15+ Readers

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

Fleeing across Prussia in the closing stages of WWII, with Russia advancing from the East and the German army in its last throes.

Main character: 

This book alternates between four young characters' perspectives: Joana (a young nurse), Emilia (a heavily pregnant 15yr old Polish girl), Florian (a teenage boy who should really be in the army) and Alfred (a 17yr old German sailor).

In three words: 

tragic / historical / gripping

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

 A huge variety of time periods throughout history such as ancient Mali and the trenches of WWI, frequently returning to Wales in the early 2020s.

Main character: 

Evelyn and Arden - seemingly doomed to kill each other before their 18th birthday before being born again into new bodies and with new families, across time and throughout history for thousands of years.

In three words: 

fantasy / star-crossed / curses

Age: 

14+

National Theatre Live's filmed theatre performances have improved so much over the years and are now incredibly well-filmed and really immerse you in the performances.

I've recently enjoyed watching Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma star in Macbeth, originally performed at Dock X (a purpose built venue).

I can highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys theatre, but especially to my GCSE students currently studying this play. It will really help you revise the story and think about themes, motivations, characters and quotes. 

Can you spot the small sections they have cut and moved around?!

Easy to watch on via National Theatre at home...

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

 In the Kingdom of Ilya, the Elites - those born with powers - rule, while any Ordinary is banished for life.

Main character: 

Paedyn Gray is a teenage Ordinary living in hiding in Ilya, trained by her father from birth to pretend that she has psychic powers. Since her father was murdered, she has been living in the slum area of the city, picking pockets to survive.

In three words: 

romantasy / adventure / thrilling

NB: this is the first in a series

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

The small town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression and a time of deep-seated racism.

Main character: 

Scout, age 6-9 - an intelligent, curious tom-boy, learning about prejudice and social injustice with her father's gentle guidance.

In three words: 

classic, bravery, prejudice

NB

Studied by some exam boards at GCSE

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

 In a huge RV, stuck in the wilderness of a southern US state, present day.

Main character: 

There are 6 central characters, with the story being told from the perspective of Red. A teenager, she is struggling to recover from the trauma of her (police officer) mum's murder, and the stress of poverty and an alcoholic father.reactions.

In three words: 

tense / thriller / secrets

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

the poor town of Esopus, which frequently floods and where much of the world has been damaged due to radiation. In this dystopian world, corporations rule and everyone must pay their debts...

Main character: 

teenage Inesa must take part in the Gauntlet to pay off her mother's spiralling debts.

In three words: 

dystopian / anti-corporation / 

climae change

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

A house in the US which has been transformed into a cocoon of cleanliness.

Main character: 

Madeline has just turned 18 who lives with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency disease: being outside can trigger violent allergic reactions.

In three words: 

Brilliant, inspirational, positive

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

A drought-ridden California in the not-too-distant future. The city becomes a warzone when the taps stop working.

Main character: 

Alyssa and her younger brother must make some impossible choices in order to survive.

In three words: 

disaster, fast-paced, hard-hitting

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

1950s and 60s New York, 

and in a science lab

Main character: 

Written from the perspective of Charlie, a man with moderate to severe learning difficulties who is given experimental brain surgery to become a "genius".

In three words: 

classic, challenging, what it means to be human

Age: 

16+ for interest (13+)

Setting: 

Three significant period's: 1946, Paris; 1952, Australia; and London 2022.

Main character: 

Gretel lives with the life-long repercussions of having a father who was the Nazi commandant in charge at Auschwitz.

In three words: 

thought-provoking, guilt, complicity

NB:

This is the sequel to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Age: 

14+

Setting: 

In this world, when people die, their bodies go to the Archive: a cross between a library and a morgue. The bodies are called Histories, and form a record of each person's life. 

Main character: 

Mackenzie, a Keeper whose job it is to deal with the Histories who wake up and must be returned to the Archive. It's a tricky job being a teenager when your parents don't know about your secret role...

In three words: 

fantasy, inventive, character-focused

NB:

This book collects together the fantasy duology of The Archived and The Unbound novels.

Age: 

14+

Setting: 

A future USA after a shocking second civil war foughts over reproductive rights. It's now completely illegal to have an abortion from the moment of conception. However... unwanted children are housed as wards of the state and, between the ages of 13 -18, parents can have an unwanted child “unwound”. 

Main character: 

Connor, Risa and Lev - all “unwanted” in different ways must find a way to escape their fate through an underground network of rebels.

In three words: 

dystopian, chilling, thought-provoking

NB:

first in a series...

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

Modern day, with a group of bored teens camping out on a beach. Loosely based on the tale of Orpheus.

Main character: 

Ella, who first hears the song ofOrpheus (a strange, wild, roaming singer) on the telephone, and who falls most under his spell.

In three words: 

lyrical, love, myths

Age: 

14+

Setting: 

21st century London, a dangerous world of gangs and drugs.

Main character: 

Teenage Marlon who, until now, has always managed to keep himself on the straight and narrow. However, when the prettiest girl in school asks him out, he becomes drawn into a whirlwind of modern day dangers.

In three words: 

crime, thriller, drugs, compassion

Age: 

15+

Setting: 

Various settings around the world including the Amazon Rainforest, on the hunt for a lost WWII bomber. 

Main character: 

Will Jaeger, retired from the SAS but nevertheless still living a life of action and intrigue. 

In three words: 

action, plots, page-turner

NB:

This book is technically for adults, and is the first in a series.

Age: 

16+

Setting: 

An alternative 1953 where Germany won WWII and have now created a fascist Britain, rewriting the past, controlling history etc.

Main character: 

Rose Ransom belongs to an elite caste of women and is taked with rewriting literature classics to suit the Minstry of Culture's rules. 

In three words: 

dystopian, thought-provoking, thrilling

Age: 

15+

The first book in an exciting dystopian trilogy.  Set in a future world virtually destroyed by environmental damage and run by a totalitarian government, it follows the character of Juliette. She’s been locked up in solitary confinement for over a year because there’s something different about her - her touch causes great pain and eventually death. 

Then, one day, another prisoner appears - Adam, who she knew at school. But he’s a mole, not a prisoner, working for the totalitarian government which is intent on using her power to crush any last pockets of resistance. 

Who can she trust? How can she learn to like and forgive herself? Will she ever be able to have physical contact again?

Some warnings: there is some swearing and some references to wanting to have sex, hence the 15+ suggestion. 

Age: 

15+

I’ve enjoyed many of Kazuo Ishiguro’s books, and the latest - Klara and The Sun - was no exception! 

I would highly recommend this novel for young adults 15+. Another of his books (Never Let Me Go) is sometimes studied at GCSE and this is of a similar level. Deceptively simple in its writing, it evokes a melancholic atmosphere and is very thought provoking. 

Klara is an artificial friend, a robot designed to be friends with a child through their adolescence. She has particularly strong observational skills and consequently develops her own understanding and beliefs about the world around her. 

After waiting a long time in the department store, she’s finally chosen by Josie, a 14yr old who is gravely ill. Klara does her best to be the perfect friend for Josie. 

I love that this novel leaves you with so many unanswered questions about the dystopian world in which it is set. It makes the reader think about what it means to be human, how religions and beliefs develop and, above all, what it means to love.

Age: 

15+

Stella has cystic fibrosis - a genetic disease that effects breathing and digestion and sadly often leads to premature death. Stella has spent a lot of her life in hospital, and this novel starts with her moving back in as she’s struggling to fight off an infection. Her older, adventurous, ever-positive sister died in an accident the year before and her parents have since divorced. Stella feels it’s her responsibility to stay alive so they don’t lose it completely and so she likes to be in control of everything. 

Cue Will’s arrival on the ward - ever since he was diagnosed with an incurable bacterial infection, he couldn’t care less about his treatment for CF. 

Those with CF can spread infection to each other, so must always stay 6 feet apart. As Stella and Will, improbably, start to fall for each other, how can a true relationship ever develop if they can never even touch?

I have to say, I really enjoyed this novel! I thought it would be just another ya romance but it actually surprised me. It is a ya romance, but the drama of their illness added some interesting thoughts and tensions about what our priorities in life should be. 

It’s a 15+ recommendation due to some mild swearing and a few references to teens having sex. There is also some discussion about what happens when we die. 

Age: 

16+

In this first instalment, Angelou shares a detailed picture of her early years growing up in the southern states of the US until the age of 17. She shares the reality of the cruelty and injustice suffered by African Americans in the 30s and 40s but also gives a very inspiring picture of the spirit and bravery which she both encountered and showed herself. 

Warning - there are upsetting and disturbing moments, including the rape of a very young girl, which is why I have given a 16+ recommendation here. Nevertheless, it is an inspiring and important read - and not all doom and gloom either!

Age: 

14+

The first book in a fun dystopian romance trilogy suitable for ages 14+. 

Set in an alternative/future USA, Lena lives in a world where love has been declared a disease - and there’s a cure, which everyone receives when they turn 18. And Lena can’t wait to be cured - her own mother died “of love” and she’s terrified that she’ll start to get symptoms before she’s old enough for the cure. 

But then (of course) she meets Alex and discovers music and care and excitement and joy - all the things which seems to go away when you receive this so called cure. What will she do for love?

A fun, exciting and pretty easy read!

Age: 

14+

Time travel? Adventure? YA series? What’s not to like?! 

I stumbled across The Infinity Engines series recently (the first book is called Anachronist) and have so far thoroughly enjoyed the first two books. Suitable for ages 14+ these books are ideal for those who like a little sci-Fi excitement in their stories…

One of the reasons I enjoyed these is that they are set in London, following 17 year old Joshua Jones who lives on a poor housing estate. He has no idea who his dad is, his mum has MS and he’s the only carer, his dyslexia (and lack of help) means he’s failed at school, and he’s one step away from prison - indeed, at the opening of the book he’s doing community service. 

Then he steals a World War II medal from the house of a local eccentric and is transported back in time — and he seems to change history. There begins the excitement as he’s recruited into a mysterious order of time travellers who work to protect history and to prevent chaos. 

Age: 

14+

A thrilling and original fantasy novel suitable for ages14+. The premise takes a while to get your head around! - this story is set in a world where memories are tattooed onto your skin from birth. When you die, if your tattoos are found worthy, your skin is removed and made into a book of your life that your family will treasure forever. I know… took me a while to get past the yuck factor too!

However, it is well worth it and I’ll certainly be ordering the next book from the library.

Leora has grown up believing in her society, believing that when you die you live on in the book created by your skin. She is committed wholeheartedly. But when her Dad dies and mysterious things start to happen, she begins to question everything she’s ever known. 

Age: 

15+

A compelling story suitable for ages 13+ but perhaps of interest more to 15+. 

I particularly enjoyed it, perhaps, as it is set in the 80s near to where I grew up, so there was much that was familiar to me about it. 

It follows a year in the life of 13 year old Jason - a difficult age for any young teen! He is trying to find where he fits in and what matters to him - should he do anything he can to ”be cool” and fit in with the other boys for a safe and easy life? Is it more important to be loyal to friends? How can he pursue is interest in writing poetry without getting teased for it? All with the backdrop of a chaotic family life, arguing parents and an older sister moving off to uni. 

It evokes the 80s brilliantly, and I felt that it really captured the vernacular of an 80s teen. Seems depressing to class it as historical fiction, doesn’t it? Surely the 80s isn’t that long ago?! But for a teen of today I think it’s an excellent way to learn about life before the surge in tech and to realise that perhaps growing up isn’t all that different after all 

Age: 

15+

Another book recommended to me recently by one of my fabulous students (Year 10). 

This is a fun ya thriller / bank heist / long con read which certainly doesn’t have a plausible storyline but which is nevertheless an enjoyable and exciting read. 

Our lead character, Nora, was raised by her con artist mother from an extremely young age to be of use to her in her long cons. Thankfully, she’s now escaped from her clutches and is living with her older sister, finally making true friends and finding out who she really is. But when she finds herself caught up in a bank robbery, her past finally catches up with her. 

I’ll put a 15+ on this, since it has a swear word and refers to sexual relationships and trauma (implied). 

Age: 

15+

A Japanese coming of age novel which I think would be of interest to ages 15+ (although the central character is 13). 

It’s about loneliness and identity and growing up - especially in the Japanese culture although of course many of these feelings are behind culture. 

When she is at home, unable to go to school due to anxiety caused by bullying, the mirror on Kokoro’s bedroom wall begins to glow. She touches it, and is whisked into a fairytale castle world and greeted by the Wolf Queen. She and six other teens have a year to find the key and the wishing room which will grant just one of them any wish. But to make a wish means that all memories of the castle and their time there will be taken from them. They each have their own difficulties in the real world and, over time, their friendship deepens. 

Age: 

15+

It’s always good when a student is studying a book I haven’t read before. A few weeks ago, one of my (then) Year 9 students had to read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - I read it too so that we could discuss it. 

Set in 21st century America, this is a novel about race, racism, fighting for justice and growing up. Our lead character, Starr (16), is in the car when her childhood friend is stopped by police and shot dead as he turns to her to check she’s ok (they mistakenly thought he was reaching for a gun). As the only witness, Starr has to decide whether to use her voice to fight for justice. But it’s about so much more than that too - the struggles of growing up; gangs and drugs and violence; loving families and friendships; schools and opportunities. It’s incredibly thought-provoking and will stay with you for a long time. 

I’d recommend The Hate U Give for ages 14+ alongside a parent so that the big issues can be discussed (by alongside I don’t mean that you have to read it together, but that it’s a good idea that the parent reads it as well) or 16+ independently. It really is well worth it. And then you can watch the film too…!

Age: 

15+

I’m a BIG fan of V E Schwab and This Savage Song (the first in the Monsters of Verity series) proved to be no exception when I read it recently. 

Suitable for ages 15+ this is ya fantasy at its best: convincing, detailed, imaginative world-building; incredibly sculpted characters you are invested in from the off; and no time wasted on boring exposition. 

In a world where a monster is created every time there is violence or sin, cities are overrun… And when one of these monsters seems to be good, how do you know who to trust?

Age: 

14+

A speculative ya novel. Apparently, it was a tik tok sensation [2022] - so your teens may have heard of it before us!

It is a novel with a clever premise: it is set in a matriarchal future where our traditional gender roles and male power are completely reversed - because men are blamed for destroying the world. 

The main character - Jude - has been raised by the House of Boys and is now all set to be auctioned off to the powerful and rich (women). If nobody wants him, he’ll join the other unwanted men in the mines beneath the tower in which everybody lives (outside the environment is too hostile). At the auction, Jude worries if he’s too old, too fat, not muscular enough etc - that gives you an idea of the thought-provoking aspects of this book. 

It has an exciting story line too… since power has corrupted some of the women in charge, Jude will eventually join those who are fighting for equality. And it’s certainly interesting and helps us to see our own world in a new way!

Finally, I do think this is a good book for teens who perhaps find inference a little trickier - you have to work relatively hard as a reader to pick up on the clues about what this future world is like and slowly, through the course of the book, build up a more complete picture.  

Age: 

16+

Today’s book recommendation is Laurie Lee’s autobiography As I Walked Out One Morning - the second in the trilogy which begins with the more well-known Cider With Rosie.

I’d recommend this book for older readers - those in Years 11 and 12 who are going on to / already study English at A Level- perhaps to read over the summer once exams are over. 

In it, Lee recounts his 2 year “gap year” at the age of 19 when he walked from his village in Gloucestershire first to London and then through Spain, taking small jobs and busking with his violin to make some money. He paints a vivid picture of 1930s life, particularly the poverty that he finds in a Spain approaching civil war.

As always… enjoy!

Age: 

15+

I hope it’s not a spoiler to say… they do!

Set in a New York ever so slightly different from our own, a technology has been invented called Death-Cast which can predict the day of your death. If your death is forecast you will receive a call at midnight, so that you can choose to live your final hours however you want to. 

There are strong messages about grief, love, loss, acceptance and joy - choosing to live every day as if it’s our last. I should also warn that there is strong language and some violence - hence the 15+ rating - but it’s nevertheless an enjoyable read.

Age: 

15+

A year 11 student of mine absolutely loves Leigh Bardugo’s fantasy Grishaverse books. Thanks to her, I’ve previously recommended Shadow and Bone, and now I’ve just enjoyed reading Six of Crows, the first of a separate trilogy set in the same fantasy world. They can be enjoyed as separate series (although my student wanted to make sure I read both before watching the Netflix Shadow and Bone series which apparently draws from both books!). 

Six of Crows follows a gang of thieves who have taken on the impossible heist of breaking into the notoriously impregnable Ice Tower. But can this disparate group of anti-heroes work together to pull it off?

I think this book will really appeal to a ya audience - I’d suggest 15+. The lead characters are all in their late teens and it’s got a great mix of intrigue, mystery, thrills, magic and action that make it a really enjoyable read. Although it’s relatively long, it’s also relatively easy - very character and plot led. 

Age: 

15+

A Court of Thorns and Roses is the opening book in her fantasy series for young adults. I do have to give a warning immediately with this - she’s a relatively racy writer and, because of a sex scene I would rate this at 16+ - a shame as otherwise it would have been a 14+ from me. Note, the sex scene is loving and consensual, it’s just pretty passionate!

Nevertheless I really think that older teens would enjoy this book a lot. It follows the story of Feyre, a strong huntress who has worked hard and thanklessly for years to provide food for her family. Her life changes when she is imprisoned in the magical kingdom of the Fae. It’s kind of a Beauty and the Beast story, but with additional evil magical forces to fight. 

Age: 

16+

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been enjoying re-reading and studying Jane Eyre, in preparation to help one of my GCSE students. It’s been lovely to come back to this classic! I do think it’s a difficult choice for GCSE, partly due to its length, and partly the subject matter, which is perhaps less interesting for younger teens. Perhaps this is the reason why this is the first student (of the dozens I’ve worked with over the years) whose school teacher has chosen it as a set text!

However, I can’t recommend it enough - I think any English A Level student should enjoy reading this, as well as any student 16+ who perhaps would have enjoyed studying English at A Level but ended up taking a different route. 

... -->

Age: 

16+

... <--

And it’s impossible to recommend Jane Eyre without suggesting a read of the wonderful The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. Imaginative, wacky, original, exciting, funny… I first read this when I was 16 and boy is it good. Our heroine, Thursday Next, in a parallel world to our own, discovers she can travel into books… In this first of the series, it’s Jane Eyre. You don’t need to have read Jane Eyre in order to appreciate The Eyre Affair, but you’ll get more out of it…

Age: 

14+

A rather shameful admission today - I only read JD Salinger’s The Catcher In The Rye for the first time this summer! 😳 

I am very glad to have finally read it, though, as I really enjoyed it. It is, however, a relatively difficult read in the sense that our narrator is quite rambling and there is not much of a plot! Although it’s definitely suitable for ages 14+, I would only recommend this book to experienced readers - perhaps those studying English at A Level (or those who wish they had but had too many subjects to choose from!). 

From reading other reviews on Goodreads, it seems that this book speaks to some troubled teens in particular - knowing they aren’t the only one to feel that way can be a big help it seems!

Age: 

15+

A fantastic, thought provoking and beautiful book suitable for ages 15+. It comes immediately with a bad language warning - definitely not suitable for under 15s please!

Set in America, it tells the story of Amal, whose name means Hope. As a black teen growing up in the US, though, it is hard for him to see where that hope is. In this story, he is found guilty of a crime he didn’t commit and finds himself in a young offenders institute. He is a poet and an artist - yet his talents aren’t seen because they don’t conform to the white majority view of what art is. Will his creativity help him survive prison?

Although a fictional tale, this is based on Yusuf Salaam’s own experience of being wrongly imprisoned. It is the tale of racial violence and racism which plagues America. 

Enjoy is the wrong word… but enjoy and be challenged.

Age: 

15+

Since our hard-working Year 11s have finally completed their GCSEs, I thought I’d recommend a book for 16+ for them to enjoy over the hols!

This is a classic for a reason - I’ve recently really enjoyed rereading it. Usually I leap from one book to the next, but after this one, I just needed to let it sit in my imagination for a few days. 

It follows budding young writer, Cassandra, and her family who live in an old crumbling castle in genteel poverty. Over one six-month period she fills three notebooks with journal writing to practise and hone her writing skills and it is these which form the novel. Young/first love, family relationships, money struggles, growing up...

Cassandra is candid, witty, and clever. Her journals are incredibly enchanting. It’s a captivating and magical book. Although online forums suggest it’s suitable for ages 12+, I just feel that it’s going to be more of interest to older teens. I would imagine that girls in particular would enjoy it, especially those who already enjoy reading. 

Age: 

14+

A challenging sci-fi read (which has also been made into a film - it goes without saying that the book is better!)

Earth is at war with a vast race of insectoid aliens. Our story follows Ender Wiggin, a young boy sent to Battle School in orbit above Earth to train to become an elite soldier. He comes from an incredibly intelligent family - his siblings back on Earth are working hard to restore the world and make it a better place. 

There’s lots of great action, but also some thought-provoking moral questions too. And the characters are well-drawn. 

It’s an action-packed plot, but I would suggest only experienced readers as some of the language is complex, and Card switches perspective which could be confusing for some. Please note there is some bad language too.

Age: 

15+

A challenging and thought-provoking read.

Set in the US, this is a hard-hitting story following African American high school student, Justyce, who’s on track for Yale. He feels caught between two worlds: his predominantly white classmates think he’s only successful because of positive discrimination, while some of his black peers accuse him of being a race traitor; he falls for the lovely SJ, but his mum is absolutely against him dating a white girl... Then, when he’s wrongfully arrested because of his race, Justyce can no longer hide from these issues. 

I thought this was an excellent book. I particularly enjoyed the changes in style: more “normal” third person story telling, journal entries (Justyce writes his thoughts in a journal addressed to Martin Luther King Jnr), and even some sections that look more like a theatre script. It’s short and compelling and I think young adults will enjoy its relevance. 

Recommendations online put this at 13+. However, I’m saying 15+ because of the mature language (there is some swearing) and I just think it’s going to be of more interest to a slightly older reader.

Age: 

14+

Today, my recommendation is the Sense and Sensibility film script and accompanying diaries by the wonderful Emma Thompson. She won a very well deserved oscar for the script, and the diaries are thoroughly fun and entertaining. 

I’d recommend this for anyone aged 14+, particularly if they’ve already enjoyed Austen’s stories, and/or if they have an interest in the area of film and television. A film script is a little like reading a play, although it does have its own lingo (explained in the book) and it’s a useful experience to read something a little different! The diaries themselves give a fun insight into the life of an actor on a film set. 

Of course, this can be read alongside the wonderful film too! Enjoy!

Age: 

14+

There’s nothing like a ya vampire trilogy to get the year off to a good start and I certainly enjoyed re-reading Andrew Fukuda’s The Hunt series at the start of this year. I first read it a few years ago when I enjoyed it so much I consumed all 3 books in fewer than 48hrs - let’s say I didn’t sleep or work very much!

Fukuda imagines a world where vampires rule and there are only a few humans left, living in secret amongst the vampires themselves - mimicking their behaviour, hiding human giveaways such as body hair and scent, and just generally living in constant fear. 

The plot and concept are certainly original - this is not another Twilight. And I found it on both occasions to be a really thrilling and suspenseful read. Really, it’s one long story, with each new book picking up the story without a break. I think it’s an excellent choice for ages 14+ and that this would be good for experienced and more reluctant readers alike. Enjoy!

Age: 

14+

The first book in his Impossible Times trilogy. It’s a great coming of age / time travel adventure that’s an action-packed read for ages 14+. At the opening of the novel, 15year old Nick is diagnosed with leukaemia. He loves playing Dungeons and Dragons with some friends, and it seems like the only way to escape his real life problems until some very strange experiences of deja vu... Turns out his future self has come back in time to save their future! 

As well as the tension and excitement created through the story, I enjoyed this because of the scientific/mathematical approach to time travel - apart from being a very very good fantasy writer, Lawrence is a trained scientist too. I would whole-heartedly recommend this to any teen (14+) who enjoys an action packed read!

I can heartily recommend his other series for this age group too - lots of strong female leads!