7 brilliant books for teenagers
Author Malcolm Duffy recommends seven stories to keep teenagers gripped.
Malcolm Duffy
As someone who was once a teenager, I think these books will all appeal to young adults, especially boys.
They’ve got that one element every good book should have – surprise. They take a familiar topic and turn it on its head. They also happen to be fun, thrilling, and thought-provoking.
1. The Radleys by Matt Haig
An ordinary family who also happen to be vampires. What’s not to like?
The family try to abstain from sucking blood from people, until one day daughter Clara finds her lust for blood a little too much to handle. The story is scary, inventive and explores the importance of keeping power under control.
2. Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
A story of two brothers: one on death row, the other desperate to spend as much time as possible with his sibling before the execution.
It takes a deep dive into the US justice system, and asks important questions about guilt, morality, and the search for truth.
3. Before I Die by Jenny Downham
16 year old Tessa is going to die. But before she does, there are some things she’d like to do – go on a date, have sex, break the law.
We follow Tessa as she makes the most of what little life she has left. This brilliant story is gripping, funny, sad, and life-affirming.
4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
16 year old Starr Carter witnesses the shooting of her unarmed friend Khali by a white police officer. As the sole witness, Starr has to decide whether to testify and face threats from the police and local gangs, or stay silent.
A hard-hitting novel that explores elements of race, police brutality, and the importance of standing up for justice.
5. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
The first book in the Chaos Walking series, this story follows Todd, a young boy, who runs away from a town where everyone can hear each other’s thoughts.
It’s a fantastic concept, fabulously realised in this thrilling book. Unlike anything you’re ever likely to have read.
6. Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence
16 year old Marlon finds himself in the brutal world of drug gangs. He promises his mother he’ll never get caught up in crime like his older brother, but when a date with Sonya ends in a tragic incident, Marlon finds himself being hunted down.
A gritty, realistic, exciting story that captures life on the wrong side of the law.
7. Dead Straight Line by Malcolm Duffy
To entertain his mates, 16 year old Rory comes up with a game that involves heading home – not along paths, but in a dead straight line, through people’s front and back gardens.
The game seems harmless, until one of his friends is seriously injured. How will Rory deal with the consequences and rebuild the friendships he’s lost? A gripping tale of anger, revenge, and the search for forgiveness.
Dead Straight Line by Malcolm Duffy is out now.
