Fun back-to-school books for teenagers
The holidays have passed, but here are some books to get you back into the school spirit.
Yes, the lie-ins are over but now the adventure begins: these teen books are perfect for capturing the drama but also the fun, giggles, new beginnings and the friendships that will last you a lifetime.
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That Asian Kid
Author: Savita Kalhan
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
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That Asian Kid
Author: Savita Kalhan
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
Fifteen-year-old Jeevan witnesses two teachers snogging (and more) in the woods, and films it on his phone. But should he share th…
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Watch Us Rise
Author: Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
Interest level: 13-16
Reading age: 10+
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Watch Us Rise
Author: Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
Interest level: 13-16
Reading age: 10+
Jasmine and her friends are fed up with casual discrimination and being pigeonholed as stereotypes. So they start a school blog ad…
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You Must Be Layla
Author: Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
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You Must Be Layla
Author: Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9+
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 b…
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The Poet X
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 13+
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The Poet X
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 13+
Xiomara, a teenage girl of Dominican heritage, is starting to notice boys, but her strict Catholic parents have decided on no cont…
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Secrets of a Teenage Heiress
Author: Katy Birchall
Interest level: 11-14
Reading age: 9+
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Secrets of a Teenage Heiress
Author: Katy Birchall
Interest level: 11-14
Reading age: 9+
If you were grounded just when you had the chance to hang out with a superstar celebrity, would you risk sneaking out to have some…
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Second Best Friend
Author: Non Pratt
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 13+
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Second Best Friend
Author: Non Pratt
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 13+
An electric coming-of-age story, Non Pratt deftly uses a school political race to highlight other kinds of school politics: the mi…
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Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Interest level: 14+
Reading age: 14+
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Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Interest level: 14+
Reading age: 14+
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is a beautifully-written love story about two high school outsiders
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Flirty Dancing
Author: Jenny McLachlan
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
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Flirty Dancing
Author: Jenny McLachlan
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
First of four books, this is smart, funny writing, engagingly balancing the serious stuff - bullying, first love, friendship - wit…
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The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4
Author: Sue Townsend
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 9+
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The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4
Author: Sue Townsend
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 9+
The first book in the Adrian Mole series, this was a publishing sensation back in the 1980s, but still has the power to entertain …
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Murder Most Unladylike
Author: Robin Stevens
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 10+
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Murder Most Unladylike
Author: Robin Stevens
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 10+
There's been a rather shocking murder at Deepdean School for Girls - but luckily, young detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are …
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You Know Me Well
Author: Nina LaCour & David Levithan
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
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You Know Me Well
Author: Nina LaCour & David Levithan
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
Mark and Kate have never spoken outside class - and little do they know how important they will become to each other. As well as b…
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The Silent Striker
Author: Pete Kalu
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 13+
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The Silent Striker
Author: Pete Kalu
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 13+
Marcus lives and breathes football. He might even have the makings of a professional player. But Marcus' life is about to change. …
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Help: My Cat’s a Vlogging Superstar!
Author: Rae Earl
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
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Help: My Cat’s a Vlogging Superstar!
Author: Rae Earl
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
When Millie’s best friend Lauren is mortified by an Instagram post, Millie makes a vlog to cheer her up. Rae Earl has a real…
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Waiting for Callback
Author: Perdita and Honor Cargill
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 9+
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Waiting for Callback
Author: Perdita and Honor Cargill
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 9+
Fifteen-year-old Elektra's humorous and thoughtful account of juggling school, home, friends, relationships, and her attempts to b…
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Never Evers
Author: Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 10+
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Never Evers
Author: Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 10+
This is a must read for anyone who has ever been on a school trip, had a crush on a pop star, or embarrassed themselves in front o…
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Invisible Emmie
Author: Terri Libenson
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 10+
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Invisible Emmie
Author: Terri Libenson
Interest level: 10+
Reading age: 10+
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…
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The Harder They Fall
Author: Bali Rai
Interest level: 12-15
Reading age: 10+
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The Harder They Fall
Author: Bali Rai
Interest level: 12-15
Reading age: 10+
Bali Rai once again hits home with a current and unfortunately necessary book. As always, the characters are fully fleshed out, th…
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White Lies, Black Dare
Author: Joanna Nadin
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 13+
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White Lies, Black Dare
Author: Joanna Nadin
Interest level: 13+
Reading age: 13+
Determined to make friends in her new school, Asha partakes in a life-altering game of Truth or Dare. This fantastic story investi…
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Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend
Author: Alan Cumyn
Interest level: 14+
Reading age: 14+
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Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend
Author: Alan Cumyn
Interest level: 14+
Reading age: 14+
When Pyke flies into the playground, everything changes for Shiels. Pyke is a pterodactyl - and it leads Shiels to face her most p…
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