Best Novels for High School Girls (2026): 5 Picks Compared

When a sophomore needs her next novel, the best novels for high school girls are the ones that match her reading level and the story she wants right now. This list compares each pick by who it suits, what its listing states about reading age and grade level, and who should skip it.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Moxie by Mathieu	9.7/10	Buy
2	This One Summer by Tamaki	9.6/10	Buy
3	The Running Dream by Van Draanen	9.6/10	Buy
4	Inside Out and Back Again by Lai	9.4/10	Buy
5	Well, That Was Awkward by Vail	9.2/10	Buy

1

Moxie by Mathieu

Jennifer Mathieu·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Viv starts an anonymous feminist zine at her Texas high school, a fit for readers who like school stories about pushing back.

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Pros

• Set in a high school, centered on friendships and school politics
• 352 pages, a full-length read for a steady reader
• Covers sexist dress codes and gross comments from classmates

Cons

• Hallway harassment and sexist comments are named, so check the themes first
• Grade level 4 to 7 sits well below its 14 to 18 year reading age
• Listed as a media tie-in edition, so check the edition line

2

This One Summer by Tamaki

Mariko Tamaki·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Two friends spend a summer at a lake house in this graphic novel about growing up, friendship and a family under strain.

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Pros

• Graphic novel format, a change from prose for a reader who wants pictures
• The listing states it won a Michael L. Printz Honor and an Eisner Award
• Focus stays on two girls' friendship during one summer

Cons

• One local teen is caught up in something very bad and secret, a mature theme to check
• Reading age is marked as from customers, so it is not a publisher statement
• Grade level 2 to 9 stops before the top high school grades this list is for

3

The Running Dream by Van Draanen

Wendelin Van Draanen·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A girl who loses a leg in a car accident works toward running again, a fit for readers who like sports stories about recovery.

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Pros

• Track and running story, a fit for readers who like sports fiction
• The listing states it won the Schneider Family Book Award for teen books
• Grade level 7 to 12 covers the high school grades this list is for

Cons

• Description covers a car accident and a lost leg, so check the difficult themes first
• Reading age of 11 to 13 years, marked from customers, is younger than high school readers
• Focus stays on one girl's recovery and her friendship with Rosa, so a fast plot may feel slow

4

Inside Out and Back Again by Lai

Thanhhà Lai·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A girl flees Saigon and starts over in America in a novel told in verse, a fit for readers who like poetry and immigration stories.

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Pros

• Shortest listed length in this group at 272 pages
• The listing states it won the National Book Award and a Newbery Honor
• Listing includes an author's note, an author interview and discussion questions

Cons

• Reading age of 9 to 12 years and grade 3 to 7 sit below high school readers
• Description mentions the Vietnam War and grief, so check the mature themes first
• Told in verse, so a reader who expects long prose chapters will need to adjust

5

Well, That Was Awkward by Vail

Rachel Vail·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Gracie helps her best friend flirt with the boy Gracie likes, a light middle school story for readers who want a tween romance.

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Pros

• Grade level 5 to 6 and reading age 10 to 14 years fit a younger reader
• Reprint edition with 336 pages and a February 2018 publication date
• Friendship and middle school social life are at the center of the story

Cons

• Description calls it a tween romance, so check whether the crush plot suits the reader
• Grade level 5 to 6 is below the high school grades this list is for
• Mostly middle school situations, so the social stakes may feel young to a high school reader

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More picks to compare

• Ninth Grade Blues by IngramFor readers of high school stories: four freshmen share their first year.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. All five picks list both a reading age and a grade level, and three of those reading ages are marked as from customers. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best novels for high school girls

Start with the reading age, then the grade

The two levels answer different questions, so read both. This One Summer lists a reading age of 11 to 17 years, while Moxie lists 14 to 18 years beside a grade level of 4 to 7. A reader still moving up from middle school stories may do better with novels for middle schoolers.

Match the format to the reader

Inside Out and Back Again is a 272-page verse novel, and This One Summer is a graphic novel, so they read very differently from prose. If your reader wants a fantasy setting instead, try fantasy books for teen girls.

Before you buy

• Check the edition line: Moxie is listed as a media tie-in edition, and This One Summer as illustrated.
• Compare the grade level with your reader’s grade: Moxie lists grade 4 to 7 but a reading age of 14 to 18 years.
• Check the page count against the time you have, from 272 pages for Inside Out and Back Again to 352 for Moxie.

Frequently Asked Questions

What reading age do these novels list?

The listed reading ages run from 9 to 12 years for Inside Out and Back Again to 14 to 18 years for Moxie. Inside Out and Back Again, This One Summer and The Running Dream are marked as from customers.

Which pick has the shortest page count?

Inside Out and Back Again is the shortest at 272 pages. Moxie is the longest at 352 pages.

Is Moxie a good pick for a freshman?

Its listed reading age of 14 to 18 years fits a high school reader, but its grade level of 4 to 7 does not, so read the description and a sample page first.

Still deciding? Our top pickMoxie by Mathieu

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Related lists

See every young adult books list and all kids and teens books lists.

More lists: novels for high school seniors, books for high school and graphic novels for girls.