Top 10 Books for Teenage Girls — Latest List for 2026

Khalani is a PrisonerTakeshi is a GuardBoth are slaves to the UndergroundKhalani Kanes has never stood on the surface of the earth. In the underground city of Apollo, faith and dreams are as absent as the sun. She longed to visit Genesis, the infamous DomedCity and the final place where humanity lives aboveground. But when Khalani is given a lifesentence and thrown into prison for a theft she didn't commit, those wishes shatter into oblivion.In Braderhelm Prison, murderers are neighbors, ruthless and cold-blooded guards live topunish, and every second is a battle to survive. She thought the danger lay in befriendingcriminals and avoiding Takeshi Steele, the nefarious Captain who runs her cell block. But darkertraps and secrets await her within the shadows of imprisonment. Khalani's blood will coat thewalls in flaming silk before her enemies let her escape to the surface, a feat no one hassuccessfully achieved. If the reclusive and callous Takeshi Steele won't kill Khalani, then themerciless prisoners and her fractured mind will.Enter Braderhelm Prison, where only the Wicked remain.

Across factories, empty rooms, late-night cigarettes, and long shifts under fluorescent lights, this collection traces the inner life of men who were taught to be necessary before they were even taught to be loved. The Man Who Could've Been, by Best-Selling author Loan Wendling, is a poetic reflection of manhood, fatherhood, redemption, and the daily labor of becoming a better man - or at least trying to. After his debut book "Tales and Ink," and his second project, "The Ashes," Loan Wendling presents here a much more refined and much more experienced style and aesthetic, both poetically and visually, with its heart-wrenching poems and stunning illustrations, that act as a symbolic through line until the very last page. The Man Who Could've Been is a voice for the unheard, an attempt to comfort the lonely by letting them know that they are not alone. At its heart, this book is not about greatness; it is about the decision to break both societal and generational burdens by letting the world know that it is okay to feel, that it is okay to cry, and that it is okay to try to be better, rather than remaining in this same old hole we were told to remain in. Loan Wendling's The Man Who Could've Been speaks to every man who has wondered who he might have become - and reminds him that as long as the sun rises, the story is still being written.

Set in the world of the High Republic, 150 years before the storytelling of Phase I, an era of change brings new hopes and possibilities . . . but also new dangers. The Outer Rim planet Dalna has become the focus of a Jedi investigation into a stolen Force artifact, and Zallah Macri and her Padawan, Kevmo Zink, arrive on the pastoral world to follow up on a possible connection to a Dalnan missionary group called the Path of the Open Hand. Members of the Path believe that the Force must be free and should not be used by anyone, not even the Jedi. One such believer is Marda Ro, a young woman who dreams of leaving Dalna to spread word of the Path throughout the galaxy. When Marda and Kevmo meet, their connection is instantaneous and electric--until Marda discovers Kevmo is a Jedi. But Kevmo is so kind and eager to learn more about the Path, that she hopes she can convince him of the rightness of her beliefs. What Marda doesn't realize is that the leader of the Path, a charismatic woman known only as the Mother, has an agenda of her own, and it is one that can never coexist peacefully with the Jedi. In order to follow her faith, Marda may have to choose to become her new friend's worst enemy. . . . Don't miss these other adventures set in the era of the High Republic! Into the Dark by Claudia Gray Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older About the AuthorJustina Ireland enjoys dark chocolate, dark humor, and is not too proud to admit that she's still afraid of the dark. She is the author of Dread Nation (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins), a New York Times bestseller as well as the sequel Deathless Divide. Her earlier works include the fantasy young adult novels Vengeance Bound and Promise of Shadows (both Simon and Schuster). Justina also writes for the Star Wars franchise, including the books Lando's Luck, Spark of the Resistance, and the upcoming A Test of Courage, part of the High Republic publishing initiative. She is the former co-editor in chief of FIYAH Literary Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, for which she won a World Fantasy Award. She holds a BA from Armstrong Atlantic University and an MFA from Hamline University. Tessa Gratton is the author of adult and YA SFF novels and short stories that have been translated into twenty-two languages, nominated twice for the Otherwise Award, and several have been Junior Library Guild Selections. Her most recent novels are the dark queer fairy tales Strange Grace and Night Shine, and queer the Shakespeare retelling Lady Hotspur. Her upcoming work includes the YA fantasy Chaos and Flame (2023), and novels of Star Wars: The High Republic. Though she has lived all over the world, she currently resides at the edge of the Kansas prairie with her wife. Queer, nonbinary, she/any.

An instant Indie and #1 New York Times bestseller!"Achingly atmospheric and beautifully sharp, A Study in Drowning will draw you in from the first page." --Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls Bestselling author Ava Reid makes her YA debut in this dark academic fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold.Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she's had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad--Emrys Myrddin's epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him--is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin's family announces a contest to redesign the late author's estate, Effy feels certain it's her destiny.But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston H?loury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin's legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them--and the truth may bring them both to ruin.Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid's powerful YA debut will lure in readers who loved The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or Girl, Serpent, Thorn.About the AuthorReid, Ava: - Ava Reid is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming, Lady Macbeth, Juniper & Thorn, and The Wolf and the Woodsman. Her books have been published in over fourteen territories. She lives in the New York area. Follow her on Instagram @avasreid and find her online at tumblr.com/avasreid.

Being a teenager in the 1980s and 2010s has many contrasts. Despite growing up differently, Harvey and Lasher want the same thing. They don't want to become their dads. Two teens figure out how to navigate the absence of a "home sweet home." Growing up in the 80s, Harvey wants to be a published author and for his dad to be a better parent. But when his dad dies in a car crash, he's forced to drop out of high school to help his mom take care of his younger brother. As he misses more and more opportunities, the rage he inherited from his father keeps growing. When he experiences one more life-altering incident, he snaps. The effects ripple through his entire family. Being a teen in the 2010s, Lasher wants to live a normal life with his dad. A life that doesn't involve late-night shouting, a gambling addiction, or hurting himself to silence his anxiety about the future. When his dad makes a decision that puts both Lasher and his friend at risk, Lasher struggles with the idea that his dad doesn't care about him at all and the ramifications of wanting to handle everything on his own.When home is the hardest place to be, two teens grapple with not having a "normal" life, but working towards a better one.

Khalani Kanes never imagined surviving Braderhelm Prison, let alone escaping to the desolate surface they had been told was uninhabitable. Haunted by the Governor of Apollo's dark secrets, Khalani and her crew of criminals embark on a new perilous journey.Now, the true test begins as Khalani ventures through the treacherous "Death-Zone" toward the nearest underground city, Hermes. Abandoned relics of a once-great nation are not the only threats on the barren road. Violent storms sweep across the Death-Zone, the deadly Takeshi Steele has resumed his cold detachment, and unsettling signs suggest they might not be alone on the surface.To survive in this unforgiving world, Khalani must draw on her strength and harrowing experiences from Braderhelm. For a new kind of prison awaits in the corrupt city of Hermes-one where she finds herself trapped with the man who aggravates her the most. But this time, they'll likely perish before escaping alive.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES - The must-read mystery series everyone is talking about that began with A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is now available in a three-book paperback boxed set! Read between the lies... A Good Girl's Guide to MurderEveryone in Fairview knows the story of the pretty high school senior who was tragically murdered by her boyfriend before he killed himself. Five years later, a girl named Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town and decides to reexamine the closed case for a school project. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets...and her investigation might turn into obsession. Good Girl, Bad BloodAfter the last investigation, Pip has released a true-crime podcast, thinking her detective days are behind her. But when someone she knows goes missing and the police won't do anything about it, Pip has no choice but to find him herself. She soon will find the town has even more buried secrets...and this time everyone is listening. As Good as DeadPip is used to online death threats in the wake of her viral true-crime podcast, but the threats escalate when she realizes that someone is following her in real life. As the deadly game plays out, Pip discovers that everything in her small town is coming full circle...and if she doesn't find the answers, this time she will be the one who disappears...About the AuthorHolly Jackson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. She started writing stories at a young age, completing her first (poor) attempt at a novel when she was fifteen. Holly graduated from the University of Nottingham, where she studied literary linguistics and creative writing, with a master's degree in English. She enjoys playing video games and watching true-crime documentaries so she can pretend to be a detective. She lives in London. Follow Holly on Twitter and Instagram at @HoJay92.

An intoxicating blend of fantasy, horror, and romance--a Faustian fable perfect for fans of Holly Black, and Stranger Things. Dee Moreno is out of options. Her home life sucks (to put it mildly), and she's about to get booted from her boarding school--the only place she's ever felt free--for lack of funds. But this is a world where demons exist, and the demons are there to make deals: one human body part in exchange for one wish come true. The demon who Dee approaches doesn't trade in the usual arms and legs, however. He's only interested in her heart. And what comes after Dee makes her deal is a nightmare far bigger, far more monstrous than anything she ever could have imagined. Reality is turned on its head, and Dee has only her fellow "heartless," the charming but secretive James Lancer, to keep her grounded. As something like love grows between them amid an otherworldly threat, Dee begins to wonder: Can she give James her heart when it's no longer hers to give? In The Hearts We Sold, demons can be outwitted, hearts can be reclaimed, monsters can be fought, and love isn't impossible. This book will steal your heart and break it, and leave you begging for more.About the AuthorEmily Lloyd-Jones grew up on a vineyard in rural Oregon, where she played in evergreen forests and learned to fear sheep. After graduating from Western Oregon University with an English degree, she enrolled in the publishing program at Rosemont College just outside of Philadelphia. She currently resides in Northern California, working in a bookstore by day and writing by night.

The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in this #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling novel in Cassandra Clare's newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel. It's been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering who killed her parents and avenging her losses. Together with her battle partner Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn't lead her in treacherous directions... Making things even more complicated, Julian's brother Mark--who was captured by the faeries five years ago--has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind--and they need the Shadowhunters' help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn't recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it? Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare's Dark Artifices series.About the AuthorCassandra Clare is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles. She is also the coauthor of the bestselling fantasy series Magisterium with Holly Black. The Shadowhunter Chronicles have been adapted as both a major motion picture and a television series. Her books have more than fifty million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and three fearsome cats. Visit her at CassandraClare.com. Learn more about the world of the Shadowhunters at Shadowhunters.com.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A COSMOPOLITAN BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR A teenager on the run from his past finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical. Enroll in the debut of a fresh fantasy series unlike anything you've seen before. The first edition paperback of Blood at the Root features custom designed edges with spellbinding art. "Brings magical living to an HBCU in an unforgettable young adult adventure."--PeopleTen years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother: a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik's mother attended. At Caiman University, Malik's eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself--one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at Caiman: feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries. In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what's left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.About the AuthorLaDarrion Williams is a Los Angeles based-playwright, filmmaker, author, and screenwriter whose goal is to cultivate a new era of Black fantasy, providing space and agency for Black characters and stories in a new, fresh and fantastical way. He is currently a resident playwright/co-creator of The Black Creators Collective, where his play UMOJA made its West Coast premiere in January 2022 and produced North Hollywood's first Black playwrights festival at the Waco Theater Center. Blood at the Root is his first novel. His viral and award-winning short film based on the same concept, is currently on YouTube and Amazon Prime.