I have a section of my book log dramatically titled ‘The Lost Archives.’ It’s full of undated reads from my younger years, hundreds of books where I have no way of knowing on what exact day I read them. Most of these are in the young adult genre.

It’s easy to dismiss young adult books as childish or simplistic, but many of them explore themes far heavier than people give them credit for. The Hunger Games is a story about authoritarianism, Harry Potter about prejudice, The Chronicles of Narnia about faith. Many adults would do well to revisit these books now.

Enough talk, here’s some favorites from my childhood.

Eoin Colfer

In a hidden world underground, advanced fairy civilizations live apart from humans. Artemis Fowl, heir to a fading criminal empire, learns of this secret realm and devises a 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 the two different worlds.

Chris Bradford

In Edo-period Japan, English teenager Jack Fletcher survives an attack that wipes out his father’s crew. Rescued by the samurai Masamoto Takeshi, he’s orphaned and stranded in an unfamiliar land. As Jack navigates cultural barriers and trains to become a samurai, he uncovers a dangerous plot tied to his father’s past.

Suzanne Collins

In Panem, the Capitol rules over twelve districts, each bound to a specific industry. In a show of power, 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 Katniss Everdeen’s younger sister is chosen as a tribute, Katniss volunteers to take her place.

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.

Michelle Paver

Six thousand years ago: Torak is 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.

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 the dangers as Runners seek an exit. Everything changes when Teresa, the first girl, arrives with a cryptic message, and the Maze becomes more unpredictable.

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 prophecy, Gregor navigates ancient alliances and conflicts between species, drawing him deeper into a struggle that will shape the fate of the Underland.

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 growing 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.

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 gift all schools in the UK a new advanced computer called the Stormbreaker.

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.

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.

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.

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.

JK Rowling

Harry Potter’s world changes dramatically when he learns he’s a wizard on his eleventh birthday. At Hogwarts, he is sorted into one of four Houses, each defined by traits like bravery, loyalty, wisdom, or ambition. As Harry navigates this new magical world, he builds close friendships and discovers a powerful enemy from his childhood.

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.

Gabrielle Lord

On New Year’s Eve, Callum Ormond is warned by a mysterious stranger to survive the next 365 days. Within hours, Cal survives a shipwreck, returns home to chaos, and finds himself on the run. As dangerous enemies close in, Cal is thrust into a high-stakes chase to uncover the truth behind a secret called the Ormond Singularity.

Jenny Nimmo

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

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, racing against ruthless relatives to a mysterious formula rumored to grant ultimate power.

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 her brother’s disappearance.

John Stephens

After their parents disappear, 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.

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 defining choice when he learns of the fate planned for his infant brother.

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.

James Clancy Phelan

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

Rick Riordan

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 Percy Jackson disappears and the goddess Hera is captured, Jason and friends are sent on a perilous quest to figure out who is behind these machinations.

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 underground.

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.

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 to the limit.

Robison Wells

Benson Fisher arrives at Maxfield Academy expecting a fresh start but finds himself trapped in a school 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 hidden leadership.

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 and deep-rooted corruption among the clans.