Today I thought I would share books that I think are perfect for younger teens to read. Finding books for teens aged 13-15 is I think, one of the hardest age ranges to recommend books for. My little sister has inspired me to do this post. We were organising my books, and she said that I should do a post on books for teens her age, and I thought hey, that is a perfect post idea. 

Whenever I get parents coming into work asking me for books for this age group, I’m always hesitant. Teens in this age group, range in what they know, understand and want to read. I was reading a lot of YA as soon as I hit high school. And at that age, I read some books that I probably shouldn’t have read, but at that point in time, I didn’t know about the bookish community. So when parents and even the teens themselves come into work looking for books, it’s always a hard choice. 

There are a few things that I go through when trying to work out what to recommend these teens, especially those that don’t read. One of the first questions I always ask any of my customers is; What do they like to watch? Most people watch something that they like these days, even if it’s just youtube. But knowing what they like to watch is a great base to start on. Then I field through questions like, do you like fantasy, do you want something set in this time. Anything along those lines helps to give some great recommendations. 

But still trying to find books that teens 13-15 might like, is hard. It’s that age range when some know more about things than others. And there aren’t many books for those in between. There are heaps of books in the middle-grade department, and then it jumps to 16+. And those ages in between somehow get missed, a lot.

So today I thought I would share books for those that are looking in that age range. Like always these are in no order. 

Percy Jackson and anything else from Rick Riordan: There is no doubt that these books are on my list. I recommend Rick Riordan’s books to anyone and everything, but especially to younger teens. What I love most about these series is that they grow with the reader. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is a great start early, but as the series go on, the characters get older. It’s a great way for the reader to grow with the characters. Everything about these books is just fantastic, from characters to the plot and I can’t forget about the writing. 

School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani: While I have just started this series, I have my little sister to vouch for the whole series. Like Riordan’s books, this is a great series for the reader to grow with the characters. It’s an exciting fantasy series that I’m already enjoying quite a bit. It’s got a lot of popular elements and characters that younger teens will know, but then Chainani puts his twist on them, and I love it. 

Hundred Oaks Series by Miranda Kenneally: These are what I would call a ‘clean’ YA. I don’t particularly like using that word, but I don’t know how else to explain this. Some of the books do deal with older characters and situations. But overall these are pretty clean romances that I loved reading when I was younger. I would say this is more on the 15-year-old side, but I think it’s a great series for teens that love their romance. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: I think this is great for any age range. Again it’s one that I’m always recommending to customers at work and whenever anyone asks for something for their teens. The Hate U Give is a brilliant and powerful story. It’s heartbreaking, poignant and so so true. It’s a book that everyone should read, and understand. And while it does with some hard things, it isn’t something that teens aren’t customer to. They know these things and it’s a great way for them to understand even more. 

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass: While this isn’t the most beautiful written series out there, it’s a perfect series for the younger teens. It’s a fun series that is different and just a pleasure to read. Especially those that are just starting to read YA. It one of those series where it borders genres and when teens don’t know what they want or know what they like it’s a great start. 

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley: I love this book so much and I wish that more people would pick it up. This is a poignant, beautiful story with fleshed-out characters, gorgeous writing and a concept that is for every book lover. This is a fantastic #LoveOzYA and I think it’s a great book for those teens that may be looking to cry a little. 

The Protected by Claire Zorn: This is another book that will make you cry. But I think it’s a fantastic book that explores grief, bullying and mental illness. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking novel that tales a story of a girl who not only has to deal with her sister dying, but memory lost, her family breaking down and the torment of school.

Those are only some of the books that I think teens aged 13-15 might enjoy. There are so many more book and series that I could have included. If you would like to see another post like this, please do let me know. Have you read any of these books? Are you planning on reading them? What are some books that you recommend for younger teens? Let’s Chat!