9th grade reading books for teens aged 14-15 (2023)

Grade 9 books – this suggested reading list has been curated and compiled by teachers and librarians for final year middle school and freshman high school students in the 9th Grade, aged 14-15. There is a range of exciting and thought-provoking books to suit all abilities, including easy readers and more difficult texts. This list of 9th grade reading recommendations contains titles by Liz Kessler, William Golding, Rick Yancey, and Marjorie Rawlings.

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Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

A highly rated and award-winning book. Written in hard-hitting and sharply crafted verse, it tells a cautionary tale of revenge. 15-year-old Will, gun at the ready and ready to kill, is forced to face the potential consequences of his actions as he descends the elevator of his building. This book is a harsh expose of the peer pressures felt by young men.

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Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

Based on a true story, young African prince, Amos, was sold into slavery aged 15. Transported to Massachusetts, he was auctioned and began 45 years as a slave. Courageous, and retaining his dignity, he never stopped dreaming of freedom – and finally, his hopes were realized.

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Nothing by Janne Teller

A modern masterpiece that has won awards worldwide. Teen Pierre Anton decides that nothing matters in life and climbs into a tree. He will not move, in spite of all the efforts of his fellow students to prove him wrong. A challenging read that asks questions teens will relate to. Controversial, thought-provoking and at times disturbing.

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Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A group of boys is marooned on a deserted island and left to fend for themselves. What could possibly go wrong? An ideal book to study in 9th grade literature classes.

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Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

A reluctant airman in WW2 gets closer and closer to achieving enough flights to go home but is thwarted every time in this absurdist portrayal of power and bureaucracy. This book is excellent for studying time-shifts and narrative plotting.

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Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

In a dystopian world where humans and are bred and controlled, can one man bring normal life back to society? A challenging read for students in grade 9.

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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

In this classic Pulitzer Prize winning story of prejudice, a white lawyer represents a black man accused of the more heinous of crimes in the South. Votes the best novel of the 20th century by American librarians.

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The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger

Disillusioned with school, 16-year-old Holden Caulfield escapes to New York for three days where the reader finds out more about Holden’s life and Holden finds out more about how ‘phony’ the people and the world are. A classic coming of age story.

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Looking for Alaska by John Green

The gripping multi-award-winning debut novel by John Green follows teenage Miles Halter as he leaves boarding school in search of “The Great Perhaps”. A great coming of age story, and a good novel to study and compare with The Catcher in the Rye.

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The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The first book in a quintet of science fiction stories about human survival after a devastating alien invasion. Gripping and fast-paced, this series of novels will appeal to reluctant readers.

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Monster by Walter Dean Meyers

The intelligent and distinctive story of Steve Harmon, charged with being the lookout in a homicide drug store robbery gone wrong – presented as a strangely detached screenplay written by Steve as a way of coping with the system and situation he finds himself trapped inside.

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The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

In a dystopian society divided by blood, regular people serve the rich and powerful and the silver-blooded rule with superpowers, Mare Barrow finds out she has a power, a power which changes her life forever. Dark and poignant, this is an epic thriller.

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Taking Hold by Francisco Jiménez

A beautifully written autobiography which charts Franciso’s journey from growing up in California and moving to Columbia University in New York. A great story of resilience.

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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Two unlikely friends, George – small, quick-witted and sharp, and Lennie, large, and childlike find themselves enveloped in injustice and inevitable danger. Will they find a way to escape?

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Every Day by David Levithan

A unique story about a teenager, A, who wakes up in a different life and different body each day. In many ways A has come to terms with this – until A meets Rhiannon who he wants to stay with every day. A great book for studying character and plot in the 9th grade. A great class reader for 9th grade students.

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Under the Bridge by Michael Harman

When hotshot skateboarder Indy drops out school after a family argument, his brother Tate tries everything to save him from a rapid descent into a life of crime. Gritty and powerful, this book will appeal to reluctant readers.

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American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

A clever and thought-provoking graphic novel about Jin Wang who struggles to fit it at his new High School. When a visiting cousin ruins his hard-earned reputation, where will he turn? A great story of isolation and rejection and an ideal format for reluctant readers.

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March by John Lewis

This graphic novel masterpiece which features vivid artwork chronicles the life of Congressman John Lewis during the civil rights movement. Widely praised, this book is a Coretta Scott King Honor book.

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The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

When Dill’s father becomes the town pariah, he soon starts to feel the heat. Travis and Lydia are the only friends he has left, but can they help see him through to the end of school and graduation day? This book offers a harsh look at growing up in a small town in the Bible belt and is useful to provoke discussion.

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Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

An intriguing story that blends science fiction, alternative realities, and superheroes into a gripping and pacey thriller. Yael, a death-camp prisoner who can shapeshift, plans to impersonate a famous motorcycle racer to assassinate an ageing Hitler in a reimagined 1956. But can she escape the attention of Luka and Felix long enough to maintain her disguise? Ideal for reluctant readers, this novel features a stunning climax. A startling read for teens in the 9th grade.

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I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak

When Ed Kennedy inadvertently stops a bank robbery, he finds himself thrust into a strange and unpredictable world where he delivers messages and makes problems vanish. But who is sending him the messages and orchestrating everything he does and what is the bigger picture? A clever mystery, peppered with plot devices and clues and written in a less formal style – this book will appeal to the more reluctant reader in grade 9.

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Shadowmancer by GP Taylor

Obadiah Demurral is the epitome of evil, trying to take over not just the world, but the universe with magic and spells. Raphah, Kate, Thomas are perhaps the only ones who can stop him? Packed with atmospheric descriptions of smuggling and ancient magic – this is a gripping read for middle graders or reluctant teen readers in grade 9 who enjoy fantasy and magic.

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This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

When Rosie’s parents start arguing and yelling non-stop, she goes off with her friend Windy in search of excitement and escape. This summer, however, they find much more than they bargained for. This is a powerful graphic novel page-turner and coming of age story.

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Haunt Me by Liz Kessler

A love story with a difference. Joe is a ghost who lives in his old house after his family moves on. When a new family arrives, Erin, a lonely and bullied teenager, shares Joe’s space. A relationship develops and complications abound.

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Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

A classic tale of mystery, murder, and bumps in the night. Sherlock Holmes investigates the curse of the Baskervilles and the legend of a gigantic hound which roams the bleak, marsh infested moors. Full of peculiar suspects and strange phenomena. A gripping read for 9th grade teens who enjoy mysteries and adventures.

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The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

An award-winning science-fiction novel, set in Opium, a country between Mexico and the United States. A complex story of drugs, power, treachery, and cloning; this fast-moving text follows the adventures of Matt, his allies, and his foes. A good book to discuss in 9th grade literature classes.

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

A powerful autobiography from Maya Angelou. Living with her grandmother, Maya and her brother feel abandoned and despised by the local community. Back with their mother in St Louis, eight-year-old Maya is attacked by a man and is left traumatized. Many years later, kindness, her strength of character and her love of literature allow her to feel free.

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Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Regarded as one of the hundred best novels of all time, this classic book is an enduring anti-war polemic. Elements of science fiction and time travel combine with WW2 experiences. A must-read.

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The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings

Jody Baxter is a young boy who lives in the 1870s with his impoverished family in the Florida backwoods. The story revolves around a fawn called Flag which Jody adopts and grows up with. In this coming of age tale, Jody lives through hunger, fear, and loneliness; anger and rejection – but ultimately find peace through the love of his family.

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Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown

A classic best-selling book that was described by The New York Times as ‘original, remarkable, and finally heartbreaking … impossible to put down.’ An account, in their own words, of the battles, broken treaties and massacres that left the American Indians landless and defeated.

9th grade reading books for teens aged 14-15 (30)

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

In this complicated love story, Natasha has to fight deportation back to Jamaica, and Daniel is being pushed by his Korean parents to get on with his life. These two young people, with nothing in common and different ambitions, meet, and this sets off a sequence of events that will change their lives.

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Revolutionary Summer by Joseph Ellis

A brilliant examination of the people, the politics and the military battles in the summer of 1776 in America. The actions of both sides are brought together into a single story explaining how British actions provoked an American response and vice versa. A more challenging read for 9th grade students.

9th grade reading books for teens aged 14-15 (32)

Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

The Magisterium draws the reader into an alternative world. Glenn and Kevin have lived next to The Rift for 16 years – but they have never been allowed to cross to the other side. Events conspire and when they are forced to leave home, there is only one way to go – across the Rift and into the unknown. A gripping and compelling read.

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The Odyssey by Homer

The classic Greek poem about Odysseus and his ten-year journey home after the fall of Troy. The contemporary slant and lyricism capture the scale of Homer’s epic poetry in an absorbing retelling of the mythical legend.

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A Separate Peace by John Knowles

A classic novel which has been a bestseller for over 30 years. Set in a New England boarding school for boys during WW2, the relationship between Gene and Phineas is tested, stretched and altered forever. Innocence is lost and the world changed. A great book for students in grade 9.

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If you would like to order all or most of the books in this list; or if you want to order classroom sets or multiple copies of books; or if you are ordering from outside the US, have a look at our ‘bulk orders’ page which makes this process easy.

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FAQs

What books are 9th graders reading? ›

Books for Grade 9 – our recommendations
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. ...
  • Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates. ...
  • Nothing by Janne Teller. ...
  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding. ...
  • Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. ...
  • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. ...
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. ...
  • The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger.
Jan 15, 2023

What is a good book for a 15 year old to read? ›

Young Adult Books (13-17 years old)
  • To Kill A Mockingbird. By Harper Lee.
  • The Grapes of Wrath. By John Steinbeck.
  • Lord of the Flies. By William Golding.
  • A Separate Peace. By John Knowles. ...
  • The Giver. By Lois Lowry.
  • The Hobbit. By J.R.R. Tolkien.
  • Ender's Game. By Orson Scott Card.

What is the average 9th grade reading level? ›

According to national studies, the typical 9th grader should score on Lexile between 855L and 1165L over the course of the year.

Is Ela in 9th grade? ›

A typical course of study for 9th grade English language arts will include a variety of literary works from different cultures around the world. 9th graders usually cover book reports, which build both reading comprehension and composition skills, as well as expand on writing skills they built in previous years.

How long should a 15 year old read per day? ›

According to teachers, students should be reading between 15 minutes and 1 hour a day outside of school (85% of teachers expect daily reading in this range), but most of their students are reading less than the 15-minute daily minimum.

What is level 15 in reading? ›

By Level 15, your child will sometimes independently read several chapters of a book in one go. They may be introduced to more technical language and demanding vocabulary. At school, your child will probably be learning to understand charts and diagrams in non-fiction texts.

Is 70% good in 9th grade? ›

The minimum passing grade is 70 (C). Any grades between 55 and 69 (D and F) are considered failing grades for which unit credit is not earned.

How fast should a 9th grader read? ›

Teens in grades 7 through 12 can read between 115 words per minute and 185 words per minute. College-aged adults can read between 200 and 300 words, while adults have an average reading rate of 200 words and 250 words per minute.

What is the average reading level for a 14 year old? ›

The average American is considered to have a readability level equivalent to a 7th/8th grader (12 to 14 years old).

What literature is taught in 9th grade? ›

Ninth Grade Literature and Composition is an overview of exemplar selections of literature in fiction and nonfiction genres. Students read short stories, poems, a full-length novel, and a full-length Shakespeare play, analyzing the use of elements of literature in developing character, plot, and theme.

What books are mostly read in high school? ›

High School Reading List Books
  • Lord of the Flies (Paperback) William Golding. ...
  • The Great Gatsby (Paperback) F. ...
  • 1984 (Paperback) George Orwell. ...
  • To Kill a Mockingbird (Paperback) Harper Lee. ...
  • The Scarlet Letter (Paperback) ...
  • The Catcher in the Rye (Paperback) ...
  • Animal Farm (Mass Market Paperback) ...
  • Of Mice and Men (Paperback)

What grade is Level F books? ›

Support your students in grades 1-2 with these fiction and nonfiction Level F titles! As your students progress from very basic to more complex texts with new words and text patterns, your classroom library will need to support these changing needs.

What grade level is Harry Potter? ›

The Harry Potter book series is Middle Grade, not YA (Young Adult). This means it is generally written for children ages 8-12 and grade levels 3-7.

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