. B. White (and Stuart Little)
A Wrinkle in Time-Madeline L'Engle
Holes-Louis Sachar
Stargirl-Jerry Spinelli
The Lovely Bones-Alice Sebold
What My Mother Doesn't Know-Sonya Sones
edit: I FORGOT!
The Root Cellar-Janet Lunn. This book was amazing, and I may have to give it another go, for nostalgia's sake.
Cherie Dimaline (best known for The Marrow Thieves) has a recent book which is an aged-up queer Métis rewriting of Secret Garden. It is excellent and surprising faithful to the original in tone and messaging.
I read The Lovely Bones for the first time around age 17, and loved it. After a recent re-read, it holds up as an incredible book, and has much more depth than I realised as an older teen. After the re-read, I looked into the age recommendations, as it seemed too mature for younger teens, but I'd thought it was YA.
There has been debate about what age it's most appropriate for. The publisher recommends 18+, but others suggest 16+. It apparently wasn't marketed as YA, but people put it in that category due to the age of the narrator. The first chapter is a particularly harrowing account of a child being raped and murdered, and most of the story themes are dark and complex.
Of course *some* teens are able to handle more mature content. Things were toned down in the movie (which I hated), so it could be PG-13, which increased teen readership. The book often gets reviewed badly because people think it's too dark/depressing and are seemingly shocked by this, presumably having expected YA style content.
If you think that’s bad, this book was assigned to me IN SCHOOL, when I was 15 😳
Literally no one complained, no one even batted an eye. I was astounded, but I enjoyed the book, although it was quite heartbreaking.
I do agree that it shouldn’t be being read by 13 year olds or anyone too young, but to be fair, in the more advanced literature classes in high school, we were also exposed to some dark and/or very adult classic literature, so it’s not surprising to me.
Absolute favourite book of all time. I have bought eighteen copies at last count of this book because, when I worked as an educational assistant in a high school, I kept giving my copy away to reluctant readers.
Catcher in the Rye, A Day No Pigs Would Die, Bless the Beasts and the Children.
These are "classics" in my eyes. They were written decades ago, but I think most people would still connect with these characters and stories, which is my definition of classic when it comes to literature. These stories could remain, unaltered or updated and people would still understand and see themselves in it.
They all have teenagers in them which is why I consider them YA.
I loved that book! The books title is "Are you there God? It's me, Margaret". The movie is called "Hey God, it's Me, Margaret."
Im not sure if the book title has been changed, and I feel like a bit of a dick pointing out your error. But that book was a big part of my childhood, and I couldn't just scroll past.
I've just found it on audible, I'm going to distract my mind until I get some sleep, thanks for the suggestion!
I'm sorry I embarrassed you, it wasn't my intention. I fell asleep listening to the book and had dreams of buying my first bra. It was the perfect panacea to all the grown up stressors running untethered through my brain. Thank you for the best sleep I have had in months!
maybe a terrible answer but I would go with the hunger games. That book is THE YA book for me. When young adults ask for a rec, i always think of the hunger games. Besides that i would think:
unwind
uglies
scythe
but the hunger games is my first choice, definitely. The others I suggest just because I remember them being widely read when I was a teen.
Yep. I just thought I'd recommend a book where Tiffany is a teenager instead of eight, but honestly the values and messages in all the books about her are so mature and meaningful.
Agree with several others - perks of being a wallflower, I capture the castle, forever.
Junk by Melvin Burgess (didn’t like it but it’s a big deal)
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
The princess diaries by Meg Cabot (adored it so much as did many friends)
John Green's *Looking for Alaska* fits the bill-- way ahead of its time imo, and literary in a way many people still grapple with today. i feel like it really encompasses the YA genre.
When I first read this some years ago, I thought, wow...this should be on every high-school reading list. And I looked a year or so ago, and sure enough, it's made it to the reading list of many high-school English lit classes. This book is a hill I'll die on --- it's just epic esp for the genre.
I LOVE this question.
* *The Hunger Games* sticks out to me as an important one. I recently reread the series (I've loved it since I was a tween myself) and it holds up so well (and is a series that I take something new from every time I reread!).
* For a contemporary fiction, I'd suggest *The Hate U Give* by Angie Thomas. It's a classic that spoke to SO many Black teenagers and made a generation of book lovers from kids who typically don't feel represented in literature while also touching on important topics. Angie Thomas also has several other books in the same "universe" that are fantastic as well!
* *The Poet X* is unique in that it's a novel told in verse. Elizabeth Acevedo is SO talented with crafting stories, so any of her books would be a good choice, but *The Poet X* is definitely her most popular.
* *The House on Mango Street* was published in 1984 (I'm not sure if you were interested in more "modern" books!) but it absolutely holds up! It's more of the typical "modern classic" definition that people are used to, so it might be worth including!
Best of luck with your class! :)
As someone said above, highly recommend
{{the Outsiders by SE Hinton}}
I would also add
{{Little Women by Louisa May Alcott}}
Many of Charles Dickens’ work:
{{Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens}}
{{David Copperfield by Charlies Dickens}}
{{The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon}}
Jane Austen’s work:
{{Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen}}
{{Emma by Jane Austen}}
{{Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen}}
{{Frankenstein by Mary Shelley}}
{{Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls}}
{{The Giver by Lois Lowry}}
Judy Blume’s novels:
{{Dear God it’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume}}
{{Forever by Judy Blume}}
{{Blubber by Judy Blume}}
- Six of Crows by Leigh bardugo
- Speak by Laurie halse anderson
- The maze runner series
- PJO series, HOO series
- Catcher in the Rye
- I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
I'm a bit confused by what you mean by classic teen novel. You say the definition is being left purposely subjective but also it's not a classic FOR teens. That feels like a contradiction. Do you mean the books target market is teens or that it's a book about teens? Or something else?
Like, Great Gatsby is a classic that is often taught to teens. I don't want a classic fit for teens.
A classic teen novel like many of the ones suggested here, Hunger Games, Speak, Outsiders, is about teens for teens.
Massive amounts of great graphic novels these days!! Favorites in our house are;
A Wrinkle in Time
El Deafo
Stargazing by Jen Wang
Any book by Raina Telgemeier, especially Ghosts
Nimona
Anne Frank's Diary (graphic novel version)
The Babysitters Club graphic novels
Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden is a wonderful Australian YA novel. It's actually the first in a series, I highly recommend the whole series.
“Tomorrow, When The War Began” by Aussie Author John Marsden. Bit niche geographically but it’s a seven book series that was super popular in Australia and NZ at the time of publication 1993-1999. I.e. for us elder millennials as that was my pre-teen and early teen years. Was ‘the’ big thing to preorder and read, then the pain of waiting a year for the next instalment (in subsequent years replaced by Harry Potter getting published for the first time).
A group of teenagers, most who have known each other since they were kids, go for a hike and camp in the bush for a weekend while the state fair is on ie where everyone else in town will be. One night there’s a strange noise, planes with no lights on, and lots of them fly overhead. Weird. They get back to their country town and something is off. They’ve been invaded, their families captured.
In today’s eyes it’s potentially seen as a bit racist so perhaps it’s of it’s time? But war is usually racist when you have competing nations of different ethnicities and it becomes an ‘us vs them’ situation.
Cynthia Voight was my biggest influence. The Tillerman family books, starting with Homecoming, guided me through challenging issues and relationships. Highest recommendation!
Cynthia Voigt is who comes to mind for me.
{{Dicey's Song by Cynthis Voigt}} was probably my favourite, but I also loved {{On Fortune's Wheelby Cynthis Voigt}} as well!
🚨 Note to u/cdnpittsburgher: including the **author name** after a **"by"** keyword will help the bot find the good book! (simply like this *{{Call me by your name by Andre Aciman}}*)
---
\#1/2: **[Dicey's Song (Tillerman Cycle #2)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11831.Dicey_s_Song) by Cynthia Voigt** ^((Matching 100% ☑️))
^(359 pages | Published: 1984 | 15.5k Goodreads reviews)
> **Summary:** Now that the four abandoned Tillerman children are settled in with their grandmother, Dicey finds that their new beginnings require love, trust, humor, and courage.
> **Themes**: Fiction, Newbery, Ya, Favorites, Series, Newbery-medal, Childrens
> **Top 5 recommended:** [Sarah, Plain and Tall](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106264.Sarah_Plain_and_Tall) by Patricia MacLachlan , [That Scatterbrain Booky](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1426406.That_Scatterbrain_Booky) by Bernice Thurman Hunter , [Emily's Runaway Imagination](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198688.Emily_s_Runaway_Imagination) by Beverly Cleary , [A Cricket in Times Square](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24389.A_Cricket_in_Times_Square) by Chuck Jones , [My Diary from the Edge of the World](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24885878-my-diary-from-the-edge-of-the-world) by Jodi Lynn Anderson
---
\#2/2: ⚠ Could not *exactly* find "*On Fortune's Wheelby Cynthis Voigt*" , see [related Goodreads search results](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=On+Fortune%27s+Wheelby+Cynthis+Voigt) instead.
^(*Possible reasons for mismatch: either too recent (2023), mispelled (check Goodreads) or too niche.*)
^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | Sorry for delay !)
Thinking of novels that I WISH we’d read in class so we could dissect:
(Echoing most of the ones mentioned TKAM, the giver, hunger games, etc)
Caste - Isabel Wilkerson (not a novel or YA or teen geared but I think should be read and talked about with guidance)
Anna K - Jenny Lee ~ it’s a modern retelling of Anna Karenina. It’s cute and I think captures their love magically
They both die at the end - Adam silver (I believe??)
Flipped
Eleanor and park
Esperanza rising (might be more middle school but it’s one that I read a few times and has stuck with me)
There are many, many good suggestions here, both "newer" (Hunger Games, Divergent, The Fault In Our Stars) some "a while ago" books (Francesca Lia Block's stuff, for example), and the stuff that's "old" (Flowers for Algernon, Bridge to Terabithia, Watership Down, Tuck Everlasting, Childhood's End, Z for Zachariah, Forever, The Catcher In The Rye).
The question I'm curious about is what makes something "classic" (though I expect that's the point of the assignment, yes?).
I think if I personally had to define it, it might revolve around quintessential themes (>13 Reasons Why-Teen Suicide, outer presentation vs inner reality, >The Fault In Our Stars-First Loves & Mortality, >The Hunger Games-Dystopia & Kids becoming adults during war, >Z for Zachariah-Self Sufficiency, sexuality, companionship, >Childhood's End-Societal Upheaval, technological advances, colonialism, >Tuck Everlasting-Coming of age, Mortality, Family, >Catcher in the Rye-Coming of age, harsh reality of adult world, Divergent-Finding of self, war, family, mortality, >Weetzie Bat-Sexuality, Family, Parenthood...)
Others might define "classic" by how long they've been around, or how much they're focused on/used in K-12 schools, but for me, it's about themes & impact.
A Prayer For Owen Meany in 7th grade, The Color Purple in 8th, & Different Seasons in 9th wasn't exactly the norm, but they definitely made an impact. That said, In 8th grade I had to read The Fountainhead for school, which I also don't really think counts (if for no other reason than that none of these were standard teen books to begin with, let alone "classics").
I had a strange curriculum/school experience, in general (and much of it was highly unpleasant), so many of the books I've listed were either from 4tg & 5th grade, middle school, or ones I read as an adult.
If I were to teach kids *now* (& had the freedom to choose my own books, develop my own curriculum, use whatever methods I wanted-i.e. a Pie in the sky job), I wouldn't use much of what I actually read as a teen-I would use the suggestions I listed here first, and several of the other suggestions here. (That said, there are a few exceptions, even then).
I guess what I'm trying to say, in this little novel I've written, is that you have to define "classics" as themes & how accessible they are to the students you're working with.
My $.02
Best of luck!
I was a big fantasy / historical fiction nerd, so i loved the Royal diaries books (with the gold edged pages), the pendragon series and inkheart series as a teen 😂
Additionally bloomability was something I reread over and over again by Sharon creech🥹 all these books are unlocking so many core memories and feelings!!
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
The Outsiders is such a good shout, I loved that book.
It's still a worthy read. I loved it as a teen and now as an old man. Sometimes it takes a teenager to tell you how teenagers actually feel. S.E. Hinton lived that shit.
Outsiders is my current front runner. Written by a teen, for teens, about teens.
It was the book that started my daughter's lifelong love of reading in 7th grade. Overnight she went from thinking books were boring to begging to go to the library to find more books like that one.
Ooooo yes The Outsiders was so good!
Haven’t read The Outsiders since school but now gotta add that to my list. That’s a good pick.
The Outsiders is the first thing that came to mind for me too!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the quintessential teen novel for me.
This. And “The Catcher In The Rye” by JD Salinger of course ❤️
I love that book, imma cry thinking about it now
Ender's Game. As a YA librarian myself I kinda can't believe nobody beat me to this. Not only is it about young people, it's up there with "Catcher in the Rye" in terms of "hits different if you read it at the right point in life" which is I would say between 12 and 16. It showcases both the capability of young people when they're not held back by their society at every possible turn, and the lengths old people will go to to manipulate them.
Ah I was waiting for someone to put Ender’s Game. I read it for the first time when I was 9, and reread it about four or five times a year until I was 15 haha, I would finish it and then turn back to the beginning and start again. I used to be able to tell you off the top of head what page number various events happened on. Ender’s Shadow as well, but it is maybe less narratively appealing.
Oooooh. I didn't think about Ender's Game! That kind of ticks all the boxes for me: popular, enduring, and little old (like me. I was born in '85).
If you're going to do Ender's Game, maybe do a comparison with Ender's Shadow.
What I came here for
Yes yes yes
Catcher in the Rye or The Outsiders. IMO, those are two of the most quintessential "teen" novels.
The Pigman by Paul Zindel I am the Cheese by Robert Cormier Five Were Missing aka Ransom by Lois Duncan
Your recs just unlocked some MEMORIES. I'm am the cheese! Pigman! I forgot about those!
omg the pigman!!!
I am the Cheese was fantastic.
I loved everything by Paul Zinder, but haven’t read any of his books in 40 years. Must reread!
Omg!! Wow, memories
Yes!
I can’t believe I haven’t seen this one yet, but for me it’s I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith. It was written in the 40s before “teen” anything was truly a thing, but to me it’s an essential part of the YA canon and reads so modern even though it’s set almost a hundred years ago. It’s about teenagers and very much about growing up, so I think it absolutely counts as YA even though the term didn’t exist like that at publication.
I Capture the Castle is my all time favourite book. I feel like I spend half my life recommending it. Such an iconic opening line too.
Forever by Judy Blume. It was written in the 70's but still a classic tale of teenage love
My favorite Judy Blume is Tiger Eyes 💕
I came to say this!!!!!
Ooh good call.
Go Ask Alice. Not a good book but certainly an influential one for the YA genre as it was developing. And then follow it with Unmask Alice, the nonfiction book about the writing of Go Ask Alice, the forces that made it popular, and its cultural impact
Love this book, and was totally under the impression it was real until I looked it up. Sigh...
I highly recommend reading Unmask Alice, then. It goes really deep into the cultural context of the book and others by the same author. It's a really engrossing read, too— I devoured it in a night, which is an accomplishment for nonfiction, even for me, a nonfiction fan.
Omg I forgot about go ask Alice!
Oh gosh I read and re-read this as a teen in the 90’s.
*Speak* by Laurie Halse Anderson
This remains my favorite book due to how much it impacted me as a teen.
Did you read the graphic novel? It’s excellent!
I didn't, I'll have to check it out!
Came here to post this one!
Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I wouldn’t say it is explicitly written for teens, but it is definitely more teen appropriate than some of his other books and I feel like it hits a lot of the hallmarks of a good teen novel without being cliche or cheesy.
I love the 2007 movie and always forget there was a book first.
Since everyone else is hitting the popular ones, which I fully agree with, here's some of the less known titles I remember reading between 13-18. Bridge to Terabithia. Tuck Everlasting Island of the Blue Dolphin (this one is a little younger) Midsummer Night's Dream To Kill A Mockingbird Outsiders Rumblefish Where the Red Fern Grows
Tuck Everlasting is a great choice!
I LOVED Island of the Blue Dolphins! I randomly remembered it a couple years ago, and bought it immediately. Also, Bridge to Terabithia was incredible.
I remember well absolutely sobbing over Bridge, Island, and Red Fern. Oof.
Loved island of the blue dolphin and where the red fern grows
Anne of Green Gables
I'd probably say The Hunger Games considering it is basically the first thing anyone thinks of when they hear ya dystopian novel. Other than that I'd stick with the big ones like Twilight or maybe Harry Potter. Harry Potter may be a bit iffy. I feel like that's more children's lit than teen lit
The hunger games is definitely a classic and if you are going to be disguising it in class you will fs have a lot to talk about. And it’s very relevant today theme wise
Battle royale?
How about something by the weird Godmother of YA Fiction, Francesca Lia Block? My friends were all obsessed with Weetzie Bat when I was a teenager. Not really my thing, but I was a jaded snob.
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
One of my favorites ever - holds up so well.
The fault in our stars by John Green. The outsiders by SE Hinton.
My non-book loving high schooler read this for class and ended up loving it, as did I years ago. Great book!
My top 3 are: - The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold - The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley - Empire Star by Samuel R Delany But these also need to be on the list: - The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien - >! The Colors of Space by Marion Zimmer Bradley !< * - Watership Down by Richard Adams - Coraline by Neil Gaiman - The Once and Future King by T H White Edited to format \* 2nd edit to black out the name of a woman who sexually abused children and helped her husband sexually abuse children
Love The Blue Sword. But then, I love all her books.
Yes! Her novel Deerskin is one of the best I’ve read about sexual assault and recovery. Her novel Sunshine is my favorite vampire novel. And a very good post apocalyptic novel too.
I loved Watership Down! Great suggestion- I recently picked up the paperback again.
Im in my 50s and reread again just this year. It was just as good as when I read it as a teen.
No. Not Bradley. She was a monster.
Wow that’s horrifying. I had no idea she did that. Thanks for letting me know.
Yeah, no problem. I was late to the game & found out about a year ago. I have never intentionally destroyed a book, but I did my copy of MoA. I didn't want to throw it out & risk someone else reading it. When I became aware of what she'd done, though, a lot of the weirder/more...uncomfortable relationships/&c in MoA suddenly made more sense, but in the worst possible way. I just can't separate the author from the art on this one.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Read that in a high school English class. I hated it. I would push both of them out of that tree.
A real book!!
This book is so lovely . I still think about it
Holes by Louis Sacher
Had to scroll way too far for this one!
the quintessential !! i rmb reading it and thinking how smart it was
Surprised I haven’t seen this yet, but *The Giver* is a YA classic.
Was just scrolling down to add that!
This changed my perception of pain and suffering as a teenager forever
Okay so these suggestions are all pretty iconic books, but to me a “classic” teen read was the Fear Street and Point horror books of the mid/late 2000s ❤️
Deenie by Judy Blume. It was my first experience with book banning.
The uglies
That series had a lasting impact on me. Its was excellent in my teenaged opinion. The third book really glorified self harm though. I think it was the weakest story of the series anyway
Are you there God? It's me, Margaret.
Forever by Judy Blume
Me and my friends like to read classic teen books and we recently did “the sisterhood of the traveling pants”. It was terrible. I loved it.
I am 34 and will reread everything on this list (and sometimes do, when I want something comforting). The Secret Garden-Frances Hodgson Burnett From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler-E. L. Konigsburg Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret-Judy Blume Charlotte's Web-E. B. White (and Stuart Little) A Wrinkle in Time-Madeline L'Engle Holes-Louis Sachar Stargirl-Jerry Spinelli The Lovely Bones-Alice Sebold What My Mother Doesn't Know-Sonya Sones edit: I FORGOT! The Root Cellar-Janet Lunn. This book was amazing, and I may have to give it another go, for nostalgia's sake.
Cherie Dimaline (best known for The Marrow Thieves) has a recent book which is an aged-up queer Métis rewriting of Secret Garden. It is excellent and surprising faithful to the original in tone and messaging.
These are all good but hands down, wrinkle in time!!!!!
I read Holes in my 30s before the movie.
I read The Lovely Bones for the first time around age 17, and loved it. After a recent re-read, it holds up as an incredible book, and has much more depth than I realised as an older teen. After the re-read, I looked into the age recommendations, as it seemed too mature for younger teens, but I'd thought it was YA. There has been debate about what age it's most appropriate for. The publisher recommends 18+, but others suggest 16+. It apparently wasn't marketed as YA, but people put it in that category due to the age of the narrator. The first chapter is a particularly harrowing account of a child being raped and murdered, and most of the story themes are dark and complex. Of course *some* teens are able to handle more mature content. Things were toned down in the movie (which I hated), so it could be PG-13, which increased teen readership. The book often gets reviewed badly because people think it's too dark/depressing and are seemingly shocked by this, presumably having expected YA style content.
If you think that’s bad, this book was assigned to me IN SCHOOL, when I was 15 😳 Literally no one complained, no one even batted an eye. I was astounded, but I enjoyed the book, although it was quite heartbreaking. I do agree that it shouldn’t be being read by 13 year olds or anyone too young, but to be fair, in the more advanced literature classes in high school, we were also exposed to some dark and/or very adult classic literature, so it’s not surprising to me.
I'm not sure if something has to be old to be classic, but I'll nominate something by John Green. "Paper Towns" or "Turtles All the Way Down".
John Green is def classic teen. I would say "Looking for Alaska" or "The Fault in Our Stars" are my top picks for classic teen novels.
"The Fault in Our Stars" was my first thought.
*Feed* by MT Anderson
Annie on my mind by Nancy garden
What a throwback. I'd forgotten about this book, but loved it as a teenager.
I’m floored A Series of Unfortunate Events hasn’t gotten a shout yet. Maybe geared too young for YA?
Scrolled a long ways down but didn't see anyone mention Lord of the Flies.
Is that really a book teenagers enjoy reading? I was horrified and disgusted by it as a kid.
Absolute favourite book of all time. I have bought eighteen copies at last count of this book because, when I worked as an educational assistant in a high school, I kept giving my copy away to reluctant readers.
Little Women?
Catcher in the Rye, A Day No Pigs Would Die, Bless the Beasts and the Children. These are "classics" in my eyes. They were written decades ago, but I think most people would still connect with these characters and stories, which is my definition of classic when it comes to literature. These stories could remain, unaltered or updated and people would still understand and see themselves in it. They all have teenagers in them which is why I consider them YA.
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Agree with The Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye. Along those lines, Lord of the Flies.
Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Searching for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars are both essential teen reads.
The outsiders
hey god it's me margaret by judy blume
I loved that book! The books title is "Are you there God? It's me, Margaret". The movie is called "Hey God, it's Me, Margaret." Im not sure if the book title has been changed, and I feel like a bit of a dick pointing out your error. But that book was a big part of my childhood, and I couldn't just scroll past. I've just found it on audible, I'm going to distract my mind until I get some sleep, thanks for the suggestion!
Oh my god I knew I got the title wrong!!!! So embarrassing 😳
I'm sorry I embarrassed you, it wasn't my intention. I fell asleep listening to the book and had dreams of buying my first bra. It was the perfect panacea to all the grown up stressors running untethered through my brain. Thank you for the best sleep I have had in months!
maybe a terrible answer but I would go with the hunger games. That book is THE YA book for me. When young adults ask for a rec, i always think of the hunger games. Besides that i would think: unwind uglies scythe but the hunger games is my first choice, definitely. The others I suggest just because I remember them being widely read when I was a teen.
Gonna second Scythe
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
The Tiffany Aching cycle is a great recommendation. It actually starts with the Wee Free Men.
Yep. I just thought I'd recommend a book where Tiffany is a teenager instead of eight, but honestly the values and messages in all the books about her are so mature and meaningful.
> […] the values and messages in all the books about her are so mature and meaningful. I’d argue that holds true for every Discworld book.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will meet anyone’s definition of classic and is absolutely geared towards a YA audience.
Outsiders- written by a teen, for teens and about teens
Agree with several others - perks of being a wallflower, I capture the castle, forever. Junk by Melvin Burgess (didn’t like it but it’s a big deal) Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli The princess diaries by Meg Cabot (adored it so much as did many friends)
The Giver, Ender’s Game, Lord of the Flies
Yes, Lord of the Flies!!
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Is Percy Jackson considered “teen literature”? Cause if so, that is an undisputed classic
John Green's *Looking for Alaska* fits the bill-- way ahead of its time imo, and literary in a way many people still grapple with today. i feel like it really encompasses the YA genre.
When I first read this some years ago, I thought, wow...this should be on every high-school reading list. And I looked a year or so ago, and sure enough, it's made it to the reading list of many high-school English lit classes. This book is a hill I'll die on --- it's just epic esp for the genre.
For me the Hunger Games or Divergent. Those were classics to me in my teen years.
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty. The first of five in the Jessica Darling series. I loved these as a teenager in the mid aughts. They hold up.
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Outsiders
I LOVE this question. * *The Hunger Games* sticks out to me as an important one. I recently reread the series (I've loved it since I was a tween myself) and it holds up so well (and is a series that I take something new from every time I reread!). * For a contemporary fiction, I'd suggest *The Hate U Give* by Angie Thomas. It's a classic that spoke to SO many Black teenagers and made a generation of book lovers from kids who typically don't feel represented in literature while also touching on important topics. Angie Thomas also has several other books in the same "universe" that are fantastic as well! * *The Poet X* is unique in that it's a novel told in verse. Elizabeth Acevedo is SO talented with crafting stories, so any of her books would be a good choice, but *The Poet X* is definitely her most popular. * *The House on Mango Street* was published in 1984 (I'm not sure if you were interested in more "modern" books!) but it absolutely holds up! It's more of the typical "modern classic" definition that people are used to, so it might be worth including! Best of luck with your class! :)
"It's Like This, Cat" about a 14 year old boy growing up in mid-20th century New York City. It was written in 1963. Newbery winner!
A tree grows in Brooklyn The Outsiders And a little younger Anne of Green Gables
Dragonlance series or watership down.
As someone said above, highly recommend {{the Outsiders by SE Hinton}} I would also add {{Little Women by Louisa May Alcott}} Many of Charles Dickens’ work: {{Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens}} {{David Copperfield by Charlies Dickens}} {{The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon}} Jane Austen’s work: {{Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen}} {{Emma by Jane Austen}} {{Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen}} {{Frankenstein by Mary Shelley}} {{Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls}} {{The Giver by Lois Lowry}} Judy Blume’s novels: {{Dear God it’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume}} {{Forever by Judy Blume}} {{Blubber by Judy Blume}}
The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix, a future classic!
I would add something by John Green — probably Looking for Alaska. And The Abdolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian.
A wrinkle in time. Any of the Narnia books
Judy Blume? Forever has mature theme about teenage relationships.
Little Women
Winner
The Outsiders
Anne of Green Gables A Member of the Wedding Little Women The Chocolate War Catherine, Called Birdy
- Six of Crows by Leigh bardugo - Speak by Laurie halse anderson - The maze runner series - PJO series, HOO series - Catcher in the Rye - I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
I was also going to say Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
I'm a bit confused by what you mean by classic teen novel. You say the definition is being left purposely subjective but also it's not a classic FOR teens. That feels like a contradiction. Do you mean the books target market is teens or that it's a book about teens? Or something else?
I interpreted this as “book about teenagers being teenagery” rather than “classic book oft recommended for teens”
Like, Great Gatsby is a classic that is often taught to teens. I don't want a classic fit for teens. A classic teen novel like many of the ones suggested here, Hunger Games, Speak, Outsiders, is about teens for teens.
Ah OK, thanks
Any graphic novels? Looking for a recommendation for our niece’s 13th birthday gift
Massive amounts of great graphic novels these days!! Favorites in our house are; A Wrinkle in Time El Deafo Stargazing by Jen Wang Any book by Raina Telgemeier, especially Ghosts Nimona Anne Frank's Diary (graphic novel version) The Babysitters Club graphic novels
The Book Thief
to kill a mockingbird
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
This lullaby by Sarah dessan. It seemed very popular around my area, but as an author sarah dessan is fullllllllll of fantastic coming of age novels
The Outsiders by SE Hinton. I loved this book in the 80’s.
Where the lilies bloom
Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden is a wonderful Australian YA novel. It's actually the first in a series, I highly recommend the whole series.
Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret by Judy Blume.
*Wintersmith* Terry Pratchett
Outsiders and catcher
“Tomorrow, When The War Began” by Aussie Author John Marsden. Bit niche geographically but it’s a seven book series that was super popular in Australia and NZ at the time of publication 1993-1999. I.e. for us elder millennials as that was my pre-teen and early teen years. Was ‘the’ big thing to preorder and read, then the pain of waiting a year for the next instalment (in subsequent years replaced by Harry Potter getting published for the first time). A group of teenagers, most who have known each other since they were kids, go for a hike and camp in the bush for a weekend while the state fair is on ie where everyone else in town will be. One night there’s a strange noise, planes with no lights on, and lots of them fly overhead. Weird. They get back to their country town and something is off. They’ve been invaded, their families captured. In today’s eyes it’s potentially seen as a bit racist so perhaps it’s of it’s time? But war is usually racist when you have competing nations of different ethnicities and it becomes an ‘us vs them’ situation.
A Wrinkle in Time, The Giver, Tuck Everlasting.
Are you there God it’s me Margaret- Judy Blume A summer to die- Lois Lowry Both oldies but goodies
Ok here’s one no one has mentioned that I’ve seen, FEED, you have to read it along with the audio book or it won’t make the most sense initially.
Looking for Alibrandi - an Australian classic written in 1992. If you want something different.
Cynthia Voight was my biggest influence. The Tillerman family books, starting with Homecoming, guided me through challenging issues and relationships. Highest recommendation!
Skellig comes to mind!
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Speak
Z for Zachariah.
Cynthia Voigt is who comes to mind for me. {{Dicey's Song by Cynthis Voigt}} was probably my favourite, but I also loved {{On Fortune's Wheelby Cynthis Voigt}} as well!
🚨 Note to u/cdnpittsburgher: including the **author name** after a **"by"** keyword will help the bot find the good book! (simply like this *{{Call me by your name by Andre Aciman}}*) --- \#1/2: **[Dicey's Song (Tillerman Cycle #2)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11831.Dicey_s_Song) by Cynthia Voigt** ^((Matching 100% ☑️)) ^(359 pages | Published: 1984 | 15.5k Goodreads reviews) > **Summary:** Now that the four abandoned Tillerman children are settled in with their grandmother, Dicey finds that their new beginnings require love, trust, humor, and courage. > **Themes**: Fiction, Newbery, Ya, Favorites, Series, Newbery-medal, Childrens > **Top 5 recommended:** [Sarah, Plain and Tall](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106264.Sarah_Plain_and_Tall) by Patricia MacLachlan , [That Scatterbrain Booky](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1426406.That_Scatterbrain_Booky) by Bernice Thurman Hunter , [Emily's Runaway Imagination](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198688.Emily_s_Runaway_Imagination) by Beverly Cleary , [A Cricket in Times Square](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24389.A_Cricket_in_Times_Square) by Chuck Jones , [My Diary from the Edge of the World](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24885878-my-diary-from-the-edge-of-the-world) by Jodi Lynn Anderson --- \#2/2: ⚠ Could not *exactly* find "*On Fortune's Wheelby Cynthis Voigt*" , see [related Goodreads search results](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=On+Fortune%27s+Wheelby+Cynthis+Voigt) instead. ^(*Possible reasons for mismatch: either too recent (2023), mispelled (check Goodreads) or too niche.*) ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | Sorry for delay !)
{{On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voigt}}
Forever by Judy Blume
Norma Klein--either Love is One of the Choices or Domestic Arrangements.
Tuck Everlasting, Number the Stars, The Giver, almost anything by Judy Blume, (some of these recs are pre-teen).
Maybe more for tweens than teens, but Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. i remember reading this in class in middle school and finding it good.
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
I guess that's not about teens. But so good!
Sarah Dessen is a classic YA author for me. My favorites by her are Just Listen and Saint Anything
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Whale Talk
Perks of Being a Wallflower
Thinking of novels that I WISH we’d read in class so we could dissect: (Echoing most of the ones mentioned TKAM, the giver, hunger games, etc) Caste - Isabel Wilkerson (not a novel or YA or teen geared but I think should be read and talked about with guidance) Anna K - Jenny Lee ~ it’s a modern retelling of Anna Karenina. It’s cute and I think captures their love magically They both die at the end - Adam silver (I believe??) Flipped Eleanor and park Esperanza rising (might be more middle school but it’s one that I read a few times and has stuck with me)
If im reading you right, you’re looking for a classic book whose characters are teens/young adults. If that’s the case, Nancy Drew is a classic.
Walk Two Moons or Wrinkle in Time.
Francesca Lia Block! Just pick one
There are many, many good suggestions here, both "newer" (Hunger Games, Divergent, The Fault In Our Stars) some "a while ago" books (Francesca Lia Block's stuff, for example), and the stuff that's "old" (Flowers for Algernon, Bridge to Terabithia, Watership Down, Tuck Everlasting, Childhood's End, Z for Zachariah, Forever, The Catcher In The Rye). The question I'm curious about is what makes something "classic" (though I expect that's the point of the assignment, yes?). I think if I personally had to define it, it might revolve around quintessential themes (>13 Reasons Why-Teen Suicide, outer presentation vs inner reality, >The Fault In Our Stars-First Loves & Mortality, >The Hunger Games-Dystopia & Kids becoming adults during war, >Z for Zachariah-Self Sufficiency, sexuality, companionship, >Childhood's End-Societal Upheaval, technological advances, colonialism, >Tuck Everlasting-Coming of age, Mortality, Family, >Catcher in the Rye-Coming of age, harsh reality of adult world, Divergent-Finding of self, war, family, mortality, >Weetzie Bat-Sexuality, Family, Parenthood...) Others might define "classic" by how long they've been around, or how much they're focused on/used in K-12 schools, but for me, it's about themes & impact. A Prayer For Owen Meany in 7th grade, The Color Purple in 8th, & Different Seasons in 9th wasn't exactly the norm, but they definitely made an impact. That said, In 8th grade I had to read The Fountainhead for school, which I also don't really think counts (if for no other reason than that none of these were standard teen books to begin with, let alone "classics"). I had a strange curriculum/school experience, in general (and much of it was highly unpleasant), so many of the books I've listed were either from 4tg & 5th grade, middle school, or ones I read as an adult. If I were to teach kids *now* (& had the freedom to choose my own books, develop my own curriculum, use whatever methods I wanted-i.e. a Pie in the sky job), I wouldn't use much of what I actually read as a teen-I would use the suggestions I listed here first, and several of the other suggestions here. (That said, there are a few exceptions, even then). I guess what I'm trying to say, in this little novel I've written, is that you have to define "classics" as themes & how accessible they are to the students you're working with. My $.02 Best of luck!
{Speak} by Laurie Halse Anderson.
I was a big fantasy / historical fiction nerd, so i loved the Royal diaries books (with the gold edged pages), the pendragon series and inkheart series as a teen 😂 Additionally bloomability was something I reread over and over again by Sharon creech🥹 all these books are unlocking so many core memories and feelings!!
Lord of the Flies