Gift Guide for Teen ReadersLike this list

30 items

• When the World Tips Over

  Nelson, Jandy,

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  Jandy Nelson is known for epic personal stories and gorgeous prose, and this is a beautiful example. Plots and timelines interweave with a touch of mystery and magic as siblings begin to unpack the grief and familial history of their father's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Book Thief

  Zusak, Markus

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  This WWII novel is already a modern classic. A German girl secretly rescues books from Nazi burn piles and her only witness is Death. He becomes so entranced that he can't help telling her story. Give this to the historical fiction reader who…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Fault in Our Stars

  Green, John, 1977-

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  Hazel and Gus are teens dealing with terminal cancer, but their love story is eternal. Give this to the reader who seeks out stories that will make them sob. Fans of this book love it so much they have been known to carry it around like a talisman.

• You: the Story

  a Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory

  Sepetys, Ruta,

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  Ruta Sepetys is known for bringing moments in history that are obscure to today's readers back to vivid life. In this guide, she teaches writers how to hone their craft by telling the story of their own lives. Give this to the aspiring writer who…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Poet X

  Acevedo, Elizabeth,

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  In this multi-award-winning novel-in-verse, Xiomara feels unheard and unrecognized, but once she finds her voice through spoken word poetry, she is unstoppable. Give this to the reader in love with language and in search of their own power.

• The Illustrated Wee Free Men

  a Story of Discworld

  Pratchett, Terry

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  Tiffany Aching is not surprised to learn that she is a witch, but the existence of tiny blue men who love to fight, steal, and cause chaos (and who are also destined to be her allies in a battle against a darkly magical invasion into her small…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Heartstopper. Volume 1

  Oseman, Alice,

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  Nick and Charlie's tender love story is one for the ages! Give the whole five book graphic novel series to the reader who loves sweet stories of romance and friendship that feel real.

• The Hunger Games

  Collins, Suzanne,

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  There are few teen books as iconic as the Hunger Games! Give the boxed set to the reader who loves danger in a dystopian setting and keeping a slice of literary history on their shelf.

• Firekeeper's Daughter

  Boulley, Angeline,

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  Daunis is constantly adapting, whether she is with her Anishinaabe father's side of the family, the Firekeepers, or the French American Fontaines on her mother's side. This tension defines her life, and it comes to a head when she gets secretly…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Hate U Give

  Thomas, Angie,

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  Starr maintains an uneasy balance between the two worlds she inhabits, her fancy, suburban prep school, and her poor, urban neighborhood. Worlds collide after she witnesses a police officer murder her unarmed childhood friend and decides to speak…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• We Were Liars

  Lockhart, E.

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  What happened during Cadance's 15th summer on her family's private island? A revolution? An accident? A secret? I truly can't say more about this book to without spoiling it. Give this opulent beach read to a lover of emotional mysteries with major…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Children of Blood and Bone

  Adeyemi, Tomi,

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  Seventeen-year-old Zélie journeys to a mythic island seeking a chance to bring back magic to the land of Orïsha. The Crown Prince, who believes the return of magic will mean the end of the monarchy, relentlessly pursues her. Give this fantasy…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Other Ever Afters

  New Queer Fairy Tales

  Gillman, Melanie,

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  In this beautifully rendered, feminist, queer fairy tale collection, the characters that have been forced to sit on the sidelines in typical stories take center-stage and subvert the traditional fairy tale format in an evolution of the genre that…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• East

  Pattou, Edith,

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  Fearless Rose travels to the arctic to live with a mysterious talking bear in this lush and detailed retelling of the Scandinavian folktale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon." Give this one to the reader who would love to dive so deep into a fairy…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Golden Compass

  Pullman, Philip, 1946-

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  Another talking bear plays an important role in Lyra's quest to rescue her best friend from the evil machinations of her mother. This epic tale of magic, science, friendship, family, and corrupting powers stretches across time and dimensions. Give…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Long Way Down

  Reynolds, Jason,

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  This award-winning verse novel chronicles Will's journey in an elevator as he contemplates revenge, doors opening on certain floors to admit ghosts who give him even more to think about. Give this to a reader who will get sucked into a suspenseful…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• America Redux

  Visual Stories From Our Dynamic History

  Aberg-Riger, Ariel,

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  Twenty-one visual stories illuminate the astonishing, unexpected, sometimes darker sides of history that reverberate in our society to this very day. Give this to the reader who suspects they're not getting the whole truth from news and textbooks…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A First Time for Everything

  a True Story

  Santat, Dan,

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  When eighth grade is over and his parents send him on a three-week study abroad program, Dan isn't excited at first, but with the help of some new friends, a crush, and an encouraging teacher, Dan begins to appreciate and enjoy the journey, feeling…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• All Boys Aren't Blue

  a Memoir-manifesto

  Johnson, George M. (George Matthew), 1985-

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  This engaging memoir describes the challenges and triumphs of LGBTQ+ activist Johnson's young life. Censors love to target this book for the same reasons librarians recommend it: The honest, vulnerable prose that centers a queer, Black kid's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Eragon

  the Illustrated Edition

  Paolini, Christopher,

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  This classic story of dragon riders was written by a teen for teens and remains one of the most beloved series in Young Adult literature. Give the box set to a reader who's ready to graduate from Wings of Fire but not ready to give up mythical…Read moreRead more of this annotation