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This list started as a compilation of clean books that my children or I have personally read. Since the demand for more clean books has been requested by many of you, we are updating the list with some of your suggestions and with books that we have found to be considered clean through research we have done. If a book on the list has personally been read by my family is will see this *** after the book title.
What is a “clean” book? I know everybody’s opinion may vary, but here is generally how we define a “clean” book. These books are not filled with swear words or sexual situations. None of these books have a mature 17+ rating. I generally err on the side of caution when it comes to “clean” books, but again, perspectives vary. While I made this list for teens, many of these books are entertaining for adults too. In addition to enjoying the stories, reading some of the same books that my teens have read has often provided opportunities for conversations that help build on the parent/teen relationship, which is always an added bonus.
Brandon Sanderson is one of my boys’ favorite author The books in this series are huge too, so it will keep your teens (or you) reading for awhile. You honestly can not go wrong with any of Brandon Sanderson’s books and you will find many of his books on our list.
The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Words of Radiance: Book Two of the Stormlight Archive ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Oathbringer: Book Three of the Stormlight Archive ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Here is another great series by Brandon Sanderson, this series is a favorite at our house.
Steelheart (The Reckoners) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Firefight (The Reckoners Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Calamity (The Reckoners Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Once again, you can’t go wrong with books by Brandon Sanderson
The Rithmatist ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Skyward ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Starsight (Skyward Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Configured: Book #1 in the Configured Trilogy ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Immersed: Book #2 in the Configured Trilogy ~ (Kindle edition)
Actualized: Book #3 in the Configured Trilogy ~ (Kindle edition)
The Goose Girl (Books of Bayern Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition)
Enna Burning (Books of Bayern Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
River Secrets (Books of Bayern Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
Forest Born (Books of Bayern Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition)
My Lady Jane ~ (Kindle edition)
My Plain Jane ~ (Kindle edition)
My Calamity Jane ~ (Kindle edition)
Brandon Mull is a favorite author of one of my other boys. I am pretty sure that most of the Brandon Mull series’ are clean.
Fablehaven (Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven, Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven, Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven, Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
So many of you have recommended Melanie Dickerson, I am thinking if you choose any of her books they should be good. All of these books are a retelling of famous stories like Cinderella, Mulan, etc.
The Healers Apprentice (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Merchant’s Daughter (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Fairest Beauty (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Captive Maiden (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Princess Spy (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 5) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Golden Braid (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 6) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Silent Songbird (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 7) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Orphan’s Wish (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 8) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Warrior Maiden (Fairy Tale Romance Series book 9) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Piper’s Pursuit (Fairy Tale Romance Series Book 10) ~ (Kindle edition)
UnEnchanted: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition ~ usually FREE!) ***
Fairest (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
Fable (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
Reign (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition)
Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 5) ~ (Kindle edition)
I’ve had several recommendations to add The Ranger’s Apprentice series to the list. One of my boys has read the entire series (it was a very long time ago though). In some cases these books have some violence, but I don’t think it is anything too drastic, especially since so many of you have recommended this series for this list.
The Ruins of Gorlan (The Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Burning Bridge (The Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Icebound Land (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Battle for Skandia (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Sorcerer of the North (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 5) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Siege of Macindaw (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 6) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Erak’s Ransom (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 7) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Kings of Clonmel (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 8) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Halt’s Peril (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 9) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 10) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Lost Stories (Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 11) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning (Ranger’s Apprentice) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Princess of the Midnight Ball (Twelve Dancing Princesses Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition)
Princess of Glass (Twelve Dancing Princesses Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
Princess of the Silver Woods (Twelve Dancing Princesses Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Finisher (Vega Jane, Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Keeper (Vega Jane, Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Width of the World (Vega Jane, Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Stars Below (Vega Jane, Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition)
Heist Society (A Heist Society Book 1)
~ (Kindle edition) ***
Uncommon Criminals (A Heist Society Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
***
Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Warrior Heir (The Heir Chronicles Book 1)
~ (Kindle edition)
***
The Wizard Heir (Heir Chronicles Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Dragon Heir (Heir Chronicles Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Enchanter Heir (Heir Chronicles Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Sorcerer Heir (Heir Chronicles Book 5) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The False Prince (The Ascendance Series, Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Runaway King (The Ascendance Series, Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Series, Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
Cress (The Lunar Chronicles Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
Winter (The Lunar Chronicles Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition)
This series by Brandon Sanderson book series will even work for a slightly younger crowd. While the books are aimed for tweens and young teens it has been promised to me that teens will love this book (this promise comes from my college age kid who is home for break).
Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Scrivener’s Bones: Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Knights of Crystallia: Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Shattered Lens: Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Dark Talent: Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Book 5) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
I had a suggestion that the Brotherband Chronicles should be added to the list, this series was a favorite of one of my boys. There is some violence, but it isn’t too bad.
The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles, Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Invaders (Brotherband Chronicles, Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Hunters (Brotherband Chronicles, Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Slaves of Socorro (The Brotherband Chronicles, Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Scorpion Mountain (The Brotherband Chronicles, Book 5) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Ghostfaces (The Brotherband Chronicles, Book 6) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Michael Vey series was loved by both boys and girls in our family. My husband even read it with our 8 year old and they both liked it. It’s a great series for the whole family.
Michael Vey 1: The Prisoner of Cell 25
~ (Kindle edition
) ***
Michael Vey 2: Rise of the Elgen
~ (Kindle edition)
***
Michael Vey 3: Battle of the Ampere
~ (Kindle edition)
***
Michael Vey 4: Hunt for Jade Dragon ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Michael Vey 5: Storm of Lightning ~ (Kindle edition)
Michael Vey 6: Fall of Hades ~ (Kindle edition)
Michael Vey 7: The Final Spark ~ (Kindle edition)
This series happens to be a part of Kindle Unlimited, so if you are a member you can read these all of these for free.
The Girl Who Dared to Think ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Girl Who Dared to Stand ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Girl Who Dared to Descend ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Girl Who Dared to Rise ~ (Kindle edition)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead ~ (Kindle edition)
The Girl Who Dared to Endure ~ (Kindle edition)
The Girl Who Dared to Fight ~ (Kindle edition)
Matched ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Crossed ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Reached ~ (Kindle edition) ***
My daughter had read many Kasie West books, she is quickly becoming an “auto-buy” author for my daughter. Her favorite was the The Distance Between Us, it has some fun witty banter. The Pivot Point 2-book series was another fun one too. Other than Pivot Point, the rest of the books are stand alone books.
Pivot Point – (Kindle edition)
***
Split Second (Pivot Point) – (Kindle edition
) ***
The Distance Between Us – (Kindle edition)
***
Moment of Truth ~ (Kindle edition)
Love, Life, and the List ~ (Kindle edition)
Maybe This Time ~ (Kindle edition)
By Your Side ~ (Kindle edition)
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss ~ (Kindle edition)
Lucky in Love ~ (Kindle edition)
P.S. I Like You ~ (Kindle Edition) ***
On the Fence – 
(Kindle edition
) ***
The Fill-In Boyfriend
~ (Kindle edition)
***
Listen to Your Heart ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Selection Series by Kiera Cass is a popular one. My daughter has read the entire series and enjoyed them all. I will say that several people have mentioned that they do not consider all of these books appropriate. My daughter read these several years ago and she honestly doesn’t remember anything hugely inappropriate. Proceed with caution if you are concerned.
The Selection
– (Kindle edition
) ***
The Elite (The Selection)
– (Kindle edition
) ***
The One (The Selection)
– (Kindle edition)
***
The Crown (The Selection) – (Kindle edition) ***
The Heir (The Selection)
~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Siren ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Here is a series that boys will like, in fact, this series will even work for a slightly younger crowd too. I asked my son if he was sure that teens would like them and he assured me they would.
Slathbog’s Gold (Adventurers Wanted, Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Horn of Moran (Adventurer’s Wanted, Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Albrek’s Tomb (Adventurers Wanted, Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Sands of Nezza (Adventurers Wanted, Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Finding June (The June Series Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Chasing June (The June Series Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Catching June (The June Series Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
Keeping June (The June Series Book 4) ~ (Kindle edition)
Leviathan (Leviathan Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Behemoth (Leviathan Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
Goliath (Leviathan Book 3) ~ (Kindle edition)
Field Notes on Love ~ (Kindle edition)
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between ~ (Kindle edition)
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
~ (Kindle edition)
The Geography of You and Me
~ (Kindle edition)
This Is What Happy Looks Like
~ (Kindle edition)
I have heard nothing but great things about the Katie Parker Productions series. I loved that I was able to pick up the Kindle edition of the first book for FREE!
In Between (A Katie Parker Production – Volume 1)
– (Kindle edition
– Usually FREE!) ***
On the Loose (A Katie Parker Production – Volume 2) 
– (Kindle edition
)
The Big Picture (A Katie Parker Production – Volume 3) 
– (Kindle edition
)
Can’t Let You Go (A Katie Parker Production – Volume 4)
– (Kindle edition)
We’ve added the Christy Miller series to the list, there are actually 9 books in the original series (we’ve included 3 volumes each with 3 books). There have since been additional books added to this series, but we haven’t had the chance to read them yet.
The Christy Miller Collection, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Christy Miller Collection, Vol. 2 (Books 4-6) ~ (Kindle edition)
The Christy Miller Collection, Vol. 3 (Books 7-9) 
~ (Kindle edition
The Gallagher Girls was one of my daughter’s favorite series when she was younger (she’s in college now). She has actually read most of these books more than once. Definitely two thumbs up from her on the entire series.
I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls #1)
– (Kindle edition)
***
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls #2)
– (Kindle edition)
***
Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover (Gallagher Girls #3)
– (Kindle edition
) ***
Only the Good Spy Young (Gallagher Girls #4)
– (Kindle edition)
***
Out of Sight, Out of Time (Gallagher Girls #5)
– (Kindle edition
) ***
United We Spy (Gallagher Girls #6)
– (Kindle edition)
***
Many of you recommended we check out the Princess Academy series. These books are perfect for younger teens and tweens too.
Princess Academy
~ Kindle edition) ***
Princess Academy: Palace of Stone
~ (Kindle edition)
***
Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters
~ (Kindle edition)
***
Remembrandt
~ (Kindle edition)
Better Off Friends
~ (Kindle edition)
**The B**** word is used once**
~ 
Counting by 7s ~ (Kindle edition)
Dark Life (Dark Life Book 1)
– (Kindle edition)
Rip Tide (Dark Life Book 2)
– (Kindle edition)
Stargirl
~ (Kindle edition)
***
Where Love Finds You (The Unspoken Series)
~ (Kindle edition – Usually FREE!) ***
The Girl of Fire and Thorns
~ (Kindle edition)
***
Uglies ~ (Kindle edition) ***
Unearthly ~ (Kindle edition) ***
It’s Your Universe ~ (Kindle edition) ***
A Wrinkle in Time (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Best Kind of Magic (Windy City Magic, Book 1) ~ (Kindle edition) ***
The Sweetest Kind of Fate (Windy City Magic, Book 2) ~ (Kindle edition)
There You’ll Find Me
~ (Kindle edition)
***
Sean Griswold’s Head
~ (Kindle edition
) ***
Dreams By Starlight
~ (Kindle edition)
***
I have included links for all of these books at Amazon for both the print and Kindle editions. I highly recommend checking to see if these books are available at your library. I love, love, love my library system and I especially love the fact that I can check out ebooks with the OverDrive Media Console (it’s the coolest thing ever – no more late fees!)
Don’t forget to leave suggestions for books we can add to this list. Happy reading!
“The Gem Thief” by Siân Bessey is really good and clean as well. Thank you so much for this list–I have been looking for something like this!
I’m so happy to have found this list! Is it okay to suggest my own books? Match Me If You Can came out in January 2019, and How To Speak Boy comes out January 2020. They’re published by Swoon Reads/Macmillan and I’ve had lots of people compare them to Kasie West’s style. I’m working on my third book now too.
The Silver Sisters Series- Silver Moon of Summer,The Brightest Stars of Summer, and The Forget-Me-Not Summer. All clean books and suitable for tweens but are books that young teens would relate to a lot! Great sisterly dynamic and writing!
What a great list! My 13 year old loves to read and I can barely keep up with what to hand him next. He’s read all The Ranger’s Apprentice Books and he’s on the 7th Michael Vey book. I was having a hard time figuring out what to give him next because I didn’t want any cursing or anything sexual. Thank you so much!
if you’re looking for books with no cursing or sexual things, I recommend the Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt. he also has some other books related to that book. he is mostly clean with mentions that someone cussed, but no actual cussing
The Galendor Trilogy is a clean YA Fantasy series which has the voice of “Shrek” with the sentiment of “Narnia.”
My website, http://www.wericmyers.com details some thoughts behind the novels, and has links where you can download .PDF’s of the first three chapters of each.
I’ve read on several other sites that the Selection is very sensual. Laying on one another and coming close to sex, intense make out sessions, etc. Now I’m leery of trusting your other suggesions!
The Five Kingdoms is a great series, so is Fablehaven, Wings of Fire, and Percy Jackson!
I was thrilled when I saw that you have clean books for teens because I always read all of the books my children wanted to read for this very reason.
Return to Isle of the Shallows is a clean book for teens and is sold on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback..
https://www.amazon.com/Return-Isle-Shallows-Debra-White/dp/154397161X
First Earth: Book One in the Arch Mage Series just released in June… Book 2 coming soon!
Girl of Fire and Thorns series has homosexual stuff
THANKS!!!! I loved this list. It has saved me so much time and stress over what to let my 4 kids read.
I would recommend Patrick Matthews and his books Dragon Run and it’s new sequel The Boy With the Sword. My kids loved the first one, and they are getting the second one for Christmas! pat-matthews.com for the book info, it’s a really good series!
My son discovered the Bodyguard series by Chris Bradford. They are great. I am even enjoying them.
Thank you!! Thank you so much for making this list and updating it! My teen daughter is a total bookworm and a sucker for romance. Ideally I’d like to proof her books but she reads faster then I can 🤣 so this blog has been super helpful for this worried momma!
I am looking for books for guys ages 14-18 that have no swearing or intimate scenes. I have readers with these personal requirements. I have tried indies–and I would welcome more of them. Please help, if you can. So many books have female protagonists that these guys are feeling the discrimination. Help,
Try books by Brandon Sanderson.
Wings series by Aprilynne pike, the rest of Chanda hahns unenchanted series and her other books! Amazing. Maximum ride by James Patterson. Red queen series by Victoria Aveyard. Dragonfly by Julia golding. Just Ella by Annette K Larsen.
Great list!
I’d like to suggest you add the books in the Hannah and Tamar Mystery series to this list. Family friendly, clean series about two teenaged sisters who solve mysteries.
-Masie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
-Epic Order of the Seven series/Amazing Tales of Maz & Liz series by Jenny L. Cote
-Midnight series by Bryna Butler
-Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
-there are some others, but I forgot what I was going to say 😉
Our nonprofit publishes a list of clean books for grades 3-12 each year! Take a look for recommendations for you and your kids:
http://www.tomesociety.org/books.html
If it’s okay at all to post about our own books, I’ll tell you that my first novel, Riddle, by Amanda Cale, is a clean YA adventure, sci-fi but in the vein of a portal fantasy. I’m independently published and currently working on the sequel, Compass.
Here’s a link: https://www.amazon.com/Riddle-Amanda-Cale-ebook/dp/B00HT1Y4DC/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=riddle+amanda+cale&qid=1580592293&sr=8-1
Amanda – Absolutely! I you have a book that fits the bill, feel free to share.
Some books I have really enjoyed as a teen are the Knights of Arethtrae series, Wars of the Realm series, and most recently the Starlore Legacy all by Chuck Black. His books are always clean and adventurous!
I am a teenager. Some of my friends read the Selection series and said that they had inappropriate parts, like almost sex and suggestive scenes or even mentioning things the other girls would do with the prince. They said they would never read the books again because of what was in it.
I read them (I’m sixteen) they did have parts that I skipped and I also wouldn’t reread them or really recommend them… But I’m pretty picky about the content in the book I read.
Also there was some gay stuff in one of those book which I didn’t prefer but that’s just me…
Please keep updating this page! A lot of these books are great and this is a great resource. I am 16 and always struggling to find clean books. Brandon Sanderson is my brother’s favourite author, and I have really enjoyed a lot of these other books as well. Especially right now we need books to read.
I would like to recommend Chuck Black’s books. They are amazing! I’ve read some of the Kingdom series and the Wars of the Realm trilogy. They are clean and keep you on your feet.
Also, any book by Jennifer A. Nielsen is clean and purely brilliant! The False Prince by her is my favorite.
Yesssss!!!! I love both of those authors!!! And the false prince series is definitely one of my all-time favorites 🥰
Can you add more mystery books? I can’t find any clean ones and would love to have some suggestions!
This is in response to: Sadie 🙂 who asked:
Can you add more mystery books? I can’t find any clean ones and would love to have some suggestions!
My suggestion: The Fuller Creek Series by David C. Reyes. Beginning with “The Mystery of Fuller Creek Mine. It’s very good!
Please add Spring Hellams’ books to your list of clean reads for teens! Thank you!
All of Jeff Wheeler’s books have no sex. I don’t think they have any language but there is some mild violence (arrows, sword fights and brief war). He is part of a group of fantasy writers that keep their work clean and also share an e-zine of clean fantasy/sci fi short stories on Amazon.
Wheeler’s work consists of multiple series all intertwined. About 34 books in all. Recommended for boys, girls and adults alike. I would say 13+ since some books have frightening scenes.
He is an amazing world builder like Brandon Sanderson. Creates characters with true depth and strength and has a morality thread of good vs evil throughout. He also likes to base his characters on historical figures.
I would start with the Wretched of Muirwood, the first in a trilogy about an orphan servant at an abbey who finds she has deep power and faces adversity when she wants to be a student and not a servant. It has a medieval fantasy setting but Wheeler’s series bridge from medieval to fairy worlds to hovering worlds with airships and all are captivating. They also have that “re-readable” factor that everyone wants.
(The Fireblood trilogy, has the most violence– very much like the first book of the Hunger Games. The rest are more mild).
I also have struggled to find clean teen reads and just came across one that fits the bill! Description says it’s “near-apocalyptic urban fantasy” and I’d say that describes it pretty well. It’s called Lock Down by Aella Black and is free on Kindle Unlimited.
I was a little sad that I’ve read almost all of these😂🤦🏼♀️ I love so many of them too! Thanks for all those recommendations. Here are a few of my favorite authors/books. An author I really enjoy is Melanie Cellier (she currently has 20 books out right now I think) She mainly retells fairy tales and her sister Deborah white also has some awesome book out. The Percy Jackson series is also really good. I know this series is more for adults but I really enjoyed the O’Malley series by Dee Henderson! Also the intwined tales (6 book series) is really good. And Edenbrook by Julianne Donaldson is definitely one of my favorite books!
We are in the process of doing a HUGE update to this list. I appreciate you recommendations. I know my kids have read the Percy Jackson series for sure.
I would like to recommend “When We Were Lost” by UK writer Kevin Wignall. It is published as part of the ‘James Patterson Presents’ series. It is a story about a group of schoolchildren stranded in the jungle after the aeroplane taking them of a school trip crashes. There are some violent incidents, but there are no profanities in the text and nothing sexual. Recommended for boys and girls. My 16 year old son is loving it.
The Gateway Chronicles by KB Hoyle!! Not the most popular, but definitely worthwhile!!!
A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier
Thank you so much for this list! Very appreciated and hard to find!
Thank you so much for this list! This is so incredibly helpful!
I looked up the Michael Vey books and several reviewers mentioned scenes of torture. Maybe many kids today are desensitized to that, but I am glad I saw those reviews before giving the books to my kids.
The Immortal Series by Alyson Noel and the Fallen Series by Lauren Kate are also good reads.The Kissed by an Angel series by Elizabeth Chandler also a very clean read.
I’m a teen and have struggled to find wholesome books that are still intriguing for my age interest. I appreciate this list and the books in the comments bar and will definitely try some out! I dabbled in The Selection series and sadly also found them inappropriate. I really loved the False Prince series and Keeper of the list Cities is forever my all time favorite series. I’ve also loved: The Princess at the Midnight Ball; Real, Not Perfect; The Princess Academy series and Curses and Smoke. Highly Recommend!! Please add more soon!
Hi! I found a book series for boys, about life & living with today’s issues & how to over come them! By Lane Walker, he has 2 actually! A “fishing chronicles” set and a “deer hunting camp” set! I’ve given those books to all my nephews! I also remember reading when I was a teen a book set about a girl with leukemia, call “6 Months to Live and I Want to Live”. My niece broke her wrists in an accident so I found those books on Amazon and sent them to read after her surgery to recuperate & she had them read in a few days! I think they’ve added another book to it too…just wanted to put that out there! Thanks for this list!
I am a teen who’s an absolute bookworm. Some books that I love are the Hunger Games (pretty violent I’d say 13+ ), Divergent (one suggestive scene in book two), Maze Runner (thriller a bit violent in books two and three), Percy Jackson and the Olympians (completely clean) The Heroes of Olympus (sequel series to PJatO; some gay content), The Selection (some suggestive content), The Baxter Family Series (redemption family series, author has about a hundred books currently published), River of Time (mild suggestive content in book three), Seeds of America (completely clean), The Green Ember (completely clean) and I’ve read the Twelve Dancing Princess series that Christy mentioned and they were great. If anyone has any family books recommendations I’d appreciate it.
I realize this is years after the original post but if I landed here today maybe these will help someone:
-A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr has a male protagonist, great pacing and character development, and a redemptive story arc. There is light romantic interest as a non-dominant part of the story but is chaste (a kiss or two only). It is the first of a series but I’ve only read this one. Magic and adventure abound, very fun read for anyone, first in a series I intent to continue reading.
-The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss has a male protagonist and is also a fantasy with fun magical elements, an underdog orphan away at a school learning about magic with the goal of avenging his parent’s death (a bit like HPotter in that way), very entertaining. Not much in the way of romance in book 1, though the second book has a whole section devoted to the main character’s sexual pursuits, and the third book may never be published so I have to admit it’s a bit disappointing to have such a great time reading the first one and not be able to finish the series. But this one book fits the bill, is super long and will keep your reader (or yourself) up late with a flashlight. Also great on audio and well worth your Audible credit for the month.
-The Four Kingdoms series by author Melanie Cellier is great chaste romance with strong female protagonist princesses retelling various fairy tales with characters that interlock within the series, so once you build the map in your head you can use it for all the stories. The male supporting characters are also have good character and intentions and it’s nice to see stories where the girl falls in love with a decent person instead of a brooding, rude, or stand-off-ish character or someone she thinks she can change. First in the series is called A Princess Companion.
-Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. While this author has many other works that I would not recommend for a list of “clean” books, this one title is both chaste and a fun magical adventurous take on Rumplestiltskin with a strong female protagonist. I have also read her Uprooted which was so engrossing but had one romantic scene and some pretty violent fighting, so proceed to her other very entertaining books forewarned.
-Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card. This is time-travel sci-fi in which our future society sends three members back to the time of Christopher Columbus to save both the planet and humanity. There is so much good in this book–combating racism, self-sacrifice, etc, well told and fun to read. Would be a great read for high schoolers and up.
-Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Classic and squeaky clean, unless you include the untold adventures of Kitty and Wickham before they marry. Suitable for any teen who will give it an honest chance, and so many beautiful, gift-worthy editions available.
I’ve read many of these books, but some are brand new to me. I so appreciate a compiled list of clean reads, tried and true. Thank you! I’m also an author of clean YA novels and would love for you to consider my publications: “Stella-Barone-McGillivray,” “The Death of Pluto,” and “Fortunes, Feet, & the Five-step Girl” (coming soon). Thanks Christy!
The Queen’s Thief series by Meghan Whalen Turner is excellent with a clever protagonist who is always one step ahead.
There is a series of about 100 books written by a World War 1 veteran. The titles always begin with Biggles.
They are always a great read. There is no swearing or sexual content (apart from a kiss).
The only thing that would probably offend some is the Characters smoke quite often(as accepted when the books were written.
All in all an amazing read for both YA looking for something different to read.