The 8 Most Popular Young Adult Series To Read

Not the actual books in the list 🙂

I wanted to make a young adult series list, but with all my favorites plus ones you simply can’t leave out (like Harry Potter), the list ended up being too long for a single post. So, I decided to split them up and give you the most famous ones first. Some of these even make the top 10 best-selling books of all time list!

Each description includes the books in the series, background information, and an introduction to the first book. There are no spoilers!

Enjoy!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The post-apocalyptic nation of Panem is held under total control by the Capitol District. The other 12 districts, categorized by numbers, are ruthlessly governed, each coerced into a specialized industry based on local resources. From the luxury of District 1 to the poverty of District 12, wealth diminishes with distance from the Capitol, highlighting a stark social hierarchy. Public executions, whippings, and surveillance are the norm, while the prohibition of travel between districts compounds the oppression of Panem’s citizens.

Annually, the Capitol orchestrates the Hunger Games, a brutal spectacle where one male and one female tribute from each district fight to the death in ever-changing, technologically advanced arenas. Broadcasted for the Capitol’s entertainment, the Games are a stark reminder of its absolute authority over the districts.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, living in the impoverished section of District 12 with her sister and mother, faces a pivotal moment when her sister is chosen as the female tribute for the 74th Hunger Games. Driven by love, Katniss volunteers in her sister’s place. The male tribute, Peeta, has a history with Katniss, having once given food to her starving family. The pair’s journey takes a dramatic turn as Peeta publicly professes his love for Katniss, thrusting the lowly duo into the national spotlight before entering the Hunger Games.

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Awakening in an ascending metal elevator, Thomas finds himself devoid of memories except for his name. He arrives in the Glade, a self-sustained community run by teenage boys. Every week, the elevator delivers supplies, and monthly, a new boy joins, all with no recollection of their past.

Encircled by towering concrete walls, the Glade is surrounded by the ever-changing Maze, explored daily by runners seeking an escape pattern. At night, the doors to the Maze slide shut, and “Grievers” come out, lethal and giant creatures, meaning that being caught outside when the walls close is a death sentence.

Unexpectedly, the arrival of Theresa one day later disrupts everything. She is the only girl ever put into the maze, holding a note that reads, “She’s the last one. Ever.” The once-predictable Maze becomes unpredictable, and the community’s survival is jeopardized as supplies dwindle and Grievers breach the once-secure haven. The rest of the book follows Thomas, Theresa, and the other boys’ struggle to survive as they desperately attempt to escape the Maze and discover why they were put there in the first place.

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Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Living under the care of his abusive relatives, Harry Potter’s mundane existence takes a magical turn on his eleventh birthday when a half-giant messenger delivers a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The letter reveals that Harry’s parents were wizards, and their tragic demise at the hands of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort is what left him with the distinctive lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead when he was just 15 months old.

At Hogwarts, a magical Sorting Hat determines the best-suited House for each student based on their qualities. Gryffindor values bravery, courage, and chivalry; Ravenclaw prizes intelligence, creativity, and wisdom; Hufflepuff values loyalty, fairness, and a strong work ethic; and Slytherin values ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. Chosen for Gryffindor, Harry embarks on a transformative journey, forming close bonds with friends.

Navigating the intricacies of wizarding school, Harry confronts the shadows of his past and, with the support of his friends, faces the looming threat of Lord Voldemort’s attempted resurgence, weaving a tale of magic, friendship, and the enduring battle between good and evil.

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The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

Evacuated from wartime London in 1940, the Pevensie siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy – find refuge with Professor Kirke in a sprawling countryside estate. While exploring the house, Lucy stumbles upon a magical wardrobe, transporting her to the enchanting world of Narnia, a realm teeming with talking animals and mythical beings, ruled by the malevolent White Witch.

Although Lucy’s siblings initially disbelieve her story, Edmund follows her into the wardrobe and winds up in a separate area of Narnia, meeting the White Witch. The Witch persuades him to bring his siblings to her with the promise of being made a prince. As all four children return to Narnia together, they are faced with a war between Aslan, the lion and true ruler of Narnia, and the White Witch.

As the Pevensie children grapple with their destiny and the impending battle for Narnia’s freedom, they face trials and tribulations that weave themes of courage, sacrifice, and the triumph of good over evil in a world where magic and destiny collide.

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Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan crafted the Percy Jackson series by seamlessly merging Greek mythology with the contemporary world. Mount Olympus perches atop the Empire State Building, and teenage demigods – offspring of Greek gods and mortals – navigate a world teeming with ancient monsters.

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, living with his mother in New York City, discovers his demigod lineage during a harrowing museum field trip. Fending off a Fury with a magical sword, Percy’s satyr friend Grover reveals the truth about their perilous situation – monsters sense his demigod-blood and won’t stop until he is dead. His mother and Grover whisk him to Camp Half-Blood, a magically-protected haven for demigods.

At camp, Percy learns of the Big Three’s oath against demigod offspring (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades), as these kids become too powerful and threaten the balance of the world. However, Poseidon claims Percy as his son, leading to rising tensions among the gods at the same time that Zeus’s lightning bolt is stolen.

The rest of the novel follows Percy as he departs on a quest to retrieve the missing artifact in an attempt to pacify the gods and navigate the challenges of his newfound demigod existence.

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The 39 Clues by Multiple Authors

The series was written as a collaboration between some of the top authors ever, with a focus on young adults.

Following the death of their grandmother, siblings Amy and Dan Cahill face a life-changing choice: one million dollars or participation in a high-stakes Clue hunt. Opting for the latter, they embark on a global odyssey against formidable competitors and discover the profound influence of the Cahill family on world history.

The objective of the Hunt is to find a mysterious serum capable of creating the most powerful individual in the world, although exactly how nobody knows. The stakes are raised as the competition takes a sinister turn, with family members resorting to intentional sabotage and even murder, vying for the serum’s power.

Amidst the race against time, they unravel the intricate web of Cahill family branches – the Ekaterinas, Tomas, Janus, Lucians, and the Madrigals – each with distinct qualities and motives.

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Conspiracy 365 by Gabrielle Lord

On New Year’s Eve, a crazy-looking man rushes toward teenager Callum Ormond in the street. He tells Cal that “they” killed his father and will kill Cal, too, if he doesn’t hide for the next 365 days. The man mentions something called “The Ormond Singularity” just before two men cart him off in an ambulance.

Later that day, Cal and his father’s identical twin Rafe barely survive a shipwreck; Rafe washes ashore alive and Callum has to battle sharks before being rescued by helicopter. Upon returning home, the family finds their house ransacked.

After kidnappings and a series of bizarre events, Callum is forced to become a fugitive and has just 365 days to unravel the conspiracy against him. The series is written by month and the pages go backwards, counting down until you finish at 1.

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The Giver by Lois Lowry

In a meticulously controlled community where every aspect of life is assigned, 12-year-old Jonas is stunned to be named the Receiver of Memory, a position of rare responsibility. The Giver initiates Jonas into a world where memories of the past are safeguarded.

Jonas’s training unveils the stark reality that the Community has erased – memories of snow, sleds, and even colors. As he absorbs the weight of humanity’s collective history, Jonas starts to question the rigid conformity of his society. The Giver imparts both the beauty and brutality of the past, exposing Jonas to experiences alien to the sheltered existence of the Community.

As Jonas grapples with the unsettling reality of his community, a pivotal moment approaches, forcing him to make a critical decision when his baby brother faces assignment for euthanasia.

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The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The Heroes of Olympus serves as the sequel to the Percy Jackson series, intertwining Greek mythology with its Roman counterpart. The gods adopt both Greek and Roman personas while Camp Jupiter mirrors Camp Half-Blood as the demigod sanctuary. The deep-seated animosity between the two cultures often results in a ‘kill-on-sight’ mentality during encounters. Apparently, the rivalry even played a pivotal role in sparking the American Civil War.

Jason Grace awakens disoriented on a school bus in the midst of a field trip, unable to remember anything about his past. Along with Piper, his apparent girlfriend, and Leo, his apparent lifelong friend, they are attacked by an evil storm spirit. As Jason fights off the monster, Annabeth Chase arrives irritated, as her boyfriend Percy Jackson has been missing without a trace for three days. The trio – Jason, Piper, and Leo – soon learns that they are Greek demigods and are taken back to Camp Half-Blood.

The story takes a turn as monsters become more active and the divine Hera is kidnapped. Thrust into a quest, Jason, Leo, and Piper must rescue the captive goddess. At the end, it is revealed where Percy Jackson is and why Jason mysteriously lost his memory.

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