Books for 15 year olds – a panel of educators from schools around the country asked 15 year olds to name their favourite book, and these are the results. It’s interesting to see the influence of TikTok in the results of this survey! For more details about how these books were selected, please see our Children’s Favourites article which explains the survey process. This list includes titles by authors including Tomi Adeyemi, Lynn Painter, Suzanne Collins, Lauren Roberts, Kalynn Bayron, Brigid Kemmerer, Cynthia Murphy, and Juno Dawson.
Books for 15 year olds – favourites chosen by teens
(In randomised order)
Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi
The story of Zélie and Amari continues as they fight to unite the maji and bring peace to a fractured Orïsha. With magic restored, both nobles and maji gain new powers, sparking unrest and fuelling a brutal civil war. As loyalties shift and tensions rise, the two young leaders must decide how far they will go to save their people. Rich with emotion and conflict, this sequel deepens the series’ themes of power, prejudice, and the cost of leadership.
Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
In their final year of secondary school in Minnesota, Dani and Alec find their paths crossing again after years apart. Dani is back living with her grandad, trying to rebuild after her parents’ divorce, while Alec is the golden boy of the local hockey team. When a fake relationship sparks between them, it soon blurs the line between pretend and real. Warm, funny, and full of small-town charm, this story explores friendship, family, and the pressures of chasing perfection on and off the ice.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins’ second Hunger Games prequel follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games, a Quarter Quell with twice the usual tributes. The story examines power, control, and media influence, highlighting the Capitol’s grip on public perception. Haymitch discovers that survival depends on strategy as much as strength. His journey offers insight into his character and the early signs of rebellion, expanding the series’ world while functioning as a standalone narrative. Read out full review. https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/childrens-book-reviews/sunrise-on-the-reaping/
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
Set in the kingdom of Ilya, Powerless takes readers to a world where the gifted Elites rule and the powerless Ordinaries are cast out. Paedyn Gray is an Ordinary in hiding, pretending to have powers to survive among those who would destroy her. When she saves Prince Kai Azer, she is thrown into the deadly Purging Trials, where one mistake could expose her secret. The first in a thrilling trilogy, Lauren Roberts’s fantasy hit topped the UK YA chart in 2024.
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight takes the classic summer camp slasher and gives it a sharp, modern twist. Charity Curtis plays the “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake’s horror attraction until the fake blood turns real. As friends disappear, she and her girlfriend Bezi uncover something far darker than a game. Fast, tense, and stylishly gory, this YA thriller is perfect for teen horror fans who like their scares peppered with wit, heart and confusion.
Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer
In a vividly drawn fantasy fiefdom, Tessa and Weston are a Robin Hood / Bonnie and Clyde couple that teens will root for in this novel where the protagonists are forced to sacrifice their principles to save those they care about the most. This compelling combination of virtuous heroism and blind courage in the face of tyranny makes this YA blockbuster an intoxicating page-turner.
Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy
16-year-old Niamh arrives in London, looking forward to summer in the city. But she soon finds out there’s been a series of attacks on young women who all look just like her. Caught between drama school and her new friend Tommy, she gets entangled in a chilling mystery with ties to the past. A blend of horror, suspense, and a dash of local mythology, ‘Last One To Die’ will keep teen readers guessing until the final page.
Wonderland by Juno Dawson
Alice is a trans girl at an elite London school, trying to keep her life together when her friend Bunny suddenly disappears. Her search leads her into a glittering underground world known as Wonderland, where privilege, secrets, and danger blur together. Juno Dawson reimagines Lewis Carroll’s classic through a sharp, modern lens, mixing dark glamour with raw honesty about addiction, identity, and mental health. Bold, controversial and unsettling, Wonderland is a powerful story for older teenagers ready to read about different lives life through the looking glass.
Books for 15 year olds – buy the set or order in bulk
Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books for 15 year olds list, as well as class sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org UK. Or buy the titles in this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or your classroom library.
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If you liked our list of books for 15-year-olds, have a look at our KS4 books list, and our Year 11 books list.
