For teens who love to read, these YA book series boxed sets make excellent gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and anytime.
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If you’re looking for a gift idea for a teen reader, it’s usually safe to go with a popular series. These 10 popular YA book series are all bestsellers.
While boxed sets can be a bit pricey, they make wonderful collectibles for an avid reader. Although some series have spinoffs, as far as I know, all of these are complete – so there won’t be one more book to throw off that perfect collection.
YA books are generally intended for readers aged 13-19 but appeal to younger and older readers. If you’re looking for book suggestions for tweens, I have a list of over 40 middle-grade books that are fun for ages 8-12!
Popular YA book series
These are in no particular order.
The Inheritance Cycle
There are 4 books in The Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini.
- Eragon
- Eldest
- Brisingr
- Inheritance
The YA fantasy series follows a 15-year-old farm boy who discovers he is a dragon rider. In an epic world of elves and magic, he must learn how to fight alongside his dragon companion and friends.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games series is a trilogy by Suzanne Collins with an additional prequel novel. The first three books have been made into films.
- The Hunger Games
- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (prequel)
The Hunger Games takes place in a dystopian future America divided into 12 districts ruled by a capital city. Each district must send 2 children between ages 12 and 18 to fight in an annual televised survival game. The series follows a teen girl through the competition and an uprising. The final book is a prequel that follows teens 50+ years before.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
The Inheritance Games
The Inheritance Games trilogy is a YA mystery by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
- The Inheritance Games
- The Hawthorne Legacy
- The Final Gambit
When billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies, he leaves his fortune to teenage Avery, whose dream is to earn a scholarship and get out of town. She has no idea why he chose her, but must move into Hawthorne House and solve the mystery alongside his 4 grandsons. Action, romance, and family secrets make this a fast-paced story with surprises at every turn.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a trilogy by Jenny Han. It has been made into a streaming series.
- The Summer I Turned Pretty
- It’s Not Summer Without You
- We’ll Always Have Summer
Teen girl Belly lives for summer, her favorite time of year. She spends each one at a beach house with her friends and crushes. But like any teen drama, this summer doesn’t go as planned and Belly must navigate growing up, figuring out who she is, and deciding who she wants to be with.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
American Royals
The American Royals series includes 4 books and a prequel, written by Katherine McGee.
- American Royals
- Majesty
- Rivals
- Reign
- Inheritance (prequel)
The premise of this modern-yet-historical fiction is simple. What if George Washington had become king after the American Revolution? In modern times, follow the adventures of princesses and princes who balance royal duty with teen drama and romance.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
The Simonverse
There are 3 novels and an epilogue novella in the Simonverse series by Becky Albertalli.
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
- The Upside of Unrequited
- Leah on the Offbeat
- Love, Creekwood (novella – a short story)
This book series takes place at a small town high school and follows teens as they grapple with growing up, identities, friendships, and first loves. In the first book, Simon has a secret online life and is forced to come out by a blackmailer, and the others are also about secret crushes.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
Caraval
The Caraval trilogy by Stephanie Garber is a YA fantasy. The novella is a short holiday story that takes place in the same world.
- Caraval
- Legendary
- Finale
- Spectacular (novella coming October 2024)
Scarlett and Talla live with their father and dream of seeing the faraway interactive show, Caraval, when suddenly an invitation appears. Soon Talla is kidnapped and Scarlett must find her before the show ends. Their adventures continue through each book as they become caught up in the show and get to know its participants.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
The Lunar Chronicles
The Lunar Chronicles is a futuristic sci-fi retelling of classic fairytales by Marissa Meyer.
- Cinder
- Scarlet
- Cress
- Fairest
- Stars Above
- Winter
Humans and androids live together on Earth during an intergalactic struggle. With cyborgs and evil queens, spaceships and true loves, three women (based on Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel) must uncover the secrets of the past to save their world for the future.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo (aka Grishaverse) also has 2 spin-off duologies: Six of Crows and King of Scars. The books have been made into a streaming series.
- Shadow and Bone
- Siege and Storm
- Ruin and Rising
This fantasy takes place in a kingdom divided by the Shadow Fold, a wall of darkness filled with monsters. Alina is a soldier, but when her dormant magical powers become active, she’s swept away to train with the Grisha. There she must reconcile her move from peasant to luxury, delve into her past to answer secrets, and find out what the future holds for her childhood love.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
One of Us is Lying
One of Us is Lying is by Karen M McManus. The first book in this trilogy is now a streaming series.
- One of Us is Lying
- One of Us is Next
- One of Us is Back
In the first book in this series, a student named Simon is killed during a Breakfast Club-style detention and the other students present are suspects. Simon ran a popular gossip app and was planning to share details about the others. Each student has secrets they want to keep as rumors swirl and they all become suspects in a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. In the sequels, a new deadly game is trending.
Order on: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
Whether you’re shopping for a teen or just looking for a book to read yourself, these YA book series are great choices! Shop the links above or find them at your local bookstore or library.
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
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