books about teenage life

[rriot132]

what are some good books about teenage life?
i already know speak and the freedom writers diary. any more?

[Algernon]

The original Bridge To Terabithia.

[Composure]

"The Story of Tom Brennan" - J.C. Burke.

[star_crossd]

I'm a big fan of Ellen Hopkins stuff ("Burned", "Impulse", "Tricks", etc). I think they talk about a lot of the heartache and tough decisions teens can have

[noise94]

These are the ones I can think of that are sort of along the same lines...

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on eath continue without her - her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling.

A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (This is a supernatural based book, but it deals with Self Harm, etc. as well.)

Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything; at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf 's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior. Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own.

Stick Figure (A Diary Of My Former Self) by Lori Gottlieb

When Lori Gottlieb was 11 years old, she did something girls that age often do: She started a diary. And like far too many other 11-year-old girls, she also began starving herself. Stick Figure: A Diary of My Former Self chronicles her transformation from a bright, healthy kid into a hospital patient on the verge of death, and it illustrates how a young girl can become convinced that anorexia is the answer to her preadolescent confusion.

Cut by Patricia McCormick

This debut novel deals boldly with mental illness and is by turns riveting, thrilling, and heartbreaking. Teens will relate to the adolescent drama and all-important friends as the main character tries to cut it. The bittersweet tale will resonate in the turbulent world of young adults and its readers will find hope in the uplifting end.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer's end they've become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones

It happens just like that, in the blink of an eye. An older sister has a mental breakdown and has to be hospitalized. A younger sister is left behind to cope with a family torn apart by grief and friends who turn their backs on her. But worst of all is the loss of her big sister, her confidante, her best friend, who has gone someplace no one can reach.

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden is the story of a sixteen-year-old who retreats from reality into the bondage of a lushly imagined but threatening kingdom, and her slow and painful journey back to sanity.

Lisa, Bright And Dark by John Neufeld

Lisa Shilling is 16, smart, attractive--and she is losing her mind. Some days are "light," and everything is normal; during her "dark" days, she hides deep within herself, and nothing can reach her. Her teachers ignore what is happening. Her parents deny it. Lisa's friends are the only ones who are listening--and they walk with her where adults fear to tread.

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Tessa has just months to live. Fighting back against hospital visits, endless tests, drugs with excruciating side-effects, Tessa compiles a list. It’s her To Do Before I Die list. And number one is Sex. Released from the constraints of ‘normal’ life, Tessa tastes new experiences to make her feel alive while her failing body struggles to keep up. Tessa’s feelings, her relationships with her father and brother, her estranged mother, her best friend, and her new boyfriend, all are painfully crystallised in the precious weeks before Tessa’s time finally runs out.

Um, yeah. I tend to get a little carried away.

[Speechless]

Maddy by Kate Petty
Losing It by Lizzie Wilcock
griEVE by Lizzie Wilcock
The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Queen Kat, Carmel and St. Jude Get A Life - Maureen McCarthy
Rose By Any Other Name - Maureen McCarthy
The Twilight Series - Stephenie Meyer
The Host - Stephenie Meyer
Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
Salem Falls - Jodi Piccoult
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants Series - Anne Brashares?
Jinx - Meg Cabot
How To Be Popular - Meg Cabot
Airhead - Meg Cabot
My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Piccoult
Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Piccoult
The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffeneggar
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini?

Those are the books that I have read and enjoyed. These are books that I've heard of/would like to read. You should check them out too.

Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
House of Night Series - don't know the author, sorry.
The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks [didn't like the movie.. but the book may be a little different?]

You could also check out novels by:
Danielle Steele
Sarah Dessen

I apologize for any mispellings

Happy reading!

[Arie.]

The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
A loss for words- Lou Ann walker
Sleeping Freshmen never lies - David Lubar
Summer Sisters- Judy Blume
To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
For one more day- Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie- Mitch Albom
The Book Thief ( Brilliant!!!) - Markus Zusak
A long way gone - Ishmael Beah

Enjoy,love!

[BECCALICIOUS!]

I wouldn't say Twilight is about teenage life... sorry =\
Willow.
Catalyst.
Saving Zoe
Story of a Girl
The Year of Secret Assignments.
The Isabel Factor
Beige
Go Ask Alice
Please Stop Laughing at Me.

[aesthetic_autumn]

The Twilight Saga is awful. Don't read it if you haven't already.

I recommend:

"The Catcher In The Rye" - J.D. Salinger (Awesome classic).
"The Bell Jar" - Sylvia Plath (Not quite "teenage" life, but close enough, I'd say).
"Speak," "Catalyst," "Twisted," and "Wintergirls" - Laurie Halse Anderson (Absolutely fantastic works of modern literature; they really delve into serious issues that almost any teenager could relate to).
"Just Listen" - Sarah Dessen (The writing isn't of as high a caliber as the above, but it's a fun read regardless).
"ttyl," "ttfn," and "l8r, g8r," - Lauren Myracle (All written in IM-conversation style; they're a little fluffy, but well-written and enjoyable).
"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" - Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (Short, but great read).
"A Ring of Endless Light" - Madeline L'Engle (A bit science-fiction-y in some aspects, but still touches on a lot of teen issues. Fantastic book, IMHO).
"Go Ask Alice" - Anonymous (I didn't really like this one as much as others did, but you might find it interesting).

Hope this helps.

[Hey Nikki!]

I am shocked that no one has mentioned Stargirl yet!

Seriously, go read it! It's a pretty cute-looking book, and it's a short read. I'll summarize it:

Stargirl is a girl who has recently moved to Arizona. She used to be a homeschooler, but now, she's going to highschool with other kids for the first time. She soon learns that she's not like everyone else, and you'll see why- she plays the ukulele, wears odd clothes, cares about each and every person (even if they're mean to her), gives herself her own names, and has a pet rat! Despite her oddities, she attracts the attention of one boy- Leo. At one point, the whole school turns against Stargirl, because they think she is strange. Leo must decide whether he wants to be friends(or more?) with Stargirl, or keep his reputation...

[Stephanie]

I know it's already been recommended, but I want to say The Perks of Being a Wallflower, again. It really is an amazing book.

[Elizabeth]

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Chicken Soup the Teenage Soul, although this is like a collection of smaller stories.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Crank by Ellen Hopkins

These are some of my personal favorites. I think that anything my Jodi Picoult is really smashing though.

[senken.0]

I liked he inheritance series.

I still haven't finished brisngr


Manga is good to >:3

[Casey.]

Unfortunately I have forgot the Authors of many of these
Kim: Empty Inside
A Dance of Two Sisters
A corner of the universe
This Lullaby- Sarah Dessen (Anything by Sarah Dessen!)
Wintergirls
Willow
House of Night Series (Yes, a bit scifi but also has a lot about teenage life.)

[Alex xox]

House of Night saga-P.C and Kirstin Cast
amazing book very much teenage troubles

[MadPoet]

Shiver (really good book, if you're into romances).
Willow
The Hunger Games
Along For The Ride
Go Ask Alice
Speak
Lock and Key
After
Tweak
Maximum Ride
Keeping The Moon
Just Listen
This Lullaby
Witch & Wizard.
Hush, Hush (really awesome, if you like supernatural fiction type stuff).
City of Bones
City of Ashes
City of Glass

I don't read a lot of teen books, I've been more into adult books lately, but those are some of the really great teen books that I have read.

[hopefaithlove]

I have a very helpful non-fiction book called Secrets Girls Keep by Carrie Silver-Stock. It's awesome and inspiring and tells stories of girls lives in various situations.

[The Patron Saint]

The Catcher in the Rye or pretty much anything by John Greene.

[Rainbow Dash]

Sugar Rush (link) by Julie Burchill is good and it's one of the few books I've completed (I'm more of a movie/TV show person)

[DivingCheska]

Cut By Patricia McCormick (about Self-harm)
Th1rteen R3asons Why By Jay Asher (about Suicide)
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (about eating disorders)
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (about sexual asault)
Pledged The secret life of sororities By Alexandra Robbins
The Best Little Girl In The World By Steven Levenkron (About Eating disorders)
The Luckiest Girl In The World By Steven Levenkron (about Self-Harm)
Augusta, Gone By Martha Tod Dudman (about drugs, alcohol)

[ChrisB]

I am surprise no one has said...
America by er frank
or
Wrecked
or Prozac Nation
Last Chance Texaco
More Now, Again
Define Normal

[Kate*]

I will add Saints of Augustine by P.E. Ryan (contains substance use also about sexuality issues)

and thank you guys for adding to my reading list.

[topov]

Alice... I cant remember the author, but its a really good book about a teenagers addiction to drugs. Kinda triggering though.

[Xujhan]

Looking for Alibrandi and Keeping you a Secret are two that come to mind, most others I'd suggest have already been mentioned.

[TheLittleNinja]

I read '' The Perks of Being A Wallflower'' yesterday - that was pretty good. It's about a fifteen-sixteen year old male, in the years 1992-1992. It tells the story of how it feels to be a ''Wallflower''. It goes into school life, girls, sex, drugs, alcohol and family issues - it has everything apart from eating disorders!

It's a good book - and an interesting read =]

Written by Steven Chbosky.

[Crescendo]

Alright- Some of these will be repeats, but they're good enough to be mentioned more than once I've always been a big reader. Most of these were written for teens, and I haven't read most of these books since I was in middle school. Hope this helps!

Depression/Suicide:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
Zane's Trace by Allan Wolf
Like The Red Panda- Andrea Seigel

Other Mental Health Issues
Cut by Patricia McCormick
Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy : Sonya Sones
I Don't Want To Be Crazy by Samantha Schutz
Perfect: A Novel by Natasha Friend

Drugs:
My Brother's Keeper by Patricia Mccormick
Bottled Up by Jaye Murray

LGBT Teens:
Geography Club by Brent Hartinger
Empress of the World by Sara Ryan
Pretty Things by Sarra Manning

Relationships:

Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Heather Hepler
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Family Drama:
The Flying Troutman's - Mirriam Towes

Other:
Before I Die by Jenny Downham
The Pact- Jodi Picoult
19 Minutes- Jodi Picoult
Light Years- Tammar Stien
Fat Kid Rules the World by K. L. Going
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Happy Reading!
Megan

[Kate*]

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn about teen dating abuse.

[glittermist]

Once In A House On Fire by Andrea Ashworth is really good, it's about childhood-teen abuse and general hardships faced in Manchester in the 70's. It's based on a true story. I read it for English and i really enjoyed it.

[Boobies]

Harry Potter (y)

[The Morrigan]

Love Lessons - David Belbin
Girls Series - Jacqueline Wilson
Good Girls - Laura Ruby
Making Out Series - Katherine Applegate
Denial - David Belbin
Go Ask Alice
Cut - Patricia McCormick
Forver - Judy Blume
Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
Finding Grace - Alyssa Brugman
Gossip Girl Series - Cecily Von Ziegesar
Diary of a Chav Series - Grace Dent
Vegan, Virgin, Valentine - Carolyn Mackler
Seven Deadly Sins Series - Robin Wasserman

[Through-Glass]

"Speak" and "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson

"Can't Get There From Here" by Todd Strasser

"Ellen Foster" by Kaye Gibbons

"Psych Major Syndrome" by Alicia Thompson

[InTheFlood]

The Georgia Nicholson Series Is Quite Good So I've Been Told
And I Don't Know If Its Been Said But Eating The Cheshire Cat By Helen Ellis Is SO Good. Reading Anything Apart From Harry Potter Generally Bores Me. But That Is An Amazing Read.

[TheNumber42]

Well, I know these have been suggested already, but anything by Ellen Hopkins, especially Impulse or Identical. The verse format is just plain amazing

And Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is another great one.

Other than that, I haven't read a lot of books in the genre. Going to have to check out some of the other suggestions.

[Kate*]

Originally Posted by Spazola

"Psych Major Syndrome" by Alicia Thompson

I've never heard of that one, I guess I'll have to read it before I graduate!