01
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Tris Prior's discovery that she's Divergent in a faction-based dystopian society — Roth's trilogy explores identity, belonging, and the courage to refuse categorization in a world that demands it.
▲ Rising·Score +28
Young Adult
Best Young Adult Books and Coming-of-Age Novels for Teen Readers
Young adult fiction tackles life's biggest questions with emotional honesty and unforgettable characters — these are the defining YA novels for every teen and the adults who never stopped reading them.
Pick your favorites · Every vote moves the ranking · Results update live
02
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Aza's compulsive thought spirals and OCD represent the most authentic portrayal of mental illness in YA fiction — a story about the terrifying experience of being trapped inside your own mind while trying to love someone.
▲ Rising·Score +26
03
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Thomas wakes in a mysterious meadow surrounded by a massive maze with no memory of who he is — Dashner's page-turning mystery and claustrophobic tension make this trilogy one of YA dystopia's most propulsive reads.
▲ Rising·Score +26
04
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Charlie's freshman year letters capture adolescent loneliness, mental health, first love, and the discovery of literature with raw emotional honesty that has made this novel a touchstone for generations of teen readers.
▲ Rising·Score +22
05
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
A Roman-inspired fantasy following Laia, a Scholar girl, and Elias, a soldier of the oppressive empire — Tahir's morally complex world and alternating perspectives create an epic story of resistance and identity.
▲ Steady·Score +19
06
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Jonas's discovery of his community's dark secrets in a seemingly perfect society — this slim dystopian masterpiece introduces readers to questions of conformity, memory, freedom, and the meaning of humanity.
▲ Steady·Score +16
07
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Hazel and Augustus's love story in the shadow of terminal illness — Green's unsentimental approach to grief, love, and mortality created a YA phenomenon demonstrating that teen readers deserve intellectual respect.
▲ Steady·Score +14
08
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Scout Finch's childhood observation of racial injustice in Depression-era Alabama through her father's defense of an innocent Black man — the most assigned and most beloved American coming-of-age novel.
▲ Steady·Score +13
09
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss Everdeen's fight for survival in the dystopian Capitol's televised death games launched a generation's obsession with dystopian fiction and remains one of YA's most gripping and thematically rich trilogies.
▲ Steady·Score +11
10
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
The seven-book series that transformed an entire generation's relationship with reading — Harry Potter's magical education is inseparable from themes of friendship, sacrifice, love's power, and the courage to face death.
▲ Steady·Score +11
11
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Melinda's freshman year silence after a traumatic assault — Anderson's unflinching examination of sexual violence's aftermath and survivor silence was revolutionary for YA fiction's willingness to address real trauma.
▲ Steady·Score +9
12
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A heist fantasy following six morally gray criminals planning the most audacious theft in history — Bardugo's intricate plotting, diverse characters, and found-family dynamics define the peak of modern YA fantasy.
▲ Steady·Score +8
Predict the rank
“Divergent by Veronica Roth”
Currently ranked #1. Where will it be in 7 days?