Best Books for 13 Year Old Girls Who Don T Like to Read (2026)

If you are looking for the best books for 13 year old girls who don t like to read, start with the reader: one may want a quick mystery, another a short story about school or friends. We compared five books by the reading age and grade level each listing states, page count, series position and what each description says, so you can match the book to the reader.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Forget Me by Harrington	9.7/10	Buy
2	The Library of Lost Things by Namey	9.6/10	Buy
3	Graduation Day by Charbonneau	9.6/10	Buy
4	Good Girl, Bad Blood by Jackson	9.4/10	Buy
5	The Double Dangerous Book by Iggulden	9.3/10	Buy

1

Forget Me by Harrington

K.A. Harrington·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

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 teen mystery that starts when a girl spots a living boy who looks exactly like her late boyfriend, suited to a reader who wants a fast, twisty plot.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• The listing gives 288 pages, shorter than the other picks that state a page count
• Reading age 12 to 15 years and grade level 7 to 9 both match a 13 year old
• The description says it keeps the reader guessing until the very end, which suits mystery fans

Cons

• A boyfriend's death, a family cover-up and a town's secrets are central, so preview it for mature themes
• Publication date of August 7, 2014 is the oldest on this list
• The lookalike plot and layered secrets can feel heavy for a reader who wants a light read

2

The Library of Lost Things by Namey

Laura Taylor Namey·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

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 romance set in a bookstore, where a worker who keeps her home life hidden starts to open up to a newcomer, suited to a reader who likes contemporary stories.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Reading age 13 to 17 years and grade level 7 to 9 are both stated, and both fit a 13 year old
• Set in a bookstore and everyday life, with no fantasy world to learn
• The listing states screen reader support

Cons

• Romance and a parent's hoarding are central, so preview it for a reader not ready for romance
• No page count is stated, so the length is hard to judge before buying
• Listed as an original 2019 edition, and the listing gives no series position

3

Graduation Day by Charbonneau

Joelle Charbonneau·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

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 ›

The last book of a dystopian trilogy in which a teen fights a cruel government, suited to a reader who has already started the series.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• The listing gives 304 pages, grade level 7 to 9, and a reading age of 12 years and up
• The description calls it the conclusion of the trilogy, so the story has a stated ending
• The description includes a blurb that compares the series to The Hunger Games

Cons

• Book 3 of 3, so the first two books are needed for context and are not among these picks
• The description mentions civil war, cruelty and dangerous trials, so preview it for violence
• The listing shows a 2015 reprint edition, so check the date on the cover

4

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Jackson

Holly Jackson·9.4/10 Shelf Score

i

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 mystery sequel in which a former amateur detective is pulled into a missing person case, suited to an older teen who has read the first book.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• The listing gives Book 2 of 3, so the series position is clear
• Published March 1, 2022 by Delacorte Press as a reprint, with 416 pages
• The description builds the story around a true-crime podcast, which may draw readers who like real cases

Cons

• A reading age of 14 years and up is above a 13 year old's level, so it may be a stretch
• Book 2 of 3, so the first book is needed and is not among these picks
• The description mentions deaths, a missing person and a memorial, so preview it for mature themes

5

The Double Dangerous Book by Iggulden

Conn Iggulden·9.3/10 Shelf Score

i

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 screen-free activity guide of skills and projects written for dads and boys, so it suits a reader who wants practical facts more than a story.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• The description lists full-color charts, maps, diagrams and illustrations
• A reading age of 12 to 15 years is stated, which matches a 13 year old
• The description lists more than 70 new chapters, so a reader can jump between topics

Cons

• The description aims it at boys and dads, so the fit for a girl is weak
• It is an activity guide, not a novel, so there is no plot to follow
• The listing gives no grade level, so the reading level rests on the age range alone

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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 a reading age, and four also list a grade level. 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 books for 13 year old girls who don t like to read

Start with the reading age, then the grade level

Forget Me lists a reading age of 12 to 15 years and The Library of Lost Things lists 13 to 17 years, both with grade level 7 to 9. Good Girl, Bad Blood lists 14 years and up, so check it against your reader before buying.

Check the series position first

Graduation Day is Book 3 of 3 and Good Girl, Bad Blood is Book 2 of 3, so each needs its earlier book first. Forget Me and The Library of Lost Things list no series position. For a younger or shorter read, see middle grade books, and for more fiction in this style, see fiction for people who don t like to read.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and publication date: Forget Me is dated August 7, 2014, and Graduation Day is a 2015 reprint.
• Confirm the series position, since Graduation Day is Book 3 of 3 and Good Girl, Bad Blood is Book 2 of 3.
• Compare the listed reading age with your reader’s level, and read the description for mature themes such as death or romance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book should a 13 year old girl start with?

Forget Me lists a reading age of 12 to 15 years and grade level 7 to 9, and its listing gives no series position.

Do any of these books include an answer key?

None of these listings states an answer key, so check each listing before buying.

Which edition should I buy?

Check the date on each listing: Forget Me is dated August 7, 2014, and The Library of Lost Things lists an original 2019 edition.

Still deciding? Our top pickForget Me by Harrington

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

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

More lists: novels for teen girls, thrillers for 13 year olds and books for 13 year old girls.