Holiday gift guide: The best books for teens
The holiday season is officially upon us, and the search for the perfect gift for the bookworms of the world starts now!
Today's teenagers may be the most tech-savvy generation yet, but social media has helped ensure that reading will always remain relevant.
Book communities on platforms like TikTok have placed a significant focus on young adult reads, leading many to achieve a new level of popularity.
From coming-of-age tales to epic fantasy adventures, these books will have even the pickiest of teens hooked.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This Knives Out-esque mystery follows Avery Grambs, a high school student who unexpectedly receives a massive inheritance from a billionaire stranger.
Avery finds herself in the riddle-filled Hawthorne mansion where the billionaire's four grandsons reside.
A deadly game begins as Avery sets out to solve the puzzles and earn her fortune in this fast-paced adventure.
Beloved by BookTok, The Inheritance Games is a delightfully unique read that is perfect for the teen in your life!
I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman
Alice Oseman is dominating the YA scene with her best-selling graphic novel series, Heartstopper, which has been adapted into a popular Netflix series.
However, Heartstopper's popularity means that most teens have probably read it, which makes I Was Born for This the perfect gift for fans of the series.
This criminally underrated novel follows dedicated fangirl Angel Rahimi who is finally getting the chance to see her favorite band, The Ark.
The book alternates between the POV of Angel and The Ark's frontman Jimmy Kaga-Ricci as the pair cross paths after an unexpected spiral of events.
Diving deep into the stan culture and the price of passion, I Was Born for This is an impactful read that is absolutely perfect for today's teens who have been largely shaped by online communities.
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
Like Heartstopper, Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series got a significant boost in popularity thanks to its hit Netflix TV adaptation.
Bardugo has created her own interconnected universe that traces through Shadow and Bone and into other series, including Six of Crows.
While Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows are both adapted in the Netflix show, King of Scars has yet to be included, making it the perfect gift for fans of the show looking to get lost in the Grishaverse once again.
King of Scars follows the reign of Nikolai Lantsov, who made his debut in Shadow and Bone's second installment, Siege and Storm, and is an equally epic fantasy adventure as Bardugo's other novels.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Casey McQuiston, the author of BookTok favorite Red, White, and Royal Blue, made their YA debut with I Kissed Shara Wheeler.
Reminiscent of John Green's Paper Towns, the novel is centered around the enigmatic Shara Wheeler, who abruptly vanishes just one month before graduation.
Chloe Green, Shara's academic rival at school, teams up with an unlikely alliance as she attempts to trace the clues Shara left behind.
A heartwarming and fun coming-of-age tale, I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a must-read for today's teenagers.
Happy holidays, and happy reading!
Cover photo: Unsplash/@thoughtcatalog