Angie Thomas’s landmark novel explores social justice and activism through sixteen-year-old Starr Carter. After witnessing the fatal police shooting of her childhood friend, Starr must navigate the conflicting pressures of her predominantly poor, Black neighborhood and her wealthy, mostly white private school.
The novel eloquently portrays Gen Z’s engagement in racial justice conversations, capturing the authentic voice of a teenager’s frustration and her determined fight for change in an era defined by social media activism.
Kacen Callender’s novel centers on Felix Love, a Black, queer, and trans teenager attending a summer arts program. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages, Felix catfishes his top suspect in an attempt at revenge, only to find himself in a complicated love triangle.
The story authentically portrays the intersections of identity, the fear of not being “enough,” and the vital importance of self-acceptance, offering a compelling and necessary look into the emotional landscape today's young people navigate.
Leah Johnson’s joyful novel features Liz Lighty, a Black, queer high school senior whose plans to escape her small town are dashed when her financial aid falls through. Her only hope is to win the scholarship awarded to the school’s prom queen—a competition she despises.
Liz’s journey reflects Gen Z’s experiences with economic anxiety, social pressure, and identity, as she navigates friendships and a budding romance while trying to remain true to herself.
Jean Kyoung Frazier’s debut novel focuses on an eighteen-year-old pregnant pizza delivery worker in suburban Los Angeles. Unsure about her future and grieving her father, the unnamed protagonist becomes obsessed with a customer, a stay-at-home mom who calls for a pickle-and-pepperoni pizza.
The novel presents a raw and compelling portrait of Gen Z loneliness, aimlessness, and the struggle to find meaning and connection amid chaotic and uncertain circumstances.
Becky Albertalli’s novel captures the quintessential Gen Z experience of navigating identity both online and off. The story features Simon Spier, a closeted gay teen who begins an anonymous email correspondence with another closeted classmate. When his secret is threatened, Simon must confront his fears of being publicly outed.
The novel vividly portrays the vulnerabilities of digital communication and the challenges of personal authenticity, resonating with a generation learning to balance online personas with real-life relationships.
On a day not unlike our own, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio get the call from Death-Cast, an app that informs them they have less than twenty-four hours to live. The two teenage strangers connect through another app, Last Friend, determined to live a lifetime in a single day.
Silvera’s novel powerfully taps into Gen Z’s nihilistic humor and earnest desire for connection, exploring mortality, grief, and the search for meaning in a world shaped by technology and uncertainty.
Set at the elite Niveus Private Academy, this thriller follows star students Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, the only two Black students in their class. Their lives are upended when an anonymous texter known as “Aces” begins revealing their darkest secrets to the entire school.
The novel is a blistering critique of institutional racism and classism, channeling the anxieties of a generation hyper-aware of systemic injustice into a high-stakes, pulse-pounding narrative about survival.
This sci-fi novel reimagines Chinese history in a world of mecha battles and patriarchal oppression. Eighteen-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot to assassinate the pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But when she discovers her own immense power, she unleashes a rage that threatens to shatter the entire system.
Zetian’s fury against injustice and her defiant dismantling of misogynistic structures mirror the activist spirit and unapologetic voice often associated with Gen Z.
This romance captures Gen Z’s blend of pragmatic activism and hopeful idealism. When America’s First Son, Alex Claremont-Diaz, and Britain’s Prince Henry are forced into a fake friendship for PR reasons, they develop a secret romantic relationship that could derail political campaigns on two continents.
Mixing social media savvy with genuine heart, the novel portrays a generation’s desire to challenge tradition and forge its own path, even against a backdrop of privilege and duty.
Twenty-three-year-old August Landry is a cynical transplant to New York City who doesn’t believe in much—until she meets the enchanting Jane Su on the Q train. There’s just one problem: Jane is a punk-rocker displaced in time from the 1970s and is literally stuck on the subway.
The novel celebrates queer found family, community history, and collective action, creating an authentically Gen Z world where characters band together to solve an impossible problem while navigating work, school, and modern love.