Skip to main content

40 Books Everyone Should Read (Youth Edition)

A couple of weeks ago we posed the same question ‘What’s the one book everyone should read?’ twice, once for adult books and another for children’s/young adult books. Today it’s time for the Youth Edition answers and you gave plenty of those! Thanks to the 900+ people who nominated a book and from them we have a top 40 books everyone should read!

There are some crossovers from the adult poll we did, which is understandable really, but this makes for a great reading list for kids and adults alike!

The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

Probably the most mentioned book across both adult and children’s poll, the Book Thief follows the story of a young German girl, during World War II.

The Book Thief US
The Book Thief UK

Review of The Book Thief

Harry Potter Series – J. K Rowling

It was always going to be in there somewhere and coming second place in our books everyone should read poll is a series of books with the Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter Series US
Harry Potter Series UK

Review of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

The Fault in our Stars – John Green

It’s been a hot book, also made into a movie from the hugely popular author John Green, just one of his books to make the list in third place.

The Fault in our Stars US
The Fault in our Stars UK

Review of The Fault in our Stars

The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky

In fourth place is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It comes as no surprise to me that the books that everyone should read is also the list of books challenged at some schools!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower US
The Perks of Being a Wallflower UK

Submit a review

The Giver – Louis Lowry

The Giver is the fifth place in another series by popular author Louis Lowry. This dystopian novel is hugely popular with young adults and adults alike.

The Giver US
The Giver UK

Submit a review

The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton

Also a contender in both polls but taking sixth place in the youth version is The Outsiders , all about gangs and set in the 60s but still relevant today according to you!

The Outsiders US
The Outsiders UK

Submit a review

A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle

In seventh place is a hugely popular U.S Children’s book mentioned in both polls and coming seventh here as the book everyone should read.

A Wrinkle in Time US
A Wrinkle in Time UK

Submit a Review

The Catcher in the Rye – J. D Salinger

Famous, or infamous, The Catcher is one of the most iconic and talked about books in American culture and many of you think it’s a must read.

The Catcher in the Rye US
The Catcher in the Rye UK

Review of The Catcher in the Rye

Wonder – R. J. Palacio

Wonder is a children’s book that tells the story of a boy with a facial deformity, it’s a New York Times Best Seller and it’s in ninth place in our top ten!

Wonder US
Wonder UK

Submit a Review

To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

Another addition including in both the youth and adult list is To Kill a Mockingbird, it took first place in the adult poll and is tenth here.

To Kill a Mockingbird US
To Kill a Mockingbird UK

Submit a Review

11. Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher

12. Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank (review)

13. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Ransom Riggs

14. Lord of the Flies – William Golding

15. The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis

16. Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury (review)

17. Hunger Games Trilogy – Suzanne Collins

18. Little Women – Louise May Alcott

19. Eleanor and Park – Rainbow Rowell

20. Lord of the Rings – J. R. R. Tolkien

And after the featured top 20, here we take the list to the full 40 books:

Looking for Alaska – John Green
Go Ask Alice – Anon
His Dark Materials – Phillip Pullman
Every Day – David Levithian
Where the Red Fern Grows – Wilson Rawls
The Absoutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian – Sherman Alexie
Are you There God it’s me Margaret – Judy Blume
The Host – Stephenie Meyer
Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain
Divergent Series – Veronica Roth
Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
Watership Down – Richard Adams
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne
Tomorrow When the War Began – John Marsden
Along for the Ride – Sarah Dessen
Between Shades of Grey – Ruta Sepetys
The Maze Runner – Jame Dashner
Anne of Green Gables – Lucy Maud Montgomery
Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
We Were Liars – E Lockhart

We hope you enjoyed that, and if you’d like to compare here’s the 52 adult books everyone should read.

Leave your vote

3 Comments

  • Carol Mason says:

    I so wish these lists could be formatted to print so I can take my list to the library. I sure would appreciate it. One of your fans.

    • V says:

      1. The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
      2. Harry Potter Series – J. K Rowling
      3. The Fault in our Stars – John Green
      4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky
      5. The Giver – Louis Lowry
      6. The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton
      7. A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle
      8. The Catcher in the Rye – J. D Salinger
      9. Wonder – R. J. Palacio
      10. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
      11. Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher
      12. Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
      13. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Ransom Riggs
      14. Lord of the Flies – William Golding
      15. The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis
      16. Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
      17. Hunger Games Trilogy – Suzanne Collins
      18. Little Women – Louise May Alcott
      19. Eleanor and Park – Rainbow Rowell
      20. Lord of the Rings – J. R. R. Tolkien
      21. Looking for Alaska – B John Green
      22. Go Ask Alice – Anon
      23. His Dark Materials – Phillip Pullman
      24. Every Day – David Levithian
      25. Where the Red Fern Grows – Wilson Rawls
      26. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian – Sherman Alexie
      27. Are you There God it’s me Margaret – Judy Blume
      28. The Host – Stephenie Meyer
      29. Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain
      30. Divergent Series – Veronica Roth
      31. Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
      32. Watership Down – Richard Adams
      33. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne
      34. Tomorrow When the War Began – John Marsden
      35. Along for the Ride – Sarah Dessen
      36. Between Shades of Grey – Ruta Sepetys
      37. The Maze Runner – Jame Dashner
      38. Anne of Green Gables – Lucy Maud Montgomery
      39. Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
      40. We Were Liars – E Lockhart

      COPY and PASTE this and print off to take to the library. Enjoy!

  • Annie says:

    It’s Lois Lowry, not Louis Lowry.

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.