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Your teen's reading habit and engagement may be a source of frustration or enjoyment, depending on their interest in books. In fact, it's common today for many younger audiences to prefer other leisure activities instead of reading. Be it their phone, TV shows, tablet, or streaming services, it's clear that there is a strong battle for their attention, pushing reading to the bottom of the 'fun' list.

As a teenager, your child is at a pivotal stage in their life. Between trying to figure out their identity, interests, and their raging hormones, they aren’t all as eager to read classic novels in literature.

To ease the task of discovery, we have put together a list of classic novels in literature that could get your teen to read more. At will, too.

We know that some teens may find these books intimidating, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Reading a challenging text doesn't mean you won't be able to enjoy or understand the plot, characters, and storyline; it just may take a little longer to read through.

After all, everything in life isn't easy. Think about the GCSE exams your teens will sit or have already completed. They may have been challenging, but they, too, will have risen to the challenge when necessary. For information on

With all this being said, here are 7 classic books that may help your teen read more.

*Disclaimer* This post contains affiliate links, so we may make a small commission if you make a purchase.

7 Classics To Improve Teen Reading Habits

So, without further ado, here is a list of 7 classic novels your teen can get stuck in. Especially once you look beyond judging by their covers, there are quality stories of adventure, wisdom, fantasy, romance, suspense, and more between their pages. These books include:

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

As a dystopian novel, Hunger Games is the first of a trilogy series. Appropriate for 12 to 13-year-olds. However, some critics consider this book too graphic and inappropriate due to themes of violence, starvation, and abuse.

However, we disagree for two reasons. The first is that the book is appropriate for this age group (reading-wise). The second is that the book, though fictional, reflects some themes that are true to reality. This exposure is suitable for some teenagers, affording them the chance to explore and understand a world different from their own.

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

With the materialistic and pressurising world teenagers are thrust into, it's common to feel misunderstood and struggle to belong. A good way to ignite your teen's reading interest is to encourage them to read books with characters they find relatable. Other times, they will prefer characters who are dissimilar to themselves.

However, this book has themes of growing up, division, discrimination, and love. Noughts and Crosses is an excellent read for teenagers because it follows the story of Sephy and Callum, who attend segregated schools growing up, but still manage to form a friendship.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

It wouldn’t be a list of classics if Shakespeare weren’t on the list. He is known for writing many great stories, and Romeo and Juliet is just one of them! At its core, this is a story of love, loss, and, ultimately, a tragedy (without giving too much away).

Granted, it's a play and not a novel, but a read nonetheless!

As a literary fiction play initially written in Old English, having an annotated copy handy will help your teen better understand this story, unless they snap up a modern copy, that is.

So Long A Letter by Mariama Ba

So Long A Letter is a classic in contemporary African women’s literature, this book is appropriate for older teens due to some of the themes explored. The story follows a series of reminiscences told from the point of view of a recently widowed schoolteacher.

It is also worth noting that this is a translated book, originally written in French.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Set in colonial Nigeria, Things Fall Apart is known as one of the first fictional books to put West Africa on the literary map. As the first novel in his trilogy, the story follows Okonkwo, who becomes one of the most muscular and masculine men in his clan.

This serves him well as he continues his father’s legacy by leading his clan with a firm hand, anger, and aggression. This novel is worth a read if you’re interested (and willing) to take a trip back in history.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Another novel set in a historical era, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, highlights the reality and opposition of good and evil.

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

An oldie but a goodie, adapted to a movie, Pride and Prejudice is a novel set in the Regency period (between the 18th and 19th Century). A time heavily focused on wealth, divided gender roles, and social status categorisations.

Some people say it is ideal for girls to read; however, this book isn’t for girls alone. While the story follows Elizabeth Bennett, it also traces themes of satire, irony, and love, which are relatable and appropriate for boys and girls alike.

So there you have it: seven classic books for your teen to choose from. If you struggle to get your teen interested, perhaps these books will inspire them to read more than usual. To view the full list, you can head over to our Bookshop page.