If you are a teenager looking for books to read online for free then step right in, I’ve got the best ones for you. Compiled here are awesome free online books for teens to read. These books span across various genres in fiction and nonfiction which means you will find books on biographies, fantasy & adventure, thriller, horror, self-development, history, and many more.
As a teenager, I loved to read, I still do as an adult but there is so much responsibility and loads of “adult stuff” to do these days that I no longer have the chance nor time to read books as I used to. What I am trying to tell you here is that if you are a teenager who loves to read, this may probably be the only chance you have to read as many books as possible because, in a few years, you are going to become an adult and may not have the time to read as much as you used to.
Anyways, back to my story…
I read nearly everything I could lay my hands on as a teenager. Newspapers, magazines, and novels. My favorite genre as a teen was fantasy and adventure but I got older and loved crime and thriller with a sprinkle of romance. If you’ve read any of Dan Brown’s or Alan Folsom’s books, you would get a clearer picture of what I mean.
As a teenager who loves to read, the major limitation or challenge I had was access to books. Every book I read as a teenager was borrowed from friends, classmates, or the school library. I couldn’t afford to buy one.
And if you were wondering why I didn’t just use the internet to read a book online, well, the internet wasn’t as sophisticated then as it is now plus there weren’t smartphones. So, I couldn’t read or download any book online but now, I can’t even count the number of books I have read online. I currently have PDFs of all James Hardly Chase books and read all of Paulo Coelho’s books right off my phone.
There are many other books I have read online, all for free, and yes, they are all legal.
I don’t know if you get the point I am trying to make but if you don’t, what I am trying to make you understand is that you can read or download books online for free with your smartphone, tablet, or PC. There are books online for people of all ages, in fact, just recently I published an article on free online books for 10 to 12-year-olds. And now, I am compiling free online books for teens (13 to 19-year-olds), how awesome is that?
Never would I imagine, as a teenager always looking for books to read, that there would come a time when there would be books of your choice to read online for FREE!
So, from a former fervent reader and still book lover to you, I have compiled the best free online books for teens to read and have a good time. Let’s get into them already.
Best Free Online Books for Teens
I didn’t mention this earlier, but as a teenager who loved to read, it helped develop my creativity which played a huge part in my becoming a professional writer today. And reading different books on various genres helped develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills from a young age. These and many more are the advantages of reading as a teenager.
The books compiled below were specially handpicked by me, so there’s no way you won’t find something suitable.
The free online books for teens are:
1. David and the Phoenix
David and the Phoenix is a literature & fiction novel by Edward Ormondroyd. It tells the story of the adventures of a young boy named David with a phoenix who teaches him the ways of the mythical world.
The book is available to read online for free via the link below. You do not need to sign in to start reading the book but you cannot download it. You would have to read it online.
2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read Tom Sawyer so much that I memorized some of the verses. It is such a wonderful book. It is written by Mark Twain and tells the story of a young boy, Tom Sawyer, who lives with his Aunt Polly in the town of St. Petersburg, Missouri.
Both Tom Sawyer and his friend-in-mischief, Huckleberry Finn, had lots of adventures including witnessing a murder and sailing off to become pirates but later came back home when they noticed the community was looking for their bodies because they presumed both of them dead. The novel also has a sprinkle of romance and thriller. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a must-read for teenagers.
Read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
3. The War of the Worlds
If you are a fan of stories based on alien invasion or science fiction (sci-fi) then you are going to enjoy reading The War of the Worlds. The book narrates the experiences of a narrator who travels through the suburbs of London as England is invaded by Martians.
The book is split into two parts, Book One: The Coming of the Martians, and Book Two: The Earth under the Martians. Books one and two have different stories but they all happened in the same place and around the same time.
4. The Marvelous Land of Oz
Sadly, I haven’t read any novels that have to do with Oz and I would have loved to read this one right now but since I am currently compiling a list of free online books for teens, looks like I would have to bookmark the page and come back to it. You do know you can do that too, don’t you? If you are not disposed to read any of the books now, you can just bookmark the page and come back to it later.
Anyways, the Marvelous Land of Oz is written by L. Frank Baum, and it tells the story of a boy named Tip who builds a pumpkin-headed stickman that he brings to life with magic and names Jack Pumpkinhead.
They begin their adventure when they run away from Tip’s evil sorceress guardian, only to find themselves in the company of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and Glinda the Good Witch along with several unusual people on a quest to determine the legitimate ruler of the Emerald City now that the Wizard has departed.
5. “What’s That All About Then?”
This is one of the best free online books for 13-year-olds. The book helps teenagers cope with loss, bullying, family issues, and the pains and joys of growing up. It is a self-development book designed to help teenagers become a better version of themselves.
Read “What’s That All About Then?”
6. Midnight Girl
You may want to sit this one out if you are not a fan of horror. Well, the book is a mix of horror and mystery. Midnight Girl is about a girl named Cat who lives with her dad who was a former spooky-mysteries TV show host and her grandmother who may be a vampire. But what is spooky here is that Cat has two birthdays. Both on Halloween.
7. The Pirate of Panther Bay
Everyone loves pirate novels and that is why I added The Pirate of Panther Bay to the list of free online books for teens. Books based on pirates are so thrilling and, of course, have so many adventures that make a great page-turner.
The Pirate of Panther Bay was set in 1781 and tells the story of how Isabella, a teenage female captain of a pirate ship, and her pirates scour the Caribbean Sea. But her life is thrown in disarray when she captures a young Spanish army captain.
Read The Pirate of Panther Bay
8. Dessery’s Diary
Dessery’s Diary is an awesome novel for teens to learn more about witchcraft as it brings together curiosities such as grimoires, witch trials, and more. The best part of this historical thriller is that it comes with dark humor. Books like this would help you learn sarcasm and dark comedy.
9. Phoenix Cottage
Can you imagine the combination of time travel and the English Civil War? Don’t bother imagining it, just read it all in Phoenix Cottage. The story is centered around two siblings, Lenny and Abby, who travel back in time to the English Civil War. This thriller adventure novel is a great page-turner for teenagers and adults of all ages to enjoy.
10. The Night Diary
The Night Diary is one of the best free online books for teens that demonstrates bravery and encourages all who read it, especially teenagers, to always be brave.
The book tells of a family who are half-Muslim and half-Hindu living peacefully in India but their peace became challenged when rumors circulated that their town would become part of the new Pakistan state. Due to this rumor, this peaceful family must make a dangerous journey to the Indian border with the hope of living peacefully once again.
11. Leah
Leah is a great book for 14-year-olds. It is the story of a shy introverted 14-year-old girl named Leah who has no friends but books for company. However, she soon starts 9th grade and loses herself in the complex universe of high school. Was Leah finally able to discover herself and her purpose? Find out!
12. The Gateway
Here is another interesting read for teens to read online for free.
The Gateway is a story about the adventure of two teenage boys who discover a gateway by accident. A gateway that leads to other parallel universes. If you are looking for a page-turner that will keep you on edge from the beginning till the end, then The Gateway is a book you should read.
13. A Cowgirl’s Soul
A Cowgirl’s Soul is a story about the passionate life story of two young rodeo kids Autumn and Albert. Together they learn about life’s challenges and surmount every obstacle thrown in their path. Inspiring, intriguing, and intense.
14. Hidden Library: The Second Spell Book
Hidden Library is written by Stephanie Van Orman and it is one of the best free online books for teens. It is a fantasy romance novel based in the world of magic and witches. The story is about a young girl who thinks she doesn’t want love but there is a young determined man who wants to thaw her heart of ice.
Read Hidden Library: The Second Spell Book
Conclusion
Here, I have provided you with 15 free online books for teens I have handpicked specially for you to enjoy. I know I would gladly read any of these books as a teenager, and even now as an adult, and enjoy every single moment of it.
All of these books here can be read online for free, all you need is a stable internet connection and a cool, calm place.
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