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.
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.
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 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
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 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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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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.
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!
It’s Lois Lowry, not Louis Lowry.