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Fourteen-year-olds are reading young adult fiction and some adult books, and they want stories with substance. These are the books our editors chose for Year 10: powerful, gripping and worth talking about.
The short answer
- The one to start with
- A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond — A lyrical take by a master wordsmith on the traditional tale of Orpheyus…
- A favourite to share
- The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks — Dark and compelling, confusing and totally engrossing, stays with you long…
- For keen readers
- Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann — Powerful verse novel charting a female rebellion against cultural rules…
What to look for at age 14
Look for books that tackle big questions and complex characters, alongside page-turners that are simply hard to put down. Short, intense reads and verse novels suit busy GCSE years, and non-fiction about the issues they care about can spark a reading habit.
Our pick of the best books for 14 year olds
A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond
A lyrical take by a master wordsmith on the traditional tale of Orpheyus and Euridice, with tragic consequencesReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamThe Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks
Dark and compelling, confusing and totally engrossing, stays with you long after you have finished the bookReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamRun, Rebel by Manjeet Mann
Powerful verse novel charting a female rebellion against cultural rules and abusive family patriarchyReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamWhen Our Worlds Collided by Danielle Jawando
A powerful yet tender coming of age novel that unflinchingly tackles racism in justice and educationReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamMusical Truth by Jeffrey Boakye
An outstanding combination of musical and Black British historyReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamThe Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros
A post-apocalyptic novel with warmth and humanity at its coreReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamFurious Thing by Jenny Downham
A passionate, powerful exploration of a teen girl’s rage against an unfair world in which her abusively controlling stepdad calls all the shotsReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamSeven Million Sunflowers by Malcolm Duffy
Sharing the story of a Ukrainian refugee in the UK, this hard-hitting account of the horrors and impact of war is a stirring ode to empathy and resilience.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamGlasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald
An astonishing debut that shows love can be so much more than blood, and even from darkest places hope can and does exist.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamStealing Happy by Brian Conaghan
One lad’s schemes to save his family from the loan shark.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamPart of a Story That Started Before Me by George the Poet
An important collection of poetry about Black British history from an acclaimed spoken word performer and social activistReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamOdd Girl Out by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid
Prepared to be utterly gripped by this coming-of-age story about love, friendship and broken families.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamThe Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn
Adrian Mole for the TikTok generation: this laugh-out-loud rom-com romp is a life-affirming joy.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamMy Name is Jodie Jones by Emma Shevah
Expertly crafted plot and incredible characterisation combine in this moving story of trauma recovery and determination.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamLife An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet
A sweeping novel exploring the concept of love lasting a lifetime through the stories of three generations of the same family.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamMoonrise by Sarah Crossan
Death row injustice and undying brotherly love in a lyrical, beautiful writing in verse form that will ultimately break your heart in this exploration of family…Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamThe M Word by Brian Conaghan
A raw and honest novel of grief, depression and self-harm, underpinned by hope, heart-warming humour and unforgettable MaggieReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamThe Places I've Cried in Public by Holly Bourne
An authentic, raw, disturbing portrait of a teenage girl and her descent into a coercive, controlling relationship with an important message about self-beliefReviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamBlood Moon by Lucy Cuthew
A brilliant and empowering verse novel about feminism, menstruation, and bullying.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamPunching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam
Searingly potent verse novel about racial injustice and the power of art.Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids team
These 20 books come from our Year 10 reading list of 44 titles for the 2026/27 school year. Looking for a little younger or older? See books for 13 year olds, or our guide to The Best Books for Teenagers.
Chosen by experts, not an algorithm
Every title here comes from our Year 10 reading list, chosen by LoveReading4Kids’ children’s-book specialists — people who match books to real children every day. We’ve recommended on merit since 2005, and through our Schools Reading Programme we see which stories genuinely land with this age group. When you buy through us, up to 25% of the cover price can go to a school of your choice.
Each is named, with a photograph and full biography, on our editorial experts page.
Members of the panel include:
Julia Eccleshare MBEAward-winning children’s literature expert and former Guardian Children’s Editor
Joanne OwenAuthor, publishing expert and LoveReading’s YA Lead Reviewer
Lucas Maxwell BEMAward-winning librarian, author and UK Reading for Pleasure Champion
Deborah MaclarenLoveReading CEO and literary prize judge, championing books and reading for pleasure
Your questions answered
What should a 14 year old read?
Our editors recommend starting with A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond, The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks and Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann, all from our Year 10 reading list. The full list of 20 books is on this page.
Which school year is a 14 year old in?
In England, most children turn 14 during Year 10, so these books come from our Year 10 list. Children read at very different levels, so look at the ages either side too.
How are these books chosen?
By LoveReading4Kids’ children’s-book specialists, including former Carnegie judges and school librarians, not by sales rank or an algorithm. We have recommended books on merit since 2005.
What if my child is a reluctant reader?
Try shorter, funnier or illustrated books first, and let them choose. Our guide to the best books for reluctant readers has picks chosen to win children round.