The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), features several recommended titles for both the avid and reluctant teen reader, ages 12-18.  Parents, caregivers, librarians, and educators can use these lists to find good books for teens.  While these books have been selected for teens ages 12-18, they span a broad range of reading and maturity levels.  Adults are encouraged to take an active role in helping individual teens choose books that are the best fit for them and their families.

Book Awards

Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are given annually to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults.

Margaret A. Edwards Award
The Edwards Award honors an author and a specific work for significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens.

William C. Morris Award
The Morris Award honors a book written for young adults by a first-time, previously unpublished author. The first award will be given in 2009.

Odyssey Award 
The Odyssey Award honors the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.

Michael L. Printz Award
The Printz Award honors excellence in literature written for young adults.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
YALSA’s newest award will honor the best nonfiction book for young adults; the first winner will be named in 2010.

Selected Booklists

Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
This list presents audiobooks released within the past two years that appeal to teens.

Best Books for Young Adults
Through 2010, this list compiles the current year’s best books with proven or potential appeal to teens. Beginning 2011, this list evolved into the Best Fiction for Young Adults list.

Best Fiction for Young Adults
This list compiles the best fiction written for teens in the previous sixteen months. The first list will be published in January 2011.

Fabulous Films for Young Adults
This list presents select films especially significant to young adults from those currently available for purchase based on a chosen theme.

Great Graphic Novels for Teens
This annual list offers recommended graphic novels that have teen appeal.

Outstanding Books for the College Bound
Updated every five years, this comprehensive list provides reading recommendations to students who plan to continue their education beyond high school. The most recent list was released in 2014.

Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
This list encourages young adults to read for pleasure by presenting them with popular or topical books with teen appeal, built around up to four themes.

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
This list suggests items for recreational reading that have wide appeal to teens who, for whatever reason, do not like to read.

Teens’ Top Ten
This list allows teens to choose their ten favorite books from a list of current titles nominated by teen book groups. Nominations are listed in April. Teens vote for their favorite books in August and September. The votes are tallied and YALSA names the Teens’ Top Ten during Teen Read Week.