Whether your teen is a certified bookworm or a reluctant reader, everyone can benefit from diving into a good novel. Teens who read widely can better handle complex concepts, score better on standardized tests, and are often more accepting of those who are different from themselves. And for a lot of teenagers who claim to hate reading, finding the right subject matter may prove the difference between grumbling over finishing their required reading list and devouring a new novel without coaxing. Because middle grade and young adult books have more to offer than ever before, there's no shortage of great literature available that speaks directly to the life and times your Gen Zer. You may already know the seminal works by literary legends like Harper Lee and J. Salinger , the fantastical takes spun by J. K Rowling and the heartstring-tugging high school romances that made John Green a household name.

Here are the books that left an impact on us throughout the last 10 years. While all of us read a lot of YA novels in the last decade, it was extremely difficult to choose our top picks. However, here are the books that left an impact on us. Why we love it so much: Told from the perspectives of Will Grayson 1 and will grayson 2 , this story explores the lives of young teens and what it means to love, live, and learn to be comfortable in your own skin. Why we love it so much: The shocking finale to this critically acclaimed series finally gave us closure to the Katniss Everdeen saga.

Who can forget the first time they met irresistible, fast-talking Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables? Or the years that they spent growing up with Harry, Hermione, and Ron? Luckily for us, it truly is the golden age for young adult fiction right now, as YA authors today continue to take the genre in new and incredibly exciting directions. Indeed, young adult books have stepped up onto the literary stage as a powerful genre in its own right, creating role models for all of us and leading important conversations about personhood, gender, sexuality, and race.