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Macaroni Teen: 17 Classic & Current Books to Read

By Jessica Harbour, Fayetteville, AR Macaroni Kid Publisher February 25, 2015


No one can dispute that there has been a huge boom in Young Adult fiction in recent years. In fact, these days you'll find many adults who read more Young Adult books than anything else. (I include myself in that category, of course.)

But, even with the expansion in available reading material, there are still some Young Adult mainstays, or classics, that I think kids should still be reading. Why? Because these books all, in some way, teach teens how to be a person. A good person with a moral compass and the ability to make informed decisions. 

Some of these are still taught in schools, some aren't. But, if you see one on the list that you think would appeal to your child, check and see if they've read it. If not, pick it up today!

To Kill a Mockingbird
This is my pick for not just best Young Adult book, but the ultimate American novel. It's easy to read, but Harper Lee packed so much into this short book that even she stated she had said all she needed to when she wrote it, and that's why she never wrote another book. 

So what if the setting is dated? So what if the exact issues addressed in the book may not be the ones we face in everyday life? The social problems explored in the book are still a part of our society. To me, this is not just a book, but a narrative on American society. Make sure your kid reads this book. And, if you haven't read it yourself, do so. Now.

The Giver
 I didn't read this book until a college class on adolescent literature. Why? I don't know, but I wish I had read it sooner. It is an amazing commentary on a person's place in society, what is acceptable to a society, and an exploration of individualism within a society. 

While not as complex or action-packed as many of the current dystopian books you'll find on the Young Adult shelves, the book grips you until the last page, when you will literally turn the page looking for the rest of the story, only to find that's it! (Rest easy, there are two sequels to answer your questions.) 

This is a great read for younger kids who might not be ready for the violence and action of The Hunger Games, but who are ready to contemplate questions on individualism and society.

Anne of Green Gables
 Seriously, every girl should read Anne of Green Gables. It was my mainstay book until I was 15 and discovered Wuthering Heights (and if there was ever a book for over-dramatic high school girls, it's Wuthering Heights). 

Anne is pure awesome. She makes everything around her a part of whatever fantasy she's created in her mind, while also learning how to be a friend and part of a family. But, even with all her fantasies, she also remains the coolest head in the room in many situations, showing that even a girl who dwells in dreams can be grounded. I. Love. Anne.

The Hiding Place
 This is an autobiographical story by a Dutch woman whose family helped a number of Jews escape the Holocaust during World War II. Although the author was not a young woman during the events of the book, the story is written at a level that makes it easily accessible to young adults. 

Life under the Nazis and Corrie's own experiences in a concentration camp is recounted in a straightforward fashion, but without concentrating on the horrific details. Learning to recognize your ability to impact the world is important for teens, and this book effectively demonstrates how one person can take action, a message important for teens who often feel powerless.

Hatchet
This book is taught in many schools, usually in 7th or 8th grade. But if your child's school isn't teaching it, or if you're looking for a really good "boy book" for a middle schooler, this is fantastic. 

The main character, Brian, is alone for virtually the entire book, pretty much any adolescent's nightmare. But, he has to take care of himself if he wants to survive, and the only tool he has available is a survival hatchet. In addition to chronicling how Brian survives, but also illustrates the effect that self-reflection and thought have upon his priorities and emotions.

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If your teen is reluctant to read a book written in the 1900s (gasp!), try any of the ones on this list compiled by Highlands Ranch Youth Librarian Laura Olson:

  • Amplified, by Tara Kelly
  • Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys
  • Divergent, by Veronica Roth
  • The Future of Us, by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
  • Going Bovine, by Libba Bray
  • How to Save a Life, by Sara Zarr
  • Lola and the Boy Next Door, by Stephanie Perkins
  • My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan, by Seth Rudetsky
  • My Life Undecided, by Jessica Brody
  • The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater
  • Unwind, by Neal Shusterman
  • Why We Broke Up, by Daniel Handler