Seeing as my last article was written in honor of books everywhere, I thought that it was only appropriate to make a list of books that I think everyone should read before they leave their teen years. If you've already passed your 20th birthday and you haven't read these literary masterpieces, I suggest you take the time to go to your local library and immerse yourself in these books.

1. The Crank trilogy by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins is my all-time favorite author, so I had to include some of her books. The Crank trilogy contains her most famous works, but I would recommend any of her books. Her novels open your eyes to so many different social issues from various perspectives. It's impossible to put her books down.

2. Macbeth by Shakespeare

Anything written by Shakespeare is a challenge and usually not too popular among teenagers, but if you take the time to truly read his plays, they're incredible. Romeo and Juliet is probably what you read in high school, but Macbeth has a much more captivating plot and this is the play that I have the best memories of.

3. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

This is technically a book meant for pre-teens, but I think that you can gain even more from it if you read it when you're a bit older. It deals with very complex theories that you can appreciate more once you've matured, so even if you read it as a kid, trust me when I say that it's worth reading it again.

4. Night by Elie Wiesel

I chose to include this because I think that it's important for everyone to read about one of the darkest times in mankind's history through the eyes of someone who actually experienced it. Wiesel was an incredible man; may he rest in peace.

5. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken is another World War 2 survival story, but it's from the perspective of a soldier who gets lost at sea. I'm not usually a fan of war stories, but this book was captivating and it discusses a harsh reality that we need to acknowledge.

6. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein's poems are funny and entertaining on the surface, but they also hold a deeper meaning. Everyone needs to experience his poetic genius before they become too much of an adult.

7. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Another classic that you probably read in high school. Almost everyone who reads this book loves it, so if you haven't read it yet, you really should if only to understand the references that others make.

8. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

It's been far too long since I've read this incredible book, but I remember how much I loved it. This is another children's novel that I think is even more beneficial when read in your late teens because it deals with the complex notion of immortality.

9. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

I didn't read this novel until last year, but it was truly enlightening. It switches between different perspectives and it has a way of making you look at your own life.

10. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This used to be my favorite book and I still love it. It follows a boy who finds several cassette tapes from his classmate who committed suicide a few weeks earlier. On the tapes, she outlines the 13 reasons why she ultimately ended her life. This book makes you more aware of the effect that your actions have on others and it's overall a very important book.

11. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This is another novel that I think is particularly important to read in order to be aware of the horrific events that are happening throughout the world. The Kite Runner focuses on the political chaos that was happening in Afghanistan in the 1960s and 1970s. While the book is devastating at times, it opens your eyes to events that we would otherwise turn our backs on.

12. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

This book is a great coming-of-age story because it adds some humor to the very serious topics of mental illness and suicide. It follows a young boy who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital after nearly attempting suicide and he meets many interesting people along the way.

13. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Another coming-of-age story about a freshman in high school trying to find himself. This book is perfect for teenagers because it's something that we all can relate to, and it's a perfect mix of comedy and drama.

14. The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver is a classic young adult novel about a dystopian society and a young boy realizing the harsh truths about this society. This book has important lessons buried within it, but apart from that, it's just a fascinating story.

15. Paper Towns by John Green

I'm sure that everyone has heard of John Green, his most famous novel being The Fault in Our Stars. He's an extremely talented writer and I've enjoyed all of his books. I chose to include Paper Towns in this list, though, because it's about a group of friends' final adventure before they graduate and go their separate ways, and that's something that everyone in their late teens can relate to.

16. Dear Nobody: The True Diary of Mary Rose by Gillian McCain and Legs McNeil

This authentic diary written by a teenage girl is captivating and raw. She takes the reader through her love life, addictions, bullying, and the other struggles that she faces. It's not until the end of the book that she reveals a huge secret that she's been keeping.

17. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Okay, this is technically a short story, but I had to include it in this list because it's brilliant. This story is a cross between psychological thriller and feminist writing. You don't know where Gilman will take you next, but you can't wait to see.

18. The Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke

I used to love fantasy books when I was younger and the Inkheart series was always my absolute favorite. I would spend hours engrossed in these novels because Funke made me feel like I was going on these adventures with her characters.

19. Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones

I first read this book when I was only in middle school and I've read it several times since. Stop Pretending is written in verse, similar to Ellen Hopkins' books, so it's a quick read. It's told from a young girl's perspective and it essentially shows how she copes after her big sister has a mental breakdown.

20. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

A classic if there ever was one, this novel delves into the racial tensions and inequality that was prominent in the 1950s. I read this for the first time when I was 14 and it instantly became one of my favorites.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the books that I included in this list, but I made sure to focus on the ones that I thought contained the most important lessons. Books are incredible pieces of art and there are certain ones that should be appreciated by everyone, especially by young adults who's lives have only just begun.