Best books for young adults in India

If there is one thing that gives me joy; it is to see my boys snuggled with a book than wasting their time on a mindless video game or scrolling through YouTube videos. Which is what they do too, but if they spot a new book, everything else takes a back seat. Here is a list of some of the best books for young adults that have found its way home and some that are there in the wish list. Reading books help kids and children develop basic language skills and expand their vocabularies—much more than any other media. Books are interactive and they demand that kids think. It opens up a world of thoughts and imagination. It doesn’t matter whether you read fiction or nonfiction. Books in any form help to widen our consciousness.

Here is a list of best books for young adults in India. Some of these are teenage novels by Indian authors as well. I love reading Indian authors and that is one of the main reasons why I am introducing them to the same genre. If you personally recommend any books for young adults please leave a comment so that I can pick it up for the boys. We would be eternally grateful to you for widening our horizons!

Why reading is important for young children?

Sharing stories, talking and singing every day helps your child’s development in many ways. Reading books opens up new avenues altogether and make them think and visualize better. Some of the benefits of reading include:

• helping children learn words and develop early literacy skills
• learning to value books and stories
• sparking their imagination and stimulating curiosity
• helping to develop your child’s brain, ability to focus, concentration and hone their communication skills
• helping your child learn the difference between ‘real’ and ‘make-believe’
• introducing your child to new as well their cultures

Best books for young adults in India

Here are some books that I have listed which are apt for young adults in India. The average age of reading for most of the books is 12+. If you are like me, you may want to give this a read first and figure out if its apt for kids too.

Spooky Stories by Tanushree Podder

A writer Anirudh finds himself in a nondescript station when he jumps out of the train to catch a thief. He ends up missing his train, but finds himself in the company of a dozen strangers in the waiting room. Add to it a power cut! Deciding to make the best of his wait at the station, he decides to let the people in the waiting swap tales on spooky encounters. With the next train due at dawn, he thinks it’ll be fun to exchange scary stories. What are the stories about? Does it connect every passenger to each other? Was it luck or a coincidence that he meets these twelve strangers in the middle of literally nowhere? Read the Spooky Stories to know more! Priced at INR, 159, you can buy this book from Amazon India here.

Along Came A Spyder by Apeksha Rao

A family with a lineage of spies. From the great grandmother to the parents who work elite intelligence agents for RAW. But there is something amiss here. Why do her parents not want Samira to follow the family’s footsteps? Why should she be a doctor and not a spy? As 17 year old Samira battles her insecurities and tries to get an answer, the opportunity to show off her spying skills comes to her accidentally when she realizes her friend is in danger. What she also stumbles across is a secret sisterhood of teen spies — The Spyders. Excited beyond measure, she wants to be a part of the sisterhood. But the question is; are they willing to accept her? Priced at INR 236, you can buy this book from Amazon India here.

MUST READ: 8 Books every child must read

Asmara’s Summer by Andaleeb Wajid

Seventeen-year-old Asmara is everything a young girl in college desires to be. Funny, witty and pretty. But behind all the popularity is a secret she’s desperate to hide. The secret being her grandparents reside in Tannery Road, a place known for its lower middle-class Muslim population. A secret that is well kept, but the feeling of doom arises when she realizes she has to spend the summer holidays with her grandparents. Yes, at Tannery Road will be her new address all through the summer holidays. As the nightmare begins to unfold, Samara is worried about her popularity in the college at stake. Will the summer vacations unfold life lessons or will it be a wild, wild nightmare? Join Asmara in her journey. Priced at INR 192, you can buy this book from Amazon India here.

A Children’s History Of India by Subhadra Sen Gupta

A non fiction finds its way to this list. Honestly, I was in two thoughts if I should add this book here. The reason I have added this book to the list is because it’s a brilliant read that acquaints the children to the ancient stories that have mesmerized us for so long. History was one of my favorite subjects at school. Probably because I was one of the students who read out paragraphs everyday in class. Needless to say, one had to be prepared because you never knew which question would be hurled at you! No, my kids haven’t read it as yet, because they think its yet another fat history book. But I really love the way the concepts and time lines have been explained in the book; complete with reference links and small nuggets of information. If you child loves history, make this book a part of your library. Priced at INR 220, you can buy this book from Amazon India here.

List of more books to read here!

Half The Field Is Mine by Swati Sengupta

I am yet to read this book. But it has been shortlisted. I loved the premise of the book. Half the field is a story about Champa and Oli, two inseparable friends. Playing time for them is all about football. They are a part of the mixed football teams. All is well till the boys decide the ‘girls’ cannot play with them anymore. Miffed, the girls decide that they will continue to play. While Oli finds a coach for both of them, there is a looming shadow that’s being cast on the friendship. Secrets. Friendship. Truth. Acceptance and more. I am waiting to read this one soon! Priced at INR 193, you can buy this book from Amazon India here.

Daddy Come Lately by Rupa Gulab

Life is perfect for the 13-year old Priya. Staying with her mother, Priya believes that her dad died before she was born. The life of life is shattered when her mother announces that her father is not dead. Barely is Priya reeling from this information before her mother throws across some more information that she is not yet ready to handle; her father wants to know her better. As her father enters into her life, a lot of mayhem ensues. He makes her life worse by getting along with her friends like a house on fire. Her calm life is ruffled as he holds the reins and interferes in almost all of her daily life. What should Priya do now? A light and breezy read. Priced at INR 99, you can buy this book from Amazon India here.

No Guns At My Son’s Funeral by Paro Anand

This is another book that I am yet to read, but I have added this to the list because of its intricate storyline. Life seems good for Aftab, a young Kashmiri boy. But there is a little secret her hides. A secret double life that no one knows about. The story is about Aftab, a young Kashmiri boy, is obsessed friends, family and cricket in the morning. The night sees a different avatar as her trains under Akram. This story is unbelievably true and can be actually happening anywhere in the world today shattering the peace of many parents. The books is a part of A Children’s Bookshelf Selection. A section where Amazon editor’s pick the best books for children and young adults by age to be a part of the children’s bookshelf. Priced at INR 222, you can buy this book from Amazon India here.

This was my list of best books for young adults in India. If you have any recommendations, please leave a comment. It’ll be beneficial to many parents who love to inculcate the habit of reading for their kids. Plus makes great gifting options too.

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