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63 Best Young Adult Books of All Time

Our goal was to create the best list of Young Adult books on the internet.
To remain objective and unbiased, we looked at the 5 most popular“best Young Adult books" articles online (we chose 5 because anything more than that diluted our quality).

Our rationale was simple: If a book only appears in one article, it’s probably just the journalist’s opinion, but if it appears in two or more, it’s probably worth checking out!
Below you’ll find which books made the cut 😊

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Total: 63 books

  1. The Outsiders

    S. E. Hinton

    Appears in 4 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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  2. The Hate U Give

    Angie Thomas

    Appears in 4 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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    4 recommenders
    Gretchen RubinMelinda GatesJohn GreenJennifer Lopez

  3. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

    Becky Albertalli

    Appears in 4 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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  4. 4

    Speak

    Laurie Halse Anderson

    Appears in 4 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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  5. 5

    To Kill a Mockingbird

    Harper Lee

    Appears in 4 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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    4 recommenders
    Jordan PetersonOprah WinfreyTaylor SwiftKathie Lee Gifford
  6. 6

    The Book Thief

    Markus Zusak

    Appears in 4 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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  7. 7

    The Hunger Games

    Suzanne Collins

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    3 recommenders
    Bill GatesLeBron JamesTaylor Swift
  8. 8

    The Catcher in the Rye

    J.D. Salinger

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    8 recommenders
    Bill GatesEv WilliamsGretchen RubinJennifer LawrenceLarry KingTim DraperKathie Lee GiffordSarah Jessica Parker
  9. 9

    Lord of the Flies

    William Golding

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    3 recommenders
    Ev WilliamsJordan PetersonScott Belsky
  10. 10

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower

    Stephen Chbosky

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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    2 recommenders
    Emma WatsonJenn Im
  11. 11

    The Princess Bride

    William Goldman

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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  12. 12

    To All the Boys I've Loved Before

    Jenny Han

    Appears in 3 articles
    26 Best YA Books - Top YA Books for Teens
    oprahdaily.com
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  13. 13

    The Sun Is Also a Star

    Nicola Yoon

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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  14. 14

    The Fault in Our Stars

    John Green

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    3 recommenders
    Elon MuskEmma WatsonTaylor Swift
  15. 15

    Little Women

    Louisa May Alcott

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    5 recommenders
    Hillary ClintonJ.K. RowlingKathie Lee GiffordMaya AngelouShonda Rhimes
  16. 16

    Percy Jackson and the Olympians

    Rick Riordan

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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  17. 17

    The Giver

    Lois Lowry

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  18. 18

    Six of Crows

    Leigh Bardugo

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
    View More
  19. 19

    Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

    Benjamin Alire Saenz

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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    1 recommender
    John Green
  20. 20

    The Astonishing Color of After

    Emily X.R. Pan

    Appears in 3 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
    View More
  21. 21

    Harry Potter

    J.K. Rowling

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    7 recommenders
    Ariana GrandeEmma WatsonGretchen RubinPaul GrahamPhil KeoghanShah Rukh KhanTaylor Swift
  22. 22

    Wonder

    R. J. Palacio

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
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    1 recommender
    Gretchen Rubin
  23. 23

    The Hobbit

    J.R.R. Tolkien

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    3 recommenders
    Jon FavreauPaul GrahamRichard Branson
  24. 24

    Twilight

    Stephenie Meyer

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    1 recommender
    Gretchen Rubin
  25. 25

    One of Us Is Lying

    Karen M. McManus

    Appears in 2 articles
    26 Best YA Books - Top YA Books for Teens
    oprahdaily.com
    View More
  26. 26

    Hatchet

    Gary Paulsen

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  27. 27

    Anne Frank

    Anne Frank

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
    1 recommender
    Alice Little
  28. 28

    The Chronicles of Narnia

    C. S. Lewis

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  29. 29

    Five Feet Apart

    Rachael Lippincott

    Appears in 2 articles
    Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read
    cosmopolitan.com
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  30. 30

    All the Bright Places

    Jennifer Niven

    Appears in 2 articles
    Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read
    cosmopolitan.com
    View More
  31. 31

    A Wrinkle in Time

    Madeleine L'Engle

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    1 recommender
    Sheryl Sandberg
  32. 32

    Esperanza Rising

    Pam Muñoz Ryan

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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  33. 33

    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

    Mark Haddon

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    4 recommenders
    Donald GloverEv WilliamsShah Rukh KhanMelinda Gates
  34. 34

    Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

    Judy Blume

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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  35. 35

    Bridge to Terabithia

    Katherine Paterson

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  36. 36

    The Call of the Wild

    Jack London

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  37. 37

    Cinder

    Marissa Meyer

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
    View More
  38. 38

    The Wind in the Willows

    Kenneth Grahame

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    2 recommenders
    Anthony BourdainJ.K. Rowling
  39. 39

    Stargirl

    Jerry Spinelli

    Appears in 2 articles
    Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read
    cosmopolitan.com
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    1 recommender
    Taylor Swift
  40. 40

    Little House on the Prairie

    Laura Ingalls Wilder

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  41. 41

    With the Fire on High

    Elizabeth Acevedo

    Appears in 2 articles
    26 Best YA Books - Top YA Books for Teens
    oprahdaily.com
    View More
  42. 42

    A Series of Unfortunate Events

    Lemony Snicker

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  43. 43

    Autoboyography

    Christina Lauren

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
    View More
  44. 44

    Homecoming

    Cynthia Voigt

    Appears in 2 articles
    Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read
    cosmopolitan.com
    View More
  45. 45

    A Separate Peace

    John Knowles

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
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    1 recommender
    Bill Gates
  46. 46

    A Wizard of Earthsea

    Ursula K. Le Guin

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  47. 47

    The Princess Diaries

    Meg Cabot

    Appears in 2 articles
    Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read
    cosmopolitan.com
    View More
  48. 48

    Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

    Louise Rennison

    Appears in 2 articles
    Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read
    cosmopolitan.com
    View More
  49. 49

    A Court of Thorns and Roses

    Sarah J. Maas

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 28 Best Young Adult Books for All Ages
    businessinsider.com
    View More
  50. 50

    Divergent

    Veronica Roth

    Appears in 2 articles
    26 Best YA Books - Top YA Books for Teens
    oprahdaily.com
    View More
  51. 51

    Holes

    Louis Sachar

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
    1 recommender
    Gretchen Rubin
  52. 52

    Looking for Alaska

    John Green

    Appears in 2 articles
    26 Best YA Books - Top YA Books for Teens
    oprahdaily.com
    View More
  53. 53

    The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

    Sherman Alexie

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  54. 54

    Tuck Everlasting

    Natalie Babbitt

    Appears in 2 articles
    Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read
    cosmopolitan.com
    View More
  55. 55

    Long Way Down

    Jason Reynolds

    Appears in 2 articles
    26 Best YA Books - Top YA Books for Teens
    oprahdaily.com
    View More
  56. 56

    The Witch of Blackbird Pond

    Elizabeth George Speare

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  57. 57

    Monster

    Walter Dean Myers

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  58. 58

    I'll Give You the Sun

    Jandy Nelson

    Appears in 2 articles
    26 Best YA Books - Top YA Books for Teens
    oprahdaily.com
    View More
  59. 59

    Every Day

    David Levithan

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  60. 60

    When You Reach Me

    Rebecca Stead

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  61. 61

    Anne of Green Gables

    L. M. Montgomery

    Appears in 2 articles
    The 100 Best YA Books of All Time | TIME
    time.com
    View More
  62. 62

    Sadie

    Courtney Summers

    Appears in 2 articles
    26 Best YA Books - Top YA Books for Teens
    oprahdaily.com
    View More
  63. 63

    Radio Silence

    Alice Oseman

    Appears in 2 articles
    Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read
    cosmopolitan.com
    View More