The Children’s Book Review | December 4, 2014
Popular Books for Teens
With so many strong novels on this list, everything remains the same on our hand-picked list from the Best Selling Young Adult list—including The Children’s Book Review‘s number one best selling young adult book is The Children’s Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy—a classic must-read for all Greek mythology fans. As listed by The New York Times, best selling young adult titles include books by super-talents John Green, Ransom Riggs, and Markus Zusak. Many of the books on this list have been turned into movies, so there is a bit of a book-to-movie theme going on in the Young Adult book world! The titles listed here truly are popular books for teens (and many adults, too).
The Children’s Book Review’s Best Selling Young Adult Book
The Children’s Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy
By Padraic Colum; Illustrated by Willy Pogany
”Published in 1918, Colum’s stirring telling of the Greek epics is still unequaled as an introduction to the classic myths for young readers.” —Publishers Weekly
” (Audiobook narrator) Whitfield’s (-aka- Simon Vance) distinct narration gives a clear rendition of classic myths The Iliad and The Odyssey. The reading is intelligible to children yet preserves the heroic style of the sagas. It is a treat to hear Greek words pronounced with such ease.” —Lolly Gepson
PADRAIC COLUM (1881-1972) was an Irish poet, playwright, author, a major leader of the Irish Renaissance, and a friend to James Joyce and William Yeats. Well versed in the old Gaelic myths as well as those of other cultures, he wrote a number of books for children that retell these tales. His book The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived before Achilles was a Newbery Honor Book, and he was awarded the Regina Medal for his distinguished contribution to children’s literature.
Ages 12 and up | Publisher: Simon Pulse | Oct. 1, 1982 | ISBN-13: 978-0020425205
Nationwide Best Selling Young Adult Books
If I Stay
By Gayle Forman
The critically acclaimed, bestselling novel from Gayle Forman, author of Where She Went, Just One Day, and Just One Year.
Soon to be a major motion picture, starring Chloe Moretz!
Publisher’s Synopsis: In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, this will change the way you look at life, love, and family. Now a major motion picture starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Mia’s story will stay with you for a long, long time.
Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Speak | Apr. 6, 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-0142415436
The Fault in our Stars
By John Green
A Major Motion Picture!
TIME Magazine’s #1 Fiction Book of 2012!
Publisher’s Synopsis: The Fault in Our Stars is a love story, one of the most genuine and moving ones in recent American fiction, but it’s also an existential tragedy of tremendous intelligence and courage and sadness.” Lev Grossman, TIME Magazine
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.
Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.
Ages 14-17 | Publisher: Dutton Books | Jan. 10, 2012 | ISBN-13: 978-0525478812
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
By Ransom Riggs
A New York Times #1 best seller
On the New York Times Best Seller List for more than 52 consecutive weeks
Publisher’s Synopsis: Includes an excerpt from the much-anticipated sequel and an interview with author Ransom Riggs
A mysterious island.
An abandoned orphanage.
A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
Ages 12-17 | Publisher: Quirk Books | Jun. 7, 2013 | ISBN-13: 978-1594746031
Looking for Alaska
By John Green
Publisher’s Synopsis: The award-winning, genre-defining debut from #1 bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
New York Times bestseller
Before. Miles Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . .
After. Nothing is ever the same.
Ages 14-17 | Publisher: Dutton Books | Mar. 3, 2005 | ISBN-13: 978-0142402511
The Book Thief
By Markus Zusak
Publisher’s Synopsis: The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that will be in movie theaters on November 15, 2013, Markus Zusak’s unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul.
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.
Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.
In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
Ages 12 and up | Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf | Sept. 11, 2007 | ISBN-13: 978-0375842207
This information for the best selling books was gathered from the New York Times Best Sellers list, which reflects the sales of books from books sold nationwide, including independent and chain stores. It is correct at the time of publication and presented in random order. Visit www.nytimes.com for their most current and up-to-date list.
Have you read all of these books? For more fiction Young Adult books, follow along with our Best YA tag. With so many wonderful children and teen books being turned into movies, you may also have an interest in following our tag: Books into Movies.
