Fun back-to-school books for teenagers

A self-help guide for youngsters struggling with self-esteem, peer pressure or ​‘fitting in’.

Ten short stories about that strange time when school finishes and children of a certain age (usually around ten years old) get to walk home without adult supervision. Jason Reynolds’ writing is gripping, direct, exciting and incredibly readable. 

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. 

An interactive book about choice, honesty and control in which the reader helps Fred Timple make decisions that terrify him in order to try and get his own happy ending. 

A verse novel telling the story of Nate’s first year at secondary school. The sequel to The Final Year. 

If people think you are bad news, what do you have to do to prove them wrong? And if they think you’re bad news regardless of what you do, what’s the point in trying to be better? 

Zubair can time travel! But can he fix his family’s problems without unintended consequences? A funny, exciting, moving story that many readers will relate to. 

Four teenagers embark on a mission to investigate the local legend of Blood-Eyed-Mary, the witch in the woods. Will they survive the night? 

Ayrton was stolen as a baby – and Stanley’s mysterious grandmother did it! But can they find her? A gripping story of family secrets and friendship.

13-year-old Gwen and her siblings move into a spooky house on a remote island. When a new childminder arrives, horrifying events unravel, and the children must face their fears to defeat her. 

Finn just wants to survive Year 7 but faces cringe and embarrassment at every turn. Follow his hilarious year in this brilliantly funny and relatable illustrated diary format book. 

Everyone at school knows Harriet Manners is a geek.

There’s been a rather shocking murder at Deepdean School for Girls – but luckily, young detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are on the case!

Thirteen-year-old Emmie is the quiet girl at school, the one nobody notices. She loves to draw – and is good at it too – and has a best friend, Brianna, but her crippling shyness makes school and interacting with, well, anyone, really scary.

Anton is the King of Year 9, but he’s forced to hang out with the school’s biggest loser. A hilarious coming-of-age story.

During his cancer treatment, Ross just wants a normal teenage life. But this involves bullying, as well as crushes and great friends. A funny and realistic coming-of-age story.

Bali Rai once again hits home with a current and unfortunately necessary book. As always, the characters are fully fleshed out, the dialogue both believable and accessible, and the plot well paced and worthy of its subject matter.

Sammy wants a new life in Europe, while Natalie wants to escape the realities of her life in the UK. A powerful and hard-hitting verse novel for older readers.

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.

The first book in the Adrian Mole series, this was a publishing sensation back in the 1980s, but still has the power to entertain pre-teen, teen and even adult readers, and make them double up with laughter.

Big Bones is a truly refreshing read, and Bluebelle is a wonderful, honest and utterly hilarious narrator to fall in love with. This book will make readers think about body image in a whole new way, and about the importance of self-respect.

Jasmine and her friends are fed up with casual discrimination and being pigeonholed as stereotypes. So they start a school blog addressing contemporary social and personal issues of sexism, racism and other forms of prejudice. A timely teen novel. 

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 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.