The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy
Before there was a Disney+ series or a much-maligned movie, there was a must-read novel introducing Gen Z kids to Percy Jackson and Camp Half-Blood. To nonfans, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series may seem like just another chosen-one saga. But in addition to introducing young readers to Greek mythology, these books also explore real-life struggles like dealing with learning disabilities. I never see as much excitement or passion from my undergrad creative-writing students as when they talk about their younger days poring over the adventures of Percy, Annabeth and Grover. This title launched not just a series but also a literary universe with enough books to fill free-reading periods for years.
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Genre: Mystery
Karen McManus’s murder mystery really encapsulates a genre that dominated YA Gen Z books. The story is told from the perspective of four students in detention who witness another student die from an allergic reaction to a peanut oil–spiked drink. Representing four very different corners of the school’s social order—think of One of Us Is Lying as The Breakfast Club with a dash of murder—they must learn to lean on one another as they try to figure out who might have poisoned their classmate. But trust doesn’t come easily when suspicion falls squarely on their shoulders. The mystery is compelling, but just as interesting is watching the students come to understand new things about their school, their town and themselves.
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Nimona by ND Stevenson
Genre: Fantasy graphic novel
This graphic novel recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, and the immersive story about the titular shape-shifter has captivated older Gen Z readers drawn in by the fantasy world and strong queer vibes. When the film adaptation came out in 2023 with plenty of adventure and an explicitly queer romance, Nimona gained even more loyal Gen Z fans. The story, which originated as a web series, follows Blackheart, a former knight-in-training who was unjustly ousted, and his sidekick, Nimona, as they try to expose corruption in the land’s highest seat of power. It’s sweet, it’s funny, it’s fantastical—and you can read it in a single sitting.
My First Book by Honor Levy
Genre: Short stories
This might be the most referenced title on any list of definitive Gen Z books. Written by Gen Z author Honor Levy, the collection of short stories captures the slang, references and hang-ups of her generation. With titles like “Internet Girl” and “written by sad girl in the third person,” these short stories have clearly been influenced by a life spent online. If you’re a millennial or Gen Xer, you might need to read My First Book with a search engine open to decode certain words or acronyms, but you’ll come away with plenty to talk about with your younger cousin this holiday season.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Genre: YA science fiction
Adam Silvera’s near-future science fiction story imagines a world in which a call can change your life—by announcing your death. As They Both Die at the End opens, two teenagers receive the call that lets them know that, sometime in the next 24 hours, they will die. They don’t know how, and they don’t know exactly when, but they do know there is a rapidly ticking clock counting down the rest of their short lives. When they meet, their friendship-turned-romance is swift, intense and completely heartbreaking. Gen Z has been called a puritanical generation, but that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a good love story. Though romance technically needs a happy ending, this novel challenges readers to ask what makes an ending—of romantic relationships but also of life—happy.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Genre: Literary historical fiction
You could look at The Song of Achilles as part of a line of Gen Z books that started with Percy Jackson. While that series ignited interest in Greek mythology, it’s still a children story. By the time they’re teens and young adults, this gen is ready for more mature adaptations of the classics. The novel, a reimagining of The Iliad, focuses on Patroclus, Achilles and a passionate romance between the pair. Even if you haven’t read the book, if you’re at all tuned into the generation, you’ve probably seen quotes celebrating the characters’ love on stickers, clothing and even tattoos. But if you haven’t read the book? You’re missing out. It’s rich with history, epic in scope and guaranteed to make you feel.
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Genre: Contemporary romance
We’ll forgive you for thinking this is a young adult love story. Like Gen Z, this romance novel often ends up in the wrong age category. (To refresh your memory: The oldest Gen Zers are nearing 30, and the youngest are ready to enter high school.) While Casey McQuiston does have a YA book, and this fun romantic roller coaster does appeal to teens, Red, White and Royal Blue is an adult romance. The novel is a classic enemies-to-lovers story focused on the First Son (of the United States president, that is) and an English prince whose fake friendship turns real … and into something more. When the couple is eventually outed, they must decide how to deal with the fallout and the future, together.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Genre: YA contemporary fiction
Gen Z is a very politically active generation, which makes sense: So many of them were coming of age during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 and, even before that, watched coverage of police violence directed at the Black community. For many young readers, The Hate U Give offered a way to understand and talk about timely issues like racism and police brutality. The book, which later became a successful movie starring Amandla Stenberg, follows teenager Starr as she deals with the aftermath of watching her unarmed friend get shot and killed by police. This is a story about navigating trauma but also about joining activist movements to raise awareness of injustice and work toward change.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Genre: Literary fiction
Gen Zers have grown up around discussions of representation, cultural appropriation and who has the right to tell a story. A novel that was absolutely inescapable in any indie bookstore when it came out, Yellowface grapples with these questions with humor and depth. The story follows a struggling white writer who steals a manuscript written by her late literary rival (an Asian woman) about Chinese workers in the early 1900s—and passes it off as her own. Selected for Reese Witherspoon’s book club and subsequently discussed in book clubs across the country, Yellowface is a definite page-turner.
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Genre: Literary fiction
This is a book written by a millennial about a millennial, so what makes it the perfect Gen Z read? It’s a novel that seems “in between” in a lot of ways: It’s an adult book about the post-grad years of a protagonist who’s still very much trying to come of age. It’s also a slowly unraveling mystery, one that doesn’t begin to come into focus as a mystery until you’re well into the text. Martyr! follows Cyrus as he tries to navigate a life marked by tragedy: the death of his mother when he was very young and the death of his father when he was in college. He uses his art and his poetry to try to make sense of the world and his place in it. The prose is beautiful, but it’s also a quick read, appealing to the ever-shrinking Gen Z attention span.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Genre: Memoir
Though Jennette McCurdy is herself a millennial, she earned droves of Gen Z fans with her Nickelodeon show iCarly. But it’s not just the nostalgic connection that makes I’m Glad My Mom Died a Gen Z read. Though the title is shocking, this memoir reflects a Gen Z ethos of not shying away from tough topics. Not only that, but this is a generation familiar with using humor to talk about trauma. As McCurdy discusses the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, she is unapologetic about her feelings, and she’s not afraid to hold that urn on the cover.
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