Best Young Adult Book Series to Read - Learning From Literature

Young adult book series have a unique power to captivate readers with compelling characters and stories that grow alongside their audience. From magical adventures to contemporary coming-of-age tales, these series explore identity, friendship, and adventure.

This list highlights the best young adult book series to read, perfect for a binge-reading teen.

Fantasy & Magic

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Harry Potter’s world changes dramatically when he learns he’s a wizard on his eleventh birthday. At Hogwarts, students are sorted into one of four Houses – Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin – each defined by traits like bravery, loyalty, wisdom, or ambition. As he navigates this new magical world, he builds close friendships and faces emerging threats connected to a powerful enemy from his childhood.

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

In a world where Greek gods live in modern New York, Percy Jackson discovers he is a demigod. Taken to the refuge Camp Half-Blood, Percy learns about a brewing conflict sparked by the theft of Zeus’s lightning bolt. To prevent a divine war, he must embark on a quest filled with ancient monsters and challenges.

Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

Evacuated to the countryside during World War Il, the Pevensie siblings discover a magical wardrobe that leads to Narnia, a land trapped in eternal winter under the rule of the cruel White Witch. The children soon find themselves drawn into Narnia’s ancient prophecy when one falls under the Witch’s influence.

Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The Heroes of Olympus series expands the world of Percy Jackson. Jason Grace wakes up with no memory and is brought to Camp Half-Blood, where he learns he’s a demigod, but his Roman background hints at a deeper mystery. When the goddess Hera is captured, Jason and friends are sent on a perilous quest to rescue her.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

In a hidden world beneath the Earth, advanced fairy civilizations live apart from humans. Artemis Fowl, heir to a fading criminal empire, learns of this secret realm and devises a daring plan to kidnap an elite fairy officer for ransom. With the help of his loyal bodyguard, Artemis navigates a high-stakes battle of wits between two very different worlds.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

On Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into Wanteds, Necessaries, or Unwanteds. Alex Stowe, labeled Unwanted for his artistic talents, expects death but instead discovers Artimè, a hidden magical sanctuary where creativity and magic thrive. As Alex learns his abilities, the rigid society of Quill threatens to expose and destroy this secret world.

The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins

When Gregor falls into the vast underground world of the Underland, he discovers a realm inhabited by giant bats, rats, and cockroaches. Bound by ancient prophecy, Gregor navigates complex alliances and escalating conflicts between species, facing challenges that test courage and loyalty, drawing him deeper into a struggle that will shape the fate of the Underland.

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Carter and Sadie Kane reunite after a family tragedy and accidentally awaken ancient Egyptian gods. As descendants of powerful magicians, they must quickly master their abilities to stop a destructive god bent on chaos. Their journey takes them from the British Museum to hidden tombs in Egypt, facing gods, monsters, and rival magicians along the way.

The Books Of The Beginning by John Stephens

After their parents disappear, siblings Kate, Michael, and Emma are sent to an orphanage, where they discover a magical green book that transports them through time. They learn they’re linked to the powerful Books of Beginning, which control the past, present, and future. As they search for the remaining books, they encounter sorcerers, magical creatures, and enchanted realms.

Chronicles of The Red King by Jenny Nimmo

This prequel series follows Timoken, a young African royal gifted with magic from a star and a flying cloak. After his kingdom is destroyed by viridees, Timoken embarks on a journey seeking safety and a new home. He eventually establishes a magical castle and rules for centuries as the Red King.

Mrs Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

After a family tragedy, Jacob uncovers clues leading him to a mysterious island, where he discovers the ruins of an orphanage and children living in a time loop. Guided by Miss Peregrine, Jacob learns these “peculiars” are hunted by hollowgasts. As he explores this world, Jacob faces a choice: return to his normal life or join the fight to protect theirs.

Dystopian & Sci-Fi

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In Panem, the Capitol rules over twelve districts, each bound to a specific industry. To maintain dominance, the Capitol hosts the annual Hunger Games – a televised event where one boy and one girl from each district fight to the death in a constantly shifting arena. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen’s younger sister is chosen as a tribute, Katniss volunteers to take her place, sparking a fight for survival.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Thomas wakes with no memory in the Glade, a mysterious enclosure surrounded by a shifting Maze filled with deadly creatures. Alongside others with no past, he must navigate daily dangers as Runners seek an exit. Everything changes when Teresa, the first girl, arrives with a cryptic message, and the Maze becomes more unpredictable.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

In a society where emotions are suppressed, Jonas is assigned to be Receiver of Memory. Under the tutelage of the Giver, he begins to experience memories of a past filled with color, pain, love, and loss. As Jonas uncovers the cost of conformity, he faces a harrowing choice when he learns of a dark fate planned for his infant brother.

Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans

Michael Vey, a shy teen with Tourette’s, discovers he can generate powerful electric surges through touch. When Taylor Ridley’s similar abilities are revealed, they learn of a mysterious connection to their birthplace and the shadowy group Elgen. When Elgen kidnaps Michael’s mother and Taylor, he sets out to rescue them, uncovering the origins of his powers.

Variant by Robison Wells

Benson Fisher arrives at Maxfield Academy expecting a fresh start but finds himself trapped in a school ruled by students with no adults in sight. Divided into three factions – Society, Havoc, and Variant – he must choose where he belongs to survive. As students mysteriously disappear, Benson digs into the school’s dark secrets and its hidden leadership.

Dark Life & Riptide by Kat Falls

In a future reshaped by rising oceans, society is divided between crowded surface zones and underwater homesteads. Ty, an underwater teen, meets Gemma, a surface girl searching for her missing brother. Their journey takes them through submarine cities, pirate attacks, and government conspiracies as they uncover the truth behind the disappearance and face deadly threats from an underwater world.

The Compound & Fallout by S.A. Bodeen

After a nuclear war breaks out, Eli and his family take refuge in a luxury underground compound built by his billionaire father. As time goes on, Eli begins to question the reality of the disaster above. Uncovering secret rooms and troubling inconsistencies, he suspects they may not be alone – and that the truth is far more complex.

Action, Mystery, & Conspiracy

Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider’s ordinary life changes when his uncle Ian dies under mysterious circumstances. Uncovering his secret life as an MI6 agent, Alex is drawn into the dangerous world of espionage. His first mission leads him to billionaire Herod Sayle, who suspiciously plans to distribute a new advanced computer called the Stormbreaker to every school in the UK.

39 Clues by Multiple Authors

At their grandmother’s death, Amy and Dan Cahill are forced to choose between a cash inheritance or uncovering their family’s powerful secret. Choosing the Hunt, they discover the Cahills’ ancestors shaped history, with clues leading to a mysterious formula rumored to grant ultimate power. Racing against ruthless relatives, Amy and Dan face sabotage, shifting alliances, and dangerous betrayals.

The Last 13 by James Clancy Phelan

After a terrifying dream, Sam is abducted and told he’s one of the “Last 13,” a group of teens around the world destined to prevent a global disaster. To succeed, all 13 Dreamers must be found and awakened. Pursued by dangerous enemies, Sam travels across continents, dreaming of clues tied to ancient relics, secret organizations, and hidden powers.

Bodyguard by Chris Bradford

Connor Reeves is recruited into a top-secret program that trains elite teenage bodyguards to protect high-risk clients. After training, Connor is sent on global missions where he must blend in, assess danger, and make split-second decisions to keep his VIPs safe. From ambushes to betrayals, every mission pushes his skills and loyalty to the limit.

Historical & Warrior Adventures

Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan

In the Kingdom of Araluen, orphan Will dreams of Battle School but is instead apprenticed to a mysterious Ranger. As Will trains in shadowy arts, he uncovers a plot that threatens the entire kingdom. The series spans culturally inspired medieval societies like the icy Skandia, desert Arrida, and feudal Nihon-ja.

Brotherband Chronicles by John Flanagan

In Skandia, a cold northern land of seafaring warriors, Hal Mikkelson is chosen to lead a team of misfits in the Brotherband training competition. Together, they become the crew of the Heron, mastering navigation, shipbuilding, and combat. When a sacred artifact is stolen under their watch, the boys embark on a high-stakes quest to retrieve it.

Young Samurai by Chris Bradford

In Edo Japan, English teen Jack Fletcher survives a ninja attack that kills his father’s crew and is rescued by samurai Masamoto Takeshi. Orphaned and stranded in a foreign land, Jack must navigate cultural barriers, prejudice, and political tensions. As he trains to become a samurai, he uncovers a dangerous plot tied to his father’s past.

Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielson

In a kingdom on the brink of civil war, four orphans are recruited to impersonate the long-lost prince of Carthya. Sage, defiant and sharp-witted, plays along to survive – but harbors secrets of his own. Chosen to assume the throne, he must navigate deadly politics, assassins, and rebellion while concealing his true identity.

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver

Set 6,000 years ago, the series follows Torak, a boy from the extinct Wolf Clan. After a demon-possessed bear kills his father, Torak vows to fulfill his dying wish: reach the Mountain of the World Spirit and stop the beast. Alongside an orphaned wolf pup who becomes his guide, Torak must survive hostile clans, ancient magic, and dark forces.

Animal-Based

Warriors by Erin Hunter

In a forest bordering a human neighborhood, four Clans of wild cats live by warrior codes and fight to survive. Rusty, a curious housecat, ventures beyond his yard and encounters ThunderClan. Renamed Firepaw, he has to prove his loyalty to his fellow warriors as he uncovers a deadly conspiracy that could destroy the Clan from within.

Wolves of the Beyond by Kathryn Lasky

Faolan, a wolf pup with a twisted paw, is cast out but survives, raised by a nurturing grizzly bear. As he matures, he reenters wolf society and joins the Watch Wolves – guardians of the sacred Ring of Volcanoes. Determined to prove his worth, Faolan uncovers chilling truths about his mysterious birthmark, ancient prophecies, and deep-rooted corruption among the clans.