Teachers and librarians have put together this list of books for students in the 9th grade, which is the last year of middle school and the first year of high school for 14-15-year-olds. It's possible to find a book that's easy to read, as well as one that's a little more difficult. Liz Kessler, William Golding, Rick Yancey, and Marjorie Rawlings are some of the authors.

Books for Grade 9 – our recommendations

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

An award-winning and highly praised book. In hard-hitting and well-written verse, it tells a story about revenge that should be taken with a grain of salt. In the elevator of his building, 15-year-old Will has his gun at the ready and ready to kill. As he goes down, he has to think about what could happen if he does this. This book is a very harsh look at the pressures young men feel from their peers to do well.

Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

An African prince named Amos was sold into slavery at the age of 15. The story is based on true events. He was taken to Massachusetts, where he was sold and became a slave for 45 years. He was brave and didn't give up on his dreams of freedom. Finally, they came true.

Nothing by Janne Teller

A modern masterpiece that has won awards all over the world. In high school, Pierre Anton decides that life doesn't matter and climbs into a tree to get away from it all. As hard as his friends try, he will not move. A difficult book that asks questions that teens will be able to understand. In some ways, it's controversial, thought-provoking, and even disturbing.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A group of boys are left alone on a deserted island and have to find their own food. It's not clear what could go wrong. One of the best books to study in 9th grade literature class

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

In this absurdist look at power and bureaucracy, a wartime airman who doesn't want to fly gets closer and closer to getting enough flights to go home but is always stopped. This book is great for learning about time shifts and narrative plotting.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Is it possible for one person to bring normal life back to society in a dystopian world? A difficult book for 9th graders to read.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Pulitzer Prize winner: A white lawyer is representing a black man who was accused of the most terrible crimes in the South. A book by American librarians has been named the best book of the 20th century by other librarians in the United States.

The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger

A 16-year-old named Holden Caulfield is fed up with school, so he flees New York City for three days. There, the reader gets to know more about his life, and Holden gets to know more about how "phony" people and the world are. A story about a young person coming of age.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Miles Halter, a teenager, leaves boarding school in search of "The Great Perhaps" in John Green's first book. One of the best stories about coming of age that I've read. It's also a good book to compare to The Catcher in the Rye.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The first book in a series of science fiction stories about how humans can live after an alien invasion that is very bad for them. People who don't like to read will like this series of books because they are gripping and fast-paced.

Monster by Walter Dean Meyers

The story of Steve Harmon, who was supposed to be the lookout in a drug store robbery that went wrong, is told in a very clever and unique way. Steve wrote the screenplay as a way to deal with the system and situation he was in.

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

It turns out Mare Barrow has a power, a power that changes her life for the better. In a dystopian world where people are divided by blood, Mare's power will change her life forever. Epic: This is a dark and poignant thriller.

Taking Hold by Francisco Jiménez

A beautiful book about Franciso's life. It shows how he went from growing up in California to going to Columbia University in New York. A great example of how to keep going even when things get tough.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

George, who is small, quick-witted, and sharp, and Lennie, who is big, childlike, find themselves in a situation that is both unfair and dangerous. Will they find a way out?

Every Day by David Levithan

A unique story about a teenager, A, who wakes up in a new body and new life every day. In many ways, A has come to terms with this. Rhiannon, on the other hand, makes A want to stay with her every day. A good book for 9th graders who want to learn more about characters and plots. A good class read for 9th graders.

Under the Bridge by Michael Harman

During a fight with his family, Indy dropped out of school. His brother Tate does everything he can to save him from a life of crime. If you're not a big fan of reading, this book is going to make you want to pick it up again.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

A clever and thought-provoking graphic novel about Jin Wang, a boy who moves to a new high school and has a hard time making friends. When one of his cousins wrecks his reputation, where will he turn? One of the best stories about being alone and being rejected.

March by John Lewis

This graphic novel is a work of art that tells the story of Congressman John Lewis during the civil rights movement through vivid art. A lot of people think this book is great. It's a Coretta Scott King Honor book.

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

Soon after Dill's father is made a pariah in the town, he starts to feel the heat from everyone else. Travis and Lydia are the only friends he has left. Can they help him get through the last few weeks of school and the day he gets to go to college? I think this book is good because it makes people think about what it's like growing up in a small town near the Bible belt.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Science fiction, alternate realities, and superheroes are all mixed together in a gripping and fast-paced thriller in this interesting story. This is how Yael, a death-camp prisoner who can change her shape, plans to kill an old Hitler in a reimagined 1956. But can she stay out of Luka and Felix's way long enough to keep up her disguise as a woman? This book is great for people who aren't very good at reading. It has a great ending. A book for 9th graders that will shock them.

I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak

To put it another way: When robbers are caught by accident, Ed Kennedy ends up in an entirely new, weird, and uncontrollable world where he sends messages and makes problems go away. In other words, who is sending him all of the messages and making sure that everything he does fits together, and what is the bigger picture? This book is a clever mystery with a lot of plot devices and clues, and it's written in a less formal way. It'll be a good choice for the more reluctant reader in grade 9.

Shadowmancer by GP Taylor

With magic and spells, Obadiah Demurral wants to take over not just the world, but the whole universe. He is evil to the core. Raphah, Kate, and Thomas may be the only people who can stop him. Is that true? This book is full of vivid descriptions of smuggling and ancient magic. It's great for middle graders who like fantasy and magic, or for reluctant teen readers in grade 9 who like to read.

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

To get some excitement and a way to get away from her parents' fights, Rosie goes on a trip with Windy. That's not how it worked out this summer. They found more than they expected to find. As a powerful page-turner and coming-of-age story, this comic book is a must read.

Haunt Me by Liz Kessler

A love story with a twist. Ghost: Joe lives in his old house after his family moves out. He is a ghost. When a new family moves in, Erin, a lonely and bullied teen, moves in with Joe. A relationship starts, but there are a lot of problems.

Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

A mystery, murder, and bumps in the night story that has been around for a long time. Sherlock Holmes looks into the curse of the Baskervilles and the legend of a huge hound that roams the bleak, marshy moors. It's full of weird people and weird things. For 9th graders who like mysteries and adventures, this book is a great choice.

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

It's a science-fiction book that won an award. It's set in Opium, a country between Mexico and the United States. It is a complicated story about drugs, power, betrayal, and cloning. This fast-paced text tells the story of Matt, his friends, and his enemies. A good book to talk about in 9th grade literature class.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou wrote a powerful book about her life. Maya and her brother, who live with their grandmother, feel like they've been left behind and hated by the people in their town. With their mother in St. Louis, Maya, 8, is attacked by a man and is left with a lot of scars and anger. Many years later, kindness, her strength of character, and her love of literature make her feel like she can be herself again and be happy.

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