*All of the following are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you purchase them from my site, I get a small commission that helps me pay for things that keep the blog running. Thank you!*
This page is set up into three sections.
- The first is books for all teenagers.
- The second is for teenage girls.
- The last section is for teenage guys.
Books We Recommend for All Teens
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations [Click for hard copy]
I wish I could make it mandatory reading for every teenager. If you read no other book on this page, read this one!!!
Here is the description: “Do Hard Things is the Harris twins’ revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.
Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life. Then they map out five powerful ways teens can respond for personal and social change. Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life ‘rebelutionaries’ in action.”
- You can grab the Kindle edition here:Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations
- They also have a website and blog that you can check out here.
Wake Up: Rediscovering a Passion for God and the Bible
This s a great devotional that helps teens learn how to interact with the Bible in a meaningful way. It’s truly one f the best devotionals I’ve ever completed. Since biblical illiteracy is rampant in the church today, a devotional like this is crucial!
New: First Steps for New Christ Followers
New is also another great devotional by YM360. It is a step by step explanation that any new Christian would need. There are also two more called Next and Now to do after completing this one.
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity [Click here for the hard copy]
I first learned about the author of this book, Nabeel Qureshi, when I watched the documentary “American Gospel” (which I also highly recommend).
I was riveted by his conversion to Christianity and ordered the book the next day. Once it arrived, I devoured it over two days.
This story is his personal account of his conversion to Christianity, and it gave me much to think about. I HIGHLY recommend it to teenagers and adults!
The Case for Christ [Click here for hard copy]
I actually watched the movie of this first because I didn’t know there was a book, and it is what got me interested in apologetics in the first place. Here is the book description:
“Is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God? Former atheist and Chicago Tribune journalist Lee Strobel says yes! In this revised and updated bestseller, The Case for Christ, Strobel cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools such as Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis, asking hard-hitting questions – and building a captivating case for Christ’s divinity.
Strobel challenges them with questions like, How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event?
Winner of the Gold Medallion Book Award and twice nominated for the Christian Book of the Year Award, Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure.”
If you are interested in the movie, you can click here.
The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness [Click for hard copy]
Although this book is not specifically geared towards teenagers, it’s never too early to start learning how to make smart financial decisions for your future. I highly recommend Dave Ramsey. Here’s the book description: “… it’s the simplest, most straightforward game plan for completely making over your money habits. And it’s based on results, not pie-in-the-sky fantasies. With The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition, you’ll be able to:
- Design a sure-fire plan for paying off all debt—meaning cars, houses, everything
- Recognize the 10 most dangerous money myths (these will kill you)
- Secure a big, fat nest egg for emergencies and retirement!
Includes new, expanded “Dave Rants” sidebars tackle marriage conflict, college debt, and more. All-new forms and back-of-the-book resources to make Total Money Makeover a reality.”
For the Kindle version, click here: The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
Books for Teenage Girls
Unashamed: Overcoming the Sins No Girl Wants to Talk About (Life, Love & God)
This book was excellent. The topics discussed are not “sugar coated” and it offers a true Biblical path to help with overcoming “secret” strongholds in your life. Here’s more from the book description:
“Are you living in silent shame, hiding a “secret sin”? Maybe you numb life’s pain with a bottle, razor blade, or sex. Maybe you “binge and purge” or act on feelings for other girls. Whatever your “secret”―shocking or not―if you’re trapped by it, you’re trapped by it. And chances are you’re not getting help because you’re too scared of what people would think if they found out.”
For the Kindle version, click here.
Girl Defined: God’s Radical Design for Beauty, Femininity, and Identity [Click for hard copy]
Very good book from two great girls. I’d recommend for women ages 16-30. The following is the description of the book:
“In a culture where airbrushed models and career-driven women define beauty and success, it’s no wonder we have a distorted view of femininity. Our impossible standards place an incredible burden of stress on the backs of women and girls of all ages, resulting in anxiety, eating disorders, and depression. One question we often forget to ask is this: What is God’s design for womanhood?
In Girl Defined, sisters and popular bloggers Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird offer women a counter-cultural view of beauty, femininity, and self-worth. Based firmly in God’s design for their lives, this book helps women rethink what true success and beauty look like. It invites them on a liberating journey toward a radically better vision for femininity that ends with the discovery of the kind of hope, purpose, and fulfillment they’ve been yearning for.”
- You can grab the Kindle edition here: Girl Defined: God’s Radical Design for Beauty, Femininity, and Identity
- You can check out their blog here.
- They also have two other books: Love Defined: Embracing God’s Vision for Lasting Love and Satisfying Relationships and Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl’s Heart
Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free [Click for hard copy]
This book has just been updated!! This book lays out lies young women believe about a variety of topics including the future, boys, God, sin, relationships, and more. Each topic lists three to five common lies. This book is definitely written with teenagers in mind!
You can get the Kindle edition here: Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free
They also have a website and a great blog you can access by clicking here. I was on their staff of writers for a year and a half!
Lies Girls Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free [Click for hard copy]
One of the co-authors of Lies Young Women Believe released this book in 2019 for younger girls. I haven’t gotten a change to read it yet, but it’s on my list. Here is the book description:
“From skyrocketing anxiety to bullying on social media, our daughters face challenges we never knew at their age. So how can we help the girls we love? Equip them with the truth! Packed with quizzes, games, graphics, and wisdom, Gresh’s easy-to-read guidebook will help them see through lies about themselves, God, friendship, boys, and more.”
They also have an accompanying guide for moms. You can click here for that.
This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years [Click for hard copy]
This was a good quick read about how the Gospel is meant to transform your life. In it, Jaquelle challenges teenagers to examine their salvation and see if they’ve really taken hold and are living its principles. Here’s the description: My name is Jaquelle, and I’m a teenager. I like football movies, sushi, and dark chocolate. But the biggest, most crucial, most significant thing about me is that my life’s task is to follow Jesus. He is the One who changed my life. That’s what this book is about.
It’s for teenagers eager to reject the status quo and low standards our culture sets for us. It’s for those of us who don’t want to spend the adolescent years slacking off, but rather standing out and digging deep into what Jesus says about following him. This book will help you see how the truth about God changes everything—our relationships, our time, our sin, our habits, and more—freeing us to live joyful, obedient, and Christ-exalting lives, even while we’re young.”
You can grab the Kindle version here: This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years
Books about Teenage Dating/Relationships for Girls
So, You Think You’re Ready to Date? [Click for hard copy]
Ok, Ok, this is our book :). But it’s still a great book about teenage dating. Here’s the blurb:
“Teenage dating proves a new and exciting experience, yet can tragically bring pain and emotional damage if teens try to figure it out as they go. This book lays the groundwork for modern dating from a Biblical perspective. Its quizzes, questionnaires, stories, Biblical truth, and real life anecdotes answer questions many teen girls have about dating and discuss topics such as: their goals for the future, the needs of every teenage girl, cultural v. Biblical views on sex and relationships, physical and emotional boundaries, lies girls tell themselves when they date, how to spot a bad boy, the Cycle of Violence, characteristics of a good guy, how to know if a guys is interested, what a proper first date looks like, and so much more! There’s no other book like this one; grab your copy today!”
To find out even more, click here. To buy, click here.
The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends [Click for hard copy]
Chad Eastham has been a teen speaker for many years. This book was a good read and offered many insights for teens. My favorite are the chapters that discuss behavior that will bring teens misery or happiness. It is full of good, non-cliched information.
You can grab the Kindle version here: The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends
Guys Like Girls Who . . . [Click for hard copy]
This book on the surface seemed to be somewhat superficial to me. However, after reading it I was proved wrong and it’s actually more about girls being comfortable with who they are and who God made them to be. Definitely recommend. Here’s the description:
“Chad Eastham will encourage girls to be confident in who they are and Whose they are. Girls need to know that they are treasures to be adored and that how she feels about herself is how guys will treat her.
Chapter titles add fun and interest to this life-altering message. Guys Like Girls Who . . .
- Wear Jeans (comfortable with who they are and Whose they are)
- Know the Future (understand there is a 96% chance this is not the boy they will marry so don’t act like they are)
- Leave Us Alone (have their own hobbies)
- Can Spell (can say “no”)
- Eat Tofu (live a healthy lifestyle)”
Here’s a link to the Kindle edition: Guys Like Girls Who . . . (Revolve Books)
Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age [Click for hard copy]
This is a GREAT book. It is well thought out, Biblically sound, and easy to follow. I would recommend it the most for anyone 18+ to read. Younger teenagers may like it too, but some of the advice may be a little “over their heads.” Here is part of the book description:
“Like a sailor on turbulent seas, we need to look up and see the North Star: the fixed points in the sky whereby we might navigate the objective realities in life. We need the skill-set to know how to journey through life and how to select the right people to journey alongside. In this book we will chart a course through the four relational phases that the vast majority of human beings on the planet will pass through in their twenties: singleness, dating, engaged and married. In each of these phases, we will look at what eternal purposes should be pursued in each stage, and how to pursue them.
Our desires for intimacy are powerful. This power can be constructive or destructive. Our satisfaction and our safety will be ensured if we can aim these powerful desires toward divine purposes.”
Click here for the Kindle Version: Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age
The Truth About Breaking Up, Making Up, and Moving On [Click for hard copy]
Another good one by Chad Eastham. In this book he breaks down anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to know about break ups. With his conversational tone and relevant stories, this proves an insightful read to the sometimes messy process of breaking up.
Grab it here on Kindle: The Truth About Breaking Up, Making Up, and Moving On
The Truth About Guys [Click for hard copy]
Seriously, where was Chad in my teen years. This is next on my list to read! Here’s the book description:
“Okay, it’s a fact. God made guys and girls different in more ways than just the physical. But how different could we really be? After all, we are all made in His image, right? Well, yes, but . . . Let’s just say that guys and girls view the world in such different ways, that it’s a miracle we communicate at all. What’s worse is girls this age often think they know what makes guys tick and . . . that couldn’t be more wrong!
Chad Eastham tells it like it is . . . to girls . . . from a guy’s perspective. His stage presentation transfers beautifully into this book, putting the facts in black and white for girls to see. You think that short skirt says to guys, “I’m a fashion billboard!” Think again. Chad tells girls how guys see such fashion statements as advertising something completely different than a hip dresser. Chad wrings out every ounce of experience from his colorful life and uses it to help teens make informed choices.”
Grab the Kindle edition here: The Truth About Guys
Love Defined [Click for hard copy]
If you are interested in taking more of a courtship approach to dating, then I would recommend Love Defined. It is written by the same authors of Girl Defined mentioned above. Here is the description from the book:
“Our culture is obsessed with love and romance–so why are so few women experiencing satisfying, long-term love?
In this insightful and encouraging book, sisters Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal help single women of all ages discover a radically better approach to navigating their love lives. Covering topics such as true love, romance, purposeful relationships, purity, boundaries, singleness, and glorifying God in every stage of our relationships, Love Defined unpacks God’s original design for romance, showing modern women how to experience God’s best for them in their relationships. Full of biblical truths and step-by-step application of concepts discussed, the book also includes a chapter-by-chapter study guide to be used individually or in small groups, as well as four letters from godly women who have been married for 30, 40, and 50+ years, offering priceless, hard-won advice to single women.”
***If you’re older and are engaged or in a relationship that’s headed that way, you can check out our post “Five Books to Read While Engaged” for different resources!***
Books for Teenage Guys
How To Be A Man: Pursuing Christ-centered Masculinity [Student Edition]
This devotional is a 40-days designed to challenge teenage guys to be more passionate pursuit of growing in to the man God is calling them to be.
I have met both of the authors of this book. They are great and so is the devotional!
How to be a Man: Learning from Real Men of the Bible [Student edition]
Below is the description from the site:
HOW DO YOU BECOME THE MAN GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO BE? How To Be A Man: Learning From Real Men Of The Bible is a 40-day devotional experience that uses the lives of 8 men of the Bible as an example and challenges men to live a life of impact and influence, changing the world around them for the sake of the Gospel.
