I’ve read Young Adult books every since I got into reading at 13, and I still enjoy the genre immensely. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a list of amazing Young Adult books and here are five of my top picks from the genre.

Dark Rise by C.S Pacat

• Published: September 28, 2021
• Pages: 451
• Genre(s): Fantasy, LGBTQ
• Series: Dark Rise #1

Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, Will is ushered into a world of magic, where he must train to play a vital role in the oncoming battle against the dark forces threatening to rise.

I’ve spoken about this series and this author so many times on this blog that I’ve lost count. This book/ series is one of the best I’ve ever read: the characters, plotlines, relationships, world-building, and magic systems are incredibly done. Will Kempen is such a compelling main character, and the plot-twists are second to none. Honestly, I could not recommend Dark Rise enough.

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

• Published: June 16, 2015
• Pages: 400
• Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance

Samantha McAllister seems like any other popular girl, but hidden behind the persona she’s perfected over the years is a secret: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD. When Sam meets a new friend, Caroline, she knows she can’t leave the protection of her popular group no matter how much their drama affects her. But Caroline introduces Sam to Poet’s Corner, and it’s poetry plastered walls and unique occupants provide Sam with a place of refuge that she desperately needs.

I read Every Last Word for the first time as a teenager and it quickly became a favourite. This book feels super personal to me and holds up over time, having re-read it a few times over the years. The mental health rep in this book is super interesting and poignant as Samantha deals with so much. The romantic relationship is beautifully written but never overshadows the true story of this book, which is Samantha’s journey.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

• Published: December 18, 2012
• Pages: 464
• Genre)s): Dystopian, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
• Series: The Darkest Minds #1

At age 10, Ruby’s life changes forever. After surviving the mysterious disease that kills most of America’s child population, and gaining powers she cannot control, she is sent to Thurmond: a brutal government “rehabilitation camp”. At 16, Ruby is known as one of the “dangerous ones”. Once she escapes Thurmond, she must join forces with a band of kids to reach the safe haven called “East River” and stay hidden from the forces set against them.

The Darkest Minds is such a well written series with a dystopian storyline that feels truly unique. I was obsessed with this series when I was younger, but my love for this story has continued – so much so that I wrote an essay on it for one of my modules in University. The cast of characters is incredible and each one is vital to the storyline and to each other. I highly recommend these books as I believe they are entirely too underrated.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

• Published: September 29, 2015
• Pages: 496
• Genre(s): Fantasy
• Series: Six of Crows #1

Ketterdam is a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be bought for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance of a lifetime in the form of a deadly heist: one that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone… Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction.

Six of Crows is another book that I read as a teenager. This duology is incredibly written and has such an intriguing plot and cast of characters. This book truly lives in my head rent free: the idea of a band of teenage criminals committing a dangerous heist is entirely unique to the YA genre and I’m so glad I found it. I have since re-read it, and the novella; A Darker Shore: Letters to Ketterdam, and it just gets better every time.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

• Published: August 31, 2010
• Pages: 481
• Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance
• Series: The Infernal Devices #1

Tessa Gray travels to England in search of her brother, leaving behind all she knows in New York. However, finding danger immediately upon her arrival, she soon allies herself with a group of demon-killers named ‘Shadowhunters’. Tessa finds more than she bargained for in her new life in London, including a unique ability of her own and a spark with more than one of the mysterious Shadowhunters.

The Infernal Devices series, as well as the entirety of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, are some of my favourite books in existence. The characters are definitely the highlight of these books, as Cassandra Clare’s talent shines in the creation of her characters. The relationships of this series are also incredible, with the biblically accurate love triangle of Will Herondale, Jem Carstairs, and Tessa Gray being one of the best ever written. Overall, any praise these books receive is 100% well-deserved.