Somehow we’re here again, at the end of another year of reading, contemplating the books that rise above and invite a second look. Our list of best teen titles of 2024 reflects the sheer variety of intriguing, eye-opening works—ones that experiment with literary devices, blend formats and genres in unusual ways, highlight lesser-known stories and voices, draw inspiration from classic tales, and offer countless hours of engagement. The six titles below represent noteworthy achievements in YA writing and illustration.

The Book of Denial by Ricardo Chávez Castañeda, illustrated by Alejandro Magallanes, translated from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel (Unruly, Jan. 30): This import from Mexico is a startling, innovative tribute to what can be achieved when text, art, and graphic design come together to form something wholly original. Executed in black, white, and gray, this is the emotionally intense story of a boy who’s learning about—and grappling with—terrible, incomprehensibly violent events, and its surprise ending packs a punch.

49 Days by Agnes Lee (Levine Querido, March 5): Sparse text, a limited color palette, and clean, minimalistic artwork heighten the emotional impact of this graphic novel, which tells the parallel stories of a Korean American girl in the afterlife and of her grieving family. Lee’s debut viscerally expresses the shockwaves that grief sends through our lives and imagines making sense of death’s disorienting new reality.

The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza (Holiday House, May 14): This impossible-to-categorize story creatively blends coming-of-age themes with speculative fiction and romance. Australian author Plozza digs into meaningful questions about that coveted yet often elusive emotion, happiness. Frequent humorous moments accentuate the story’s bittersweet undertones as Tegan—recently deceased and deeply dissatisfied with her own personal heaven—experiences a deep ache of yearning for something she can’t quite articulate.

Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Simon & Schuster, June 4): Readers met Rowan and Neil, young Jewish rivals-to-lovers in Today Tonight Tomorrow (2020). Having fallen in love on the last day of high school, the Seattleites now face the challenge of sustaining their relationship as they enter college in different cities. This insightfully characterized, beautifully written, and swooningly romantic read authentically explores the tumultuous path to early adulthood.

Louder Than Words by Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood (Scholastic, June 4): A new school should offer a chance for reinvention, but for Jordyn, a Black girl in Washington, D.C., who was expelled from her elite private school, a malicious, anonymous gossip podcast threatens the fresh start she hoped for. An intriguing mystery, strong ensemble cast, absorbing prose, and resonant and relatable themes distinguish this contemporary novel.

A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds by Rebecca E. Hirsch, illustrated by Eugenia Nobati (Zest Books, Oct. 22): Scientist-turned-author Hirsch adds to her body of compelling STEM nonfiction with this gripping survey of toxic plants. Her ability to weave factual content into a page-turning narrative format demonstrates the effectiveness of strong storytelling as a teaching tool. Fans of true crime as well as aspiring historians and naturalists will relish the many tales of misadventure and malice.

Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.