Good Poetry Books for Teens
Our adolescent years are arguably the most defining ones, and the books we read during this time stay with us long after we've turned the last page. We've all laughed, cried and shared sacred moments with these stories. Whether they open us up to new worlds that change the way we see our own, unforgettable characters who shape our personalities, or moments that make us feel everything, our teenage reads leave their mark.
If you're searching for a new book to rediscover your teen self in, a lost classic to revisit, or looking for the ideal gift, here's our selection of the ten best teenage reads.
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Girls in Love (Jacqueline Wilson)
This coming-of-age story from Jacqueline Wilson follows Ellie and her best friends Magda and Nadine, three teenage girls trying to navigate their way through the world, from friendships and family to school and romantic relationships. An honest look at the ups and downs of being a teenager, Girls in Love openly discusses grief, loss, love and everything in-between. The beauty of this story lies in the strong sisterhood of these three unique characters, in spite of their differences. Their adventures continue in Girls Under Pressure, Girls Out Late and Girls in Tears.
I Will Not Be Erased (Gal-dem)
A recommended read for any teenager who has ever felt 'othered' or 'different'. Written by the award-winning online and print magazine, created by women and non-binary people of colour, I Will Not Be Erased is a space for these stories. Filled with personal essays that look at identity, sexuality, family, love, power - and what it's like to grow up as a person of colour, this is a life-affirming read. From first-times and first break-ups to being the uncool girl and listening to your inner voice, this is a bible for anyone looking to own who they are.
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban (Malala Yousafzai)
A Nobel Peace Prize winner at the age of sixteen, it's fair to say that Malala is an inspirational teenager. An avid campaigner for girls' rights to education, Malala Yousafzai was shot by a member of the Taliban at the age of 15. In I Am Malala, she tells her story - growing up in Pakistan, surviving her attack, her ongoing fight to help girls access education around the world, and why empowering and championing others is her priority. If ever there was a book that showed the importance of standing up for what you believe in, this is it.
Noughts & Crosses (Malorie Blackman)
It's hard to believe that Malorie Blackman's famed series is nearly twenty years old. More poignant and timely than ever, Noughts & Crosses has had a theatre run and is set to air on the BBC in 2020. Set in a society in which Crosses (black people) rule over Noughts (white people), things take a Romeo and Juliet turn when Nought, Callum and Cross, Sephy fall in love. With interracial relationships a punishable by death offence, it's a doomed love story with tragedy interwoven throughout. Addictively pacy and full of twists and turns, it's a dystopian teen classic.
Everything, Everything (Nicola Yoon)
From the author of The Sun Is Also A Star comes this teen love story. It's a classic boy-meets-girl tale - but with a difference. Teenage neighbours Olly and Maddy might be destined to be lovebirds but there's one thing dividing the two - Maddy has a condition known as SCID or "bubble baby disease". In other words, she is allergic to the outside world, and one step outside her sterilised surroundings could kill her. But with the two falling harder than either imagined, Maddy is prepared to risk it all for her true love.
In Our Mad and Furious City (Guy Gunaratne)
The winner of the Jhalak Prize and the Dylan Thomas prize, this debut from author, Guy Gunaratne is a gripping coming-of-age story that will fill and tear apart your heart at the same time. Think La Haine meets London as three young boys - Selvon, Ardan and Yusuf - navigate friendships and family and relationships and religion, against a backdrop of bubbling tension of radicalism, crime and an underlying danger that lies ahead. A visceral portrayal of the reality of inner-city life as a young teen, In Our Mad and Furious City is a modern classic.
The Poet X (Elizabeth Acevedo)
Lovers of poetry, this one's for you. A National Slam Champion herself, author Elizabeth Acevedo weaves her Dominican bolero in with the sheer grit of New York. The Poet X follows Xiomara, a teenager growing into her womanhood, navigating school and the outside world - both of which have their dangers, and most of all, trying to survive. Hidden under her tough exterior, however, is a young girl with concealed affections and suppressed secrets. But when Xiomara joins a slam poetry club, she finds a place where she can speak up and speak out.
The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
Some may know this story from the 2009 feature film adaptation starring Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci and Susan Sarandon, but The Lovely Bones was first published as a novel in 2002. Despite its dark content and hard-hitting introduction, it's a deeply moving story about love, death and acceptance. When 14-year-old Susie Salmon is brutally attacked and murdered by her neighbour, she becomes a ghost and watches over her family, friends and even strangers trying to come to terms with her untimely death. At its core, it's an important story about trauma, grief and ultimately, recovery.
The Colour Purple (Alice Walker)
A seminal literary work that made Alice Walker the renowned writer she is, The Colour Purple doesn't seem like your average teen read, but this is a misunderstanding. Set in the segregated American South of the 1930's, the story follows Celie, a 14-year-old black girl living in poverty, separated from her sister and suffering abuse at the hands of her father. But when the mysterious jazz singer Shug Avery comes to stay, Celie discovers friendship, love, faith and more importantly, strength. Bold and powerfully emotional, this is for every teenager looking to find their inner spirit.
The Fault in Our Stars (John Green)
No teenager's reading list is complete without John Green. The bestselling author of Looking For Alaska and Paper Towns is perhaps best known for this tearjerker. The Fault in Our Stars follows Hazel, a teenage girl suffering from terminal cancer whose life is turned upside down when she meets a melancholy and darkly sarcastic boy by the name of Augustus Waters at Cancer Kid Support Group and falls in love. A story that highlights the most precious moments in life and what is worth living for, this book is heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Penguin Books UK amazon.co.uk
£6.55
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Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/editors-choice-book-reviews/a30651184/books-for-teens/