2026 TEEN FAVORITES
9th to 12th Grade book recommendations for teens, educators, booksellers, librarians, and caregivers of the best young adult books in 2025.
13 Days of Summer
By: Stephanie Kate Strohm
ISBN: 9798894141206
Fiction, Teen (12+), Chapter Book, Romance
After We Burned
By: Marieke Nijkamp
ISBN: 9781728291208
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Action / Adventure
American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and The Mysterious Fad that Haunted a Nation
By: Barb Rosenstock
ISBN: 9781635928051
Nonfiction, Teen (12+), Prose, History
The Art of Drag
By: Jake Hall
Illustrated by:
Sofie Birkin, Helen Li, and Jasjyot Singh Hans
Sofie Birkin, Helen Li, and Jasjyot Singh Hans
ISBN: 9781838749767
Nonfiction, Teen (12+), Picture Book, LGBTQIA+
Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers’ Rights
By: Ashley Hope Pérez
ISBN: 9780823458301
Fiction, Teen (12+), Anthology / Collection, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism
Buzz! (2025 edition)
By: Ananth Hirsh
Illustrated by:
Tess Stone
Tess Stone
ISBN: 9781637156193
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Action / Adventure
Climate of Chaos
By: Cassandra Newbould
ISBN: 9781682637579
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Dystopian / Speculative / Alternative History
The Common Rule Youth Edition: Growing Your Faith in a Distracted World
By: Justin Whitmel Earley
ISBN: 9781514010433
Nonfiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Religion / Spirituality
Dear Manny
By: Nic Stone
ISBN: 9780593308011
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism
Espada: The Will of the Blade
By: Anabel Colazo; Translated by Diego Jourdan Pereira
Illustrated by:
Anabel Colazo
Anabel Colazo
ISBN: 9781637157596
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches
By: Kayla Cottingham
ISBN: 9780593814017
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Fantasy
Fawn’s Blood: A Novel
By: Hal Schrieve
ISBN: 9781644214701
Fiction, Teen (12+), Chapter Book, LGBTQIA+
The Flip Side
By: Jason Walz
ISBN: 9780593617991
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Occult / Paranormal / Supernatural
The Girl You Know
By: Elle Gonzalez Rose
ISBN: 9781547616039
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Mystery / Thriller
I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir
By: Eugene Yelchin
Illustrated by:
Eugene Yelchin
Eugene Yelchin
ISBN: 9781536215533
Nonfiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Biography / Memoir
Latina Superheroes (Volume 1): Jalisco & Santa
By: Kayden Phoenix
ISBN: 9781524892586
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Superheroes
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories
By: Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
ISBN: 9780063314269
Fiction, Teen (12+), Anthology / Collection, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Messi Mania: The Ultimate Story of the World’s Greatest Soccer Star
By: Luis Miguel Echegaray
ISBN: 9781836001201
Nonfiction, Teen (12+), Illustrated Prose, Biography / Memoir
On Again, Awkward Again: A Novel
By: Erin Entrada Kelly & Kwame Mbalia
ISBN: 9781419775635
Fiction, Teen (12+), Chapter Book, Romance
The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel
By: Maggie Stiefvater; adapted by Stephanie Williams
Illustrated by:
Sas Milledge
Sas Milledge
ISBN: 9780593621189
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
(S)Kin
By: Ibi Zoboi
ISBN: 9780062888877
Fiction, Teen (12+), Poetry / Stories in Verse, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide
By: Pablo Leon
Illustrated by:
Pablo Leon
Pablo Leon
ISBN: 9780063223554
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction
Song of the Lioness, Book 1: Alanna
By: Tamora Pierce; adapted by Vita Ayala
Illustrated by:
Sam Beck
Sam Beck
ISBN: 9781419765582
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Student Government
By: Dave Justus & Lilah Sturges
Illustrated by:
Joe Eisma
Joe Eisma
ISBN: 9781545816103
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism
The Summer I Ate the Rich
By: Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite
ISBN: 9780374390532
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Dystopian / Speculative / Alternative History
Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel)
By: Suzanne Collins
ISBN: 9781546171461
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Dystopian / Speculative / Alternative History
Tall Water
By: SJ Sindu
Illustrated by:
Dion MBD
Dion MBD
ISBN: 9780063090156
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, Coming of Age
Toxic Summer
By: Derek Charm
Illustrated by:
Derek Charm
Derek Charm
ISBN: 9781637156445
Fiction, Teen (12+), Graphic Novel, LGBTQIA+
Wake the Wild Creatures
By: Nova Ren Suma
ISBN: 9781616206727
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Action / Adventure
What We Did to Each Other
By: Josuee Hernández
ISBN: 9781635831078
Fiction, Teen (12+), Prose, Mystery / Thriller
