Books for 16 year olds – a panel of educators from schools around the country asked 16 year olds to name their favourite book, and these are the results. 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 Nicola Yoon, Julie Murphy, Sarah J. Maas, Jenny Han, S. F. Williamson, Laura Nowlin, Bill Wood, and Angie Thomas.
Books for 16 year olds – favourites chosen by teens
(In randomised order)
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Natasha is hours away from being deported to Jamaica when she meets Daniel, a dreamer with plans shaped by his Korean parents’ expectations. In the crowded rush of New York City, one chance meeting changes everything. Told over a single day, with glimpses into other lives around them, Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star weaves love, fate, and family into a moving story about identity, hope, and the moments that can alter a future.
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
Willowdean “Dumplin’” Dixon is not your typical pageant girl, but that is exactly why she enters one. Living in a small Texas town, juggling a crush on her coworker Bo, and clashing with her former beauty queen mum, she decides it is time to prove that confidence comes in all sizes. Backed by her friends and plenty of Dolly Parton spirit, Willowdean learns what it really means to shine. Funny, heartfelt, and empowering, Dumplin’ celebrates self-love, friendship, and finding your place in the world.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre, a young huntress, kills a wolf in the woods – only to realise it was a fae. As punishment, she’s taken to the faerie realm, where her captor, Tamlin, is revealed as one of the immortal High Lords. As she adjusts to her new life, her feelings for Tamlin grow, but dark secrets lurk, threatening their world. This Beauty and the Beast retelling mixes romance, mystery, and danger in a magical world where everything hides more than it reveals.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Every summer, Isabel “Belly” Conklin heads to the Fishers’ beach house, where the sea is saltier and time slows. This visit, everything changes. Conrad is distant and magnetic, Jeremiah is sunshine, and Belly is suddenly more than the kid sister. Friendship blurs into first love, and family traditions feel different under the heat. Told in Belly’s open, honest voice, Jenny Han’s opener captures seaside days, late-night confessions, and the dizzy choices that shape a teenager’s summer.
A Language of Dragons by S. F. Williamson
Set in an alternate 1923, A Language of Dragons follows Vivien Featherswallow, a language expert turned codebreaker at Bletchley Park. With her family’s safety at risk, Viv must crack a secret dragon language to survive. A mix of Dark Academia and fantasy, the book weaves themes of class, betrayal, and identity. As Viv uncovers the dragons’ secrets, she faces a choice: where do her true loyalties lie in a world teetering on the edge of civil war?
If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin
Autumn and Finn were inseparable as children, but high school and growing up have pulled them in different directions. Still connected through family, Autumn cannot help wondering what might have been. Set in a small town full of unspoken feelings and second chances, this coming-of-age story explores love, friendship, and the quiet ache of change. Told with honesty and warmth, it captures the messiness of growing up, mental health, and the fragile ties that shape who we become.
Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood
In Let’s Split Up, a intrepid group of teens investigates the brutal murders of popular couple Brad and Shelley in a haunted Victorian mansion. Set in the small Californian town of Sanera, rumours swirl that an old ghoul, murdered centuries ago, has finally taken revenge. Cam, Jonesy, Amber, and new girl Buffy venture into the mansion, but their decision to split up could prove fatal. This YA thriller blends mystery, tension, and supernatural elements, making it ideal for fans of spooky ’90s nostalgia and dark twists. Read our full review.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
When sixteen-year-old Starr Carter witnesses her friend Khalil being shot by a police officer, her world shatters. Torn between her poor neighbourhood and her mostly white school, Starr must find the courage to speak out, even when the cost is high. Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give is powerful, emotional, and unflinchingly honest, tackling race, justice, and identity through one teenager’s fight to be heard. Widely regarded as a modern classic, The Hate U Give sparks vital conversations in schools and has been a frequent target of right-wing book bans.
Books for 16 year olds – buy the set or order in bulk
Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books for 16 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 16-year-olds, have a look at our KS4 books list, and our sixth form list.
