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Essential Books for Ages 13-17: Coming-of-Age Books

Books recommended by Common Sense Media

For ages 13 and up

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang; Lark Pien (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781596432086
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
ISBN: 0670061050
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
ISBN: 0375842209
Publication Date: 2007-09-11
Monster by Walter Dean Myers; Christopher Myers (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780064407311
Publication Date: 2004-12-14
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
ISBN: 0679734775
Publication Date: 1991-04-03
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
ISBN: 054522490X
Publication Date: 2011-10-18

For ages 14 and up

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
ISBN: 9780316013680
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
ISBN: 9780316769488
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
ISBN: 1250012570
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
ISBN: 0525478817
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
ISBN: 0553496689

For ages 15 and up

Beloved by Toni Morrison
ISBN: 0452264464
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
ISBN: 0156031825
King Dork by Frank Portman
ISBN: 0385732910
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn; David Levithan
ISBN: 9780375835315
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler; Maira Kalman (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0316127256

For ages 16 and up

Looking for Alaska by John Green
ISBN: 0142402516
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
ISBN: 1451696205