Please welcome author Jim Westcott who is a literacy specialist as well. Today, he shares his favorite young adult books for teen struggling readers. These books are of high interest with a lower reader level to draw in reluctant teen readers, both boys and girls.
We’d love your suggestions as well! Please share!
Top 10 Books for Struggling Teen Readers
10. Bi-Normal by M.G. Higgins
Brett Miller is one of the kings of Elkhead High. Everyone knows the kings rule the school. Football stars. Pretty girls. The in-crowd. Brett and his buddies are the tormentors; nobody messes with them. His life seems perfect, Normal. His girlfriend Jillia is hot. He loves her. He imagines marrying her someday. Then Brett meets Zach… [young adult, reading level 3rd, ages 14 and up]
9. I’m Just Me by M.G. Higgins
Nasreen and Mia are two very different girls. But they stand out at Arondale High. And kids make assumptions about the only Muslim and the new black girl–the only African American–in school.
“Who let you into the suburbs?” Samantha asks.
Everyone gawks. Nasreen has kept her head down for years. Eighteen months and she’s out, she tells herself. Off to college. Mia is bold. Yeah, she wishes she were somewhere else, but she’s not going to take the bullying lying down. She has to live her life. Graduate. Get into a good school.
The school administrators are ignorant. And worse. The bullying escalates. Both at school and online. The girls come up with a plan to fight back. To regain some dignity. To turn the tables on the bullies. [young adult, reading level 3rd, ages 12 and up]
8. Bike Thief by Rita Feutl
Nick just wants to replace the TV his sister accidentally broke before their foster parents find out. To repay the debt, the sixteen-year-old has to steal bikes, break them down, and rebuild them to sell. But the debt and the violence keep growing. Even Nick’s own beloved fixed-gear bike—the fixie he built with his dad—is up for grabs.
Should Nick recruit younger “runts” to do his dirty work? Should he find a way to give back the bike of the cute girl at the diner now that he sort of likes her? And how can Nick protect his little sister from the creepy guy with the shades? [young adult, reading level 3rd, ages 12 and up]
7. Grind by Eric Walters
When Wally is badly injured skateboarding, Philip must decide what is more important: skating or making things right with his friends.
Philip lives for skateboarding. School is merely the break between trying to land a difficult jump and outrunning the security guards. When he and his best friend Wally meet a professional skateboarder who videotapes himself for his website, Philip thinks they can do it too—and make money at the same time. When they start getting hits on their website—and making money—they start to feel the pressure to do more and more dangerous stunts. [young adult, reading level late 2nd, ages 12 and up]
6. Crash by Jerry Spinelli
Ever since first grade “Crash” Coogan has been tormenting dweeby Penn Ward, a skinny vegetarian Quaker boy who lives in a tiny former garage with his aged parents. Now that they’re in seventh grade, “chippy chirpy perky” Penn becomes an even better target: not only does Penn still wear outdated used clothes, he joins the cheerleading squad.
But even though Crash becomes the school’s star football player and wears the most expensive togs from the mall, he still can’t get what Penn has: his parents’ attention and the admiration of the most gorgeous girl in school.
And when his beloved grandfather Scooter is severely disabled by a stroke, Crash no longer sees the fun in playing brutal pranks and begins to realize that there are more important things in life than wearing new sneakers and being a sports star.
Without being preachy, Spinelli packs a powerful moral wallop, leaving it to the pitch-perfect narration to drive home his point. All ages.
I’ve read this. I love his writing. The theme is an awesome twist on the classic bully-bullied relationship. [young adult, reading level late 5th, ages 12 and up]
5. Diary of a (Un)Teenager by Pete Johnson
Spencer is disgusted by the idea of being a teenager. He’s not interested in girls, sports, skateboards, or huge trainers. Spencer decides to be a (Un) teenager instead. This is a funny book about growing older and facing change. [young adult, reading level 3rd, ages 12 and up]
4. Dream On by Bali Rai
This is an excellent book about holding onto dreams no matter who thinks what. Boys especially will identify with this theme, not letting go of being a sports star, or in this case playing for a Premier League team. [young adult, reading level 3rd, ages 12 and up]
3. Crow Girl by Kate Cann
Bullied Lily takes refuge in the woods, where she meets the crows and finds the confidence to exact a spectacular revenge on her tormentors. [young adult, reading level 3rd, ages 12 and up]
2. Fighter’s Alley by Heather Duffy-Stone
After a legendary but over-the-hill fighter reluctantly agrees to train fifteen-year-old Will, the son of a rich local politician in nineteenth-century New York City, Will finds himself pleading with the stubborn older fighter to retire before he dies in the ring. [young adult, reading level 3rd, ages 12 and up]
1. 30 Guys in 30 Days by Ostow Micol
When Claudia goes away to college she and her high school boyfriend break up, but after being in a relationship for so long she’s forgotten how to meet boys and flirt. [young adult, reading level 3rd, ages 12 and up]
Jim Westcott taught special education for fifteen years before deciding to write for children full-time. His first book, called The Gift, is a high-interest chapter book for struggling readers.
Jack’s Tales (published with Splashing Cow Books), is his second book, a book written especially for boy reluctant readers. Jim lives outside of Rochester, New York with his wife, Sue, and his two sons, Andrew and Jack. Learn more at his website.
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p.s. Related posts:
From Reluctant Reader to Voracious Reader: What Worked for Me
Are All Kids Reluctant Readers? Mine Are! And What to Do
Great Books for Reluctant Boy Readers
Funny Books for 3rd Grade Boy: Reluctant Reader Challenge
10 Books to Turn Reluctant Readers into Eager Ones!
Book Lists for Reluctant Readers
Say It Ain’t So: My Child Is a Reluctant Reader
Books for 8yold Boy Reluctant Reader
Writing for Reluctant Readers by Ty Drago
The Middle School Reluctant Reader
Partnered Reading Tutorial for Getting Reluctant Readers to Read
How To: Get Reluctant Readers Who Can Decode Reading
Tips for Engaging Reluctant Readers
Favorite Books for Reluctant Readers Grades 3-8
How to Train Your Dragon ebook for reluctant readers
Tips for Hooking Reluctant Readers
NERDS: A series for Reluctant Readers
Best Graphic Novels for Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise (ages 3-16)
Best Books for Boy Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise (ages 7-14): Part 2, Authors M-Z
Best Books for Boy Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise (ages 7-14): Part 1, Authors A-L
Best Books for Boy Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise: Part 3 (Non-Fiction)
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
This is such an important list for teens who are reluctant readers. I didn’t know that there are teen novels for kids reading at the 3rd grade level. And, they all sound like great reads. I’ll have to pay more attention!
Hi Patricia,
I think high interest with lower reading level books are hard to find but they really seem to do the trick to get kids reading. I tried a few of these types of books from Orca publishing for my friend’s son and it worked like a charm. He wasn’t reading on his own but he loves skateboarding so I found a few that matched up and his mom was thrilled he read them and asked for more.
Here’s another…JG’s by M.D. Marrone…great story at setting of Junior Lifeguards! Get it on Amazon…
Thanks so much for the heads up on your book Maria! They are hard to find so each one is a treasure!!!
Great list – thank you!
Wonderful list–thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks so much Becky! I’m grateful to Jim Westcott for his great list!
Hello Patricia,
Thanks for commenting. There are some great books for this kind of niche. I think just recently they are getting recognized for their usefulness and quality.
Publishers to look for are: Saddleback, Orca Soundings, Ransom Publishing, and Stoke Books.
Hi Jim,
I’m only familiar with Orca so thanks for sharing this great list!
Thank you, Maria, I’ll have to check it out.
You’re welcome, Marjorie:)
Bulbui’s Bamboo looks like a great book.
These sound like good stories! There are a couple I want to check out. I think getting books on subjects kids are interested in is a great way to get kids to read. Maybe not event books but also magazines or comics.
Hi Erik,
I would love to get your opinion on the books! I would think they would be great for strong readers like yourself too! They are supposed to be high interest for a teen audience.
What a great list – sometime it is easy for people just to give up on teens who don’t want to read and not try to help. Great to have a few suggestions at hand for those who are struggling #weekendbookclub
Thanks so much Training Mummy! I hope this list helps teens find more books they enjoy!