The Best Teen Books of 2023

This book is FANTASTIC — and the audiobook is even better (a top-class full-cast audiobook that feels like a movie). When the principal of the Urban Promise Prep school is murdered in his office, three boys are high on the suspect list: J.B., Trey, and Ramon. They were either in the wrong place or have the wrong reputation or affiliation. Now they must join forces, along with their loved ones to find the real killer. I’d hand this to readers ages 14 and up, especially if they loved One of Us Is Lying.

Sam and her mom, Priscilla just can’t seem to get on the same page about anything. But things escalate when her grandmother falls into a coma. After a heated argument, Sam books a ride via a ride-hailing app and ends up in 1995 — as her mother’s classmate! There’s so much to love in this story about a Gen Z girl navigating 90s high school life and getting to know her mom years before she becomes her mom. I loved the insight into mother-daughter relationships, Korean-American culture, first-gen immigrant perspectives, and so much more. I adored this FUN, heartwarming, and oh-so-poignant release.

Sasha Johnson-Sun and Ezra Davis-Goldberg became besties in third grade but lost their friendship after an explosive fight. Now they’re in the same high school and tied for valedictorian just months before their graduation. Sasha and Ezra decide to settle things by a best-of-three, winner-take-all academic bet. But as they compete, old issues come to the fore, especially for Sasha, who keeps prioritizing “success” over all the other important things in her life. This book is a truly swoon-worthy romance with an enemies-to-lovers plot that is actually enjoyable. Hand these to teen overachievers who need a dash of fun in their lives. Heads up for infrequent profanity — best for ages 14 and up.

Eloise Deane is a sarcastic, unfriendly teenager who’s recently ditched her best friends and embraced the loner life after an incident the year before. Now she spends her time preparing for college and playing video games. But her escape plans develop a hitch when her school’s guidance counselor tells her she needs extracurricular activities on her application. Enter LifeCare, a volunteer agency that pairs teens with the elderly. Also, enter Austin Yang, the sunshine boy Eloise is paired with to visit a former rockstar, Marianne Landis. As Eloise reluctantly opens her heart to them both, she finds herself irrevocably changed. This book is absorbing, with a perfect teen voice and relatable depiction of anxiety and depression. Heads up for frequent profanity, good for ages 14+.

Gary Vo is a Vietnamese-American soon-to-be junior high schooler. Gary and his friend Preston have been at the bottom of the social totem pole forever, and Preston is determined that this is the summer they rise up the ranks. So when two popular classmates approach them with an offer to join their group, the boys are all ears! The task is to steal a bracelet from Gloria Buenrostro (a popular, but mysterious A+ student) so the boys can add it to their collections of tokens from “the hottest girls” in school. Easy enough, no? That is until Gary Vo befriends Gloria and realizes there’s more to her than meets the eye. This is a richly layered, relatable teen novel about what it means to be a man and how to be a good friend. I’d hand this to readers ages 13 and up.

Jessie is a fifteen-year-old Palestinian-Canadian who’s getting into high school soon after an autism diagnosis. She feels “abnormal,” especially as she doesn’t have a cellphone, but is determined to belong to a friend group and fall in love this school year. However, when she finds herself caught between two very different boys, she realizes that things don’t always go to plan. This is an original, relatable, and funny young adult novel about autism, family, and coming-of-age. 

Jia, Everett, and Ariel are high school besties whose summer plans could not be any more different. Jia is a Chinese-American helping out at her family’s restaurant in Chinatown while looking after her little sister and grandmother. Everett is a Vietnamese-American off to theater camp in Ohio, while Ariel, the genius Korean-American, is in pre-college grieving the death of her older sister months before. As the summer progresses, all three girls will need their friendship to anchor them through the waves of grief, first loves, and standing up for themselves. I LOVED the depiction of friendship in this book and the way the author brings cities and characters to life. If you loved The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and can’t get enough of emotional, fast-paced YA stories — this book is for you! Nearly no language and no sexual content.

The Faint of Heart is set in a dystopian world where no one but high schooler June has a heart. When a scientist (known simply as The Scientist) discovers that removing your heart takes away negative emotions like heartbreak, sadness, and anxiety, everyone undergoes the procedure. Unfortunately, the procedure also takes away the positive feelings. As June grapples with the loneliness of being the only one with a heart, she discovers a classmate whose heart is now growing back. Both teens work together to find the scientist and get her to reverse the procedure. This is a stellar, unique teen graphic novel about embracing the full spectrum of human emotions, no matter how hard it is. This is perfect for kids who love a good dystopian story and enjoy graphic novels.

When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was in high school, he was part of a program that sent students to be counselors at a camp for seriously ill kids and their families. He documents this life-changing experience in this wonderful graphic memoir. This book is so moving and includes an author’s note with pictures of the kids mentioned in the story.

Set in Romania during WWII, this young adult novel stars young Jewess Rieke, whose small life with her brash older sister, depressed mother, and doting grandfather is upturned by the Soviet invasion and, later, Nazi occupation. I love the characterization and storytelling in this story even more than the often-heard WWII/Holocaust plot. Rieke is a compelling protagonist and the Romanian setting makes this WWII novel unique. Although there are references to mature themes like sex, sexual abuse, war & violence, and alcoholism, this book is still appropriate for older teens ages 15+.