The Most Popular Book among Young Adults: Revealing the Top Choice

Choose the book you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Jun 16, 2023 10:18 (Updated on Dec 2, 2023 17:30)
Welcome to StrawPoll's ultimate showdown of the most popular books among young adults! We've compiled a thrilling list of literary masterpieces that have captured the hearts and minds of our generation. But we need your help to determine the reigning champion! Dive into this epic ranking, vote for your all-time favorite, and watch as the battle for literary supremacy unfolds. Don't see your top pick? Worry not, for you have the power to suggest a missing contender and rally support for its rise to glory. Together, let's celebrate the stories that have shaped our lives and crown the ultimate young adult novel. The fate of the literary world lies in your hands. Cast your vote now and make your voice heard!

What Is the Most Popular Book among Young Adults?

  1. 1
    79
    votes
    Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
    Nzgabriel · CC BY 2.5
    The series follows the life of a young orphan boy, Harry Potter, who discovers that he is a wizard and attends a magical school. The series is full of adventure, magic, and friendship, making it a beloved favorite among young adults.
    Description
    The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is a widely popular fantasy book series that revolves around the life of a young wizard named Harry Potter. The story follows Harry's journey as he discovers his magical abilities, attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and battles against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. Throughout the series, Harry and his friends face numerous challenges, solve mysteries, and learn important lessons about friendship, love, and bravery.
    • Genre: Fantasy
    • Publication Year: 1997-2007
    • Number of Books: 7
    • Main Protagonist: Harry Potter
    • Setting: Wizarding World
    Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling in other rankings
  2. 2
    39
    votes
    The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
    Diseñadores publicitarios · Public domain
    The series takes place in a dystopian future where teenagers are forced to participate in a televised fight to the death. The series explores themes of sacrifice, survival, and rebellion, making it a popular read among young adults.
    Description
    The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins is a dystopian young adult book trilogy set in a post-apocalyptic nation named Panem. The story revolves around a young girl, Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers for a deadly reality TV show called the Hunger Games to save her sister. Created by Suzanne Collins, the series gained immense popularity for its thrilling and thought-provoking narrative.
    • Genre: Dystopian Fiction
    • Publication Year: 2008-2010
    • Number of Books: 3
    • Main Protagonist: Katniss Everdeen
    • Setting: Post-apocalyptic nation of Panem
    The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins in other rankings
  3. 3
    18
    votes
    The novel follows the love story of two teenagers with cancer. It explores themes of mortality, love, and friendship, making it a heart-wrenching but popular read among young adults.
    Description
    The Fault in Our Stars is a popular young adult novel written by John Green. It tells the story of two teenagers, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, who meet at a cancer support group. The book explores their journey together as they navigate love, life, and the realities of living with a terminal illness. The story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, filled with memorable characters and thought-provoking themes.
    • Genre: Young adult fiction
    • Publication Date: January 10, 2012
    • Pages: 313
    • Publisher: Dutton Books
    • Setting: Indianapolis, Indiana
    The Fault in Our Stars by John Green in other rankings
  4. 4
    21
    votes
    The series follows the life of a teenage girl, Lara Jean, whose secret love letters are accidentally sent out to her crushes. The series explores themes of love, family, and identity, making it a relatable read for young adults.
    Description
    The To All the Boys I've Loved Before series is a popular young adult book series written by Jenny Han. It revolves around the life of Lara Jean, a teenage girl whose secret love letters to all the boys she's ever had a crush on are mistakenly sent out. The series follows Lara Jean as she navigates the aftermath of her letters being exposed and explores themes of love, friendship, and personal growth.
    • Genre: Young Adult Fiction
    • Number of Books: 3
    • Publication Year: 2014-2017
    • Setting: Contemporary
    • Main Protagonist: Lara Jean Covey
  5. 5
    15
    votes
    The series follows the love story of a human girl, Bella, and a vampire, Edward. It explores themes of love, mortality, and identity, making it a popular read among young adults.
    Description
    The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer is a highly popular book series among young adults. It revolves around the love story between a teenage girl named Bella Swan and a vampire named Edward Cullen. The series combines romance, fantasy, and the supernatural.
    • Genre: Romance, Fantasy
    • Number of Books: 4
    • First Book: Twilight
    • Publication Year: 2005
    • Main Characters: Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black
  6. 6
    12
    votes
    The series takes place in a dystopian society where individuals are divided into factions based on their personality traits. The series explores themes of identity, loyalty, and rebellion, making it a popular read among young adults.
    Description
    The Divergent series by Veronica Roth is a popular young adult dystopian fiction series. Set in a post-apocalyptic society divided into five factions based on human virtues, the story follows Beatrice Prior, a young girl who discovers she is Divergent, with the ability to belong to multiple factions. As she navigates a dangerous world of political unrest and conspiracy, Beatrice, renamed Tris, must uncover the truth about her society and save those she loves.
    • Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian Fiction
    • First Book: Divergent (2011)
    • Series Length: Trilogy
    • Main Protagonist: Beatrice Prior/Tris
    • Setting: Post-apocalyptic Chicago
  7. 7
    7
    votes
    The series follows the adventures of a demigod, Percy Jackson, as he navigates the world of Greek mythology. The series is full of action, adventure, and humor, making it a fun and popular read among young adults.
    Description
    The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is a popular fantasy book series targeted towards young adults. It follows the adventures of Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old boy who discovers that he is a demigod, the son of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. Created by Rick Riordan, the series combines modern-day settings with Greek mythology, offering a unique twist on the classic tales.
    • Genre: Fantasy
    • Target Audience: Young Adults
    • Number of Books: 5
    • Main Protagonist: Percy Jackson
    • Mythology: Greek
  8. 8
    4
    votes
    The series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a group of teenagers must navigate a deadly maze to find a way out. The series explores themes of survival, loyalty, and trust, making it a popular read among young adults.
    Description
    The Maze Runner series by James Dashner is a popular young adult dystopian science fiction series that follows the story of a group of teenage boys trapped in a mysterious maze called the Glade. They have no memory of their past and their only hope of escape lies in solving the intricate puzzles of the maze. As they navigate through dangerous creatures and deadly traps, the protagonists uncover dark secrets about their existence and the world they live in.
    • Genre: Young adult dystopian science fiction
    • Number of books: 5
    • First book published: 2009
    • Main protagonist: Thomas
    • Setting: A maze called the Glade
  9. 9
    10
    votes
    The novel takes place in a dystopian society where a young boy, Jonas, is chosen to be the next Receiver of Memory. The novel explores themes of conformity, individuality, and memory, making it a thought-provoking and popular read among young adults.
    Description
    The Giver is a dystopian novel set in a future society where all emotions, choices, and memories are controlled by strict rules. Written by Lois Lowry, it follows the story of Jonas, a young boy who is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, a role that gives him access to the hidden truths of the past. As Jonas uncovers the dark realities of his seemingly perfect community, he becomes determined to challenge the status quo and bring change.
    • Genre: Dystopian fiction
    • Publication Date: 1993
    • Main Protagonist: Jonas
    • Themes: Conformity, individuality, freedom, memory
    • Setting: Future society
    The Giver by Lois Lowry in other rankings
  10. 10
    6
    votes
    The novel follows the life of a teenage boy, Charlie, as he navigates high school and deals with personal struggles. The novel explores themes of friendship, love, and mental health, making it a relatable and popular read among young adults.
    Description
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age novel written by Stephen Chbosky. It follows the story of Charlie, an introverted high school freshman who navigates the challenges of adolescence while dealing with personal struggles. The book was first published in 1999 and has gained a significant following among young adults.
    • Publication Year: 1999
    • Genre: Coming-of-age, Young Adult, Drama
    • Main Protagonist: Charlie
    • Themes: Teenage life, mental health, friendship, self-discovery
    • Setting: High school, Pittsburgh

Missing your favorite book?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for popular book among young adults

  1. Awards and honors
    Books that have received prestigious awards (like the Printz Award or the National Book Award for Young People's Literature) or that have been selected for notable lists (such as the ALA's Best Books for Young Adults) can be considered popular among readers and critics alike.
  2. Book reviews and ratings
    Check professional reviews from respected publications (such as Kirkus Reviews or School Library Journal) as well as reader reviews and ratings on sites like Goodreads and Amazon. Look for books with consistently high ratings and positive feedback.
  3. Word of mouth and social media buzz
    Books that are being talked about, shared, and recommended by readers on social platforms—such as Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok—can indicate a high level of popularity and interest.
  4. Cultural impact
    Books that have inspired adaptations (like movies, TV shows, or stage productions) or that have become part of the literary zeitgeist can be considered popular on a broader cultural level.
  5. Inclusion in school curricula and reading programs
    Books that are frequently assigned in schools or featured in reading programs—such as the International Reading Association's Young Adults' Choices or the American Library Association's Teens' Top Ten—can be considered popular among educators and librarians, who often play an important role in guiding young people's reading choices.
  6. Longevity and staying power
    A classic book that has remained in print and consistently enjoyed by readers for many years can be considered popular even if it doesn't have the same immediate buzz as a more recent bestseller.
  7. Author reputation and fanbase
    If a book is written by a well-known and beloved author or is part of a popular series, it is more likely to be popular among young adults.
  8. Genre trends and themes
    Books that fall within popular genres or that touch on themes and issues relevant to young readers (such as dystopia, fantasy, romance, mental health, or diversity and representation) can be more popular among young adults.
  9. Accessibility and availability
    Books that are widely available in libraries, bookstores, and digital formats can be more popular simply because they are easier for young readers to find and access.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular book among young adults. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or book is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1244 views
  • 211 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each book once every 24 hours. The rank of each book is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular book among young adults

Young adults are a major demographic when it comes to book sales and reading habits. With so many options available in terms of genre and style, it can be difficult to determine which book is the most popular among this age group. However, through various surveys and polls, we have found that some books tend to resonate more with young adults than others. From dystopian novels to coming-of-age stories, the most popular books among young adults often explore themes of identity, love, and societal issues. So, what book takes the top spot as the most popular among this group? Keep reading to find out.

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