The Best Books of 2024 – Young Adult (A Year-End List Aggregation)

YA – 2024

“What are the best Young Adult books released in 2024?” We looked at 182 of the top Young Adult books, aggregating and ranking them so

#54
The Twelve

The Twelve

How do you save someone lost in time? At the stroke of midnight on winter solstice, Libby disappears - vanishing from the face of the Earth. Only her older sister, Kit, and a mysterious boy named Story remember that she ever existed. To find Libby and bring her safely home, the pair must embark on a perilous journey into the distant past, across a land steeped in ancient folklore. Together, Kit and Story will face dangers beyond their wildest imagination as they race to uncover the secret of the Twelve before Time itself runs out... The Twelve was the 2024 winner of the Nero Prize for Children's Fiction, winner of the 2025 Tir Na N-Og award in the English-language category, and was a Financial Times and Guardian Book of the Year. PRAISE FOR THE TWELVE: 'Reminiscent of Alan Garner' Financial Times, Best Book of 2024 'Haunting and resonant, with echoes of Susan Cooper and Alan Garner' Guardian, Best YA Books of 2024 'A beguiling tale of ancient magic, good and evil, deeply rooted in the Welsh landscape' Observer

#62
A Sea of Wolves

A Sea of Wolves

Set in the same world as A Curse of Salt, a heartbreaking sapphic romantasy inspired by Little Red Riding Hood. A broken treaty A wolf in sheep's clothing And a love that will need to defy all odds to survive HER RED HOOD CAN'T PROTECT HER HEART . . . A fifty-year-old treaty between pirates and the city of Bray lies in tatters, so Mersey sets out to free her city - and herself - from the clutches of the Heartless King. But when her reckless plan fails, she finds herself captured by the world's most notorious pirate crew. As Mersey battles between fighting for Bray's safety and falling into the arms of the ship's cold-blooded first mate, Golde, she's soon caught up in the beginnings of a war; one she knows will have disastrous consequences for the people she loves, but just might be the thing to set her free. Amid lies, betrayal and a blossoming love for someone she is supposed to want dead, Mersey is torn between two lives. Uncover lurking wolves prepared to pounce and a sweeping romantasy in this enemies-to-lovers fairytale twist set upon stormy seas. Perfect for fans of Lies We Sing to the Sea and Marissa Meyer.

#63
A Way Home

A Way Home

Sixteen-year-old Grace lives under a bridge in Melbourne's CBD. It's cold and wet, but hidden. Safe, at least, until she can go home.When winter drives her to the City Library one morning, Grace meets Louie, a weird kid with his own problems, and discovers a community piano. The piano reminds Grace of her mum, a celebrated pianist whose mental illness makes life a rollercoaster - and not always a fun one.When Grace comes up with a plan to find the help she and Mum need, life begins to look up. But things don't work out as Grace imagines and suddenly her world's turned upside down again, and maybe for good this time.

#68
Black History for Every Day of the Year

Black History for Every Day of the Year

A unique celebration of well-known figures and unsung heroes, famous cultural moments and hidden histories, from ancient times to today “Inspiring, accessible and meticulously researched . . . invaluable, fascinating, often heartbreaking resource for anyone, teen or adult, with an interest in history.”—The Guardian Did you know that Aretha Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Or that the first accounts of a Black samurai in Japan date back almost 500 years ago? Written by historian and broadcaster David Olusoga and his siblings, professor Yinka Olusoga and artist Kemi Olusoga, Black History for Every Day of the Year is an illuminating overview of consequential people, places, and events in Black history. Accompanied by photos, quotes, and illustrations, these 366 entries will take you on a journey across global history, from the ancient Kingdom of Kush to the Black Lives Matter movement. You’ll learn about unsung heroes from history, as well as contemporary figures and events. Activists: Toussaint L’Ouverture, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X Athletes: Jackie Robinson, Venus and Serena Williams, Simone Biles Authors and Poets: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Amanda Gorman Musicians: Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé Public Figures: Kofi Annan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Kamala Harris Scientists: Alice Ball, Katherine Johnson, Neil deGrasse Tyson Movies and Art: the Benin Bronzes, Hamilton, Black Panther Events: the Tulsa Race Massacre, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Selma to Montgomery Marches With accounts of triumph and celebration, ingenuity and creativity, alongside tales of racism and oppression, hope and resistance, Black History for Every Day of the Year gives you something new to learn every day—a rich history that is relevant to us all.

#105
Last Seen Online

Last Seen Online

When Delilah meets Sawyer Saffitz (son of Anya Saffitz, aka Hollywood royalty), she becomes hooked on a decade-old scandal. In her quest for the truth, Delilah uncovers blogposts written by the mysterious “gottiewrites” and is soon caught up in a world of greed, fandom conspiracy theories... and murder. And the deeper Delilah digs, the more dangerous it becomes – because someone is willing to kill to hide the truth.

#110
Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel

Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel

From A to Z, the Penguin Drop Caps series collects 26 unique hardcovers—featuring cover art by Jessica Hische It all begins with a letter. Fall in love with Penguin Drop Caps, a new series of twenty-six collectible and hardcover editions, each with a type cover showcasing a gorgeously illustrated letter of the alphabet. In a design collaboration between Jessica Hische and Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley, the series features unique cover art by Hische, a superstar in the world of type design and illustration, whose work has appeared everywhere from Tiffany & Co. to Wes Anderson's recent film Moonrise Kingdom to Penguin's own bestsellers Committed and Rules of Civility. With exclusive designs that have never before appeared on Hische's hugely popular Daily Drop Cap blog, the Penguin Drop Caps series launches with six perennial favorites to give as elegant gifts, or to showcase on your own shelves. G is for Golding. At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate; this far from civilization the boys can do anything they want. Anything. They attempt to forge their own society, failing, however, in the face of terror, sin and evil. And as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far from reality as the hope of being rescued. Labeled a parable, an allegory, a myth, a morality tale, a parody, a political treatise, even a vision of the apocalypse, Lord of the Flies is perhaps our most memorable tale about “the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart.”

#158
The Skin I’m In

The Skin I’m In

It was the beginning of everything. And the end of so much.' Layla is in her final year of school. It's the last year to make sure that the next major phase of her life begins correctly because she's got big plans. She just wants to be a normal teenager and to fit in but when her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay, he challenges everything she thought she was. Steph Tisdell is a writer, actor and an award-winning comedian. She's a proud Yidinji woman, and her words sparkle with humour, depth and authenticity in this extraordinary debut novel that explores cultural and personal expectations, and responsibilities. SHORTLISTED FOR THE CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR: OLDER READERS 2025 LONGLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS FOR YOUNG ADULTS 2025 HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR THE VICTORIAN PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARDS FOR YOUNG ADULTS 2025 LONGLISTED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK DESIGN AWARDS 2025 BEST DESIGNED YOUNG ADULT COVER

#161
The Thread That Connects Us

The Thread That Connects Us

A story of shared blood and bad blood, endings and beginnings Safiya has struggled to pick up the pieces of her family since her dad left them and moved to Somalia. She refuses to trust in love, despite wishing she could fall for boy-next-door Yusuf... And then her dad moves back to town with his new family, shattering her life all over again. Halima doesn't want to move to England. She resents her stepdad for dropping her in a strange new life with a new language to learn - replacing her friends with bullies who set out to shame her. When the girls are thrown together at school, it's hate at first sight. But as they uncover life-changing secrets from their parents' past, they begin to realize...What if the key to all their problems lies in their sisterhood?