Books by Teens for Teens

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 

Fiction

• Beneath Minuela's bed by Ashley Darrow (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 by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (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 by Christopher Paolini (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 by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (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 by Jennifer Barnes (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 by Caesar Thu-Huong (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 by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (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 by S.E. Hinton (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 by Flavia Bujor (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 by Maureen Daly (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 by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (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 by Isamu Fukui (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.