As YA has grown and evolved, especially in the last 15 years, we’ve seen the aging of protagonists and so many are 17, 18, or even 19! Sixteen now seems young. Fifteen feels childlike. And 14? Almost unheard of. And while I do love that the age range of YA books has expanded to include seniors in high school and those tumultuous and uncertain immediate post high school years (Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi being a great example of this!), I do feel like it’s been at the expense of these younger YA protagonists, who don’t seem to get their time in the spotlight anymore. I think including younger teens in YA is so important for many reasons: First of all, those years are important and just as story-worthy as senior year drama. Second, younger teens deserve to see their own experiences and challenges reflected in YA, especially if they’re different from what older teens might be facing. Third, kids and teens do tend to “read up,” i.e. read above their own ages and experience levels, and I think it’s important that middle school readers have a bridge from middle school and middle grade books to books starring older YA readers. Nonetheless, in the last 10 or so years there has been a dearth of 14-year-old protagonists in YA fiction — and it’s such a lack that it took me some time to research this list and find enough books to fill a post. But there is good news! Amazing newer and established authors are writing younger YA protagonists and many of the books on this list are 2022 new releases. It gives me hope that there will be more younger YA books hitting shelves in the future, and in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this excellent and diverse selection of YA books starring 14-year-old protagonists! Want more great recommendations? Check out our round up of YA books that are perfect for middle grade readers looking to read up!
