From classic literature to modern love stories, these coming-of-age novels are a must read before you're no longer a teenager.

1. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

Charlie, the fifteen-year-old narrator, is outwardly quiet and withdrawn. He is also very observant and thoughtful, and pays close attention to everything going on around him—he is a wallflower. The book is written as a series of letters to an anonymous friend and follows Charlie’s internal struggle as he uncovers the truth about his past.

2. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

This classic coming-of-age novel set in the 1950s follows 16-year-old Holden Caulfield as he discusses his past through a stream-of-consciousness to his doctor. Holden reveals his thoughts on adults and the adult world, a world of shallowness, disappointment, and hypocrisy. The novel exposes the universal fear of growing up.

3. "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton

This novel depicts two weeks in the life of 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with right and wrong in a society. Ponyboy is a proud outsider willing to fight alongside his friends until disaster strikes one night and he is left wondering what truly matters.

4. "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

This memoir recounts the unconventional, poverty-stricken childhood of Jeanette and her sibling at the hands of their deeply dysfunctional parents.

5. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

This American classic tells the story of young, idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet coming-of-age in the slums of Williamsburg.

6. "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

This 1954 novel follows a group of British boys stranded on an uninhabited island and their disastrous attempt to govern themselves. The theme of innate good versus evil is brought up through the power struggles of the boys and the tragedy that accompanies survival.

7. "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

This mystery novel is narrated by 15-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone, who has a mild form of autism. Christopher chronicles his investigation of the death of his neighbor's poodle.

8. "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

11-year-old Jonas lives in a futuristic society that has eliminated all pain, fear, war, and hatred. This novel follows his exploration of memories, and his questioning of the so-called utopia.

9. "Ender’s Game" by Orson Scott Card

This science fiction novel tells the story of a young boy, Ender Wiggin, who is sent to a training academy in space named Battle School, built to train people to become soldiers in order to battle against an alien race.

10. "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides

This novel discusses the pursuit of the American Dream and explores gender identity through the experiences of Cal Stephanides, an intersex man. It chronicles the effect of a mutated gene on three generations of a Greek family.

11. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

This autobiography follows the early years of American writer and poet Maya Angelou. The coming-of-age story illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome prejudice.

12. "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

This novel serves as a celebration of nonconformity and individuality. Leo Borlock ’s life changes when Stargirl comes to his school and challenges the social norms.

13. "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Miles "Pudge" Halter enrolls in a boarding school to try to gain a deeper perspective on life where he meets Alaska Young. The story follows their relationship and the transformation of Pudge as Alaska guides him through school and through her personal philosophies on life.

14. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

This classic work follows the life of the Finch family in Macomb, Alabama. The Lawyer Atticus Finch, the father of Jem and Scout, is faced with a challenging case that illustrates the existence of racial inequality in the 1930s.

15. "The Liar’s Club" by Mary Karr

This memoir tells the story of Mary Karr's troubled childhood in a small Texas town in the early 1960s, a town where heavy alcohol abuse and psychological problems are common.

16. "Go Ask Alice" by Anonymous

This story documents a teenage girl’s drug abuse that led to her running away from home. Her journey robs her of her innocence and her youth.

17. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

The story follows Liesel, a young German girl who steals books to help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding during World War II.

18. "The Body" by Stephen King

The story is set in 1960s America, where four young boys go on a journey to search for the body of a boy killed by a train. The 1986 film Stand By Me was based on this novel.