5 Relatable Books Every Teen Needs to Read
Diversity is so important to be represented in books, no matter the audience. In this case, every teen should be seen and heard while they read. Not only are these five 5 books relatable & inclusive, they’re also the new intern—Bella’s top favorites!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Fifteen-year-old Charlie writes anonymous letters about his family drama, social life, and mental health during high school.
Why I love this book: I read this book when I was going through similar mental health issues adapting to transition from my middle school self into my high school self. Seeing my issues in a book that I most likely would have never picked up, resonated with me.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
A poetry book that displays the bitter and painful moments in Kaur’s life. Throughout the book, there are four parts: The Hurting, The Loving, The Breaking, and The Healing – which all dive deep into the dark aspects of femininity, abuse, and healing of her life.
Why I love this book: although the poems are simple, they are so beautiful and say so much.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Dominican 15-year-old named Xiomara lives in a strict religious household where she faces a generational gap between her and her mother. Throughout the book, Xiomara expresses her life experiences and her thoughts all in a leather notebook by writing poetry.
Why I love this book: The book allowed me to develop a strong connection with the protagonist. I felt so connected with this book because I saw myself through Xiomara’s life.
Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D.Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
A novel that takes place in NYC, a heatwave so powerful it caused a power outage throughout the entire city. This book contains short stories of different perspectives of young Black teens who face love, LGBTQ, unraveling secrets, and much more.
Why I love this book: it was very different from many books I have previously read in the past, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions and plot twists.
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C Ford
A memoir where Ashley writes about her entire life from what she can remember, to her adult life focusing on how the abuse of her mother impacted her throughout her entire life. She explains how serious generational trauma is and how it has to be spoken about more.
Why I love this book: currently I also do not have the best relationship with my mother, Ford’s memoir shed light on what I and many other POC daughters experience and I admire her for that.
Bella C Munoz (she/they) is a junior in high school. She loves to read, draw & write poetry in her spare time. They’re into astrology and spirituality, while also having a passion for fashion and cosmetics. After high school, she wants to get her master’s degree and major in Criminology or Forensic Psychology.