Top Must-Read Books for a Young Adult

Reading has consistently been decreasing in popularity in teenagers and young adults, and I feel like this is partly due to people not knowing what to read. It often isn’t actively promoted at their age level, and therefore they aren’t receiving any guidance on what they’d enjoy. Teachers often recommend books that can seem to take too much effort to comprehend and understand, and while these can be useful for those wanting to read at a higher level, for those who just want to read as leisure it can seem like too much of an effort. That is why I am writing this for teenagers, from a teenager. I believe that these books can not only provide some extra knowledge on particular topics, but also just create general enjoyment for those who choose to read them.

1. The Broken Trilogy by L. A. Weatherly

These YA novels are set in a dystopian USA, where the country is divided in halves and where war is illegal. Political decisions are made through two individuals fighting in planes. The novels follow Amity as she learns how to keep secrets and the importance of trusting nobody. The series is full of romance, betrayal, tension and exhilarating writing and plots. I haven’t read a book where you can become so emotionally invested in the characters, you feel like you are in the world of the book, you can see the flames, smell the smoke, hear the shouts. I highly recommend this series to anybody who enjoyed other books such as The Hunger Games and Divergent. The books are around 550 pages each but are so addicting I could easily finish each one in a couple of sittings.

1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

A perfect mix of murder mystery and coming of age story, this novel follows a girl abandoned by her family to grow up in the marsh, isolated from the rest of society. When she meets the popular boy and is seen sneaking around with him, as soon as his dead body is found in the marsh, she is the first suspect. This is an absolutely beautiful book, with a stunning setting and description, and wonderful characters. It is an amazing example of overcoming challenges handed to you in life and the beauty of being yourself. It is a fantastic addition to the modern crime genre with the inclusion of nature and its power in the world.

3.Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

While classics famously take a bit more effort to read compared to modern novels, this famous novel is absolutely perfect for those who want to expand their usual genres of reading. It follows the life of Jane Eyre, starting as a young girl in her aunt’s house as she is alienated from her fellow cousins. She eventually leads and goes on to live the life of many servant girls of that time. It explores loss, anger, and romance. A beautiful novel and wonderful example of the wonders female writers of that time could come up with. An amazing exploration of the expectation of women and the difficulties faced, but with an exciting main character and a touch of mystery. A great book for anybody who wants to try classics, but not wanting to have to check the footnotes every paragraph.

Honourable mentions

. Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

. Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata