Top Teen Picks for the New Year

Posted on 29 December 2015

A new year begins and we asked our Teen Product Manager, Cesca, for her top picks for teenage books, so look below for some exciting ideas to make 2016 a year for reading!

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

This story follows twins Jude and Noah. At thirteen they are as close as siblings can be but fast forward three years and now they barely speak. What changed and how will their story change again when Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy and someone else – a startling new force in her life?

Cesca says: “This is the best book I read in 2015 (by far!)”

George by Alex Gino

When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl. When her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web, George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part…

Cesca says: “This is the best book dealing with these ‘issues’ that I read in 2015.”

Scholastic Classics: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

A timeless romance novel set in 19th Century England. From the very first meeting Elizabeth Bennet dislikes the highly eligible Mr Darcy. To her mind he is proud and high-handed. But does Darcy feel more for Elizabeth than he wants to admit? And if Elizabeth can look past her disapproval will she find that there is more to Mr Darcy than meets the eye?

Cesca says: “This book is an absolute classic – and you should read the original before the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie comes out!”

The Company of Ghosts by Berlie Doherty

Ellie is excited to be going with Morag’s family to their beautiful, wild Scottish island, but when she finds herself abandoned there, things begin to change. More and more she becomes aware that she is not really on her own…

Cesca says: “The best ghost story!”

Us Minus Mum by Heather Butler

George and Theo think their mum is brilliant. And she is – she tells great stories, can wave faster than anyone and, most importantly, she suggested they adopt their scruffy dog, Goffo.

George and Theo think their mum is invincible. But she isn’t. Their mum is really ill, and it’s up to them to make sure that she keeps smiling.

Cesca says: “The best family drama – funny and sad all at once, and a wonderful story all about coping with grief.”

His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman

It is hard to do this epic quest justice! Set in a series of parallel worlds, the book’s heroine Lyra discovers a plot to kidnap children that eventually leads her to the North Pole. With witch-queens, armoured bears, doors between worlds, evil scientists, spirit animals and epic battles, Philip Pullman’s trilogy draws you in to wonderfully original world of Artic ice and mortal danger.

Cesca says: “A brilliant trilogy full of twists and turns, danger and excitement. The BBC are making it into a TV series so give it a read before watching!”

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

A graphic novel about Raina – who just wants to be a normal twelve-year-old girl. One night after Girl Scouts she falls and severely injures her two front teeth. Cue a long and frustrating teeth journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear and even a retainer with fake teeth attached! This is a funny and heart-felt story about growing up with brilliant cartoon pictures.

Cesca says: “Simply, the best graphic novel.”

Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

Sutter Keeley’s is the guy you want at your party. He’ll get everyone dancing. Okay, so he will probably end up folding men’s shirts for a living, but right here, right now is his time.

Aimee, on the other hand, is a social disaster. She needs help, and it’s up to the Sutterman to show her a splendiferous time and then let her go forth and prosper. Of course, it doesn’t take long before Sutter is in way over his head…

Cesca says: “Now a major film featuring Divergent stars Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, Spectacular Now is, well, spectacular.”

The 100 Trilogy by Kass Morgan

Set three centuries after a thermonuclear apocalypse, the only known survivors of the human race live in a colony of spaceships that orbit around the Earth. The Colony decides to send 100 of its teenage prisoners to Earth, to investigate whether it is inhabitable, but when the group crash somewhere in the former United States they struggle to survive in this radically different world.

Cesca says: “With the third series of The 100 (based on the book) premiering at the end of January 2016, now is the time to start reading this gripping Trilogy.”

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

This book contains mature themes more suitable for older readers. The second instalment of the Divergent trilogy, Insurgent does not disappoint. Set in post-apocalyptic Chicago, society controls people through assigning them to five different factions based on personality traits.

But now the factions are at war. Our heroine, Tris is still at the centre of it all but now her family is shattered, she killed her close friend and she is lost in reckless anger. With more evil ahead can she to control her terrible rage and prepare to fight back in time?

Cesca says: “Definitely one to read before you see the movie!”

For more amazing books have a look at our Scholastic Book Club sale.