If you didn't read the first installment in our "Top Books of 2019"check it out here. This week our list is a little bit shorter as we explore the teen/young adult books that got the most use in 2019. So without further ado, here are the top 6 teen books of 2019.
Fiction
Fantasy fiction has long been popular among young adult readers and 2019 was no exception. Slayer follows Nina, a teen training to become a guide for the supernatural slayers, who have been gifted with the ability to fight forces of darkness. Nina, however, is reluctant to embrace the violence of this lifestyle – preferring her ability with healing. But things change forever for Nina when she is chosen as the final Slayer. This 2019 release was checked out 23 times last year!
Archenemies, book 2 in Marissa Meyer’s Renegade series was released in late 2018 but was still the second most popular young adult novel at our library. This book, like Slayer, falls into the science fiction/fantasy genre. It was a 2019 nominee for the Dragon Award (best in middle grade/young adult fiction) and was checked out 19 times last year.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the third book in this category is also a fantasy novel. 9 from the Nine Worlds is a collection of short stories that take place in Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. It was released in late 2018 and was checked out 18 times in 2019.
Graphic Novels
Comic books have always had a following, and graphic novels are no exception. In the world of The Witch Boy, all boys are raised to be shapeshifters and girls are raised to be witches. But Aster is drawn to the life of a witch, and he hasn’t shifted yet. This book discusses gender roles and defying expectations. It was the most popular young adult graphic novel last year and was checked out 20 times in 2019!
Black Butler currently has 29 volumes, but Volume 1 – translated to English in 2010 – was still high on the list of the library’s checkouts. It left the library 17 times in 2019! This series takes place in Victorian-era London. Sebastian, the main character, sells his soul to a demon in order to exact revenge on his enemies. He works as the demon's butler throughout the series.
The Prince and the Dressmaker came out in early 2018, but it remains popular among our readers. In modern-day France, Prince Sebastian’s parents are arranging a marriage for him. But Sebastian is uninterested in marriage – he has a secret, one that only one other person, a local dressmaker named Frances, knows. Both Sebastian and Frances struggle to achieve their dreams while staying true to themselves. This book was checked out 17 times last year.
Did you like this list? Stay tuned for the next installment on February 25: Adult Books!