21 Crucial Books For 11th Graders To Navigate Change | Book Riot (2024)

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

The third book in the To All the Boys series is perfect for juniors because it focuses on Lara Jean’s college decision. Lara Jean has to decide if she and Peter will stay together after high school, even if it means they’re apart.

Educated by Tara Westover

Juniors will learn a lot from Westover’s harrowing memoir and her pursuit of education despite her abusive family life. 11th graders are developing their own opinions about current issues, which mirror’s Westover’s own experience leaving her family home to attend college.

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In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero

At age 14, actress Diane Guerrero arrived home from school to an empty house. Her parents had been detained by immigration authorities. Diane, a U.S.-born citizen, stayed in the United States after her parents were deported to Colombia. 11th graders will learn a lot from her adversity and strength.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

This is a sweeping love story about two teens who meet by chance. Natasha is trying to keep her family from being deported to Jamaica. Daniel is a hopeless romantic afraid to tell his Korean parents about his true dreams. As they spend a day together, Yoon makes readers wonder if everything happens for a reason.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

This is an important read for 11th graders. In a small, hockey-obsessed town, one of the players is accused of sexual assault. The reactions of his peers and the adults in the town play out over the course of the novel. Readers will examine rape culture and how it affects us all.

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Defying your parents’ expectations can be difficult. In American Panda, 17-year-old Mei starts college a year early, just like her parents always wanted. But her true dream is to dance, not become a doctor as her parents expect. 11th graders will connect with Mei as they start to make their own choices about the future.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

This is a devastating story that highlights the injustice in the American criminal justice system. It’s a great read for 11th graders because it’s set at a reform school for teen boys. It will start conversations about racism and criminal justice reform.

Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman

We’ve seen tons of teens lead the fight against global climate change. For those who aren’t as well-informed about climate change, Dry is a perfect read. It imagines a near-future where Southern California has run out of water. Panic ensues and a small group of kids ends up together, all trying to survive. The novel is fast-paced, exciting, and terrifying. It’s a commentary about climate change as well as human behavior.

I, Claudia by Mary McCoy

Don’t sleep on this book: it was a Printz Honor Book and, despite the unfortunate cover art, is a compelling high school political drama. This book is for anyone who loves political and interpersonal drama. It’s narrated by Claudia, a novice historian. She recounts her rise to power in her high school’s prestigious student government. Despite seeing the abuses of her predecessors, Claudia can’t help but fall victim to the corruption of power.

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

This is a surprising young adult contemporary novel about Parker Grant, a junior who is blind and dealing with her father’s recent death. It’s a fascinating portrayal of life as a blind high schooler. It’s also a great example of the importance of developing, setting, and enforcing boundaries with others, an important lesson for 11th graders.

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

In this book, a group of misfits bands together to avenge the rape of a classmate. It’s an examination of a number of feminist ideas: rape culture, slu*t-shaming, sexuality, and gender roles. Readers will feel vindicated and inspired by the three main characters.

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

As America continues to deal with an opioid crisis, Mindy McGinnis’s novel about a high school student who becomes addicted to opiates is as relevant as ever. Mickey is a star softball player entering her senior year when she’s injured in a car accident. What begins as pain management quickly spirals out of control as Mickey becomes dependent on opiates. It’s a harrowing account of how a seemingly average girl with a supportive family can fall victim to drug addiction.

Jackpot by Nic Stone

The premise of this novel will keep juniors turning the pages. Rico is working at the local gas station on Christmas Eve when she sells two lottery tickets to a little old lady. Soon, Rico comes to believe the woman is holding a ticket worth $106 million. She enlists the help of a wealthy classmate, Zan, to hunt down the woman and help her cash in the ticket. Beyond the exciting main plot line, Nic Stone creates an amazing romantic story between Zan and Rico. The book also looks at class differences in the United States.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Juniors are on the cusp of adulthood, and with that comes the right to vote. It’s important for 11th graders to be knowledgable about current events. “Stamped” lays out the history of racist ideas in America, how it affects teens today, and how we can reach an antiracist future.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

This novel is perfect for teens struggling with mental illness. It’s a perfect portrayal of how anxiety and depression affect teens in their everyday lives. It’s also a great example of queer representation, including bisexuality and demisexuality.

Birthday by Meredith Russo

Morgan and Eric are forever connected. Both were born on the same day and in Birthday we meet the characters each year on their birthday. As the years go by, they grow and change: Morgan is deciding to live as her true self and Eric is trying to figure out how he fits into the world. This is an important exploration of sexual and gender identity.

Slay by Brittney Morris

17-year-old Kiera, a successful student, has a secret: she’s the developer of an extremely popular online role-playing game. The game celebrates Black culture. But after a teen is murdered over an in-game dispute, Kiera must work to defend her online world while maintaining her anonymity.

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi

Sisters Onyii and Ify are living in 2172, when much of the world is unlivable due to climate change and nuclear war. In their home country of Nigeria, a war rages on. The girls want to escape the unrest for a peaceful future, but they may have to fight in order to escape.

How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

In this memoir, Sandra recounts her childhood growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After surviving a horrific massacre in a refugee camp, Sandra immigrates to the United States. But just coming to the U.S. doesn’t magically make life easy. Sandra tells of her struggles as a refugee starting middle school in America.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

A 15-year-old boy contemplates vengeance on one long elevator ride from his apartment down to the street. He’s got a gun in his waistband and he’s ready to use it to bring justice for his brother’s murder. But each time the elevator stops, he learns new information about his brother’s death, making him question what really happened.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This fantasy novel is based on ancient Rome. It follows Laia, an enslaved girl, as she embarks on a mission to save her brother after he is arrested for treason. She soon meets Elias, an unwilling soldier, and they find their lives are intertwined.