What 13 year olds are reading right now
And why they're reading these books
If you listened to episode 120 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast, you’ll know that Megan and I recently had some thoughts about the place of children’s literature in the wider Australian publishing world.
You’ll also have heard me talk about my recent round of author talks and school visits and my (very small, anecdotal) snapshot of the place of reading in the lives of Australian kids at present.
“In a grade 5 classroom, ¾ of kids will put their hands up when I ask who loves to read. In grade 6, it’s half. By the time we get to grade 7, I had one group of 60 where it was lucky to be 10 per cent.”
It got me thinking about what 13-year-old readers are looking for in books. What are they picking up and, therefore, what can those of us looking to encourage reading in young teens recommend to other 13 year olds?
When I get thinking about such matters, I like to do something about it, so I asked the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community to share the books that the 13-year-old readers in their lives are loving.
And then I asked Trisha Buckley – Teacher Librarian, book reviewer and YA literature lover – to share the top 10 books her students are borrowing and reading right now. (Follow Trisha on Instagram for regular updates and reviews of her current reading in the YA space.)
And then I made a list.
Read on to discover the 60+ books that 13 year olds are reading (and loving) right now.
After all, these are the titles that might tempt your young reader to dive into a book!
What 13 year olds are reading right now
(Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook Community recommendations)
Click the book title to find out more information about the book or to purchase from Booktopia*.
Contemporary
The Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman
Without doubt, this graphic novel series is the number #1 recommendation for this list, which is why I’ve put it at the top rather than with the other graphic novels.
“My 13 year old LOVED reading the Heartstopper series recently.” – Sarah
“My 13 yo too! I've just finished watching the Netflix adaptation with him, so beautiful.” – Alice
The Summer I Turned Pretty (series) by Jenny Han
A very close second…
“Yes! Everything Jenny Han right now!” – Liz
“I teach girls and can second this. It's ALL they will read, alongside Heartstopper.” – Erin
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (series) by Jenny Han
“I'm a librarian and have seen lots of girls who don't like reading take on Han or Heartstopper because they are quick and easy to get through, and Netflix helps.” – Erin
Sadie Starr’s Guide To Starting Over by Miranda Luby
“Perfect for Year 8-10 – school, friendships etc.” – Caroline
Sick Bay by Nova Weetman
The Edge of Thirteen by Nova Weetman
A Little Spark by Barry Jonsberg
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (aged 13¾) by Sue Townsend
“His dad re-read it alongside him and the laughter was contagious.” – Yvonne
The Goodbye Year by Emily Gale
Dancing Barefoot by Alice Boyle
Queenie in Seven Moves by Zanni Louise
Royals by Tegan Bennett Davies
I Was Born For This by Alice Oserman
The Stand In by A. J. Rushby
This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim
“This one was also loved by me and the 15 year old... both my kids met Rebecca at a special visit to their school during Book Week, and by all accounts she is the most lovely, generous human ever).”– Fiona
Fantasy/Sci Fi
The Aurora Cycle (series) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Skulduggery Pleasant (series) by Derek Landy
Percy Jackson (series) by Rick Riordan
The Maze Runner (series) by James Dashner
The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins
The Medoran Chronicles (series) by Lynette Noni
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Fablehaven (series) by Brandon Mull
Skandar (series) by A. F. Steadman
Klawde The Evil Alien Warlord Cat (series) by Emily Chenoweth and Johnny Marciano
The Folk Of The Air (series) by Holly Black
Catch Me If I Fall by Barry Jonsberg
Mystery/Thriller
Murder Most Unladlylike (series) by Robin Stevens
AWOL (series) by Andrew Lane
Robin Hood (series) by Robert Muchamore
CHERUB (series) by Robert Muchamore
“My 13 year old boy, who is an avid reader, loves anything by Robert Muchamore.” – Bev
Young Bond (series) by Charlie Higson
Scar Town by Tristan Bancks
Tomorrow When The War Began (series) by John Marsden
The Maven & Reeve Mysteries by A. L. Tait
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (series) by Holly Jackson
Withering-By-Sea (Stella Montgomery series) by Judith Rossell
“As a rule though he likes any books he picks out himself. He’ll even borrow and enjoy books from the library that we already have at home (!) it seems to be all about his control over his own reading choices and I really like that.” – Katie
Graphic novels
Crumbs by Danie Stirling
Batter Royale by Leisl Adams
Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm, ill by Matthew Holm
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Historical
Once (series) by Morris Gleitzman
“They are flying out the door.” – Caroline
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad
“Lots of historical fiction (war fiction) and action dramas.” – Andy
Waiting For The Storks by Katrina Nannestad
The Warden's Daughter by Jerry Spinelli
The Boy Who Stepped Through Time by Anna Ciddor
Biography/Memoir
Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
Be Unstoppable by Bethany Hamilton
“This is new and updated and has had good reviews among the year 7s and 8s.” – Caroline
Sam Kerr: My Journey To The World Cup
True Spirit: The Aussie Girl Who Took On The World by Jessica Watson
What 13 year olds are reading right now (and why they’re reading them)
(Trisha Buckley’s insights)
My [girls’ school] students’ top 10 reads reflect a lot about why young people pick up the books they do.
Mostly it’s to do with screen adaptations. It’s also about the graphic. But I can also see my efforts to promote novels having an impact and that makes me happy.
But most of all, I am gloriously happy to see my number one book, and it’s ALL about the author visit!
We start with number 10 of course (and count down).
10. The Maximum Ride Graphic novels (by James Patterson), specifically volumes 4 & 5
I am not sure why these particular volumes of this Manga series are so popular. Maybe their primary schools only went to volume 3 and now they are catching up? Luckily volume 10 is about to be released! I can’t tell you how many students have pined over it for the past four years. Finally!
9. Jessi’s Secret Language (The Babysitter’s Club graphic novel #12) by Ann M. Martin, ill by Chan Chau
They keep coming back to these texts. I think they are safe and familiar. It’s something the Year 7s recognise from their primary libraries and it’s comfortable for them. I think it’s a start and then, once they get more used to the library shelves and systems, they branch out to find new stuff.
8. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh
This has the most beautiful cover. Its lively voiced protagonist is brave and loyal. Its fantasy story is based on Korean folklore. My school is very multicultural. The students look for books to see themselves. I push this one because it looks like a book for older readers even though it’s very suitable for tweens. Happy to see it being borrowed.
7. The Case Of The Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes #1) by Nancy Springer
Here we start to see the influence of the adaptations. My copy has the tie-in cover. It’s separated out on display all the time, with all the other books in the series nearby. Readers who enjoy Murder Most Unladylike pick this one up, too. It covers two genres – mystery and historical – so it appeals to different readers.
6. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Another popular text now that there’s a film. Jenny Han’s rom com stories translate beautifully into swoony screen adaptations about navigating teenage angst and love.
5. The Selection by Keira Cass
This one surprises me. It’s been around for a while, but I suspect the cover drags them in. There are more in the series for those students who like to keep reading in one universe and its dystopian lens brings some danger and suspense.
4. Heartstopper graphic novels by Alice Oseman
Very popular with students across all year levels. I only have one copy of each, and I reckon they would be higher up the list if I had several of each. Sweet inclusive and graphic. It appears that’s what they want to read.
3. Exit Through The Gift Shop by Maryam Master
This is one I promoted right at the beginning of the year, and that has been carried on with peer recommendations. They’re telling their friends to read it. It’s also one I can bring out to the students who ask for ‘books that make me cry’.
2. It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Clearly The Summer I Turned Pretty was the big hit of 2022, and now with season two released this year, the students are finding the second book. Unfortunately for them, I have put the third book in the senior fiction collection so they won’t have access till they are in Year 10 (although I know they find ways around this).
1. Selfie by Allayne Webster
It makes me happy to see Allayne’s book as the most borrowed among the Year 7s and 8s. She presented to the junior school students in May, and we bought a second copy of two of her books to try to cover demand. This demonstrates the power of the ‘author visit’. Listening to and talking with real, live authors brings their books into prominence and shows students the power of reading and writing.
More lists for readers aged 13/14
21 tried-and-tested books for 13/14-year-old boys
15 more tried-and-tested books for 13/14-year-old boys (+ 15 expert choices)
60 more tried-and-tested books for 13/14-year-old boys
100+ books for tweens full of mystery, history and adventure
20 tried-and-tested books for 13/14-year-old girls
15 Amazing Australian novels for readers 10+ (on their way to YA)
This post was created for Your Kid’s Next Read by Allison Tait.
Writing as A.L. Tait, Allison is the author of three epic adventure fantasy series for readers 9+: THE MAPMAKER CHRONICLES, THE ATEBAN CIPHER, and THE MAVEN & REEVE MYSTERIES.
Her first contemporary middle-grade novel THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE is out now. Find out more here.
Are you an educator? As a paid subscriber to the YKNR newsletter, you have our permission to reproduce this list for school or classroom purposes (eg: newsletter or handout). The following credit must appear with the material.
”This book list was created by the Your Kid’s Next Read team. Find out more at yourkidsnextread.com”