Hatchet
Gary Paulsen

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson finds himself stranded and alone in the Canadian wilderness after his airplane crashes. With nothing but the clothes on his back and a hatchet, Brian must summon the strength and determination to survive, while facing and overcoming his own personal demons as well.

The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho

Paolo Coelho’s award-winning allegory is the story of a young boy seeking his dream—quite literally. Students will recognize their own “Personal Legend” in Santiago’s quest. This tale of perseverance and personal revelation follows a young Andalusian shepherd boy seeking out a distant treasure that he has only dreamed of, and readers will find it to be inspirational, entertaining, and motivating.

Black Ships Before Troy
Rosemary Sutcliff

Introduce your students to one of the greatest adventure stories of all time with this approachable retelling of the Iliad. In Black Ships Before Troy, Sutcliff takes Homer’s epic poem and makes it accessible to younger readers, while maintaining the same thrilling twists and turns as the original story.

The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan

A fun way to introduce the world of Greek mythology to your younger students, The Lightning Thief chronicles the life of Percy Jackson, a typical kid who suddenly discovers that he is the half-blood offspring of one of the gods. This modern take on a typical mythological adventure story has all the plot twists and humorous encounters you’ll need to keep your whole class interested and eagerly turning pages.

The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman

Young Lyra is drawn into a dangerous mystery involving missing children, a mysterious substance called Dust, and a powerful organization determined to keep its secrets hidden. Her journey takes her far from the world she knows and into the frozen North, where armored bears, witches, and unexpected allies await. Rich with adventure and imagination, this fantasy novel explores courage, loyalty, truth, and the difficult choices that come with growing up.

Cinder
Marissa Meyer

This science-fiction spin on a classic fairy tale will take readers on an imaginative journey packed with action, suspense, and romance. Considered a second-class citizen due to her cyborg status, Linh Cinder works as a mechanic in the futuristic New Beijing to support her cruel stepmother. But when she unexpectedly crosses paths with the handsome Prince Kai, Cinder suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic conflict. To protect her world’s future, Cinder must uncover the truth about her past, no matter the consequences.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
C. S. Lewis

When Lucy Pevensie steps through an old wardrobe, she discovers Narnia, a magical land trapped in an endless winter by the powerful White Witch. Soon, Lucy and her siblings find themselves caught in a struggle for Narnia’s future alongside the great lion, Aslan. Filled with mythical creatures, daring adventures, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil, this beloved fantasy classic explores courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

Scythe
Neal Shusterman

Humanity has conquered death, war, disease, and hunger, and only professional reapers known as Scythes are allowed to kill. Citra and Rowan are picked, against their will, to be trained as Scythes, but only one of them is allowed to make it out alive. Philosophical and brooding, this is the first book in Neal Shusterman’s Arc of a Scythe series, and fans of The Hunger Games will find themselves completely engrossed in this surreal, dystopian world.

Amal Unbound
Aisha Saeed

Middle-grade readers will adore this empowering story of freedom, perseverance, and love by bestselling author Aisha Saeed. Twelve-year-old Amal must give up her dreams of becoming a teacher after she accidentally offends a member of her Pakistani village’s ruling family, the Khans. Forced into indentured servitude as punishment, Amal struggles to find her place among the Khan estate’s social hierarchy. But after she learns just how far the Khans will go to maintain power, Amal realizes she must find the courage to fight back.

Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson

Jess is eager to begin 5th grade, but he is stunned when he loses the first schoolyard race to Leslie, a new girl at school. Ironically, Jess and Leslie forge a valuable friendship, sharing secrets of life, joy, and imagination, until a tragic accident tears them apart. Praised for its interesting plot and realistic characters, Bridge to Terabithia is a novel your students will cherish forever.

Hey, Kiddo
Jarrett J. Krosoczka

A National Book Award finalist, this graphic memoir takes readers on a poignant journey through Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s tumultuous childhood. With an absentee father and a mother addicted to drugs, Jarrett lives with his grandparents, who, while loving, have their own problems. Seeking normalcy, Jarrett finds ways to channel his complicated emotions through drawing. With striking illustrations, Hey, Kiddo deftly explores themes of resilience, love, and the power of self-expression.

The Grace Year
Kim Liggett

In Kim Liggett’s dystopian world, it’s believed that girls hold powerful magic that can drive men to sin and women to jealousy. To dispel the magic, girls are cast into the wilderness during their sixteenth year. But some never come back. Now in her own grace year, Tierney discovers that beyond the elements and poachers in the woods, the girls’ biggest threat to their survival might just be each other.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Mark Haddon

When fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone, an autistic teenager with a remarkable talent for mathematics and logic, discovers his neighbor’s dog dead in the yard, he sets out to uncover what happened. His investigation soon leads him beyond the mystery itself, revealing unexpected truths about his family and challenging him to navigate a world he often finds confusing and unpredictable.

Grown
Tiffany D. Jackson

Seventeen-year-old Enchanted Jones finds her life transformed after top R&B artist Korey Fields takes notice of her during an audition. But soon, she realizes that underneath his charm, Korey hides a disturbing, possessive side. One day, Enchanted wakes up to find her hands covered in blood, Korey dead, and no memory of the night before. Accused of murder, Enchanted fights to prove her innocence and expose Korey’s true nature to the public.

A Long Way Gone
Ishmael Beah

Students in your classes will be stunned by the speed at which war turns a joyful young boy into a soldier addicted to both gruesome violence and the drugs his army freely distributes. This chilling nonfiction memoir—told in Ishmael Beah’s own words when he came to America after fighting in Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war—will give your students insight into one of the most important human rights issues still affecting our world today: the plight of child soldiers.

All the Light We Cannot See
Anthony Doerr

Set during World War II, this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows Marie-Laure, a blind French girl who flees Nazi-occupied Paris with her father, and Werner, a gifted German orphan whose talent with radios draws the attention of the Nazi regime. As the war reshapes their lives, their separate journeys gradually move toward an unexpected intersection in the coastal town of Saint-Malo.

New Kid
Jerry Craft

A Newbery Medal winner, this children’s graphic novel explores finding one’s identity in a challenging world. Seventh grader Jordan Banks dreams of being a cartoonist. But instead of art school, his parents send him to a prestigious private academy where Jordan learns he is one of the few students of color. As he tries to separate his new school culture from his home life in Washington Heights, Jordan starts to feel like he doesn’t fit in anywhere. It’s only with the help of friends, family, and art that Jordan learns to stay true to himself.

Brown Girl Dreaming
Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson reflects on her childhood growing up in South Carolina and New York during the 1960s and 1970s. Told in vivid verse, Woodson shares memories of family, friendship, race, the Civil Rights Movement, and her growing awareness of the power of words and storytelling. Warm, personal, and beautifully written, this award-winning memoir explores identity, belonging, and the experiences that inspired Woodson to find her voice as a writer.

Genesis Begins Again
Alicia D. Williams

Thirteen-year-old Genesis blames herself for her problems. Her father has a gambling addiction, causing the family to be continually evicted from their home. Her mother looks down on her dark skin, saying Genesis isn’t “light enough.” Genesis is determined to fix her family, even if it means harming herself in the process. But when Genesis starts to find things she actually likes about herself, she discovers that changing her own attitude is the first step in changing that of others.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Erika Sánchez

Appropriate for high school audiences, this novel follows Julia Reyes, a rebellious teenager and the child of Mexican immigrants, as she struggles with severe depression and family tensions after the unexpected death of her older sister, Olga. Unlike Julia, Olga lived a seemingly ideal life, but that illusion is shattered when Julia discovers a dark secret in the weeks following her sister’s passing. Part mystery, part coming-of-age tale, this book will have students eager to see where Julia’s story ultimately leads.

The Other Wes Moore
Wes Moore

This powerful work of nonfiction attempts to answer how the lives of two boys raised in similar neighborhoods develop in wildly divergent ways: One became a Rhodes scholar, and the other is a convicted murderer. The Other Wes Moore will make your students think about the ways in which social class, socioeconomic disparity, education, and parental support shape the individual—for better or for worse.

Crying in H Mart
Michelle Zauner

Originally published as an essay in The New Yorker, this memoir expands upon musician Michelle Zauner’s struggles with grief and identity after her mother passed away. Through vivid prose, Zauner recounts her complex relationship with her Korean mother and how food helped them bond. Upon her mother’s death, Zauner found comfort in cooking the dishes she taught her. Honest and heartfelt, this book is a moving portrait of Zauner’s journey to understand her Korean American heritage and herself.

Girl in Translation
Jean Kwok

Not long after she and her mother arrive in Brooklyn from Hong Kong, Kimberly Chang begins leading a secret double life. By day, she is an ambitious schoolgirl; by night, a Chinatown sweatshop worker. Kimberly knows the way to better opportunities is through education, but between overcoming the language barrier and fulfilling obligations to her family, she is under immense pressure to succeed.

I Am Malala
Malala Yousafzai

The inspiring true story of Malala Yousafzai, a courageous student who defied the Taliban in pursuit of her right to an education, I Am Malala will resonate with any student who has faced discrimination—and help build empathy in those who haven’t. Malala’s story will also give your students valuable insights into the struggles young women face in places where they are not allowed the same rights as men have.

The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls

If you need a nonfiction text this year, consider Jeannette Walls’s amazing memoir, The Glass Castle. Students will sympathize as she recounts her experiences growing up with an alcoholic father and aloof artist mother who often seem more interested in finding the next adventure than in raising their young children. Because it pulls no punches, the book is a spectacular choice for your mature or upper-level classes.

Interior Chinatown
Charles Yu

A National Book Award winner, this novel adopts screenplay elements to tell a satirical story about the discrimination faced by Asian Americans in society. Actor Willis Wu aspires to star as “Kung Fu Guy,” his dream Hollywood role. But for now, he’s stuck playing “Generic Asian Male” on a crime TV show. As he moves from stereotypical role to role, Willis slowly realizes they’re affecting how he perceives his life off screen. Willis’s conflict with his identity unfolds in tandem with his characters’ scripts, giving readers another dimension to the story.

Americanized: Rebel Without a Greencard
Sara Saedi

At thirteen, Sara Saedi believes friends, fashion, and boys are her biggest concerns. But after her sister is denied a job because she doesn’t have a social security number, Sara uncovers a shocking secret: Her Iranian family has been living in America as undocumented immigrants since she was two years old. Faced with this knowledge, Sara soon finds herself juggling her fear of deportation alongside the everyday struggles of being a teen. Filled with witty writing, historical details, and ’90s pop culture references, this memoir takes a critical look at the long and difficult journey to becoming an American citizen.

Behold the Dreamers
Imbolo Mbue

Take your students back to the 2007 global financial crisis with Behold the Dreamers, an intimate look into the lives of two extremely different families. The Jongas, having recently emigrated from Cameroon to America, make a living working for the Edwards family, a wealthy husband and wife with connections to Lehman Brothers. Fast-paced and political, Behold the Dreamers is an excellent novel to connect students with literature about American exceptionalism.

Crossing the Line
Kareem Rosser

As a child, Kareem Rosser believed his family would always be stuck in their poor West Philadelphia neighborhood. But after he and his brothers discover a riding stable near Fairmount Park, his life is forever changed. With support from Lezlie Hiner, the stable owner, Kareem dives into the world of polo, earning a scholarship at a prestigious academy and becoming a member of the first all-Black national interscholastic polo championship team. A powerful memoir, Crossing the Line offers valuable lessons on family bonds and determination.

The Best We Could Do
Thi Bui

In this poignant graphic memoir, artist Thi Bui reflects on the consequences of war and the impact of intergenerational trauma by chronicling her family’s turbulent history. Starting with the story of her family’s daring escape after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s, Bui documents the struggles they faced as immigrants adjusting to new lives in America. It’s only through experiencing her own trials as a first-time mother that she truly understands the incredible sacrifices her parents made to give their children a better life.

The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph
Oksana Masters & Cassidy Randall

Born in Ukraine near Chernobyl, Oksana Masters faced unimaginable challenges from birth—limb differences, medical complications, and life in an orphanage marked by hardship. Adopted at seven by a determined American woman, she underwent years of surgeries, refusing to be defined by limitations. Instead, she shattered barriers, rising to the top of four elite sports and earning 17 Paralympic medals, the most of any US Winter Olympian. Oksana’s inspiring journey from adversity to athletic greatness is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of love.

The Distance Between Us
Reyna Grande

In this compelling memoir, Reyna Grande offers a glimpse into the immigrant experience through the eyes of the children left behind. When Reyna was young, her parents made the dangerous trek across the border to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream, leaving her and her siblings in Mexico. Living with their impoverished grandmother, the children struggle with feelings of abandonment, longing for the day the family will be reunited. But when things don’t go according to plan, Reyna begins her own journey to El Otro Lado, “The Other Side,” to live with her father, a man she hardly remembers.

Ghost Boys
Jewell Parker Rhodes

After twelve-year-old Jerome is killed by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real weapon, his ghost observes the fallout that occurs within his family and community. In the afterlife, Jerome meets another spirit who shared a similar fate, a boy named Emmett Till. With Emmett as his guide, Jerome realizes how historical racism led to the events that ended his life. Perfect for middle-grade readers, Ghost Boys weaves past and current events together into an unforgettable story about what it means to be Black in America.

Punching the Air
Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

Amal Shahid is a poet and artist. But at sixteen, everything changes when a confrontation in a gentrified neighborhood ends in tragedy. Wrongfully convicted, Amal is swept into a system that calls him a criminal just because of his race. In the face of despair, Amal turns to his art to reclaim his sense of self. Written in verse by author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam, this novel offers powerful lessons on resilience and justice.

Dear Martin
Nic Stone

High school senior Justyce McAllister is a top student with a bright future, but an encounter with the police forces him to confront the racism and injustice surrounding him. Searching for answers, he begins writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflecting on how King’s teachings apply to his own life. Powerful and thought-provoking, this contemporary novel explores racism, privilege, friendship, and the difficult choices involved in standing up for what you believe.

The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the predominantly Black neighborhood where she lives and the mostly white private school she attends. When Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood friend Khalil by a police officer, she must decide when and how to speak out about what she saw. This New York Times bestseller deftly tackles weighty themes of racism, police brutality, and societal injustice and will undoubtedly lead to plenty of interesting conversations.

This Is My America
Kim Johnson

Every week, teenager Tracy writes to Innocence X, asking the organization to help free her father, an innocent black man, from death row. With only 267 days left, Tracy is worried. Then, her family suffers another shock when her older brother Jamal, a promising track star, is accused of killing Angela, a local white girl. Jamal flees, afraid of ending up like his father. Tracy is determined to prove the innocence of both her father and brother, but her search for the truth reveals dark secrets within their Texas town.

Patron Saints of Nothing
Randy Ribay

Jay Reguero planned on coasting by his last semester of high school before heading to college in the fall. But after learning that his Filipino cousin Jun was mysteriously murdered as part of President Duterte’s war on drugs, Jay goes against his family’s wishes and journeys to the Philippines to uncover the truth—no matter the consequences. Tackling themes of grief and guilt, this coming-of-age tale masterfully explores the complexities of cultural identity and the importance of familial bonds.

Firekeeper’s Daughter
Angeline Boulley

Daunis Fontaine feels like an outcast, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of going to college and starting fresh, but after witnessing a shocking murder, her life is upended. Agreeing to go undercover for the FBI, Daunis must use her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to aid their investigation into a lethal new drug. But as she draws closer to the truth, Daunis must decide how far she’ll go to protect her community.

Just Mercy
Bryan Stevenson

In this powerful true story, attorney Bryan Stevenson recounts his work defending people who have been wrongly convicted or unfairly sentenced within the American criminal justice system. At the center of the book is the case of Walter McMillian, a man sentenced to death for a murder he maintained he did not commit. This book is a perfect nonfiction pairing with To Kill a Mockingbird or A Lesson Before Dying.