Top 31+ Best Young Adult Book Series, According to a Librarian

Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore

Set in a world in which some people are born “graced” (gifted with a particular skill, as noted by their different-colored eyes), this incredible fantasy book series follows Katsa, a king’s niece and enforcer who’s graced with the ability to expertly kill. She joins forces with graceling Prince Po to keep his cousin, Princess Bitterblue, safe.

In the four books that follow—the latest released in 2022—the world expands beyond 2008’s Graceling, and the narrative shifts. Readers who fell in love with the lived-in world of the first book will get swept away as the story heads across the mountains, into the past and eight years into the future, introducing new narrators along the way. The whole series is great, but the second book, Fire, is especially wonderful—and my all-time-favorite book.

Brooklyn Brujas by Zoraida Córdova

In 2016, Zoraida Córdova gave readers their first bite of what has become an intricately crafted family saga, winning an International Latino Book Award for Labyrinth Lost, the first book in the Brooklyn Brujas trilogy. This YA book series introduces readers to oldest sister Alex, a bruja (witch) destined for great power. But destiny and Alex aren’t on the same page—she’s desperate to rid herself of the power that lives inside her. When a spell goes wrong and her family disappears instead of her magic, she must team up with a mysterious boy and journey to the in-between land of Los Lagos to rescue them. Each of the next two books centers on Alex’s sisters, one worrying about zombies in Brooklyn and the other journeying to a fairy realm.

Oh, what a joy it is to recommend this series to teens. Truly, watching their faces as I talk about a character dying and then a sister bringing him back as a zombie? Priceless. With three excellent volumes, each following a different sister from the same family, there’s so much to recommend. And since each can be read on its own, it’s easy to get teens into the volume that interests them the most.

The Shadowshaper Cypher by Daniel José Older

A corpse crashing a party isn’t the only strange occurrence in Sierra Santiago’s life. There’s the constant apologizing from her practically comatose grandfather. And the neighborhood murals seem to be … crying. As she launches into the magical world of shadowshaping (which infuses ancestral spirits into art), she also finds herself in a fight against a killer who’s taking down shadowshapers one by one. Beginning in 2016 and spanning three novels and two novellas, this is one of the most imaginative fiction book series for teens.

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March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

Late congressman John Lewis co-created this trilogy of nonfiction graphic novels for teens, beginning with 2013’s March. The series recounts his experiences in the Civil Rights Movement, from his childhood in Alabama to meeting Martin Luther King Jr. to the Selma-to-Montgomery March. Key moments of Lewis’s life come to life on the pages of this book and chronicle his growth into the iconic figure he was.

Need more evidence that this trilogy is a modern classic and one of the most stunning young adult book series ever created? The third book in the series won the National Book Award, Coretta Scott King Author Award, Michael L. Printz Award, Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction and Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature. To win one of those is a feat. To win them all? The mark of a true masterpiece.

This graphic nonfiction trilogy was on so many award lists after the third book released that it was hard to imagine there would be room left on the cover for the title, but all the praise is so deserved. With art that left me floored and the profound story of the late John Lewis, March is not just an excellent series but also a great pick for someone’s first graphic nonfiction story (and a favorite of mine to give to folks who might not dip their toes into nonfiction at all).

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

In her 2016 debut novel, Roshani Chokshi opened a world full of magic and lush prose inspired by Indian mythology. Follow Maya as she’s married off to the king of Akaran and saddled with a horoscope promise of death and destruction. Akaran holds within it unknown magic, gardens of glass and endless locked doors—a forbidding place that ends up surprising Maya. There, she finally finds her own voice outside the world she’d always known.

The duology closes with A Crown of Wishes, but you can stay a bit longer in this lush, fantastical world by picking up The Star-Touched Stories, one of the finest collections of short stories within an established world, and the novella Death and Night. Disney+ is turning A Crown of Wishes into a TV series, so you’ll want to read these books before the adaptation comes out.

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

Julie Kagawa is no stranger to great fantasy (in fact, it was difficult to decide which of her novels to include here), but this young adult book series, which kicks off with 2018’s Shadow of the Fox, is among her finest. Half-kitsune Yumeko holds one piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, an ancient scroll with the power to call the great Kami Dragon, which will grant the one who holds it a wish. After demons kill her adopted family, Yumeko goes on the run with the segment of the scroll. She lands in the path of Kage Tatsumi, a samurai who has been ordered to retrieve all the pieces of the scroll, and the two form a hesitant alliance. The trilogy is a must for anyone looking for fantasy books inspired by Japanese mythology.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This series needs little introduction. Nearly 15 years after the first book launched to massive acclaim, this young adult book series is still wildly popular. A modern classic and the defining dystopian book trilogy of the mid-2000s, The Hunger Games transports readers to the world of Panem, composed of 12 districts that each send two teens to battle to the death for the entertainment of the masses. Commenting on everything from power, inequality and social class to reality TV, the novels are page-turning reads full of thought-provoking themes.

Though the trilogy that launched in 2008 wrapped up by 2010, a prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, came out in 2020. And it’s not over yet: A second prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, releases in March 2025.

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Expected to see a different Marie Lu series on this list? We’ll agree that she’s written some of the best teen novels—Legend is, dare we say, legendary—but this young adult book series takes the cake. The first installment, 2014’s The Young Elites, takes place a decade after a blood fever swept the nation and killed most of the infected. Among the survivors is Adelina, who like other Young Elites has developed mysterious powers. A secret group among them, the Dagger Society, works to grab those like Adelina before the Inquisition Axis can find and eliminate them. As Adelina, Dagger Society member Enzo and Inquisition Axis leader Teren crash into one another’s lives, Adelina steps closer to darkness in a book made for anyone who loves rooting for the antihero.

The Witchlands by Susan Dennard

Safiya is a truthwitch, a wielder of rare and coveted magic that allows her to differentiate truth from lie. Iseult is a threadwitch who can see the ties that bind the people around her. They’re an odd pair—one bold and hotheaded, the other careful and shy—but their friendship is more solid than the Witchlands, which are on the cusp of war. Forced to go on the run, the pair have to rely on their powerful bond to keep themselves safe. This series, which began in 2016, currently includes four full-length novels and a novella; the fifth novel is bound to make your list of the most-anticipated books of 2025.

“There are a lot of great YA fantasies out there, but I keep coming back to Susan Dennard’s Truthwitch series,” says Tracey Neithercott, Reader’s Digest Books Editor. “It has some of the best world-building you’ll find: It’s so meticulously planned that you might think the Witchlands truly existed—and it’s so inventive that you might be glad if they did. Add in a killer friendship, the slowest of slow-burn romances (trust me: this is a good thing) and a plot that’s both complex and fun, and you get a must-read book series.”

Zodiac by Romina Russell

If astrology books are your nonfiction faves, you’re going to want to binge-read Romina Russell’s Zodiac series. Beginning with 2014’s Zodiac, the four-book series follows Rhoma, a member of House Cancer, one of 12 houses in the Zodiac Galaxy, who is as shocked as anyone when she’s appointed leader following a blast that killed the house’s guardian and thousands of citizens. As a student, she never possessed the same skills for reading the stars as her classmates, so no one takes her seriously when she claims that Ophiuchus, an exiled guardian from the 13th house, is returning for revenge.

Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman’s 2007 novel, Unwind, presents a terrifying world: Parents can choose to “unwind” children between the ages of 13 and 18, using their organs to save others. As their lives come to a crossroads, Rita, a ward of the state being unwound to save money; Curtis, a rebellious teen whose parents submitted him for unwinding; and Lev, the 10th child in a family using his unwinding as a religious tithe, will have to band together to avoid a fate that seems inescapable. Four novels and two short story books give readers plenty of room to explore this complicated yet engrossing world.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

One of the best book series for teens began in 2015 with an explosive debut from National Book Award winner Sabaa Tahir. An Ember in the Ashes has since expanded into a four-book series and a graphic novel prequel trilogy (the third of which has not yet been released). At the start of the series, Laia has become a spy, but not by choice. After her brother’s arrest for treason against the Martial Empire, she agrees to spy for the rebels in exchange for information from the heart of the empire’s military academy. There, she meets the commander’s son, the best soldier of them all and a boy secretly dreaming of escape. Inspired by ancient Rome, this story of a brutal world offers hope in the face of oppression.

Jackaby by William Ritter

In 1892, Abigail arrives in the New England town of New Fiddleham, having left her home in England in search of a new start. Hired as an assistant to R.F. Jackaby, a detective who investigates crimes of a supernatural nature, she finds herself in the midst of an investigation into a serial killer. This quartet (plus a novella), which begins with 2014’s Jackaby, wrapped up three years later, but there’s good news for fans of William Ritter’s mystery books: A stand-alone adventure following Abigail hit shelves in 2023.

If I were to narrow down a book that I’ve recommended more than any other, it’s probably Jackaby. Through years of bookselling and now being in a library, I’ve handed this to teens who want fantasy, who want mystery, who want a book with low romance, who want historical fiction … the list goes on. It’s a fun read (think Sherlock Holmes meets Supernatural) and has great mysteries to pull readers through the story.

Flyy Girls by Ashley Woodfolk

The Augusta Savage School of the Arts is the last chance for Lux, a final opportunity before she’s sent to military school. To keep from repeating old mistakes, she focuses on her photography and shies away from fights and boyfriends. Luckily, there are three girls who might be just what she needs to keep out of trouble: the so-called Flyy Girls, Micah, Noelle and Tobyn. Each gets her own chance to shine in these compelling, extremely accessible and short books, all published in 2020 and 2021.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

If you’re looking for book recommendations based on TV shows and you’re one of the millions of Netflix members who binge-watched the feel-good series Heartstopper, pick up the graphic novels that started it all. What began as an online comic in 2016 was published as Heartstopper, Volume 1 in 2020 and completely took the world by storm. The heartwarming book centers on the love story between shy student Charlie Spring and popular rugby player Nick Nelson. From meet-cute to friendship to budding romance, each beat of the boys’ relationship unfolds with tenderness and understanding. Alice Oseman never shies from tough topics, like coming out of the closet and dealing with mental health issues.

To date, there are five volumes in this graphic novel series, and a sixth volume has been announced. For readers who just can’t get enough, there’s also the novella Nick and Charlie, a coloring book, mini-comics and a yearbook. Another novel in the same universe, Solitaire, focuses on Charlie’s sister and also has a spinoff novella; however, these are darker in subject matter and tone.

Shadow Players by Heidi Heilig

Kicking off with 2018’s For a Muse of Fire, this YA trilogy presents a world inspired by Southeast Asian cultures and French colonialism. Jetta is part of a troupe of shadow players, and it’s thanks to her talent that her family may earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan. But she’s keeping a secret: It’s not the magic of the stage that gives their puppetry performances life; it’s Jetta’s forbidden ability to bind the spirits of the recently departed to puppets. Should she get to Aquitan, she might just find the legendary spring of the Mad King, said to cure ills, which she believes may help her because she also has bipolar disorder.

Charlotte Holmes by Brittany Cavallaro

This deeply compelling four-book series, which began in 2016, is one of the best mystery book series for teens. Watson and Holmes are as closely associated as peanut butter and jelly, but the friendship of generations past doesn’t extend into today. Jamie, a descendant of John Watson, and Charlotte, a descendant of Sherlock Holmes, haven’t had a whole lot of contact since the families split apart. Now at the same boarding school, the pair is framed for the murder of a classmate, so they’ll have to put the past aside in order to clear both their names.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

You may recognize this 2014 title from the delightful Netflix book-to-movie adaptations. But as good as those flicks are, the books are even better. This romance trilogy starts with an adorable (and somewhat horrifying) premise: Lara Jean wrote a letter to every boy she’s ever loved as a way of putting her crushes to bed. The missives aren’t meant for anyone else’s eyes, so when they find their way into the boys’ hands, she’s mortified. And with her past crushes ranging from childhood friends to her sister’s ex-boyfriend, things are bound to get messy.

“I’ll read anything Jenny Han writes. Her YA books perfectly capture the feeling of teetering on the edge of innocence and adulthood,” says Neithercott. “With believable characters (Lara Jean is an absolute favorite) and a premise that amps up both the fun and tension, To All the Boys is comfort reading at its finest. If you loved The Summer I Turned Pretty series, you’ll adore this one.”

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

One of 2020’s finest novels launched this must-read duology, which wrapped up a year later with one of the best conclusions to a series ever written. For Malik to save his kidnapped sister, he’ll need to kill Crown Princess Karina. For Karina to resurrect her beloved (and recently assassinated) mother, she’ll need the beating heart of a king. So Karina offers her hand in marriage as a prize for the winner of the Solstasia competition—once wed, she’ll have the king she needs—and Malik worms his way into the tournament to get close to Karina. But the deadly attraction simmering between them threatens to upset their goals.

I finished book two of this duology in 2021, and still, three years later, I’m thinking about it. It’s a powerful series that treats world-building and character development with equal reverence, and every step of the journey is carefully crafted and perfectly executed. I don’t know if there’s a more perfect duo of books than these two in YA today. And the relationship between the two leads? Chef’s kiss.

Trouble by Stephanie Tromly

Beginning with 2015’s Trouble Is a Friend of Mine, this stellar series is perfect for fans of Veronica Mars and Riverdale. Though there was certainly a list of expectations Zoe had about moving to a new place and starting over, getting pulled into Philip Digby’s orbit was not one of them. Digby, not a master of the first impression, ropes Zoe into a series of schemes, all of which tie back to a missing local girl. The more information they uncover, the deeper Zoe digs into Digby’s life—and the more she learns about the disappearance of his younger sister years prior. Love cozy mysteries? You’ll gobble up the Trouble trilogy.

Rise of the Empress by Julie C. Dao

It is written in the stars that Xifeng will be the Empress of Feng Lu. But to reach her destiny, she’ll need to sacrifice a lot—like the lovely guy who would do anything for her and the hearts she’ll need to consume to feed the magic in her body. “If you love antiheroes, Xifeng is the protagonist for you,” says Neithercott. “Think of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns as a look at how the evil queen in Snow White became so very evil—but with better world-building and character development.”

Published in 2017, the first book details Xifeng’s quest. The second follows Jade, the exiled daughter of the emperor, who’s seeking to dethrone Xifeng. The companion novel, Song of the Crimson Flower, expands the world past its initial Snow White–inspired fairy tale, introducing a cursed boy and the girl who spurned him but is now trying to save him.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

The passing of Bri’s aunt leaves her with property in rural New York, a run-down estate filled with plants. The place had once served as an apothecary, and as visitors flock to her door, Bri discovers a gift for making the elixirs they’re looking for. That’s not Bri’s only gift, though. With one touch, she can get a seed to bloom, and her family is hoping this new location will help her gain control of her ability. But things aren’t coming up roses for Bri. There’s a group hunting for an elixir of immortality. And then there’s the centuries-old curse. Add in a secretive girl who keeps visiting, and Bri is bound to be busy.

If you’re looking for a magical, character-driven LGBTQ book series for teens, start with 2021’s This Poison Heart; you’ll speed through it and the follow-up, This Wicked Fate.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

What began in 2012 as an inventive fantasy novel launched the Grishaverse, which now includes three full series (with seven books between them), two collections, a graphic novel, a TV show and endless possibilities for expansion. Your entry point is Alina Starkov, a perfectly ordinary soldier—until an attack reveals a secret power she never imagined. Pulled into the world of Grisha and their leader, the magnetic Darkling, Alina has to learn how to control her magic without letting others control her. When you’ve finished the Shadow and Bone series, hop over to the Six of Crows and King of Scars series to stay in Leigh Bardugo’s wondrous world.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Tarisai has been raised by the Lady, a mysterious figure who has brought her up for the purpose of killing the crown prince. But to Tarisai, the journey to compete for the crown prince’s Council of 11 is about more than the Lady’s desire, which she’s compelled to obey. She’s dreamed of getting close to other people her whole life. The 2020 series starter Raybearer is one of the strongest debuts in recent memory, and Jordan Ifueko’s truly masterful series is sure to be the start of a bright writing future.

The world-building in Raybearer still astounds me to this day, making it no shock I’ve been clamoring for the next book in the universe (out in August 2024) since it was announced the series would expand past this initial duology. I ache for a visual adaptation of this story, whether in film/TV, graphic novel or something else, because the world Ifueko has created is one of my absolute favorites.

The Queen’s Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

In 1996, Megan Whalen Turner’s The Thief introduced Eugenides—and the thief’s adventures would span six books and 24 years, the series’s longevity a testament to its stellar world-building and ingenious plot. In the first book, readers meet Gen, released from the king’s prison by the magus, a scholar of the king who wants Gen’s help in stealing an ancient treasure. Thus begins a page-turning adventure with a clever protagonist you can’t help but root for.

“Megan Whalen Turner’s series is a modern classic for a very good reason: It’s smart, immersive and filled with richly crafted characters who you’ll remember long after the story ends,” says Neithercott. “Gen is still one of my all-time favorite protagonists!”

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Avery Grambs’s plans to graduate and leave for college are suddenly upended when the mysterious billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves her his entire fortune. She’s never met the guy (hello, billionaire!), and now she’s at the center of a mystery that pits her against a whole lot of people hungry for a whole lot of money. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into Hawthorne’s estate—currently occupied by the family with whom he has severed all ties—and outwit Tobias’s grandsons, who are intent on taking her down.

Teens who relish a good game of cat and mouse set against the backdrop of wealth, power and greed will find their wish fulfilled. Jennifer Lynn Barnes released the first book in this trilogy in 2020 and has followed up with yearly installments ever since. The next will be out in November 2024, and the first book in a new spinoff series, The Grandest Game, hits shelves on July 30, 2024.

“This book is flat-out fun,” says Neithercott. “If you love stories that challenge you to puzzle out the clues—think The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin or The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer—you’ll have a blast with Barnes’s series. It’s fast paced, filled with riddles and doesn’t skimp on the romance. (What, you thought the Hawthorne boys were just competition?) Start this series when you want to be thoroughly entertained.”

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

A quartet of high school students, known as the Bayview Four, have their ordinary lives turned upside down when they become suspects in a classmate’s murder. As readers learn about each character and their possible motives, they come to realize that someone isn’t telling the truth. Secrets are spilled and relationships are tested throughout this engaging series, which debuted in 2017. If you loved The Breakfast Club but wish there was more murder, you’re going to gobble up the first book in this must-read series. A heads up: Mature content means this trilogy is best for older teens.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

Inspired by Persian mythology, this trilogy tells the tale of a crown prince and the long-lost heir to an ancient kingdom who’s disguised as a servant. With clashing empires set against the backdrop of an unlikely romance, the heart-pounding story is a quest toward bravery, tradition and finding true love. The first book in this planned five-book series, published in 2022, has had teen fantasy fans clamoring for the sequel, out in December 2024.

The Folk of the Air by Holly Black

Holly Black has built a career out of faerie tales, but none have taken off quite like her Folk of the Air series, first released in 2018. It’s hard not to see why fans have gone wild for the story of hard-as-nails Jude, her quest to earn a place at the High Court of Faerie and the cruel prince who’s at once her fiercest enemy and greatest ally. What sets Black’s story apart is a rich, intricately crafted world, a breakneck pace, political machinations and an enemies-to-lovers romance in which the hate is truly believable. You might as well buy the boxed set—you’re going to want to live in Black’s imaginative world. Lucky for us, she has hinted that more books set in this world are coming.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

Star-crossed lovers take center stage in a series about a young prince and the object of his affection, who are faced with the hard truth of their clashing worlds. While fate originally brought them together, the future of their love hangs in the balance when duty calls. A romance book series teeming with tension and uncertainty, Powerless will have readers with their hearts in their throats at each turn of the page. Alternating points of view provide balance to this series, which launched in 2023 and became a massive hit, thanks in large part to BookTok. With fans clamoring for more of Lauren Roberts’s epic romantasy, a second book came out in July 2024, and the third book is expected in April 2025.

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

In this action-packed fantasy series that began in 2021, a long-lost heir is inspired by a group of companions who are wrestling with a pervading darkness that has taken over their world. Meanwhile, a young queen who is destined to be married off must avoid losing her crown and her freedom. Told from multiple points of view, this adventure takes teen readers on a series of twists and turns that will keep them guessing until the very end of the trilogy, which was released in 2024.

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At Reader’s Digest, we’ve been sharing our favorite books for over 100 years. We’ve worked with bestselling authors including Susan Orlean, Janet Evanovich and Alex Haley, whose Pulitzer Prize–winning Roots grew out of a project funded by and originally published in the magazine. Through Fiction Favorites (formerly Select Editions and Condensed Books), Reader’s Digest has been publishing anthologies of abridged novels for decades. We’ve worked with some of the biggest names in fiction, including James Patterson, Ruth Ware, Kristin Hannah and more. The Reader’s Digest Book Club, helmed by Books Editor Tracey Neithercott, introduces readers to even more of today’s best fiction by upcoming, bestselling and award-winning authors. For this piece on the best young adult book series, Rachel Strolle tapped her experience as a full-time librarian, book journalist and book festival organizer to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.