Adventure
Books about disasters, survival, and war stories. Characters usually face great danger and must show courage to survive
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
I am the Weapon by Allen Zadoff
C.J. Box Books
Dystopia
A subset of science fiction--future societies gone bad
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Among the Hidden by Margaret Haddix
Fantasy
Includes mythology and its elements. A key factor is magic or special abilities. They often include time travel and heroic adventures. Often, they contain magical creatures, such as dragons, or talking animals.
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan
Lord of the Rings Series by JRR Tolkien
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Historical Fiction
Books that are made up stories set in real historic times and settings. They try to help the reader understand what life was like during those time periods.
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Humor
Books that make you laugh.
Fat Boy vs The Cheerleaders by Geoff Herbach
The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Issues
Books that are about problems and situations people experience and want to know how others deal with them.
A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
This is Where it Ends by Markieke Nijkamp
The Fault in our Stars by John Green
Mystery
Books that include thrills and chills, whodunit, murders, crimes and are often full of suspense.
Pelican Brief by John Grisham
Agatha Christie Books
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynne Barnes
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
James Patterson Books
Paranormal
Books that follow inexperienced protagonist who are unexpectedly drawn into paranormal situations. Amidst these conflicts, characters often gain allies, find romance, and, in some cases, develop or discover supernatural abilities of their own. Often these storie include ghosts, vampires, zombies, werewolves, witches, etc.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Cirque de Freak by Darren Shan
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Romance
Books that involve love, relationships, and heartbreak. These books are often referred to as Chick Lit. Romance is often combined with other genres such as paranormal romance.
Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare
Emma by Jane Austen
P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
Nicholas Spark books
Science Fiction
Includes utopian or dystopian societies. Things we associate with science such as space, bioengineering, and virtual reality are part of this genre. It also includes items that have been studied by scientists such as aliens and time travel. Often they contain action and adventure.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
I am Number Four by Pitticus Lore
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Social Commentary
This genre is explaining how things were or are. It is what society is like and are often tied to making changes in it. They can include rebellion.
Little House Series by Laura Ingells Wilder
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson
Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson
Sports
These books are about sports and athletes.
Mike Lupica Books
Football Genius by Tim Green
Now is the Time for Running by Michael Williams
Rush for the Gold by John Feinstein
Steampunk
A subset of science fiction. Set in a time or place where steam power is still widely used-- usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England--but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions or real technological developments like the computer occuring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles or analog computers; these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or a presumption of functionality.
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Western
This genre includes living the life of a cowboy, the wild west, Native Americans, ghost towns, and often animals especially horses and cattle.
Louis L'amour books
Tex by S.E. Hinton
Lonestar Sanctuary by Colleen Coble