From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, teens have written great books. Their age at the time of writing the book is listed. Most of these authors went on to write other books.
This booklist was contributed by Appleton Public Library Reference and Information Services Staff, 4/07
Beneath Minuela's bed(2005)Ashley Darrow wrote this book when she was 13, and it was published when she was 14.
Minuela is a rich girl with parents who always act too busy to care about her, and everyone at school is too jealous to be her friend. She also has an additional problem -- Minuela is afraid of a monster that might be living under her bed. Since she is only thirteen years old, nobody will believe her fear is any more than a phobia, but is this "imaginary" monster more than that? With courage, Minuela finds that the creature under her bed is not exactly what would be called a monster. The creature is a demon who needs her help. Throughout the journey Minuela finds she has more courage, intelligence and strength than she could think possible. These were not the most important things she gained though. Along with courage, intelligence and strength, she gains friendship, a gift she has wanted all of her life.
Demon in my view(2000)Amelia Atwater-Rhodes had an early dose of fame when, in 1999 at age fifteen, In the Forests of the Night , her first published book, drew positive reviews from mainstream critics.
Risika, a teenage vampire, wanders back in time to the year 1684 when, as a human, she died and was transformed against her will.
Eragon(2003)Christopher Paolini started writing Eragon when he was 15, and the book was self-published at age 17, with another edition published by a major publishing house in 2003. It became a best-seller, and has been adapted into a motion picture which was released in 2006.
In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.
Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus(1816)Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein when she was 19.
Shelley's enduringly popular and rich gothic tale confronts some of the most feared innovations of evolutionism and science--topics such as degeneracy, hereditary disease, and humankind's ability to act as creator of the modern world.
Go ask Alice(1971)A fifteen-year-old drug user chronicles her daily struggle to escape the pull of the drug world.
Golden(2006)Golden was written when the author was 19.
When her family moves to Oklahoma from California, high school sophomore Lissy uses her ability to see other people's auras to try to uncover and stop the sinister activities of a teacher at her new school.
Hail(2007)The author started writing this book when she was 15.
Everyone wants to be Caesar's friend and he doesn't care about anybody, until a new girl comes to town and turns his life upside down.
In the forests of the night(2000)In the Forests of the Night is a vampire novel that the author wrote at age thirteen. She signed the publishing contract on her fourteenth birthday.
Risika, a teenage vampire, wanders back in time to the year 1684 when, as a human, she died and was transformed against her will.
The outsiders(1967)The Outsiders was written during Hinton's sophomore year of high school, and published when she was 17.
The struggle of three brothers to stay together after their parent's death and their quest for identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society.
The prophecy of the Stones(2004)Written when the Romanian-born Bujor was 13.
Three girls, known as the Stones of Prophecy, are drawn to a land called Fairytale, where they and a man called the Chosen One seek Oonagh, a magical creature who explains their role in a battle between Good and Evil.
Seventeenth summer(1942)The author wrote and published this book at age 17.
Written in 1942, this novel has captured readers' hearts for over 50 years. It's both a timeless romance and a period piece, making it an "utterly enchanting book--one which rings true and sweet and fresh and sound" ("The New York Times").
Shattered mirror(2001)Amelia wrote and published six novels by the time she was twenty. Shattered mirror was published when she was 17.
As seventeen-year-old Sarah, daughter of a powerful line of vampire-hunting witches, continues to pursue the ancient bloodsucker Nikolas, she finds herself in a dangerous friendship with two vampire siblings in her high school.
Truancy(2008)Written when he was 15.
In the City, where an iron-fisted Mayor's goal is perfect control through education, fifteen-year-old Tack is torn between a growing sympathy for the Truancy, an underground movement determined to bring down the system at any cost, and the desire to avenge a death caused by a Truant.
Spellcraft for teens : a magical guide to writing & casting spells(2002)Written when the author was 16.
Wiccan magick for teens written by a real teen witch. Empower, bewitch, and enchant. Written by a teen witch with her own popular website, SpellCraft for Teens contains fifty-five chants and incantations. In addition, it provides a twelve-step guide to casting a magick circle, an in-depth look at the moon phases, and the magical properties of colors, herbs, and charms. From finding a craft name to performing the three types of love spells, SpellCraft for Teens addresses issues specific to young adults, including telling parents about their interest in Wicca and dealing with gossiping classmates. From the book description.
The air down here: true tales from a South Bronx boyhood(1995)Gil was 16 when this book was written and published.
Good news from the inner city is rare, but Gil's upbeat message and accessible, hip-hop style will give concerned readers--including educators, young people, and parents--a fresh outlook on the future of urban America. The 115 short pieces talk about life, the dangers of drugs, violence and gangs, deaths of family members, and the universal teenage dilemmas: dating, music, clothes, and school.
Anne Frank : the diary of a young girl(1947)Anne Frank began writing her journal at age 13, and it was published after her death in 1945.
Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic -- a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annex" of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.
Dave's quick 'n' easy web pages : an introductory guide to creating web sites(2001)Dave Lindsay was 15 years old when he wrote this book.
"My goal in writing this book is to make web publishing accessible to as many people around the world as possible. This book shows how to create a web site without spending any money."
The diary of Latoya Hunter : my first year in junior high(1992)LaToya Hunter's diary was written when she was 16.
Lively, poignant, and utterly winning, The Diary of Latoya Hunter is a timely portrait of adolescence--about the universal challenges of youth and about the ways it is shaped by the inner city. It is also a lively introduction to a delightful girl whose humor and idealism are inspirational.
My thirteenth winter : a memoir(2003)Samantha Abeel's first book was written when she wa 15.
Abeel tells her own story of living with and overcoming dyscalculia, a math-related learning disability. She describes how her life was affected by her learning disability before and after she was diagnosed, and the way her peers, her family, and her teachers treated her.
The pain tree, and other teenage angst-ridden poetry(2000)This is a book of original poetry by and for teens. Dramatic, plaintive, despairing, and hopeful, this unusual collection has been gathered together by artists Esther Pearl Watson and Mark Todd and dramatically illustrated with stunning paintings.
Postcards from France(1997)Megan wrote this book when she was 16.
Could you leave all the things you love for the adventure of a lifetime? As a junior in high schoool, Megan McNeill Libby left behind the familiar comforts of suburban New England to live abroad as an exchange student. Now, in this charming collection of thoughts and vignettes, she takes readers of every age on a delightful, memorable tour through her year in France. Poignant and endearing, innocent yet wise. Postcards from France captures her adventure in vivid detail: waging war with the French language and the magic moment when she finally understood everyone around her; her wonderfully hilarious attempt at making Thanksgiving dinner--with a deer; her feelings of lonliness on the first day at a foreign school, and so much more. The perfect letter from a friend, Postcards is a rare gem of a book that will delight anyone who has ever dreamed of traveling or living in a foreign country.
Quiet storm : voices of young Black poets(1999)These poems are written and published by teen authors.
A groundbreaking poetry collection celebrating the many shades of black culture, this remarkable anthology presents poetry from young adults who are growing up as part of various African ancestries--youth who are West Indian, Haitian, Panamanian, Nigerian, African American. Marker poems by well-known poets, such as Langston Hughes, introduce each themed section of the book.
Soul surfer : a true story of faith, family, and fighting to get back on the board(2004)The book was written when Bethany was 13.
Soul Surfer is a moving account of Bethany's life as a young surfer, her recovery in the wake of the shark attack, the adjustments she's made to her unique surfing style, her unprecedented bid for a top showing in the World Surfing Championships, and, most fundamentally, her belief in God. It is a story of girl power and spiritual grit that shows that the body is no more essential to surfing-perhaps even less so-than the soul. The amazing story of the thirteen-year-old surfer girl who lost her arm in a shark attack but never lost her faith -- and of her triumphant return to competitive surfing.
The story of my life : an Afghan girl on the other side of the sky(2005)Farah Ahmedi was a junior in high school when she won an essay contest sponsored by ABC News' Good Morning America, and was given the chance to publish a book about her life.
Ahmedi was born just as the war between the mujahideen and the Soviets reaches its peak in Afghanistan. The sounds of gunfire and fighter planes were as normal to her as the sounds of traffic or children playing are to a schoolgirl in America. When she stepped on a land mine on her way to school, she began to learn--slowly--that ordinary people, often strangers, have immense power to save lives and restore hope. She was taken from a childhood in Afghanistan, where the classrooms are naked chambers with only chalkboards on the walls and are filled with more students than seats (and no books), to a Chicago adolescence, where teenagers struggle to decide whether to try out for school plays, whom to take to the homecoming dance, and where to go to college. This story was selected from hundreds submitted to ABC's Good Morning America.
Teen angst? Naaah-- : a quasi-autobiography(2000)Ned wrote columns for the New York Press when he was in high school, and this book is a compilation of those essays, published when he was 19.
A collection of essays wrtten by the author from age fifteen to seventeen in which he shares impressions of school, sports, cool people, boring people, friends, family, money, music, and obsessions.
Teen dream jobs : how to get the job you really want now!(2003)Nora Coon was 16 when she wrote and published this book.
A high school freshman shares insights, practical information, and resources on conducting a job search and profiles other young people, from twelve to seventeen years old, who have found their dream jobs.
Within reach : my Everest story(1998)Mark Pfetzer wrote this book about his experiences, and it was published when he was 17.
The author describes how he spent his teenage years climbing mountains in the United States, South America, Africa, and Asia, with an emphasis on his two expeditions up Mount Everest.
Zlata's diary : a child's life in Sarajevo(1994)Zlata's diary was published when she was 13.
In a voice both innocent and wise, touchingly reminiscent of Anne Frank's, Zlata Filipovic's diary has awoken the conscience of the world. Zlata began her diary just before her eleventh birthday, when there was peace in Sarajevo and her life was that of a bright, intelligent, carefree young girl. Her early entries describe her friends, her new skis, her family, her grades at school, her interest in joining the Madonna Fan Club. And then, on television, she sees the bombs falling on Dubrovnik. Though repelled by the sight, Zlata cannot conceive of the same thing happening in Sarajevo. When it does, the whole tone of her diary changes.