Are you looking for reading recommendations for teens? We can help! Visit us in person or online to get great ideas for your next great read. For one-on-one help call or ask a Library staff member at any of our locations. You can also call, text, or email ask-a- librarian! Here are some more ideas to help you find what to read next.
- Hoosier Next Read is a personalized book recommendation service from The Indianapolis Public Library. Share your reading preferences, and our Library staff will send you a custom list of 2–5 titles within 7 business days so you’ll always have your next great read ready.
- Follow our staff’s most recently published book lists on the library catalog home page.
- Don’t miss our If You Like… suggestions that cover all the favorite genres like science fiction, graphic novels, romance, and more.
- Join us Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. on Facebook for Currently Reading where book enthusiasts offer their suggestions.
- Catch book recommendations and IndyPL program highlights from your own local librarians once a month on the Indy Now Morning Show with Ryan and Jillian on Fox59. The show airs at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. Browse our past appearances.
- You can also get reading recommendations online from NovelList or Book Connections. Read book reviews, see “read alike” lists, browse starred reviews, and more.
Make a selection from one of the book lists below created by our staff of avid readers whose reading experiences and tastes cover about any interest you can think of!
If You Liked K-Pop Demon Hunters
The film K-Pop Demon Hunters (KPDH), streaming on Netflix, has become an international sensation. The film appeals to all audiences with an action-packed, pop-culture fantasy based in Korean folklore and a great soundtrack. Themes of the film include hidden identity, loss of identity, self-sacrifice, self-acceptance, redemption, and found family. If you cannot get enough of the story and do not want to wait for the inevitable sequel, check out these teen fiction titles that feature similar themes and appeal factors.
Iyashikei Manga – Cozy, Healing Stories
Feeling stressed? Relax with a cozy, healing manga. Iyashikei (癒し系 – literally translated as “healing”) manga are typically peaceful, slice-of-life stories with very little conflict. They are created to be comforting and are often set in an alternative reality or fantasy-like world. The focus of iyashikei tends to be more about world-building than plot, so check out one of these titles if you’re looking for a soothing escape from reality!
Manga About Idols
Explore the various sides of the entertainment industry with these idol-focused manga titles. With a variety of genres to choose from – comedy, romance, drama, or mystery – these stories shine a spotlight on the world of idols, fans, and celebrity culture. This list features a mix of titles from our teen and adult collections, each title on the list is labeled with the intended audience.
Korean Manhwa for Teens
Manhwa (만화) is the general term for Korean comics and print cartoons. These manhwa titles are a part of our teen collection and feature a variety of genres. While manhwa can seem similar to Japanese manga, there are several differences. Manga typically features black and white illustrations and manhwa is usually illustrated in color. Another difference is how it’s read; manga is typically read from right to left and manhwa is read from left to right. If you’re a reader of webcomics, some of these titles may seem familiar as many were originally published online.
Freaky Friday
the long time coming sequel, Freakier Friday, premiers August 8th. Hilarious onscreen mother-daughter duo Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are now, 22 years later, a grandmother-mother duo. While you wait for the new release to hit theaters (and then library shelves), check out some other popular movie franchise sequels where our young protagonists return all grown up!
If You Like Brandon Sanderson
For fans of the Cosmere, the Cytoverse, and other works by Brandon Sanderson. If you enjoy god-level magic systems, dense world histories, complex political systems, superheroes, fairy tales, space operas, heists, and tales that focus on the actions of average people trying to change the system – these books are for you!
Staff Picks 2024- Best of Teen
Enjoy this list of our favorite YA reads of 2024, which spans genres. Enjoy dark academia, fake dating, poetry, comic adventures, subverted fantasy tropes, heists, D&D, and more! Don’t forget that this year, we’ve included our favorite selections from the back catalog, in the hopes you can get your hands on a book you’ll love right now.
100 Books Before Graduation
Read 100 books before graduating from high school and receive prizes as you work toward your goal. Prizes will be awarded after reading 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 books! Most importantly, students will expand their mind, vocabulary, critical thinking, and test scores! This program is for students in grades 7-12. Learn more about 100 Books Before Graduation and register.
