good books to do book reports on 11th grade

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23 Books For 11th Graders: Novel, Classic, Narrative, Fiction, Romance, And More

December 24, 2023 //  by  Kellie Tanner

A student’s eleventh grade year of high school is an exciting, rigorous, and academically filled year. Teachers are striving to prepare their students for the world beyond high school which can be a very challenging task. Students are also getting more mature and much more serious about their goals and aspirations after high school. Therefore choosing terrific books for eleventh grade students to read is a must.

Expose them to a variety of stories and topics that will prepare, challenge, inspire, and encourage them as they enter one of the most exciting transitions of their lives. We have created a list of 23 of the best books for eleventh grade students that will assist you as you prepare your students for their future journeys.

1. Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

This book by author Ray Bradbury is an amazing, classic novel. This story takes place in a somber, dystopian future. However, the message provided by this novel has grown even more relevant in today's world.

2. The Bell Jar (Sylvia Plath)

Your 11th graders will be drawn into this haunting, classical story of a young, talented woman who is dealing with mental illness as well as the pressures of society. Students will be able to relate to and understand the battles of life faced by the main character Esther Greenwood.

3. The Call of the Wild (Jack London)

High school students will enjoy this survival story about Buck, a St. Bernard, who was stolen from his master in California and turned into a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. This story is about Buck’s survival and how he adapts to his new, challenging life in the wilderness.

4. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Ken Kesey)

Students in your 11th grade literature classes will absolutely love this book. It is a best-selling novel and a largely successful film that is filled with humor and defiance as well as a war between two opponents in a mental hospital.

5. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)

This book will definitely keep the attention of your 11th graders. This devastating, first-person story is told by the main character from beyond the grave. She tells about her murder that took place when she was fourteen, her heavenly home, her killer’s life, and her saddened family.

6. The Color Purple (Alice Walker)

Add this novel to your 11th grade reading list. It has received the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize. This beautiful story allows students to understand what life was like in Georgia as an African American woman during the early part of the 20th century.

7. Lord of the Flies (William Golding)

This iconic novel is a must-read for 11th grade students. Published in 1954, this story features schoolboys involved in a plane crash on a deserted island with no adults around to supervise them. Their freedom and adventure soon lead to terror.

8. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

One of the best-loved books for grade 11, this 20th-century masterpiece has sold over 40 million copies! This story revolves around prejudice in the South. A lawyer with a young daughter takes huge risks as he defends a black man accused of a horrific crime.

9. A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)

10. last of the mohicans (james fenimore cooper).

This is another great novel for history teachers to use in their 11th grade history classes. Set in 1757, it includes British and French armies and struggles with the Native Americans over land possessions.

11. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)

This contemporary, bestselling novel is loved by readers of all ages, and it is a great addition to your 11th grade literature classes. This devastating story takes place in Afghanistan and involves an unlikely friendship between a servant’s son and a wealthy young man. It is filled with sacrifice, love, and lies.

12. Not if I See You First (Eric Lindstrom)

This book is definitely a must-read for 11th grade book clubs or literature classes! It is a beautiful story about a blind girl learning to maneuver life and love during her high school years.

13. The Glass Menagerie (Tennessee Williams)

This play first premiered in 1944 in Chicago and has been performed numerous times around the world. It even won the New York Critics Circle Award. This story is about a family involved in an interesting triangle of love, lost love, and sorrow.

14. Seize the Day (Saul Bellow)

Dealing with failures in life, the main character in this book is a failed actor that is separated from his family. He has ultimately reached a day of reckoning. Through a sense of truth and understanding, he now has one last hope.  Your 11th graders will want to read this!

15. The Plague (Albert Camus)

Published in 1947, this haunting 20th Century masterpiece tells a story of resilience, fear, bravery, and hope despite a ravaging plague epidemic overtaking the North African people. Your 11th graders will be intrigued now more than ever!

16. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)

This story is a timeless masterpiece that people of all ages enjoy, but your 11th graders will totally love it! Elizabeth Bennet’s spirit and her perception and dislike of Fitzwilliam Darcy will have your students begging to read more.

17. The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

Your 11th graders will be glued to the pages of this book as they read about 16-year-old Katniss Evergreen. This story is filled with intensity as Katniss participates in the Hunger Games in place of her sister. She must fight and kill to be the last one standing and alive in a horrific, publicized battle.

18. All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)

19. flowers for algernon (daniel keyes).

Could a surgery really increase someone’s intelligence? Charlie Gordon gets the opportunity to find out. Does this amazing opportunity end well for Charlie? Your 11th graders will be enthralled as they read to find out!

20. Into the Wild (Jon Krakauer) 

A best-selling novel that will grab your students’ attention and keep it, this story reveals the story of a missing person. It is a story filled with heartbreak and mystery, and it will keep your 11th graders mesmerized until the end.

21. Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck)

Add this novel to your daily lesson plans for 11th grade students! This contentious story takes place during the Great Depression, and it tells the story of friendship, tragedy, and consequences. Your students will not be able to stop reading this gripping and thrilling story.

22. On Writing (Stephen King)

For those 11th graders choosing to prepare for college, this book is a must-read! Stephen King explains his life and provides terrific lessons on writing. Your students will learn amazing writing lessons about characterization, plot, and much more from this famous, best-selling author.

23. Macbeth (William Shakespeare)

Capture the attention of your 11th grade students with this story about a hero who turns evil. It includes violence, traitors, witches, wizards, treason, witchcraft, and consequences! All things have a price in this compelling story written by one of the greatest authors of all time.

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The Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers

No need to dread a book report! When kids find titles that are engaging, interesting, and thought-provoking, they're hooked. If it's fiction, students can dissect plot, theme, and characters. If it's nonfiction, they can plunge into a subject that fascinates them or learn a lot about something they've never heard of before. Here's a list of surefire selections for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. For even more ideas, check out 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12 .

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Inspiring wartime journal reveals teen's inner life.

The Apothecary, Book 1

Cold War kids use magic to save world in brilliant novel.

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story)

Young refugee's story is told in memories, myths, fables.

Goodbye Stranger

Bittersweet, lovely story of friendship and social media.

Genesis Begins Again

Teen learns to love herself in uplifting tale of misfits.

Hold on tight for an intense tale of survival.

A Long Walk to Water

Touching take on Lost Boys of Sudan, based on true story.

One Crazy Summer

A gem, with strong girl characters, '60s black history.

Poverty, being unhoused explored in hopeful tale.

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

Little-known disaster gets overdue, in-depth treatment.

The Red Badge of Courage

Compelling Civil War novel questions morality of battle.

Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1

First book in popular dystopian series tackles materialism.

Interned girl, Native boy find common ground in moving tale.

All-American Muslim Girl

Captivating coming-of-age tale explores identity, racism.

American Ace

Moving, fast-paced novel-in-verse; great for teen boys.

Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Complex, suspenseful story of developing The Bomb.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

Thrilling true story of teenagers who stood up to the Nazis.

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

Poignant memoir-in-verse recalls Cuban American's childhood.

Long Way Down

Gripping, unnerving story of teen boy contemplating revenge.

My Name Is Not Easy

Fascinating story of Alaskan kids growing up in the 1960s.

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21 Crucial Books For 11th Graders To Navigate Change

The best books for 11th graders challenge readers with new information while also calming their fears about college and beyond.

Elise Moser

Elise works with kids and teens at a public library, where her speciality is finding awesome book recommendations for customers. She has a degree in journalism and is a certified early childhood educator. When she’s not reading, Elise enjoys watching baseball, running, board games, and playing the flute. She lives in the St. Louis area with her partner Allen and their three cats.

View All posts by Elise Moser

Recommending the best books for 11th graders requires a mix of serious and heartwarming. Junior year is a hugely important academic year for high school students. For college-bound students, it’s a year of standardized testing, college visits, and AP classes. It’s also a year of personal growth. High school juniors mature significantly from 16 to 17.

With these pressures and changes in mind, this list includes stories of teens dealing with life transitions and figuring out what to do after high school. There are stories of navigating friendships and romantic relationships through personal change. The best books for 11th graders challenge them with new information while also calming their fears.

Here are some of the best books for 11th graders:

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

The third book in the To All the Boys series is perfect for juniors because it focuses on Lara Jean’s college decision. Lara Jean has to decide if she and Peter will stay together after high school, even if it means they’re apart.

Educated by Tara Westover

Juniors will learn a lot from Westover’s harrowing memoir and her pursuit of education despite her abusive family life. 11th graders are developing their own opinions about current issues, which mirror’s Westover’s own experience leaving her family home to attend college.

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In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero

At age 14, actress Diane Guerrero arrived home from school to an empty house. Her parents had been detained by immigration authorities. Diane, a U.S.-born citizen, stayed in the United States after her parents were deported to Colombia. 11th graders will learn a lot from her adversity and strength.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

This is a sweeping love story about two teens who meet by chance. Natasha is trying to keep her family from being deported to Jamaica. Daniel is a hopeless romantic afraid to tell his Korean parents about his true dreams. As they spend a day together, Yoon makes readers wonder if everything happens for a reason.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

This is an important read for 11th graders. In a small, hockey-obsessed town, one of the players is accused of sexual assault. The reactions of his peers and the adults in the town play out over the course of the novel. Readers will examine rape culture and how it affects us all.

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Defying your parents’ expectations can be difficult. In American Panda, 17-year-old Mei starts college a year early, just like her parents always wanted. But her true dream is to dance, not become a doctor as her parents expect. 11th graders will connect with Mei as they start to make their own choices about the future.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

This is a devastating story that highlights the injustice in the American criminal justice system. It’s a great read for 11th graders because it’s set at a reform school for teen boys. It will start conversations about racism and criminal justice reform.

Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman

We’ve seen tons of teens lead the fight against global climate change. For those who aren’t as well-informed about climate change, Dry is a perfect read. It imagines a near-future where Southern California has run out of water. Panic ensues and a small group of kids ends up together, all trying to survive. The novel is fast-paced, exciting, and terrifying. It’s a commentary about climate change as well as human behavior.

I, Claudia by Mary McCoy

Don’t sleep on this book: it was a Printz Honor Book and, despite the unfortunate cover art, is a compelling high school political drama. This book is for anyone who loves political and interpersonal drama. It’s narrated by Claudia, a novice historian. She recounts her rise to power in her high school’s prestigious student government. Despite seeing the abuses of her predecessors, Claudia can’t help but fall victim to the corruption of power.

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

This is a surprising young adult contemporary novel about Parker Grant, a junior who is blind and dealing with her father’s recent death. It’s a fascinating portrayal of life as a blind high schooler. It’s also a great example of the importance of developing, setting, and enforcing boundaries with others, an important lesson for 11th graders.

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

In this book, a group of misfits bands together to avenge the rape of a classmate. It’s an examination of a number of feminist ideas: rape culture, slut-shaming, sexuality, and gender roles. Readers will feel vindicated and inspired by the three main characters.

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

As America continues to deal with an opioid crisis, Mindy McGinnis’s novel about a high school student who becomes addicted to opiates is as relevant as ever. Mickey is a star softball player entering her senior year when she’s injured in a car accident. What begins as pain management quickly spirals out of control as Mickey becomes dependent on opiates. It’s a harrowing account of how a seemingly average girl with a supportive family can fall victim to drug addiction.

Jackpot by Nic Stone

The premise of this novel will keep juniors turning the pages. Rico is working at the local gas station on Christmas Eve when she sells two lottery tickets to a little old lady. Soon, Rico comes to believe the woman is holding a ticket worth $106 million. She enlists the help of a wealthy classmate, Zan, to hunt down the woman and help her cash in the ticket. Beyond the exciting main plot line, Nic Stone creates an amazing romantic story between Zan and Rico. The book also looks at class differences in the United States.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Juniors are on the cusp of adulthood, and with that comes the right to vote. It’s important for 11th graders to be knowledgable about current events. “Stamped” lays out the history of racist ideas in America, how it affects teens today, and how we can reach an antiracist future.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

This novel is perfect for teens struggling with mental illness. It’s a perfect portrayal of how anxiety and depression affect teens in their everyday lives. It’s also a great example of queer representation, including bisexuality and demisexuality.

Birthday by Meredith Russo

Morgan and Eric are forever connected. Both were born on the same day and in Birthday we meet the characters each year on their birthday. As the years go by, they grow and change: Morgan is deciding to live as her true self and Eric is trying to figure out how he fits into the world. This is an important exploration of sexual and gender identity.

Slay by Brittney Morris

17-year-old Kiera, a successful student, has a secret: she’s the developer of an extremely popular online role-playing game. The game celebrates Black culture. But after a teen is murdered over an in-game dispute, Kiera must work to defend her online world while maintaining her anonymity.

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi

Sisters Onyii and Ify are living in 2172, when much of the world is unlivable due to climate change and nuclear war. In their home country of Nigeria, a war rages on. The girls want to escape the unrest for a peaceful future, but they may have to fight in order to escape.

How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

In this memoir, Sandra recounts her childhood growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After surviving a horrific massacre in a refugee camp, Sandra immigrates to the United States. But just coming to the U.S. doesn’t magically make life easy. Sandra tells of her struggles as a refugee starting middle school in America.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

A 15-year-old boy contemplates vengeance on one long elevator ride from his apartment down to the street. He’s got a gun in his waistband and he’s ready to use it to bring justice for his brother’s murder. But each time the elevator stops, he learns new information about his brother’s death, making him question what really happened.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This fantasy novel is based on ancient Rome. It follows Laia, an enslaved girl, as she embarks on a mission to save her brother after he is arrested for treason. She soon meets Elias, an unwilling soldier, and they find their lives are intertwined.

Want more great recommendations for high schoolers? Check out the best books for 9th graders and 21 must-read books for 12th graders by authors of color.

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Home » Reading lists for High School students » 11th grade reading list for students aged 16-17

11th grade reading list for students aged 16-17

Books for grade 11 – this list of recommended reading books has been curated and compiled for high school juniors in the 11th Grade, aged 16-17. Over a year, these stories should provide inspirational reading material, and also challenge pupils to think independently. This list of 11th grade reading recommendations includes titles by Laekan Zea Kemp, James Agee, Shideh Etaat, Saul Bellow, Sylvia Plath, Laurie Halse Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Andrea Rogers, Isak Dinesen, Alice Sebold, Alice Walker and many more.

Books for Grade 11 – our recommendations

Somewhere between bitter and sweet by laekan zea kemp.

Two teenagers battle mental health, love life, legal and family issues in this powerful exposition of identity and coming of age. Should Pen follow the path laid out for her by her mum, or her dad, or should she follow her own dreams? Either way, someone is going to be disappointed. Add into the mix a secret Pen is keeping and ‘Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet’ has all the ingredients for a compelling read.

Rana Joon and the One and Only Now by Shideh Etaat

Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

Deeply personal vignettes of life are told through luminous biographical verse in this memoir that echoes the author’s very personal journey. Through powerful reflections, issues of assault, censorship, and empowerment through having the courage to speak out are explored. ‘Shout’ is a compelling call to action, urging readers to find their voices and feel confident to make change happen. An ideal choice for book clubs.

Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers

There are not just zombies, werewolves, and vampires in this very modern YA horror novel, but also social, family, and life-story horrors in this collection of powerful short stories. Following one Cherokee family over several generations through first, third, and second-person narratives, these stories present an unsettling and memorable portrait of the soul. This paperback includes startling illustrations by Jeff Edwards.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

Lev and Kolya are arrested and thrown into the same cell during the siege of Leningrad. Offered the chance to escape execution, the pair set off on a mission impossible. A compelling coming-of-age story.

A Death in the Family by James Agee

James’ father was killed in a traffic accident in 1915. This autobiographical work explores the impact that his death had on his immediate family in the years that followed. A Pulitzer prize-winning novel, it is regarded as one of the best English language novels of the 20th century.

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

A scathingly amusing look at the stifling atmosphere prevailing in an English university in post-war Britain. A hugely successful novel that rocked the foundations of academia.

The Plague by Albert Camus

A novel that has many layers of meaning to explore. A plague sweeps through Oran in French Algeria. The way the inhabitants react to the ongoing horror and suffering is eloquently and passionately portrayed.

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

The most popular of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales, this novel looks at the changing frontiers in America during the French wars and the animosity between rival tribes and settlers. A touching account of a vanishing way of life.

Seize the Day by Saul Bellow

In Seize the Day, Tommy Wilhelm has to face up to his failures in life and examine the personal traits that have led him to this day. Can he retrieve his self-belief?

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

A classic novel. A graphic and unforgettable account of a day in a Stalin-era work camp in Russia. Ivan Denisovich has to learn how to survive hunger, exhaustion, disease and freezing temperatures and to maintain his dignity and belief in humanity.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar is a terrifyingly realistic account of a descent into insanity. An American classic by Sylvia Plath. A useful counterpoint to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey.

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

One of the most influential and moving novels in South Africa’s literary canon. In a country divided by race and factionalism, this is a story that contains a hope that the best of human nature will prevail.

On Writing by Stephen King

Written by one of the most popular and best-selling authors ever, this is a clear and accessible insight into the techniques every writer hopes to possess. Enthusiastic and thought-provoking. This should be required reading.

Collected Stories by Raymond Carver

This collection of short stories by Raymond Carver, written in the 1970s and 1980s, introduced a new and succinct style of writing – the influence of which continues today. Stephen King believed Raymond Carver was “surely the most influential writer of American short stories.” Ideal for 11th grade book clubs and discussion groups.

Collected Poems by Philip Larkin

This comprehensive collection of Larkin’s poems includes all his best-known works – including This Be The Verse and Toads, as well as some later editions. A greatly admired English poet. An accessible collection that will appeal to more reluctant readers.

American Pastoral by Philip Roth

Set in America in the late 1960s and early 1970s this novel encompasses the social and political upheavals of that era. A vivid depiction of the disintegration of ‘The American Dream’. A Pulitzer Prize winner.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

A disturbing novel about how being different can cause animosity and rejection, rather than understanding. After nightmares convince Yeonj-Hye to become vegetarian, her isolation from her family increases with dire consequences.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play is set on a plantation in Mississippi. Twists and turns take the audience through a gamut of human emotions – both good and bad. Filmed in 1958, this playscript is still relevant.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Exploring the fine line between sanity and madness, this book attacks the overmedication of patients in an Oregon State mental institution. McMurphy, the rebel, sets out to oppose the system and do battle to change the status quo.

A Room with a View by E. M. Forster

Lucy, a middle-class Edwardian young lady, with her life neatly planned out, visits Florence in Italy. Once there, her tidy world is overturned. Which will be the right path for her?

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

An award-winning novel set in France during World War Two. Marie-Laurie is a blind French girl, and Wermer, a German employed to uncover the resistance. A Pulitzer Prize winner.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A story set in London and Paris during a time of upheaval and revolution. The themes of hope, redemption, and sacrifice are central to the novel, both on personal and wider societal levels.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

An unusual murder story, in that it is told by the victim. Watching over her family from heaven, Suzie describes the agonies of her suffering family and yearns for them to discover her killer. A great book to study in 11th grade literature classes.

The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot

The Waste Land an epic poem in five sections published in 1922, is considered a modernist masterpiece. Useful to compare to modern American works on the themes of materialism, depression, and Alienation. A challenging yet rewarding pre-college read for 11th grade students.

Carrie by Stephen King

Stephen King’s first published novel – the story of Carrie White and her terrible powers. Rejected and isolated by her peers, her revenge is shocking. A stand-out thriller from a great American writer.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Written by British author Dodie Smith this story is told through the diaries of Cassandra Mortmain. Living in poverty, in a derelict castle, as part of an eccentric family, the entries are sharp, witty and poignant. A good choice for 11th grade book groups.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

A modern American classic following the travels of Kerouac and his friend across the United States. Rejecting convention, they travel unknown routes and discover an alternative America. A great novel.

Dig by A.S. King

Brutally candid in the way attitudes are passed down through the generations, this story encompasses societal ills of class, sexism, racism, patriarchy and abuse. An eye-opener for young adult students, the author states this book is meant to be uncomfortable reading.

Family | Racism

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

An inspirational story of young Sam Gribley who runs away to the Catskill Mountains and through trial and error learns to live off the land. Living in his tree trunk home, his experience with wildlife, weather and random companions make for compulsive reading. A thought-provoking read for 11th grade students.

Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen

Out of Africa is an account of life on a coffee plantation near Nairobi in Africa from 1914 to 1931. A brilliant contemporary account of colonial society. Turned into a movie in 1985.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Set in dystopian New England in a patriarchal society, Offred is a handmaiden. Deprived of her name, her family and her freedom, she relates the circumstances that changed her life and the lives of all women. A thought-provoking read for 11th graders.

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

Philip Marlowe is drawn into a complex case of murder and adultery when he meets Terry Lennox. Multiple twists and turns arrests and murder pepper the plot before the final astonishing reveal.

The Cider House Rules by John Irving

A complex plot centered on Homer Wells, who was born and raised in an orphanage. Trained by his mentor, his life remains uncomplicated until he is drawn into the outside world with its confusing temptations and difficulties.

My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Asher Lev grew up in a strict Hasidic Jewish family. He is a very gifted artist. Unfortunately, this talent is not welcomed by his father or his community. However, he persists and achieves great success but at considerable personal cost.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

A hard-hitting, no holds barred, novel – very highly regarded. Centered around Celie and her sister Nettie – born in poverty and segregation their abuse and degradation is uncomfortable but rewarding reading.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Algernon is a lab mouse, and Charlie is a cleaner with a low IQ. They are brought together through an experiment to increase mental abilities. Charlie’s delight in his newfound intelligence is soon tempered by what he discovers about his past, and by what is happening to Algernon.

Click for more reading recommendations – Kindergarten books |  Grade 1 books | Grade 2 books | Grade 3 books | Grade 4 books | Grade 5 books | Grade 6 books | Grade 7 books | Grade 8 books | Grade 9 books | Grade 10 books | Grade 11 books (this page)  | Grade 12 books

Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this 11th grade book list, as well as classroom sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or stocking your school library. If you are ordering from outside the US, have a look at our ‘worldwide orders’ page which makes this process easy.

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42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful for kids.

1. Concrete Found Poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Pizza Box Book Report

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

6. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

7. Mint Tin Book Report

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. Teacher blogger Teacher Thrive describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

8. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best-looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

9. Book Report Cake

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. Learn more about book tastings .

10. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

11. Sandwich Book Report

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc.

12. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

13. Peekaboo Book Report

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over this book report.

14. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

15. T-shirt Book Report

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint.

16. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

17. Rays of Sunshine Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

18. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

19. Character To-Do List

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

20. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

21. Book Reports in a Bag

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

22. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8″ x 11″ sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

23. File Folder Book Report

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

24. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then provide a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

25. Triorama Book Report

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but you can also try an accordion-folded book report, a quadrama, or an info-sphere.

26. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

27. Book Report Mobile

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

28. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

29. Dodecahedron Book Report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels, and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

30. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

31. Charm Bracelet Book Report

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

33. Book Report Booklets

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

34. Letter to the Author

Have kids write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

35. Cardboard Box TV

This cardboard box TV book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

36. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment.

37. Foldables

From Rainbows Within Reach, this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

38. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

39. Comic Strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strip book reports. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

40. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

41. Wanted Poster

Make a Wanted poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Wheaties Box Book Report

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report to look like an old-fashioned Wheaties box that features sports heroes. Include a main image on the front side of the box. Decorate the sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

Come share your own creative book report ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, dont’ miss 100 famous children’s books every kid should read (plus free printable).

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50 Must-Read Books for Eleventh Graders

by AuthorAmy

Welcome to Amy’s Bookshelf! Here, teachers will find carefully curated book lists for each grade level from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Moving forward, new lists filled with book recommendations will be published weekly. Sometimes, these lists will be organized around a specific theme, like a holiday or seasonal event. Other times, they will feature rockstar books – books practically guaranteed to get your students reading. 

Before jumping into reading recommendations, a few words about how books are selected.

First, it is so important that teachers prioritize reading interest over reading level. Students will often choose to read well above or below their reading level if they are particularly interested in a book or topic. Teachers only hurt students by limiting them to a specific selection of titles grouped according to an arbitrary number or level. Think of the books on these lists as starting places for you and your students, but if a student wants to read up (or down), that is a-ok.

Also, please note that these lists lean heavily toward modern selections as opposed to the classics many teachers are familiar with. A true renaissance is happening in children’s literature today, and the books coming out are truly exciting. One of the factors that makes this such an exciting time for kid lit is how diverse the selections are in terms of genre, characters and subject matter. These lists will feature fiction and nonfiction selection as well as graphic novels, novels written in verse, and more.

Any book list or classroom library worth its salt includes books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters, racially diverse characters, characters with disabilities, characters in the foster care system, characters from a wide variety of socioeconomic and religious backgrounds, and so on. Importantly, the diversity of the characters doesn’t always need to be the focus of the literature – in other words, a book featuring a black character or gay character doesn’t need to be about those individuals exploring their blackness or their gayness; those characters can have kid problems that apply to all children regardless of their race or sexual orientation. Similarly, students should be encouraged to read stories featuring people of diversity all year long – not just during a month set aside to celebrate a specific heritage.

One final note: today’s children’s literature does not shy away from frank discussions of gender, race, sex, sexuality, abuse, mental illness, and more – nor should it. I will not censor books from these lists based on these controversial areas. What books you recommend will depend on the specific district you work in and your clientele. I encourage you and your students to read widely without fear.

Eleventh Grade

Eleventh grade is often the time when students take language arts classes focused on American history and culture. For that reason, this list is filled with historical fiction and nonfiction titles as well as books that delve into contemportary American issues. 

Just so you know, Bored Teachers may get a small share of the sales made through the Amazon affiliate links on this page.

1. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Get it HERE .

Death personified narrates this book set during the Holocaust. He tells the story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger, whose moth gives her and her brother to a foster family out of wartime desperation. Liesel’s brother dies within the first few pages, and at his perfunctory burial, she steals a book out of impulse. Liesel’s life in Nazi Germany is populated by moments of book thievery, which end up feeding her soul and saving her life. 

2. Revolution

by Deborah Wiles

Revolution (and its precursor, Countdown) are being called documentary novels, because they contain a fictional story interwoven with historical artifacts – quotes, song lyrics, compelling photographs, etc. This book is like reading a time capsule. In it, Freedom Summer in Mississippi is seen through the eyes of preteen Sunny, who doesn’t understand why her town is suddenly invaded by white people from the north or why a registering black people to vote makes so many people angry. 

3. Salt to the Sea

by Ruta Sepetys

At the end of World War II, refugees were loaded onto the ship the Wilhelm Gustloff for transport. Soviet ships torpedoed the boat, killing 9,343 people. Salt to the Sea tells the story of the boat’s sinking from the alternating perspectives of four passengers aboard the ship. Ruta Sepetys is a master at young adult historical fiction. 

4. Dread Nation

by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation imagines a world where the Civil War is interrupted by a zombie apocalpyse. Jane McKeene is a young black woman attending a special kind of finishing school – one where she learns to kill zombies for whatever rich white family hires her for their protection. Jane just wants to return home to make sure her mother is safe but finds herself caught up in a conspiracy where racial tensions run high. 

5. Boys on the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation)

by Daniel James Brown

This is the true story of a crew team from the University of Washington in the 1936 Olympics. The team of blue collar students roundly defeated elite East Coast teams in an unexpected routing and went on to row against the German crew boat. 

6. Audacity

by Melanie Crowder

This novel in verse is inspired by the true story of Clara Lemlich who came to New York via Russia at the turn of the twentieth century and refused to work in factories with poor working conditions. She ultimately organizes a strike of women factory workers in an event known as the Uprising of 20,000. 

7. Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman

Easily one of the most important graphic novels ever, Maus depicts the author’s father recounting his time living during the Holocaust. In this story, the Jews are depicted as mice and the Nazis as predatory cats, but don’t think for a second that using animals instead of people tones down the violence of history. This is a brutal, unflinching look at an ugly time in history. 

8. Egg and Spoon

by Gregory Maguire

Author Gregory Maguire of Wicked fame conjures up a fairy tale brimming with elements of Russian folklore. It’s a case of mistaken identity when a peasant from the countryside switches lives with the daughter of a noble family. The Russian witch Baba Yaga and her house that walks around on chicken legs really steals the show in this book. 

9. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

At first, Aristotle and Dante seem to have nothing in common when their lives collide one summer at the public swimming pool. Over the summer, however, they develop a friendship that turns into a relationship in this coming-of-age story. 

10. #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women

edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale

This book is a powerful collection of art created by Native American women to capture the experience of being native. The writing changes from poetry to essays to art pieces, but together they create a portrait of powerful indigenious women demanding to be heard. 

11. Royal Bastards

by Andrew Shvarts

Tilla is the bastard daughter of Lord Kent. She is relegated to the bastards table at royal events while her father lavishes attention on his royal children. One day, a princess visits and scandalizes everyone by sitting with Tilla at her table during a banquet. The two young women find themselves fast friends and, exploring the kingdom late at night, they witness a crime they were never meant to see. 

12. Everything, Everything

by Nicola Yoon

Maddy has a disease known as SCIDs, or severe combined immunodeficiency. In layman’s terms, she’s essentially allergic to everything and lives inside in a carefully controlled environment. From her bedroom, she watches the boy next door move in. His name is Olly. From that moment, Maddy decides to risk her health for the sake of being a normal teenager who just wants to date a nice boy. 

13. Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Justyce McAllister is an honor roll student and an all-around good guy who winds up handcuffed in a moment of racial profiling. To cope with the injustice, and a mounting awareness of the racism that is pervasive in his world, Jus starts writing letters to Martin Luther King, Jr. in his notebook. It’s an important book.

14. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming

Winner of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, The Family Romanov tells the true story of Russia’s last royal family. It’s a nonfiction book, of course, but it reads like a novel and would be a great starting place for teens looking to foray into the world of nonfiction. 

15. Replica by Lauren Oliver

Half of the story is Lyra’s. Lyra is a replica, a human model raised in the Haven Institute. Haven is attacked, and Lyra escapes, along with a boy known as 72. The other half of the story is Gemma’s. Gemma is chronically ill and discovers her father’s connection to the Haven Institute, which leads her to travel to the institute and encounter the two escaped replicas. The book has two covers and two starting places – read it like normal for one story, then turn it over and upside down for the other perspective. 

16. Midnight at the Electric

by Jodi Lynn Anderson

This novel bounces between three perspectives. First the reader meets Adri, living in 2065, as she is getting ready to be on the first manned space mission to Mars. Adri discovers the journal of Catherine, from 1934 who is trying to survive the Dust Bowl, and Lenore, who, in 1919, is planning a voyage from England to America. The three stories intertwine in engaging ways, and the characters are remarkably well-developed. 

17. Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

Mercy Wong, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, uses her wits (and a little bribery) to earn her admitance to St. Clare’s School for Girls. Mercy finds herself a bit in over her head when disaster strikes in the form of a massive earthquake. Mercy must rise above the petty squabbles of her classmates and help them survive, because help is coming no time soon. 

18. Once and For All

by Sarah Dessen

Louna doesn’t believe in love anymore, which makes it that much more ironic that she works as a wedding planner. Along comes Ambrose, who sets his sights on Louna. He just has to convince her to give love a second chance. 

by Kwame Alexander

Blade is the son of a former rock star turned drug addict, and everyone assumes that because Blade loves music, Blade will wind up just like his father. They even forbid him from seeing his girlfriend Chapel. When a family secret threatens to change life as Blade knows it, he must decide what to do next. 

20. A Psalm for Lost Girls

by Katie Bayerl

Teen Tess De Costa passes away, and her town petitions the Pope to grant her sainthood. Tess’ sister Callie, who knew Tess best of all, wants to prove to the world that Tess was more than this saint caricature that everyone is making her out to be. But when Callie starts investigating Tess’ life, she unearths some secrets she wishes she hadn’t known. 

21. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

This is the classic coming of age story. It features Charlie as he travels the usual roads through adolescence – heartache, love, drugs, new friends. As Charlie observes the outer world from his position as a wallflower, he also starts to look inward to understand who he is becoming. 

22. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

Astrid Jones spends her days watching airplanes flying overhead. She begins to tell the passengers thousands of feet above her her greatest fears and secrets, including her budding romance with a girl. 

23. The Marrow Thieves

by Cherie Dimaline

In this dark, dystopian story, Native Americans are being hunted for their marrow, which people believe will bring back the ability to dream. The world has been practically destroyed by global warming, humanity turns desperate. 

 24. Midwinterblood

by Marcus Sedgwick 

Midwinterblood is seven separate stories with interwoven elements. All seven stories take place on a Scandanavian island called Blessed. Blessed is more than just an island; magic lurks and infuses the stories with atmospheric ambiance. 

by Elana K. Arnold

Ama is rescued from a dragon by the handsome Prince Emory, who tells her his heroic tale and takes her back to his kindgom of Harding to wed. But Ama has no memory of the time before the dragon took her, and once in Harding she learns the secrets behinds the damsels and dragons that everyone would rather stay hidden. 

26. The Monstrumologist

by Rick Yancey

Will Henry is an apprentice to a doctor who specializes in monster hunting. One dark night, an Anthropophagus is brought to the doctor, a monster about to unleash horror upon the world unless Will can stop it. This is the first in a four-book series. 

27. A Wreath for Emmett Till

by Marilyn Nelson and illustrated by Philippe Lardy

This beautiful picture book features a poem written to honor the legacy of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black teen who was brutally murdered and who helped inspire the civil rights movement. 

28. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

by Douglas Adams

Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect journey through the galaxy doing research for Prefect’s book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Filled with oddballs and whimsy, the Hitchhiker’s Guide has quite the cult following. In it, you will learn the answer to life, the universe, and everything. 

29. Code Talker

by Joseph Bruchac

This historical fiction novel tells the story of World War II Navajo code talkers. Specifically, the story centers on Ned Begay, who becomes a code talker, braves the horrors of war, and saves lives. 

by Elie Wiesel

This is Elie Wiesel’s blunt, brutal account of surviving Nazi death camps. Readers get a horrifying firsthand account of life in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Wiesel also spends time reflecting on the human condition that allowed such an atrocity as the Holocaust to happen. 

31. The Things They Carried

by Tim O’Brien

The Things They Carried is a loose collection of stories, vignettes, and moments designed to capture what it meant to be a soldier during the Vietnam War. 

32. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

by Ishmael Beah

Ishamel Beah was conscripted into the Sierra Leone army as a 13 year old boy. This is his autobiographical account of what it was like to be a child soldier witnessing and partaking in the absolute horrors of war. 

33. The Radium Girls

by Kate Moore

At the turn of the twentieth century, young women worked in factories with a promising new substance isolated by the Curies known as radium. These women were responsible for painting watch faces with the sparkly new substance. They did not know about the terrible health hazards they would face later in life thanks to their constant exposure to the dangerous radium. 

34. Juliet Takes a Breath

by Gabby Rivera

Juliet is a Puerto Rican lesbian who just came out to her family. She’s not sure if her mother will ever speak to her again. Luckily, she’s interning for the author of her favorite book about feminism, and she hopes this summer job will help her figure out everything else. 

35. Autoboyaugraphy

by Christina Lauren

Tanner Scott is a closeted gay teen living in Utah. He’s fine with his sexuality, but he knows his community is not. But, in just a few short months high school will be over and he can go be who he really is in college. But, one semester in a writing class changes all that as Tanner finds himself in a relationship with his mentor Sebastian.  

36. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

by Jenny Han

Lara Jean Song writes love letters like most people write diaries. To each of the five boys she’s loved, she has written them a letter pouring out her most intimate thoughts – things she never dared share with them in real life. The letters were for her eyes only, until they get accidentally mailed. 

37. Up to this Pointe

by Jennifer Longo

Harper is determined to become a professional ballerina. Her plan is not going to work out. So Harper makes the drastic decision to literally follow in the footsteps of her ancestor Robert Falcon Scott, who died in a race to the south pole. Harper finds herself in Antarctica on some pretty thin ice after things don’t go according to plan. 

38. Six of Crows

by Leigh Bardugo

Kaz is a criminal mastermind, and a con man. He is offered to lead the heist of a lifetime along with a crew of five other con artists. The story is told in multiple points of view and is filled with twists and turns to make it a page-turning read. 

39. Exit, Pursued by a Bear

by E.K. Johnston

Hermione Winters is the captain of her cheerleading team, and the summer of her senior year is when she’s going to make it all count. But when someone slips something into her drink during a cheer camp party and she finds out she’s pregnant from a rape, her world changes drastically. Hermione’s tough character makes this an emotional but ultimately positive book. 

40. If I Was Your Girl

by Meredith Russo

Amanda meets Grant at her new school and the two of them are drawn to each other. But Amanda has a big secret – she is a transgender teen who used to go by Andrew. She fears that Grant will leave as soon as she tells him her biggest secret. 

41. Passenger

by Alexandra Bracken

Passenger is a time-travel tale about Etta Spencer who is pulled back in time by a stranger who needs her help. She finds herself aboard a ship and is put to work searching for a valuable object from the past. On the ship, she meets Nicholas Carter and sparks fly. 

42. The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness

A germ has infected the world, killing all females and imbuing men with the ability to hear each other’s thoughts. In spite of the thought noise, Todd suspects the townspeople are keeping something from him, so he runs away with his dog. Soon, he finds a girl. She is silent. This is the first in a white-knuckle trilogy. 

43. Children of Blood and Bone

by Tomi Adeyemi

Zélie Adebola remembers the awful night the magic disappeared, when the king ordered all the maji killed. Now Zélie must bring the magic back in this African-inspired fantasy novel. 

44. On the Come Up

by Angie Thomas

In Thomas’ follow-up to The Hate U Give, readers are back in Garden Heights, this time in the world of Bri, who wants to be a rapper like her late father. Her first song goes viral when she raps about the hood life, and suddenly Bri finds herself labeled as a hoodlum. It’s a novel about finding your voice and the cost of free speech.  

45. We Rise: The Earth Guardians Guide to Building a Movement that Restores the Planet

by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez

The author of this book, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, is a teenager himself. He works as a climate activist and his mission is to get teens involved in activism to save the planet and build a better world for all of us. We Rise, is, at its center, an action guide for teens who want to get involved in a movement. 

46. Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe

by Preston Norton

Cliff Hubbard is enormous, nicknamed the Neanderthal by everyone at school. His life is not great. He particularly dislikes ultra-cool quarterback Aaron Zimmerman, until one day, after a near-death experience, Aaron tracks down Cliff and asks for his help. Specifically, Aaron says God gave him a list of things to do to make their high school suck less. Cliff joins in, and together they set out to save their high school. 

47. Odd One Out

by Nic Stone

This is the story of a love triangle. First, there are best friends Courtney and Jupiter. Jupiter starts feeling like he might have feelings for Courtney, when new girl Rae moves to town. Rae has feelings for both Jupiter and Cooper, and quickly she starts dating Cooper – and this is when Jupiter realizes her feelings for Cooper. 

48. The Seven Torments of Amy and Craig

by Don Zolidis

Craig and Amy are a couple. And then they aren’t. And then they are. They break up seven times over the course of this novel about first love and finding yourself. 

49. Heretics Anonymous

by Katie Henry

Atheist Michael isn’t too pleased about attending a Catholic school until he finds himself in a secret society known as Heretics Anonymous. Here, all the kids who don’t quite fit in find their space until Michael starts using the heretics club to expose what he sees as hypocrisies in the school.  

50. What If It’s Us

by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Arthur and Ben are all about reading the signs from the universe, and the universe is telling them to get together. Unless they are reading the signs wrong. They’re not sure, and the whole book is a will they/won’t they romance as the two are brought together and pulled apart. 

Other book lists from Amy’s bookshelf you’ll love: 

• 50 Must-Read Books for Kindergarteners
• 50 Must-Read Books For First Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Second Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Third Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Fourth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Fifth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For  Sixth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Seventh Graders
• 50 Must-Read​ Books for Eighth Graders
• 50 Must-Read​ Books for Ninth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Tenth Graders

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