Popular Books for Teens

Over the past year, these books have been the most popular in my classroom. Some are newer releases and some are older classics. But all have been either requested or checked out numerous times.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (or ANYTHING by John Green!)
Students who like TFiOS will probably check out his other books: Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, An Abundance of Katherines

Students who like John Green books also seem to like the following reads:

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

FanGirl and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Every Day by David Levithan

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs


It by Stephen King is a perennial favorite. Students also love Carrie and Christine.

Students who like Stephen King also seem to like:

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd

The Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Crank Series by Ellen Hopkins

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare (ALL of these books are popular and she continues to publish new ones)

The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare (Same with this series!)

Students who like Cassandra Clare's books also seem to love the following:

Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

Beautiful Creatures Series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Angel Burn Series by L.A. Weatherly (Angel Fire and Angel Fever)

(Not shown): Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, or the Shiver Series by Maggie Stiefvater (Shiver, Linger, and Forever)

On preorder (out July 1, 2014): Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater, which continues the Shiver story.


The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins is, of course, one of the most popular series in recent years. Even those who read the books in middle school love re-reading them in high school.

Students who like The Hunger Games also seem to like the following:

Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

The Program by Suzanne Young

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

Dust Lands Series by Moira Young

The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

Ender's Game by Orson Card Scott

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Ashfall Trilogy by Mike Mullin

Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking Trilogy) by Patrick Ness


A classic novel students read in 7th or 8th grade is The Contender by Robert Lipsyte.

Students who like The Contender also seem to like:

Jude by Kate Morgenroth

Gone by Michael Grant


The girls can't seem to get enough Nicholas Sparks novels. Favorites are:

The Notebook, Safe Haven, The Lucky One, and The Longest Ride

Students who like Nicholas Sparks also seem to like:

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

The Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie

and any books by Sarah Dessen (not pictured).


For additional books that teens favor, check out these titles released yesterday by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA):

Top Picks for 2014

Which books do your students like? 

Leave a comment with your picks below. 

Thanks for stopping by!