Whether you’re an adult-aged reader who loves YA, or a teen-aged reader ready to tackle stories pitched for adults. Here are some of our favourite ‘crossover’ releases from the last year.

Recommended YA books for discerning adults

These reads – romance, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, high school politics, real world politics, and more – hooked us from page one. Read them to get swept up in the story, and maybe also read them to remember what it felt like to be a teenager.

• Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
• The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín
• My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
• Goldenhand by Garth Nix
• I Crawl Through it by A.S. King
• The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
• Beck by Mal Peet
• Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar
• Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
• The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon
• Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
• Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

Recommended adult books for discerning teens

These fiction and non-fiction books tackle ideas and themes that will likely appeal to older teens (and young 20-somethings too). Some are fascinating and some are heartbreaking, some are empowering and some are gripping – and all of them come highly recommended from us.

• Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
• Skylarking by Kate Mildenhall
• Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford
• Our Magic Hour by Jennifer Down
• Speaking Out by Tara Moss
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
• Nujeen by Nujeen Mustafa with Christina Lamb
• The Love of a Bad Man by Laura Elizabeth Woollett
• Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta
• Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers
• The Science of Game of Thrones by Helen Keen