It is proven that reading books can reduce your stress levels by relaxing your body and providing escapism - taking your mind off the things that might make you feel tense. It can also help build on your vocabulary - you're learning words contextually and enhancing your understanding of vernacular.
So, without further ado, let's discuss the books I would recommend for teens to read.
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Firstly, I would recommend Ace of Spades - a very interesting story that revolves around two black students (Devon and Chiamaka) who are being targeted repeatedly by Aces – a mysterious figure who never reveals himself.
This book does an amazing job showing the injustices inflicted on black people, as they try to figure out who is targeting them - discovering a lot of secrets and feelings along the way. It builds a lot of suspense as to what will happen at the end of the story, and whether or not the students will get the respect they deserve.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a story about an EPQ student called Pip. She bases her project on investigating the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl names Andie - a girl who was supposedly murdered by her boyfriend Sal, who then commits suicide.
This book is a real page-turner, as she explores the people related to the girl’s disappearance and their hidden knowledge of the case, as well as their hidden secrets. This book has also recently been turned into a Netflix show starring Emma Myers, and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 84%.
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
One of Us is Lying is a book about 5 students in detention. After the sudden death of one of the students (a boy with a severe peanut allergy, whose drink was spiked with peanuts) the rest of them go and investigate his murder.
This book is very interesting because you're its very blunt and uptight - the audience is not left to open interpretation of any character. This book has also been adapted into a Netflix show and has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91%.
How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow
How to Make Friends with the Dark is a series of girl in pieces. It explores the story of a girl who lived with her mum in bad conditions. After her mum dies unexpectedly, she has no choice but to seek out her dad and stepsister and live with them.
This book was one of the best books I have read. It talks in depth about the struggles she had to go through, and makes you question whether she will have the life she wants at the end.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games are series of books (and blockbuster films) about Katniss Everdeen – a participant in the Hunger Games as the tribute of District 12. She, along with 23 other contenders, has to fight to survive in order to rewarded with (unwanted) fame and wealth.
These books were amazing due to the extreme level of immersion in Collinson’s writing. It also shows the destruction of humanity and how we are told to rebel against one another. The films are available on Netflix and have a Rotten Tomatoes score of 84%.
I hope you give one of these recommendations a go! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Happy reading!
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