Kelly & Grey (and quite a few others actually) have contacted me and our book crew on the blog looking for YA books to buddy-read with their teens!! I LOVE THIS!!!
What’s even more fun, is that we have two kinds of lists requested (books “geared” for boys, and also of course, for girls). So I’ve tried to separate them a bit here, to make it easier to focus on what you’re looking for, but in the grand scheme of things, it ends up all mixed together below since we can all read them and enjoy them.
They are tried-and-true and loved by both genders. 🙂 In fact, I’ve loved a few recommended below (ie: Chronicles of Nick!!)… that teen boys have loved!
Kelly: I recently read Realm of Knights and Shadow Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis and loved them. Finally found a series I could buddy read with my 12 year old daughter.
Besides The Cruel Prince, which I have been trying to get her to read forever, looking for any recommendations for YA’s that for us to read together?
Can be contemporary or fantasy/paranormal.
I took my son (13 years old) to the LIBRARY, because he asked!!! Woohoo, I may have danced. (in my head, because I’m a cool mom and never would embarrass him like that… no wait, I would *totally* embarrass him like that… *giggle*)
Anyway, he’s reading… usually, he only reads in his off season, or if he’s grounded from electronics haha! he’s a MAD sports enthusiast, you name it, he plays it… but modified high school season is a bit different than the town league, and he doesn’t play gadgets during the week…. wow… LONG winded explanation for me telling you all what I need HELP with! *He* needs book recommendations!
He previously has read Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole series and was very much attached, I think he’s read the series (15 books), like 4 times. It was very much a beloved favorite. He’s reading The Maze Runner in school right now, but they can’t read ahead….so he’s bummed about that. He’s read Percy Jackson series and Harry Potter… I just ordered him a book series by Brandon Sanderson The Reckoners series that he said looked interesting.
But… please help!
Anyone have recommendations for them?
Sara: The Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon is really good!
Kelly: Sara this is the first thing I thought of.
Sara: Great minds think alike! I always know it’s one of my favorite series to read haha.
Patricia: I have a 12 year old with ADD and other learning disabilities and she read both books in less than 5 days while doing 2 sports she loved them…..squee
She: I was EXTREMELY reluctant to read CON. However when I started, I immediately fell into a must-read-trance and I read all 5 books in THREE days! I’m a bit floored by that but they were THAT good and I avoid YA like the plague (cause they usually bore me but not this time!)
Deborah: I hadn’t read anything at all by Sherrilyn Kenyon until the Chronicles of Nick books. I just happened to be sitting down on a bench in the library waiting for my daughter and grandchildren to get done, and I saw them on the shelf, so I checked out number 2, 3, and 4. Once I was halfway through number 3, I knew I would read them all. …And just in case you missed the reference to my grandchildren, I’m a 61 year old grandmother of 12 and I like YA books, especially fantasy or paranormal type books.
Christina: We, the Wildflowers by L.b. Simmons is perfect for a buddy read. There are so many important conversations this story will open the doors for and it’s a beautiful journey to take with your teen! Must read!
Abby: I came to say the same thing! I’m going to read it (again) with my teen. It’s AMAZING, and has great conversation points!
Stephanie: My 10 year old daughter & I just finished reading the School For Good & Evil series. It was really good. She loved it!!
Brook: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger was a big win for me and my 11 year old. She loved the adventure, the strong heroine, and the budding romance. I was entertained by the storyline and loved being able to discuss it with her. Plus, the author is really great with her fanbase.
Rae: The Pebble Jar (The Young Hearts Duet Book 1) by H.A. Robinson. Contemporary novel based on just one year of a young couples life (young teenagers). A little bit of unrequited love and also touches on dementia too
R. Renee: my favorite was an awesome one! The Pebble Jar by H.A. Robinson. #tearjerker …It gutted me, but it doesn’t do that to everyone.
Robyn: I just finished a marathon read of The Pebble Jar. I don’t remember who suggested this book, but THANK YOU!!! If you haven’t read this beautiful, heart wrenching, coming of age story, you really need to. I absolutely could not put it down! Every emotion was explored. I don’t want to give anything away, but even I sobbed like a baby. Read this book if you want your heart to be touched!
Carol: I am a children’s librarian. Good new ones are The Line Tender and The Ghost Collector (sorry the moms dead in both) and The Lost Girl about twin sisters
Priscilla: all 3 of these series are AMAZING!!!!
- The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyers
- The Infernal Devices and
Theresa: read Infernal Devices….it is sooooooo good! It ties so many characters of the Mortal Instruments together….and you will love Will Herondale! I sobbed like a baby at the last book….Cassandra Clare gives one of the most beautiful epilogues I have ever read. It is also one of my favorite love triangles. Heartbreaking!
Michelle: The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare – I think it’s better than Mortal Instruments and has the historical feel too
Vaughn: I would have really loved more of the Infernal Devices! They all were such good reads. The kind you might think of reading again.
- The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare
Dawn: Cassandra Clare—Mortal Instruments Series and any of its prequels and sequels. I love her so much!!!
Lily: Graveminder by Melissa Marr or the Die for Me series by Amy Plum – both are amazing YA paranormal
Carol: I really enjoyed the Gender Game by Bella Forrest.
Ashley: A Curse So Dark and Lonely (The Cursebreaker Series Book 1) by Bridget Kermerer!
Diane: The Atlantis Grail series by Vera Nazarian. Four long books. End if the world, aliens, young love. Most characters are 14 to 19. Some violence.
Jennifer: Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha Book 1)! Sensational read. And there’s a sequel which I haven’t read yet. It’s on my list!
Jodie: The Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty is always going to be my favorite. It starts with Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings.
Cybill:
- House of Night series. (note from Maryse: This one may be for older YA since it has a forbidden love situation going on…)
- Vampire Academy.
Maryse: ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES EVER IN THE WORLD!! I’d say it’s more “older YA” due to certain situations – also forbidden love – but it is fantastic!! Here’s my Book Review of #1, but they just keep getting better from there. 😀
Krystal: I would have to say Vampire Academy for my favorite, even though its young adult, I love the feeling of being a teenager when i read this series.
Nay: I’m another who loved the Vampire Academy series! I’ve recommended it so many times over the years.
Tasha J: I really love John green’s stories
Jen F: Slightly obsessed with John Green’s writing now.
Anna: The Fault in Our Stars is so amazing I can’t stand it. That book, and John Green in general are completely wonderful!
Katie: Bella and I buddy read The Girl, The Sun Is Also a Star and Everything, Everything. ❤
Jean: I just read Everything Everything last weekend (bev recommendation) and loved it! Just the drawings, diagrams, and lists made it so unique!
Maryse: YES!!! I LOVED that one so hard and I watched the movie too. But first, the book!! Here’s my 4.5 STAR Book Review
Maryse: Who is “The Girl” by?
Katie: 😂😂😂😏😏😏😏 me. BUT my 14 yr old loved it and declared Dallas her 1st ever book boyfriend! She swooned. (It was awesome to see, honestly)
Maryse: Ooooooohhhhhhhh!! I get it now. 😀
Sarah: Chanda Hahn’s An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series was good! I got them for my step daughter and I ended up reading the series!
- The Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfield is fantastic!!
- The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.
- Immortal Descendants by April White.
Janna:
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
- Falling Kingdom series by Morgan Rhodes
- The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E Pearson
- Anything by Leigh Bardugo
- His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers
Kim: The Selection series by Kiera Cass
Wendy: White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter, awesome series ! Also her Everlife series
Erica: The Cursed Series by Rebecca Donovan
Michelle: Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking
Taylor: I just wanted to mention the trylle series. They are simply brilliant – im reading them for the 3rd time! (They are by Amanda Hocking)
Melanie: The Affiliate series by KA Linde and Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J Mass
Rachel: The Arcana Chronicles (Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles Book 1)) by Kresley Cole
Kristi: Slammed series by Colleen Hoover
Mary: Adventurers Wanted series by M.L. forman
Tessa: *grins* Grey, you are speaking my language! lol Let me go through my stuff and avoid those YA that could go a little too NA. The only one of those series I haven’t read is the Owl one. Uh… This is just the beginning. lol …Yes, I admit it. I love books that are fantasy but geared towards young boys. ROFL
- Abarat by Clive Barker – This is his only YA book, and it’s not horror, but pure fantasy. It’s pretty fascinating.
- Eragon: Inheritance, Book I (The Inheritance Cycle 1) by Christopher Paolini (better than the movie, but the movie was decent)
- Garth Nix books, just those in general. lol I read Mister Monday: The Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1 and that series, but someone else read Sabriel (Old Kingdom Book 1) and love it. 🙂
- Christopher Pike books. (RL Stine’s Fear street books are good too, but the writing isn’t as on par as Pike’s books are.)
- Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It’s actually GEARED towards young boys. 😀
- Darkest Mind by Alexandra Bracken – Thank you Fabi for getting me hooked on that one.
- The Xanth series by Piers Anthony
- Robert Asprin Myth series
Now, things rec to me:
- The Thief (The Queen’s Thief Book 1) by Megan Whalan Turner
- I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies Book 1) by Pittacus Lore
- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Maryse: Oooooh!! I read this one! It’s actually really good, and I reviewed it – though don’t take my review score as be-all-end-all in this one. This was back when I was mostly only romance-heavy, so my score may have been influenced by what I was in the mood for… Book Review
- Firestar’s Quest by Erin Hunter
Leslie M: Grey, my son started with Percy Jackson then went on to other series by Rick Riordan. He loves them!
Jan:
Tomorrow When the War Began series by John Marsden. A few years old now, but it’s a fantastic series for teens, and a good read for adults too. There’s a decent movie as well.
Garth Nix’s Abhorsen series is a great fantasy series for teens, and adults will love it too. And don’t forget the Lord of the Rings trilogy!
Melina Marchetta’s Looking for Alibrandi and Saving Francesca are a little dated but fab books. Some mature themes, so for older teens.
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Maryse, thank you so much for posting my request. So many great suggestions to check out. Will let you know what we decide.
It was absolutely my pleasure!! This is an important list. After all, my mom and I used to read and go to the library together all the time when I was little. She’s the one that fostered my love of reading.
Very important list indeed!!! 😀
Tomorrow When the War Began series by John Marsden. A few years old now, but it’s a fantastic series for teens, and a good read for adults too. There’s a decent movie as well.
Garth Nix’s Abhorsen series is a great fantasy series for teens, and adults will love it too. And don’t forget the Lord of the Rings trilogy!
Melina Marchetta’s Looking For Alibrandi and Saving Francesca are a little dated but fab books. Some mature themes, so for older teens.
Thank you Jan! I added them in!! 😀
It has been a few years back, but loved reading The Twilight Series with my Granddaughters!
My mom was the one that recommended that series to me back in 2008!!!! I FELL IN LOVE HARD!