BookTrust Represents: Teen

If you enjoyed Eragon by Christopher Paolini or you are a fan of The Hobbit then this is the book for you.

Layla’s first week at her new school isn’t going well – she’s the only child there to wear a Muslim headscarf, and she’s already been suspended for fighting back against a bully. Can Layla win the robotics competition and prove what she’s made of? This laugh out loud story is about making friends, finding your way in the world, and is a great introduction to thinking about the barriers that people of colour can face. 

Samkad is a boy from a remote Filipino ​“headhunter” tribe called Bontok in the highlands of the Philippines, back in around 1899 – on the brink of invasion by American invaders. A brilliant, exciting and fascinating adventure story.

Part mystery, part quest, this book uses magic realism to tell an absorbing story about friendship and courage, which is filled with talking dogs, renegades who occupy the space between good and bad, and evil night riders that must be defeated.

15-year-old Damien is desperate for his Mage powers to emerge– but when he uses a forbidden spell to awaken them, he discovers a host of secrets that threaten his entire world. A thrilling dystopian fantasy.  

On the Come Up is a classic in the making, an inspiring coming-of-age story that gets right to the heart of what it means to overcome life’s obstacles and the struggle not to become what everyone expects you to be.

Written in verse, Long Way Down is breathtakingly gripping and spectacular. You almost read it without breathing; the action is so tense, the language so powerful. Give it to every teenager you know!

The Hate U Give is rightly named by many critics as one of the most important books of 2017. It’s a profound, deeply compelling modern-day classic that explores race in America.

Three girls, far apart in the world, are born with magical powers into a sisterhood. Together, they must defend the planet they share. Written in a magical realist style, Wolf Light is a challenging, unconventional literary fantasy that disrupts expectations. 

The first book of a fantasy adventure series set in contemporary Nigeria, this book is full of jeopardy, juju and mythical monstrosities. 

From fast-paced football matches to school and family drama, this novel written in verse has something for everyone and will grip reluctant readers from page one.

Fifteen-year-old Jeevan witnesses two teachers snogging (and more) in the woods, and films it on his phone. But should he share this on social media? Funny, thought-provoking and very well-written, with some truths about racism amid the humour.

This must-have anthology featuring stories and poems from 12 black, Asian and minority ethnic authors deals with the subject of change with wit, emotion and moments that will make you stop in your tracks.

Real and supernatural threats mingle as a girl saved from a shipwreck tries to find justice for her dead parents. Romance and magic combine with a powerful setting and subject to make a unique, enjoyable read for teens.

Since Aman’s father died, nothing has been the same. Then she befriends a new neighbour, who is lonely too. This warm, optimistic book carries a vital message about the importance of confronting and resisting homophobia in all parts of society. 

Xiomara, a teenage girl of Dominican heritage, is starting to notice boys, but her strict Catholic parents have decided on no contact with the opposite sex until marriage. A verse novel that sings with the rhythms of slam poetry, this is powerful and affecting.

At school Lemar, also known as Liccle Bit due to his height, is like any teenage boy. He’s in love with a girl who barely notices him, he mucks about with his best mates and he spends a lot of time doodling in his work books. However, at home…

A dramatic, thoughtful and compelling coming-of-age novel, in which 17-year-old Rose must learn to navigate the unspoken rules of a world increasingly focused on social media.

17-year-old Jake Marlesden’s soldier brother has been killed while out in action in Afghanistan, and Jake is in love with Leila Khan, an Afghan girl. In Jake’s English home town, tensions are rising between those who oppose the war in Afghanistan, and those who consider Muslims as traitors.

As a newly-independent Singapore struggles to establish its own identity and economic stability, a single father in the Punjabi Sikh community tries his hardest to keep his family intact. An astonishing novel.

Blackman’s skilful retelling of Shakespeare’s Othello in a futuristic space setting is thrilling and romantic. The characters are memorable, and readers won’t be able to tell whose side they are on – and who they should trust.

A boy that no one notices becomes a target on the run, when a tragic event prompts him to mix with a world of street gangs and drug dealers. This pacey crime thriller feels unique, realistic and truthful.