Perhaps YA author Julie Murphy said it best: Young Adult books give teens and pre-teens a safe space to learn about very real and important situations. Some of our favourite books for this age group address self-acceptance, grief, sexuality, climate change and systemic greed.

Savi and the Memory Keeper by Bijal Vachharajani

A multi-layered narrative of love, loss and climate emergency that thoughtfully tells the story of Savi—coping with the loss of her father, moving to a new town, and dealing with trees that speak to her. Be prepared to laugh and cry.

This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki 

Rose heads to her family's cabin with her parents, hangs out with her summer friend Windy, drinks too much soda, swims in the beach, and visits the local store to rent horror movies and check out the older boys. But underneath the summer idyll, family tensions simmer and confused feelings abound.

Year of the Weeds by Sidhartha Sarma 

When the government tells Korok’s village that they have to leave because a company is going to mine their sacred hill, the Gonds come together to fight the order. The book is an introduction to the harsh realities of life in modern India: corporate greed, government indifference, and complete disregard for our environment.

Darius the Great is NOT OK by Adib Khorram

Darius is a half Persian, half American teen with clinical depression who seems to disappoint everyone. When his grandfather falls ill, the family makes their first trip to Iran, and it is there that Darius meets Sohrab—the boy next door who makes him forget (most of the time) everything that’s wrong with his life. 

Pumpkin’ by Julie Murphy 

Waylon Rusell Brewer is a fat and openly gay teen who is tired of the boy he likes keeping him a secret, of having to dress a certain way to blend in, and waiting for his ‘real’ life to start. When a video of him in drag leaks, Waylon’s name is submitted for Prom King as a joke. But Waylon makes a go of it while battling his feelings for Tucker Watson.