16 Fiction Books You Should Read Before Turning 16

Whenever I am asked to choose between 'Books or Movies', I always pick the former. There is something extraordinary about the sheets of paper that hide majestic kingdoms, magical lands and colorful people between its lines, safely tucked away, only for someone to pry them out and marvel at their fantasies.

With all the free time that I have on hand, this year, I caught up on my reading. While reading, I noticed, that there are certain books I keep going back to, certain favorites. Finally I decided to make a list of my favorite books and put it out there for someone who would like to read any of them.

So here is my list of 16 Fiction Books You Should Read Before Turning 16

(in no specific order)

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1. Anne of Green Gables

L. M. Montgomery

As soon as Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables, she is sure she wants to stay forever . . . but will the Cuthberts send her back to to the orphanage? Anne knows she's not what they expected—a skinny girl with fiery red hair and a temper to match. If only she can convince them to let her stay, she'll try very hard not to keep rushing headlong into scrapes and blurting out the first thing that comes to her mind. Anne is not like anyone else, she is special—a girl with an enormous imagination. This orphan girl dreams of the day when she can call herself Anne of Green Gables.

Anne of Green Gables was one of those books that you'd pick in the school library for the sake of it. Personally, the edition that was available in my school, had a pretty cover (I know, I know, don't judge a book by its cover and all). Once I started reading it though, I feel in love with the characters just as much as I had with the cover. Anne is a young orphan with an imagination, and a mouth, that tends to run wild. You might think that someone like that might be very hard to love, however she proves to be quite the opposite.

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2.The Mortal Instruments

Cassandra Clare

Clary Fray is a 15 year-old girl who is brought up by her single mother. But what happens when she starts seeing things- demons, and stuff-her mother goes missing and she finds out overnight that she is a Shadowhunter, some kind of demon fighting warrior?

This is one series that is just hard to put down. The whole time it took me for to finish it, I was always on edge waiting to know what would happen next. With plot twists (that you just cannot anticipate ), thrilling action and slow burn romance, it is sure to keep you on your toes the whole way.

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3. Wonder

R. J. Palacio

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others.

Wonder, in my opinion is a must read for every single person, at any point in his or her life. It is an amazing book that tells you, that it is okay to not be like everyone else and that it is okay to stand out.

Written in simple language with humor (lots of it) Wonder is just- well, wonderful.

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4. The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway

This short novel, already a modern classic, is the superbly told, tragic story of a Cuban fisherman in the Gulf Stream and the giant Marlin he kills and loses.

I was first introduce to this book by my father, who had picked it up at an airport.I know, I know, The Old Man and the Sea seems like something you would read for a book report or a project in school, and I thought so too, at least until I read it. It is the type of book that makes you stop and pay attention to all the details around you, to appreciate life and to be grateful for all that you have.

As a reader, I really enjoy Hemingway's writing. Be it his short stories or novellas, they're quite a delight for anyone willing to give them a shot. This book is no less, being one of his most famous works.

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5. Black Beauty

Anna Sewell

Black Beauty spends his youth in a loving home, surrounded by friends and cared for by his owners. But when circumstances change, he learns that not all humans are so kind. Passed from hand to hand, Black Beauty witnesses love and cruelty, wealth and poverty, friendship and hardship . . . Will the handsome horse ever find a happy and lasting home?

I first got this book as a birthday gift, and didnt read it for a long time. When i did however, Boy! Was I blown away. And not just that every time I've read this book (I've read it a lot of times) I always wonder how different animals- especially domesticated ones- must perceive us humans. Do we look like idiots to them, chattering away with a slab pressed to our ears, or do they maybe laugh at us for walking on two legs? Either way, this book is quite an insight into the life of a horse, as narrated by him.

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6. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow-impossible though it seems-they may still be alive.

This is one of those books that is always misunderstood. It is far from a horror story. It is a thrilling, fantasy adventure from the 21st century all the way back to 1940. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who loves reading fantasy books or even period dramas.

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7. Hunger Games

Suzzane Collins

In the ruins of North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weight survival against humanity and life against love.

It is an amazing book showing the strength and courage of one girl, who is determined to live, not just survive but live to make a difference. Katniss Everdeen has always been a hero to me- with her unique hairstyle and badass attitude.

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8. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

C. S. Lewis

Narnia...the land beyond the wardrobe door, a secret place frozen in eternal winter, a magical country waiting to be set free.

Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. Soon Edmund, then Peter and Susan step through the wardrobe themselves. In Narnia they find a country buried under the evil enchantment of the White Witch. When they meet the Lion Aslan, they realize they've been called to a great adventure and bravely join the battle to free Narnia from the Witch's sinister spell.

Although written close to a century ago, this book has not lost its fan base and is still loved by everyone. The magical world of Narnia never ceases to amaze me and I've read it just as much for the plot as I read it for the love of Narnia.

It is the first book in the seven part series called 'The Chronicles of Narnia'.

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9. Little Women

Louisa May Alcott

Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.

If anyone were to ask me to name my favorite book, I would say Little Women with having to think twice. The book focuses on the day-to-day life of four girls. This might seem quite mundane but the extraordinary writing makes it seem like a magical world in itself. The four sisters each have their own strong characters from Jo who is quite the tomboy to Amy who (self proclaimed) has a nose that is the bane of her existence!

It is a light-hearted read filled with friendship, mirth and most importantly, love.

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10. Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods, where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief is the first book in the five part series 'Percy Jackson and The Olympians'. As a young reader I was a huge fan of this series and I still am. The language used is similar to the way a teenager would speak, slang, pop-culture references and all. The result is an absolute delight, full of comedy, action and friendships.

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11. The Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett

The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having lost both her parents in a cholera epidemic. However, her memories of her parents are not pleasant, as they were a selfish, neglectful and pleasure-seeking couple. Mary is given to the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, whom she has never met. When she arrives, she is a rude, stubborn and given to stormy temper tantrums. However, her nature undergoes a gradual transformation when she learns of the tragedies that have befallen her strict and disciplinarian uncle whom she earlier feared and despised.

As a younger version of myself, I was (and still am) drawn to coming-of-age stories. The idea of a character, not much older than you, discovering a secret, is massive.There is a kind of magic involved in coming-of-age stories, and there is always a satisfaction knowing that you left the protagonist at a better place than where you met them.

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12. A Little Princess

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Sara Crewe, an exceptionally intelligent and imaginative student at Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies, is devastated when her adored, indulgent father dies. Now penniless and banished to a room in the attic, Sara is demeaned, abused, and forced to work as a servant.

Another popular classic by F. H. Burntette, it stars Sara Crewe a 7 year-old girl, with a strong personality and a deep understanding of the ways of the world, qualities that are rare for a child her age. As a tween, reading this book, Sara was a role model in every sense. She took everything thrown her way with grace and dignity and never once complained.

Even today, when I look back, she is one of the women that I greatly admire.

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13. The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

I don't have a lot to say about this book, except that you SHOULD read it. No matter your age or if you are not a fan of reading. Give this book a chance and it will change your life forever, seriously.

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14.Let It Snow

John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love confessions with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks.

Let It Snow is not one of those cliche stories, in fact its far from that. It is three interwoven plots, each filled with humor, friendship, adventure and romance (duh!). It is an unexpected roller-coaster that begins with a storm and ends with coffee. It is about as unpredictable as it sounds and yet, you cannot help but love it.

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15. The Harry Potter Series

J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter has been an outcast his entire life. His parents are dead and his aunt and uncle behave as though he doesn't exist. Until, one day soon after his 11th birthday, Harry receives a letter, inviting him to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All of a sudden he is a celebrity. Everybody knows his name and he is the 'Boy-Who-Lived'.

This series, I am sure will prove to be self explanatory. Since the release of the first book in the year 1997, it is quite the popular one among children and adults alike. Movies have also been released with the same names, as the books, starring Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

It is hands down one of my all time favorites and it is undeniably unputdownable. Even today, I love going back into the world of Hogwarts.

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16. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Since his first appearance in 1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes has been one of the most beloved fictional characters ever created. From his antisocial nature to his inhumane deduction skills and ability to observe the most minute details, readers have loved all of him. A Study in Scarlet, The Hound of The Bakservilles and A scandal in Bohemia are some of the most popular stories of this well known character. The thrill and excitement of reading these mysteries is like no other, and neither can it be compared.

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“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.”

– Jim Rohn

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