Looking for an eclectic collection of YA books with teen boys as protagonists to read? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger, I’ve spent over a decade reading, analyzing, and recommending the best novels to answer that question.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than twenty of my favorites in the roundup below. I’ve personally curated this collection from my own bookshelves. Some are popular high-stakes thrillers, and others are hidden-gem mysteries. All of them include compelling male protagonists who defy expectations.
Forgotten But Never Gone by Khristina Chess
“I think it was this rebellious quality about her that allowed everyone to write off her disappearance so easily. Kids like Half-pint ran away. This whole generation was full of delinquents. Blah, blah, blah.” – Khristina Chess, quote from Forgotten But Never Gone
I love watching those “small-town cold case” shows and old unsolved mysteries, and Forgotten But Never Gone had that kind of vibe for me.
The story opens with the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Rosie Fields. One of the last to see her was Bobby, a foster kid and loyal male friend whose life Rosie once saved. When the police dismiss her case as just another runaway, Bobby refuses to accept it, and in his relentless search, he follows one lead after another until he makes a shocking discovery.
Set in 1980, this YA novel really transported me back to a nostalgic time before AMBER alerts and 24-hour news cycles, when carefree teenagers roamed neighborhoods with little supervision and always returned home in time for supper.
Except sometimes they didn’t.
I felt like Bobby, the amateur sleuth in this novel, was a relatable and multifaceted character. Unlike many female-led mysteries that focus on social hierarchies, Bobby’s journey is defined by his "outsider" status, making this amateur sleuth story a compelling choice for readers looking for YA books with male characters.
I liked how the layered and unsettling mystery in Forgotten But Never Gone exposes some of the reasons why more people seemed to vanish without a trace in the 70s and 80s. What makes this book especially powerful for me was its dual resonance: it’s both a gripping page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of how society failed vulnerable youth in the past.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
“We all have to find our own ways to say good-bye.” ― Sherman Alexie, quote from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
The writing in this authentic book with a male lead is delightful. It often makes banned book lists because of the profanity and running commentary about sexual situations, but I promise that it will make you laugh out loud. That’s why you should read it immediately if you’re looking for YA books with teen boy protagonists, diverse representation, and authentic voices.
Junior Spirit’s story is funny, heartbreaking, inspiring, and brave. I loved his quirky voice, his cartoons, and I cheered so hard for him in his basketball game.
This novel highlights the contrast between extreme poverty and wealth, as well as racial differences. These themes are handled with humor and sensitivity.
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
“You might think I lost all hope at that point. I did. And as a result I perked up and felt much better.” ― Yann Martel, quote from The Life of Pi
This story has so many layers. At its heart, a man is telling the story of how he survived a shipwreck as a young boy. But The Life of Pi is about so much more than that! Young Pi demonstrates courage, resilience, faith, hope, and strength of character, and at the end of his heartbreaking journey, I was left wondering what really happened. I know what I wanted to believe, but there is a difference between what is probable and what is possible.
The movie adaptation of this novel is stunning and breathtaking in its beauty. I highly recommend that you read the book and then watch the film. If you’re looking for amazing YA books about survival with teen boys as the protagonist, The Life of Pi will wreck you.
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
I re-read this book in 2022, twenty years after the first reading. I remembered only that I really liked it at the time, but nothing about the story or what made it so special.
Well. Eleven-year-old Reuben Land is present when his older brother, Davey, commits murder. Their younger sister, Swede, a lover of rhyming verse and westerns, suggests that they break Davey out of prison, but he escapes before they hatch a plan. Still, Reuben, Swede, and their father, Jeremiah Land, who can perform miracles, set out on a journey to find Davey in the Badlands. And so their adventure begins.
The writing in this book is lyrical, sometimes comical, an older voice for an eleven-year-old boy protagonist, but mesmerizing nonetheless. It's easy to see why my younger self loved this book, and my older self loves this book on a whole new level. Leif Enger's storytelling is rich and wonderful.
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
“Everybody told me to be a man. Nobody told me how.” ― Laurie Halse Anderson, quote from Twisted
I could totally see Twisted as a teen movie. Tyler has a crush on the high school popular girl, and after a summer of mandatory community service and a growth spurt, he’s suddenly “hot.” A dream come true, right? But Tyler has a lot of family and personal problems that are the reason behind his poor life choices. He was in trouble for a reason.
The plot is complex and nuanced, and there are so many things about this book that I love. Tyler has to figure out how to be a normal guy even though he comes from such a messed up family. I was rooting for him!
If you’ve missed this one, Laurie Halse Anderson has written a powerful YA book with a teen boy protagonist. She’s also on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
“You know a guy a longtime, and I mean really know him, you don't get used to the idea that he's dead just overnight.” ― S.E. Hinton, quote from The Outsiders
Siblings from the Greasers rumble with rivals from the Socs, and violence ultimately escalates into death of one of the boys. Because the novel portrays gang violence, this classic YA book about siblings was controversial at the time of its publication in 1967 and is still banned in some schools today.
There’s a lot going on in this book, which is why it continues to resonate with readers today. The main character is a fourteen-year-old boy named Ponyboy; he looks like a James Dean sort with the hair and clothes but with a smart, bookish personality. From a sibling relationship perspective, Ponyboy and his older brother, Darry, have an unusually close bond. Darry is raising Ponyboy because their parents are dead. Ponyboy has another brother, Sodapop, who he shares a physical resemblance. These relationships between the three siblings is an important theme in the novel.
The Outsiders is a must-read, all-time-great in a list of YA books teen boy protagonists. The book’s title says it all! And if you’re interested in other challenged and banned books like this one, check out my post on The Best Banned YA Books and Why You Should Read Them.
Property of Nobody by Khristina Chess
“No one is coming for you. No one is missing you. And no one will mourn you if you’re killed.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from Property of Nobody
In a genre where male voices are rare, young Teódulo stands out—a gripping, unforgettable protagonist trapped in the insidious web of debt bondage after the murder of his father. His descent into horror is slow, suffocating, inevitable. I worried for him. I clung to every choice he made, knowing escape might never come.
What stood out for me is that this novel doesn’t just tell a story; it challenges readers to look at the dark underbelly of human trafficking, organized crime, and the vulnerable children we’re too afraid to see.
It’s haunting. It’s brutal. It’s harrowing.
Freedom is not free.
With its riveting storytelling, unusual male perspective, and powerful themes, Property of Nobody has sparked conversations across book clubs in my local community. It remains one of the few YA novels that tackles the 'unseen' reality of child debt bondage in the American meat processing industry, making it a critical read for those seeking diverse male voices.
If you’re searching for a YA book with a teen boy lead that addresses complex social justice themes, I highly recommend Property of Nobody as an essential read.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
“There comes a time when we realize that our parents cannot save themselves or save us, that everyone who wades through time eventually gets dragged out to sea by the undertow-that, in short, we are all going.” ― John Green, quote from Looking for Alaska
Miles Halter goes away to boarding school, where he makes new friends, takes up drinking and smoking, breaks some rules, and meets a hot girl named Alaska Young. She’s the ringleader of the merry group’s adventures. She’s the one who can get alcohol and cigarettes.
She’s a bit wild.
Then one night while they’re all partying, she receives a phone call and takes off in her car. She never returns.
If you’re looking for an excellent YA book with teen boys as protagonists, you won’t want to miss this one. In fact, John Green is such a great author that he’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because he’s all-around amazing!
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
“We used to be pretty good friends, but fourteen-year-old girls are psychotic.” ― Jesse Andrews, quote from Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
How can a book about a teenage girl dying from leukemia be so funny?
Greg and Earl are weird, unlikely friends and amateur filmmakers who manage to fly below the radar at school and enjoy their private world. Then Greg’s mom makes him reach out to Rachel, a childhood friend who has been diagnosed with leukemia and needs a friend.
Earl turns out to be the more compassionate of the pair, and the two of them set out to make a movie about Rachel. Their brilliant idea fails in execution and is the Worst Film Ever Made.
This fun, funny, and all-around wonderful YA book about friendship and teen male voices is full of crude humor, heart, honesty, and surprises as Greg learns things about his long-time friend Earl, as well as himself, through this journey with the dying girl, Rachel. I can’t say enough good about it. Buy it. Read it. Laugh.
The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island by Scott Semegran
It makes me sad to think that 1986 is “historical fiction,” but it is. I picked up this novel because it was the 2021 First Place winner for Middle-Grade/Young Adult Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards. Wow! It hooked me immediately and didn’t let go.
Four middle-school boys find a backpack full of cash and pot left behind by their nemesis bullies, the Thousand Oaks Gang, and after evading them fails (they get beat up), they decide to retreat to an abandoned lake house for a few days. Being kids, they haven’t thought this through. The bullies find them. They end up stranded on an island with no food, water, or shelter and must survive until someone rescues them.
I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this novel. I felt I was in great storytelling hands with Semegran. I don’t usually like Middle Grade novels; they usually are too young for me to really appreciate. But The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island has something special. As others have noted, it reminds me of The Body by Stephen King, which inspired Stand by Me (the movie). Perhaps it is the narrator’s voice, which seems older and wiser than his young years.
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
“Killing things shouldn't make you happy, Rosa. That's why they're worried.” ― Justine Larbalestier, quote from My Sister Rosa
I went into this book with high expectations that Rosa would be some creepy 10-year-old future (or current) serial killer, and that story question drove the plot for me. What terrible thing will she do?
Che is a male lead who tries his best to keep his sister from hurting others, but his success is mixed. Although there are some slow points, the pacing in the second half of the book is excellent, and events took some thrilling and quite unexpected turns.
Most of the conversations between Che and his sister Rosa, who is a psychopath, are fascinating, dark, and disturbing.
Rosa shrugs. “How should I know? I asked Seimone lots of questions. She answered them all. I showed an interest. I know all sorts of things about her now.”
She’s a seriously messed-up kid.
Rosa smirks though she can’t see the phone. “I’m going to get a dog, Che. When I get it I won’t hurt it. You’ll see. I keep my promises.”
Indeed she does.
If you’re looking for the next YA book with a teen boy protagonist to read, I highly recommend My Sister Rosa. In fact, if reading about characters with “empathy erosion” interests you, you’ll find a list of similar titles in my post on Chilling Teen Psychopath Books That Evoke Strong Emotions.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
“A brave man helps. A coward just gives presents.” ― Stephen King, quote from Fairy Tale
I don’t usually think about Stephen King novels as “young adult,” but a novel about a teenage boy and a dog on a journey into a magical realm with themes of friendship and coming of age is just about as YA as it gets.
In fact, I would even say that Fairy Tale is Stephen King at his very best. This novel is multi-layered, with 3 distinct stories wrapped into a long, cascading, wonderful, and satisfying read.
The first story is how Charlie Reade meets Mr. Bowditch and his dog Radar in the first place. Settle in. There's a mystery here, and there's something supernatural, of course, because it's Stephen King.
That story leads the male protagonist Charlie on an epic journey with Radar to the center of another world, and this story is full of unique characters, dazzling details, and conflict in its own right. No sooner does this part of the story reach its conclusion than a new one begins, where Charlie is taken prisoner and is realized as the Prince That Was Promised, who has come to save the decaying kingdom.
Now the third story takes off, and there are monsters, giants, gladiator games, and all sorts of villains to be slain. There are princesses to be restored to kingdoms. There is a giant cricket king. It is a fairy tale, after all, as only Stephen King can tell.
I loved this book. At times, it reminded me of The Talisman, The Gunslinger, and The Stand for different reasons. It had this beautiful, epic quality. I didn't want it to, but of course, every fairy tale must.
In fact, Stephen King writes amazing contemporary fiction with teen boys as protagonists. The Body comes to mind. The characters in Christine are also teen boys.
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
“Certain things between friends are said not because you don't know them, but because you need the other person just to say them.” ― Jennifer Bradbury, quote from Shift
I read this one many years ago, but it stuck with me as a great YA book with teen boys as protagonists that explores one of the most important and transitional times in a person’s life: end of high school and beginning of college.
It’s a satisfying, fast-paced read that entertains until the end. Be sure to add it to your shopping cart this year.
The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
"Perception is relative. So is sanity, if you think about it. It's totally a Minority vs. Majority thing. If you fall on one side of the line, take a ticket and proceed. If you fall on the other, shit gets real." ― K. Ancrum, quote from The Wicker King
This novel is a fast-paced read with super-compelling male characters in a relationship that evolves into a more dangerous thing with each passing page. I had a paperback copy and enjoyed the layout and visual design of the experience of the book. You can physically see the descent into darkness on the side of the pages. The creativity in this technique makes this book special.
There are moments between these two boys that are truly chilling, when Jack's dominance over August goes too far:
"We have to drown you," Jack continued bluntly. "Or just nearly enough that you pass through the gates, but not so much that you can't come back from there."
I won't give any more away. The psychological dynamic between these two boys will draw you in and keep the pages turning!
I recommend splurging on the paperback for this one so you can enjoy the visuals.
Unquiet Riot by Khristina Chess
“Henry used a type of camouflage—in his case, those corny jokes and the way he dressed—to hide the game. No one could be allowed to know his special ability to detect who was real and who was an agent. Not even me.“― Khristina Chess, quote from Unquiet Riot
What happens when everyone knows something’s wrong but says nothing?
Fans of books with unreliable narrators will love Unquiet Riot, a binge-worthy contemporary novel with a psychopathic teen boy protagonist. The unusual perspective makes this a standout recommendation for readers who love dark psychological thrillers.
Riley isn’t a psychopath—or at least that’s what he says.
Henry is a fascinating new arrival in school. Henry is dangerous. He believes the world is crawling with robot impostors, that shadows escape from electrical wires, that knives beneath his mattress will keep the monsters away. For Riley, stepping into Henry’s world is like visiting a foreign country—thrilling, unpredictable, alive.
Then Henry vanishes. The police come knocking. And Riley lies.
Now it’s a game. If Henry talks, Riley loses.
Unlike other bestselling novels about the topic of school violence, Unquiet Riot is a dark thriller that unravels friendship, deception, and the quiet complicity that allows tragedy to happen. Riley will mess with your head and make you question everything.
The History of Jane Doe by Michael Belanger
“And most of all, Jane, f*#!ck you for leaving me here alone. For showing me happiness and then taking it all away.” ― Michael Belanger, quote from The History of Jane Doe
I picked up this book because I saw a positive review on Goodreads, but I didn't have any real idea what it was about except "read this book." The back-and-forth in time was confusing at first, but it seemed to adequately reflect Ray's state of mind and how he was dealing with his grief and the events after his girlfriend committed suicide. The book does a great job of exploring the helpless and unanswerable questions that someone like Jane leaves us with. I felt empathy for her parents, for Simon, for Ray, for Ray's parents, even the counselor. History shows that she touched everyone deeply and differently.
She will not be forgotten.
You will want to read this YA book with teen boys as protagonists. Ray is a male voice worth knowing and listening to.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
“You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything… affects everything.” ― Jay Asher, quote from Thirteen Reasons Why
Hannah Baker committed suicide, and she left behind 13 tapes explaining why she did it.
When Clay receives these tapes, he goes on a journey to understand why she did it. It’s a terrible story involving crimes, and with every tape, there is suspense in wondering how Clay contributed to this girl’s death.
Clay is a nice guy. He has a thing for Hannah. It doesn’t seem he could have anything to do with it, but this story shows how you often don’t know what another person is going through.
Jay Asher’s popular novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, is one of the best YA books about suicide, and it’s one of the most popular YA books about bullying. It became a super-popular series on Netflix; there’s a reason it has become a #1 New York Times and International Bestseller. If you somehow missed it and are searching for novels with teen boys as protagonists, you should definitely check it out.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
“You see, a conflict always begins with an issue - a difference of opinion, an argument. But by the time it turns into a war, the issue doesn't matter anymore, because now it's about one thing and one thing only: how much each side hates the other.” ― Neal Shusterman, quote from Unwind
Unwind is Book #1 in a 5-part dystopian YA series in which unruly teen boys (and girls) may be sent to "Harvest Camps" to be chopped up for parts if their parents sign the papers. No part is wasted.
Some, like the male protagonist named Connor, are signed over because of behavior problems. Others, like Risa, are wards of the state who simply don't make the cut in terms of protegee status. Lev, a young boy making a religious tithe, is a willing victim in the beginning, but after being kidnapped and freed by Connor, he also changes.
The concept of this series and the plotting are great, and I'm interested to see where the rest of the books go. There were moments, though, where I thought the book fell short of greatness. For example:
If a parent is able to bring all the parts of their child back together again, can they recover their child?
Where do the souls of these children go?
There are some attempts at these questions, but I wanted the book to go deeper. The fact that I keep thinking about the unwinding process means that something important is being covered here.
If you’re searching for YA books with teen boys as viewpoint characters, I recommend the Unwind series.
Paper Towns by John Green
“I'm not saying that everything is survivable. Just that everything except the last thing is.” ― John Green, quote from Paper Towns
The cover on Paper Towns was the first thing to catch my attention, but the voice of the teen boy protagonist, Quentin Jacobsen, was what kept me up at night. His crush on Margo is so believable. She’s one of those “wild girls” who loves pushing boundaries and doing outlandish things. I loved the overnight adventure that Quentin takes with Margo.
But then the novel turned into a mystery. What happened to Margo? Does she want Quentin to find him? Did she run away—or did something more sinister happen?
If you loved Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars and want more of that John Green Goodness, give Paper Towns a try.
Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill
“If there's one thing I've learned, it's that people are bad at keeping secrets, and eventually everything shows.” ― Cristin Terrill, quote from Here Lies Daniel Tate
This YA mystery thriller is about a stolen identity, secrets, and scams. The story has a great premise, and the protagonist, Daniel Tate, is an interesting and unreliable narrator to the very end. The pacing of the story is excellent. I liked the way the author pulled everything together. I won’t give away the mystery except to say that it seemed both fitting and sad.
Kids of Appetite by David Arnold
I eagerly picked this up because I enjoyed Mosquitoland so much—plus this cover is amazing, right? However, I really struggled to complete this one. The story of Vic's journey to scatter his father's ashes and make peace came together in the end, but I was really frustrated by the "chapters" (characters) that took up the first 2/3 of the book.
I was sorry that this novel just didn’t do it for me, but I know lots of other readers loved it. If you’re looking for a brooding friendship and coming-of-age story with a male protagonist, Kids of Appetite may appeal to you.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
“Tentacles is my term—the Tentacles are the evil tasks that invade my life. Like, for example, my American History class last week, which necessitated me writing a paper on the weapons of the Revolutionary War, which necessitated me traveling to the Metropolitan museum to check out some of the old guns, which necessitated me getting in the subway, which necessitated me being away from my cell phone and e-mail for 45 minutes, which meant that I didn’t get to respond to a mass mail sent out by my teacher asking who needed extra credit, which meant other kids snapped up the extra credit, which meant I wasn’t going to get a 98 in the class, which meant I wasn’t anywhere close to a 98.6 average (body temperature, that’s what you needed to get), which meant I wasn’t going to get into a Good College, which meant I wasn’t going to have a Good Job, which meant I wasn’t going to have health insurance, which meant I’d have to pay tremendous amounts of money for the shrinks and drugs my brain needed, which meant I wasn’t going to have enough money to pay for a Good Lifestyle, which meant I’d feel ashamed, which meant I’d get depressed, and that was the big one because I knew what that did to me: it made it so I wouldn’t get out of bed, which led to the ultimate thing—homelessness.” ― Ned Vizzini, quote from It’s Kind of a Funny Story
I know it’s a really long quote, but I couldn’t resist including it.
That is the wonderful, funny, and utterly unique voice of the male narrator of this novel, Craig Gilner, who has ambitious goals for his life but who also suffers from anxiety and depression. He’s trying. Really. But things like The Tentacles get in the way.
I loved this book! Really loved it. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in YA novels about depression and anxiety that have teen boys as protagonists.
Buy it. Read it. Ned Vizzini’s writing is masterful. It’s so incredibly sad that this author died from an apparent suicide.
The Haters by Jesse Andrews
What happens when two best friends and a girl run away from band camp to go "on tour" by themselves? Music. Bad jokes. Some partying. Sex. Driving.
Jesse Andrews writes with a quirky style and teenage boy voice that makes his characters entertaining. Wes' backstory, for example, is presented is a Wikipedia article.
Unfortunately I never became invested in the musical goals of Wes, Corey, and Ash because the characters were generally so annoying.
I really enjoyed Andrews' Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, and this one is a similar cast of characters (two boys and a girl)—but without the same execution.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
“But still there are moments when a brother and sister can lay down their instruments of torture for a moment and speak as civilized human beings and Bruno decided to make this one of those moments.” ― John Boyne, quote from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Bruno is a privileged, nine-year-old son of a Nazi commander. His house in Berlin has 5 stories, so when his father is transferred to "Out-With" and a house with only 3 stories, he's quite disappointed. There are no children for him to play with at "Out-With," until one day he goes exploring the fence and meets a boy wearing striped pajamas.
I forget what recommendation landed this slim novel in my reading pile, but I didn't have proper expectations. Twist ending! Bruno's misguided, innocent, and sometimes amusing perspectives drew me into the story. At times, Bruno seemed downright cruel in his cluelessness, like when he carried food to his starving Jewish friend, but he got "peckish" on the walk and ate it all along the way.
Despite the simplistic writing, this novel portrays powerful adult themes. The last line of the book is a gut punch. I will be thinking about this one for a long time. If you like historical YA novels with teen boys as protagonists, I know you’ll enjoy this one too.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
“There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.” ― Khaled Hosseini, quote from The Kite Runner
Set in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan war and rise of the Taliban, an unlikely friendship develops between two boys of different social class.
The quote about childhoods represents a truly shocking scene in this novel where a young boy in search of a kite is gang raped in an alley, and his helpless friend is witness to the event. This becomes a heavy secret between the friends.
The Kite Runner is about so much more than that one scene, that one event, but like so many pivot points in a life, it changed everything and set events in motion. The story itself is epic, sweeping, spanning time and events in a country that I had not read about before. Khaled Hosseini shows that the experiences of being human are the same, regardless of geographical location and culture.
His other novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is also wonderful. If you are looking for a more mature and epic historical novel with male protagonists, read the work of Khaled Hosseini.
Other YA Books with Teen Boys as Protagonists
If you are looking for even more YA books with teen boys as protagonists, check out the YA Male Protagonists, YA Books Boys Will Love, and Best YA Books for YA Men lists on Goodreads.
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
