BookRank
Where to start

Young adult books to read

Not sure which young adult books to read? We ranked 200 of them using 186,216 reader ratings; the average is 8.1/10. Below: three books to start with, then short reads, series starts, new books, and classics.

If you read only one, make it The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (8.8/10). If you prefer a series: Harry Potter starts with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Start here

Three young adult books that many readers rate highly — each one a first volume or a book that stands alone.

  1. The Hate U GiveAngie Thomas · 2017 · 453 pages8.8/10 · 1,253 ratings
  2. SkywardBrandon Sanderson · 2018 · 528 pages8.7/10 · 1,314 ratingsSkyward series · book 1 of 4
  3. The HobbitJ. R. R. Tolkien · 1937 · 310 pages8.6/10 · 8,321 ratingsMiddle Earth · book 1 of 3

Short reads: under 300 pages

For a weekend or a commute. 20 of the rated young adult books are this short; these score best.

  1. A Monster CallsPatrick Ness · 2011 · 224 pages8.6/10 · 719 ratings
  2. CoralineNeil Gaiman · 2002 · 176 pages8.3/10 · 1,822 ratings
  3. A Little PrincessFrances Hodgson Burnett · 1905 · 224 pages8.2/10 · 352 ratings
  4. The Perks of Being a WallflowerStephen Chbosky · 1999 · 231 pages8.2/10 · 2,504 ratings

Series worth starting

The first volume of each series, with the full reading order one click away.

  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneJ. K. Rowling · 1997 · 303 pages8.6/10 · 11,902 ratingsHarry Potter · book 1 of 8 · Reading order →
  2. The Lightning ThiefRick Riordan · 2005 · 384 pages8.2/10 · 4,133 ratingsPercy Jackson & the Olympians · book 1 of 7 · Reading order →
  3. Clockwork AngelCassandra Clare · 2010 · 482 pages8.1/10 · 966 ratingsThe Infernal Devices · book 1 of 3 · Reading order →
  4. The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins · 2008 · 399 pages8.3/10 · 9,286 ratingsThe Hunger Games · book 1 of 5 · Reading order →

New in 2025 and 2026

The best-rated new books with at least 50 reader ratings.

  1. Fake SkatingLynn Painter · 2025 · 381 pages8.0/10 · 69 ratings
  2. Rebel WitchKristen Ciccarelli · 2025 · 464 pages8.0/10 · 236 ratings
  3. A Language of DragonsS.F. Williamson · 20257.9/10 · 50 ratings

Classics from before 1976

Still read, still rated: the older books that hold up best.

  1. The Bronze BowElizabeth George Speare · 1961 · 255 pages8.1/10 · 59 ratings
  2. The OutsidersS. E. Hinton · 1967 · 192 pages7.9/10 · 1,624 ratings
  3. Where the Red Fern GrowsWilson Rawls · 1961 · 249 pages7.9/10 · 570 ratings

Liked this? Try that

Pairs from our similarity data: the same kind of story, a different author.

If you likedtry
The Hunger GamesSuzanne CollinsMore like this in “Find a book” →ScytheNeal Shusterman · 8.3/10
Crown of MidnightSarah J. MaasMore like this in “Find a book” →King of ScarsLeigh Bardugo · 8.1/10

How long are the rated young adult books?

Under 300 pages20
300–499 pages101
500 pages or more56

177 of 200 rated titles with a known page count. Largest group: 300–499 pages.

Narrow it down with “Find a book”

“Find a book” holds 234 young adult books. Pick a shortcut — the filters are already set:

Young adult books in a series117Standalone young adult books118Short young adult books (under 220 pages)25Young adult books, mood: adventurous143Young adult books with a film or series18Award-winning young adult books34
All young adult books in “Find a book” →

Questions readers ask

What young adult books should I read first?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: 8.8/10 from 1,253 ratings, and it needs no earlier book. Next on our list: Skyward and The Hobbit.

What is a good young adult book under 300 pages?

A Monster Calls (224 pages, 8.6/10) is the highest-rated one under 300 pages.

Which young adult book series should I start?

Harry Potter: begin with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first of 8 books. The reading order page lists every volume.

What are the best new young adult books?

Fake Skating (2025) leads the recent titles at 8.0/10 from 69 ratings.

How are these books chosen?

Only books with enough reader ratings to be ranked (at least 50) are picked. The score is a weighted average across independent rating sources, pulled toward the category average when ratings are few.

Go further

Other genres: where to start

Children’s booksMiddle gradeBooks to read →