Back in June of 2008 I wrote the Top 20 Classic Books for Teenagers. At the time, I had no idea it would be my most visited and most commented upon blog post. I received so many comments with suggestions of books that I should have included, I decided to make a second list or a part 2 to my original list. I had to leave out a few books suggested in the comments for various reasons and I included a few of my own. Please forgive me if I left out a suggestion of yours.Don't forget that this list is made up only of classic books. That is why I don't have Twilight and many other wonderful recent books.
My 2nd list of classic books for teenagers, in alphabetical order:
1984
- George OrwellA Tale of Two Cities
- Charles DickensAnne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
- Anne FrankAre You There God? It's Me Margaret
- Judy BlumeThe Bell Jar
- Sylvia PlathCall of the Wild
- Jack LondonCaptains Courageous
- Rudyard KiplingCat's Cradle
- Kurt VonnegutFrankenstein
- Mary ShelleyKing Solomon's Mines
- H. Rider haggardMarjorie Morningstar
- Herman WoukThe Martian Chronicles
- Ray BradburyNight
- Elie WieselOf Mice and Men
- John SteinbeckOn the Road
- Jack KerouacThe Outsiders
- S.E. HintonRoots
- Alex HaleyThe Scarlett Letter
- Nathaniel HawthorneThis Side of Paradise
- F. Scott FitzgeraldI'm happy for any and all suggestions once again. Please make sure you look over the first Top 20 Classic Books for Teenagers and make sure any book you are suggesting isn't already on that list.
See also:
18 New YA Books for Teens in 2011
20 Coming of Age Novels for Teens
3 New Books for Teens - Poetry, Dating and a Reading Journal
Teens Engage with Classic Books via Video Recaps
See the Books label in the right sidebar for other great books for teens.
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Hello! I love this blog, being a Mom of a teenage daughter it has been so great to read your posts! That's why I am awarding you the "Lemonade Award" to learn more visit http://firingbosses.blogspot.com/ .
Congrats!!
Sarah
Thanks for the invite. Interesting blog, I would have never found you so I'm glad I checked out the mom bloggers.
What about "one flew over the cuckoos nest", and "Alas Babylon"?
Both good choices, thanks for your input. Even with this addition of an additional 20, it is still hard to fit all the great classics for teens into the list.
what about Little Men and Jo's Boys....those are the sequels to Little Women By Louisa May Alcott...Thanks for making this list!!
when was the last time you acted like in your teenage years ?
I still do sometimes.
I havent acted like one in a long time but sometimes I slip.
Can you please add Anne of Green Gables? I think that book deserves to be put on the classic book list! Oh and for anyone who is reading this...that is my favorite book and I highly recommend it!
I agree completely with Anne of Green Gables. She's definitely one of the most delightful heroines. EVER. :)Also, are "A Ring of Pure and Endless Light" or "Wrinkle in Time" not old enought for classics? I think they could be worth adding, epecially as the former is a great YA book!
My Lobotomy by Howard Dully and White Fang by Jack London are great reads that many teens will enjoy.
Very good list. Also agree with Anne of Green Gables. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is also very good (although unsure if for teens or younger children).
Frankenstein is a good one
I remember how I love this one so much during my teens period :)
Great list. Although not enough contemporary lit. My favorite book and my teen daughter's favorite book is The Lost Daughter by Daralyse Lyons. It's the best novel ever written!!!
Awesome list, You should try many different Classics for teenagers, a really good classic that I like was, Uncle Tom's Cabin, I can't remember the Author, but the book was very popular and still is, though very long, it is very good. Another good one is Tom Sawyer, I found it very funny. The author makes you feel like a little kid again
This is a really great list! I'm in high school and I've been browsing lately for classics that I might like so I don't spend money I barely have in a book I will not like. 1984 was a really great book. THANK YOU.
Good list but as you already know there are many others good books so you must make and list part 3.
Very good list and i saw that you include my favourite book of George Orwell 1984.
I see you have The Martian Chronicles, that is the only one I have read from your list, it's ok book. But as the above poster said you should add a bigger list. I can think of many books for teenagers that have not been mentioned here.
I LUV the book the outsiders . but you should add December boys By Michael Noonan
Taming the star runners by SE Hinton
That was then this is now by SE Hinton
Rumble Fish by SE Hinton
Tex By SE Hinton
You can't go wrong with any SE Hinton Book :)
This is a really great list! I'm in high school and I've been browsing lately for classics that I might like so I don't spend money I barely have in a book I will not like. 1984 was a really great book.
I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to undertand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not tht good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he ejoyed it as well!
I LUV the book the outsiders . but you should add December boys By Michael Noonan
Taming the star runners by SE Hinton
That was then this is now by SE Hinton
Rumble Fish by SE Hinton
Tex By SE Hinton
You can't go wrong with any SE Hinton Book :)
I read and enjoyed the whole Percy Jackson series and think they are ideal for teenagers. Great, inoffensive adventures.
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such great information being shared freely out there.
Both good choices, thanks for your input.
What a great post. I am so glad I found your blog. Though I blog about children's books now, my oldest will soon be a teenager, and I will be coming back here for sure.
1984 for teenagers? With a proper discussion afterward, maybe...