The best decodable books for kids with dyslexia follow a clear phonics sequence so children can sound out every word. Top series include Bob Books, Dog on a Log, Simple Words Books, Phonic Books (Dandelion Launchers, Magic Belt, Moon Dogs), Primary Phonics and Jolly Phonics Readers.
High-interest low-level (hi-lo) books pair age-appropriate, exciting topics with an easier reading level. Top picks include Hank Zipzer, Bluford High, Holes, The Outsiders, Rebound, Ghost Boys, Zita the Spacegirl and the Who Was? series.
The best books for reluctant readers in middle school are short, funny or highly visual: Ghosts, Max and the Midknights, The Terrible Two, I Survived, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, Twins, The Okay Witch and the Wings of Fire graphic novels.
The best books for 18 year old girls include Circe, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Lessons in Chemistry, Normal People, The Defining Decade, Big Magic and Broke Millennial: unforgettable novels plus practical books for life after high school.
The best books for 18 year old boys include Meditations, Man’s Search for Meaning, Extreme Ownership, Deep Work, I Will Teach You to Be Rich, East of Eden, The Great Gatsby and The Martian: books on purpose, discipline and money, plus great novels.
The best books for 17 year old girls include The Bell Jar, Pachinko, Americanah, The Secret History, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Crying in H Mart and Piranesi: thought-provoking novels and memoirs for readers on the edge of adulthood.
The best books for 17 year old boys include The Count of Monte Cristo, The Name of the Wind, World War Z, Slaughterhouse-Five, Born a Crime, Atomic Habits, The Psychology of Money and Shoe Dog: gripping fiction plus books that prepare them for adult life.
The best books for 16 year old girls include The Song of Achilles, The Raven Boys, Educated, Station Eleven, Little Fires Everywhere, The Midnight Library and Rebecca: beautifully written crossover novels, memoirs and classics for older teens.
The best books for 16 year old boys include Project Hail Mary, Red Rising, Mistborn, Ready Player One, Dune, Into the Wild, Dear Martin and 1984: high-stakes sci-fi, fantasy, true adventure and classics that respect teen readers.
The best books for 15 year old girls include An Ember in the Ashes, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Legendborn, Truly Devious, I’ll Give You the Sun, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Jane Eyre: richer YA fantasy, mysteries and coming-of-age classics.