by Skyanne Fisher

Created on: September 01, 2009   Last Updated: September 04, 2009

Walk into any bookstore and you'll find a myriad of books in just the teen section. There's been an explosion in the YA genre in the past few years and now, with so many options, it's hard to know what books are worth reading. As an avid reader myself I've compiled a list of what I think are the best books and authors for teen girls.

In the real-life, coming-of-age category, the obvious recommendation is Sarah Dessen. Her books cover multiple plots but the one thing they have in common is that they're realistic and every teen will be able to relate to them in one way or another. I highly recommend The Truth About Forever as a starting point.

Another author that I highly recommend with be Elizabeth Scott. Like Dessen, her books cover a large number of topics, ranging from fluffy romances to high-level abuse. On the brighter side Something, Maybe is highly recommended but if you're looking for something more serious, try Love You Hate You Miss You or if you're ready to cry, Living Dead Girl.

Also in this category would be E. Lockhart. Her Roo series, starting with The Boyfriend List, is absolutely hilarious and everyone else will find a part of themselves in the main character. She's also written a few other books, including How to Be Bad with Sarah Mlynowski and Lauren Myracle, which are all worth reading.

If you're looking for a beach read that may also make you cry, Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler is fabulous. It has depth, romance, realistic characters, and everything else you could ask for in a book. Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian is also highly recommend and may also make you cry.

On the darker side of realistic fiction, authors like Ellen Hopkins and Stephanie Keuhnert are well worth reading. Hopkins tackles subjects like drug use, suicide, and abusive families in a way that no other author can. Her books are gripping and the endings will almost surely make you cry. Keuhnert uses a more gripping style to introduce you to the punk-rock world like you've never seen before in her debut novel I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. Her latest release, Ballads of Suburbia, is guaranteed to open your eyes, break your heart, and make you think. A box of tissues and a few hours to read it straight through is recommend when reading either of these authors' novels.

Paranormal and fantasy books are also popular at the moment which means tons of them are getting published every month. The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan puts a unique twist on demons and magic. As You Wish by Jackson Pearce is a fun and romantic book that brings a new meaning to genies and three wishes. Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink is full of magic, sisterly hate, and a genuine Gothic setting. Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis is a fun, more relaxed werewolf tale while Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater is full of restricted love and heartbreak. Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe is a new and spunky book that provides with hilarious ghost characters and much more.

No matter what genre you read, there's a great number of books for you out there. If the above recommendations aren't enough, check out sites like TeensReadToo.com, harmonybookreviews.wordpress.com, thestorysiren.com, and many other review sites for teens.

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