If you’re looking for clean books for teens, you may have discovered that it can be hard to shop for YA lit these days.
The bad news is that it’s currently trendy for YA novels to portray teens engaging in risky behavior with unrealistically mild/nonexistent consequences.
The good news is that there are still YA authors out there who are dedicated to creating fantastic stories of all genres — without the graphic sex, glorified drug use, and unrealistic relationships. And the best part is, many of them still deal with the challenges teens face, from suicide to parent struggles to an ache to help the hurting.
So if that’s what you’ve been searching for, you’re in the right place! And if you don’t mind YA books with grittier content, I bet you’ll still enjoy these 🙂
If you’re looking for clean adult books, check out my post here
Unblemished Trilogy
Immerse yourself in the twists and turns of parallel worlds — reflections — as heroine Eliyana discovers her true identity in settings beyond her imagination.
The Unblemished trilogy comes to you from author Sara Ella and is now available in PAPERBACK!
I also recommend her novel Coral, a Little Mermaid retelling focusing on mental health. As someone who has lost a family member to suicide, this is a topic close to my heart.
AND . . . let’s not forget Sara Ella’s upcoming release, The Wonderland Trials! If you’re subscribed to my newsletter (sign up in the sidebar), you’ll be one of the first to see the upcoming cover reveal and hear more about this book, which is coming in 2022! I’m so excited to read this one.
Calculated
Imagine the story of Joseph . . . set in modern times. . . with a math genius . . . in Asia.
Are you intrigued yet? I read Calculated by Nova McBee for my book club and LOVED this fictional story of courage and compassion as a young woman pursues freedom from modern-day slavery for herself and others.
Fractured Tide
Fractured Tide by Leslie Lutz is similar to Lost, but better. As in, no evil smoke people, just a freaky island, a terrifying sea monster, and a broken time machine that loops the same day over . . . and over . . . and over . . .
Now That You’re Here
I’m partial to books set in Phoenix. And let’s be honest– that’s a really short list. Now That You’re Here by Amy K. Nichols and its companion from the other main character’s point of view, While You Were Gone, is a the story of a boy who switches places with his parallel-universe twin. Will he choose to return to a war-torn reality where his parents are still alive? Or live as an orphan in a world that is safe?
The Hagenheim Series
The Hagenheim Series is a collection of fairytale retellings that tie together various classic stories. Since I’ve only read one of these books by Melanie Dickerson, I asked my friend Elli to weigh in, and she says:
“These books are all deliciously intriguing! I simply could not put them down when I started. I love that they all include Christ-centered themes.”
You can visit Elli’s Instagram here
Dear America Series
I enjoyed the Dear America series as a teen. All of them are written as a diary by a young women in some period of American history. I desperately wanted them to be real journals, not fiction! I did get a little tired of the somewhat predictable threads of romance after reading several of these, but overall I enjoyed them. A great option for teen girls who loved the American Girls series.
Romanov
This month, I read Romanov by Nadine Brandes. 10 out of 10! I recently attended a virtual writing seminar where she discussed her philosophy toward YA lit and approach on writing books for teens, and this immediately went on my “To Be Read” list. If you love all things Anastasia Romanov, you can’t miss this one!
Solo
Solo by Kwame Alexander is one of my favorite books for teen guys (although girls will like it, too). This novel in verse follows the heartache of a 17-year-old adoptee as he grieves his mother’s head, struggles with his rock-star father’s addiction issues, and searches for identity. His search for his birthmother brings him to Ghana, where he and his family — both natural and adoptive — are able to experience forgiveness and the start of the healing process.
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This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend teen books I would share with my nieces and nephews!