40 Books All Teens Should Read Before They Turn 18

Whether your teen is the type to sneak a book under the covers after lights-out or a more reluctant reader, everyone can benefit from getting lost between the pages of a good novel. Teens who read widely can better handle complex concepts, score better on standardized tests and are often more accepting of those who are different from themselves. And for a lot of teenagers who claim to hate it, finding the subject matter that draws them in may prove the difference between dragging their feet on finishing their required reading list and devouring a new read without grumbling.

Because middle grade and young adult books have more to offer than ever before, there's no shortage of great literature available that speaks directly to the life and times your Gen Zer is going through right now, especially those who are dealing with bullying, LGBTQ+ issues, acceptance or just garden-variety high school angst. You probably already know the seminal works by literary legends like Harper Lee and J.D. Salinger, and the heartstring-tugging high school romances that made John Green a household name. If one or all of these speaks to your kiddo's tastes, we've got deeper cuts that will have them frantically downloading another one. But if they don't bat an eyelash at those, we have more offbeat options that could strike their fancy. No matter where your teen falls on the book-loving spectrum, we've got something on this list that won't get an eye-roll.