The best books with bad boys we love or love to hate

Book cover of The Spark and the Drive Book cover of 13 Reasons Why Book cover of A Separate Peace Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of The Catcher in the Rye

The best coming-of-age, slow burn thrillers

Book cover of To Kill a Mockingbird Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of Where the Crawdads Sing Book cover of Joe Book cover of The Body

The best book to movie adaptations

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The best YA books with unlikely love stories

Book cover of Eleanor & Park Book cover of The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Book cover of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Book cover of The Fault in Our Stars Book cover of The Outsiders

The best books to understand why characters struggle to achieve their goals in coming of age novels

Book cover of The Contender Book cover of The Perks of Being a Wallflower Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of Sold Out Book cover of The Midnights

The best books for buddies in a bind

Book cover of On the Beach Book cover of On the Road Book cover of The Lord of the Rings Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of The Body

The best classic YA books that are coming-of-age gems

Book cover of Dreamland Lake Book cover of Space Station Seventh Grade Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of The Catcher in the Rye Book cover of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The best gritty YA books that explore death, grief, and mourning

Book cover of One Came Home Book cover of Killing Mr. Griffin Book cover of A Ring of Endless Light Book cover of The Pigman Book cover of The Outsiders

The best young adult books that illustrate the ripple effect of one bad decision

Book cover of The Secret History Book cover of We Were Liars Book cover of Long Way Down Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of Three Things I Know Are True

The best books to inspire you to shoot for the moon

Book cover of The Giver Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of Wonder Book cover of The Perks of Being a Wallflower Book cover of The Art of Racing in the Rain

The best poor vs. rich books

Book cover of Little Fires Everywhere Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Book cover of The Grapes of Wrath Book cover of The Hunger Games

The most wildly different books about deeply flawed teenaged protagonists

Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of The Round House Book cover of Harriet the Spy Book cover of It Book cover of Carry On

The best books when you need a “clear eyes, full hearts” kind of feeling

Book cover of The Art of Fielding Book cover of The Rest of the Story Book cover of Beartown Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream

The best historical bildungsroman (coming-of-age) novels

Book cover of The Outsiders Book cover of Orlando: A Biography Book cover of The Color Purple Book cover of The Catcher in the Rye Book cover of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

The best realistic fiction books for kids in tough family situations

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Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Outsiders.

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5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in gangs, fugitives, and coming of age?

Gangs 27 books
Fugitives 25 books
Coming Of Age 1,489 books