10 Best YA School Story Books Full of Drama!
Hey there bookworms, remember those heart-thumping, gut wrenching, teen drama-filled high school days? Or maybe you're still living through them! Either way, we've got a hot list for you. We're diving into the world of young adult school stories loaded with drama and excitement. From nerdy outcasts trying to fit in, popular kids dealing with their own demons, sporting triumphs and romantic misunderstandings, expect drama that's just as palpable as in your favorite TV series.
These aren't just about petty squabbles or prom disasters, although you'll find plenty of those. They delve deeper into the true essence of school life, from friendships and first loves, to grapples with identity, and the pressure to succeed. They provide a magnifying glass to the trials, tribulations, victories, and nuances of adolescence, creating a world that's relatable, raw and real.
Each book on our list offers compelling characters that you can’t help but root for, even as they make heart-breakingly relatable mistakes. Expect major plot twists, juicy gossip, and moments that will make your heart race. Teen drama never read so good. So grab your bookmarks, and let's dive into the 10 best YA school story books, full of drama!
『Truly Devious』
New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart. Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.” Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history. True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder. The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three. Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2018 * Junior Library Guild Selection * 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * 2019 ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2018 * Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction 2018 * 2018 Nerdy Book Club Young Adult Winner * Seventeen Best YA Book of 2018 * Lincoln Award Nominee * 2020-2021 South Carolina Book Awards Nominee * 2020 Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Winner
Author | Maureen Johnson |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Jan 16, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『STAGS』
Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend. A twisting thriller for fans of Looking for Alaska. It is the autumn term and Greer MacDonald is struggling to settle into the sixth form at the exclusive St. Aidan the Great boarding school, known to its privileged pupils as S.T.A.G.S. Just when she despairs of making friends Greer receives a mysterious invitation with three words embossed upon on it: huntin' shootin' fishin'. When Greer learns that the invitation is to spend the half term weekend at the country manor of Henry de Warlencourt, the most popular and wealthy boy at S.T.A.G.S., she is as surprised as she is flattered. But when Greer joins the other chosen few at the ancient and sprawling Longcross Hall, she realises that Henry's parents are not at home; the only adults present are a cohort of eerily compliant servants. The students are at the mercy of their capricious host, and, over the next three days, as the three bloodsports - hunting, shooting and fishing - become increasingly dark and twisted, Greer comes to the horrifying realisation that those being hunted are not wild game, but the very misfits Henry has brought with him from school...
Author | M A Bennett |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Bonnier Publishing Fiction Ltd. |
Release Date | Aug 01, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『Lucy Clark Will Not Apologize』
“A delightfully offbeat mystery that is also about the mystery of becoming yourself.” —Rebecca Stead, New York Times bestselling author In this witty and whimsical story by award-winning author Margo Rabb, a sixteen-year-old girl is suspended from boarding school and sent to New York City, where she must take care of an unconventional woman entangled in a mystery. Lucy Clark has had it. After being bullied one too many times, Lucy retaliates. But when the fallout is far worse than she meant it to be, she gets sent to Manhattan to serve as a full-time companion to the eccentric Edith Fox. Edith is glamorous and mysterious—nothing like Lucy expected. Though Edith’s world of hidden gardens and afternoon teas is beguiling, there’s one other thing about her that makes her unlike anyone Lucy has ever met...she thinks someone is trying to kill her. And it’s up to Lucy to find out who it is. * A Bank Street Best Book of the Year * “A full-on delight: funny, gripping, warm-hearted, and beautifully written—it made me cheer. Read it!” —Madeline Miller, award-winning author of Circe "There's magic in this novel's quirky, sweet world. I want to live in its gardens and cheer Lucy on while she finds her heart’s loves!" —Kristin Cashore, New York Times bestselling author of Graceling "Tender and fierce, witty and wise, this is a tale of the route we take when we grow up and into the love we deserve." —Judy Blundell, National Book Award-winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied
Author | Margo Rabb |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | May 11, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『What Happens After Midnight』
From the bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules comes a new coming-of-age romance about senior year, first love, and finding yourself. Lily Hopper has two more weeks until she's officially finished with boarding school. With graduation quickly approaching Lily is worried that she's somehow missed out on the fun of being in high school. So, when she receives a mysterious note inviting her to join the anonymous senior class Jester in executing the end-of-year prank, Lily sees her chance to put her goody-two-shoes reputation behind her. When Lily realizes the Jester is none other than Taggart Swell, her ex- boyfriend, she's already in too deep to back out. Lily might've dumped Tag, but she still has major feelings. Plus, his brilliant plan to steal the school's yearbooks, targets none other than Lily's prom date: the Senior Class President, Daniel. As the group of pranksters hide cryptic clues across campus for Daniel to find, Lily and Tag find themselves in close quarters. As the exes dodge Campus Safety guards, night owl teachers, a troop of freshmen, and even Daniel himself, new sparks fly. But old hurts and painful secrets refuse to be ignored. And with graduation on the horizon, Lily can only hope that breaking the rules will help mend her heart. Perfect for fans of: Taylor Swift The Summer I Turned Pretty Sarah Dessen BookTok Favorites
Author | K. L. Walther |
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Price | $9.59 |
Publisher | Sourcebooks, Inc. |
Release Date | Jun 27, 2023 |
Source | Google Books |
『Girls with Sharp Sticks』
“Enough plot twists to give a reader whiplash.” —Cosmopolitan From New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young comes the start of a thrilling, subversive new series about a girls-only boarding school with a terrifying secret and the friends who will stop at nothing to protect each other. Some of the prettiest flowers have the sharpest thorns. The Girls of Innovations Academy are beautiful and well-behaved—it says so on their report cards. Under the watchful gaze of their Guardian, they receive a well-rounded education that promises to make them better. Obedient girls, free from arrogance or defiance. Free from troublesome opinions or individual interests. But the girls’ carefully controlled existence may not be quite as it appears. As Mena and her friends uncover the dark secrets of what’s actually happening there—and who they really are—the girls of Innovations Academy will learn to fight back. Bringing the trademark plot twists and high-octane drama that made The Program a bestselling and award-winning series, Suzanne Young launches a new series that confronts some of today’s most pressing ethical questions.
Author | Suzanne Young |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |
Release Date | Feb 18, 2020 |
Source | Google Books |
『Looking for Alaska』
The award-winning, genre-defining debut from John Green, the #1 bestselling author of The Anthropocene Reviewed and The Fault in Our Stars Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award • A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist • A New York Times Bestseller • A USA Today Bestseller • NPR’s Top Ten Best-Ever Teen Novels • TIME magazine’s 100 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time • A PBS Great American Read Selection • Millions of copies sold! First drink. First prank. First friend. First love. Last words. Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words—and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet François Rabelais called the “Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young, who will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author John Green’s arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction. Newly updated edition includes a brand-new Readers' Guide featuring a Q&A with author John Green
Author | John Green |
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Price | $8.99 |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Aug 14, 2008 |
Source | Google Books |
『Tiny Pretty Things』
Now a Netflix TV show! Black Swan meets Pretty Little Liars in this soapy, drama-packed novel featuring diverse characters who will do anything to be the prima at their elite ballet school. From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Belles, Dhonielle Clayton, and the author of the acclaimed Symptoms of a Heartbreak, Sona Charaipotra. Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette's desire to escape the shadow of her ballet-star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever. When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best. Don’t miss the gossip, lies, and scandal that continues in Tiny Pretty Things’ gripping sequel, Shiny Broken Pieces!
Author | Sona Charaipotra/Dhonielle Clayton |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | May 26, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『Unnecessary Drama』
From the award-winning author of It Sounded Better in My Head comes a deliciously entertaining enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about two high school nemeses who end up sharing a house together their first year of college Eighteen-year-old Brooke is the kind of friend who not only remembers everyone’s birthdays, but also organizes the group present, pays for it, and politely chases others for their share. She’s the helper, the doer, the maker-of spreadsheets. She’s the responsible one who always follows the rules—and she plans to keep it that way during her first year of college. Her student housing only has one rule: "no unnecessary drama." Which means no fights, tension, or romance between roommates. When one of them turns out to be Jesse, her high-school nemesis, Brooke is determined she can handle it. They’ll simply silently endure living together and stay out of each other’s way. But it turns out Jesse isn’t so easy to ignore. With Unnecessary Drama, Nina Kenwood perfectly captures the experience of leaving home for the first time, dealing with the unexpected complications of life, and somehow finding exactly what you need.
Author | Nina Kenwood |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Flatiron Books |
Release Date | Aug 08, 2023 |
Source | Google Books |
『Carry On』
During his last year at Watford School of Magicks, Simon Snow, the Chosen One, faces a magic-eating monster wearing his face, a break-up, and a missing nemesis.
Author | Rainbow Rowell |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Wednesday Books |
Release Date | May 09, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『Vampire Academy』
“We’re suckers for it.” — Entertainment Weekly Join the legion of fans who skyrocketed this six-book series to the top of the charts. Start here, with the first book that kicked off the international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series. Adapted into an original TV series streaming on Peacock! Love and loyalty run deeper than blood. St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . . Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.
Author | Richelle Mead |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Aug 16, 2007 |
Source | Google Books |
And there you have it folks, the crème de la crème of YA School Story books that are absolutely brimming with the type of drama that will have you clutching your chest, gasping for air and yelling, "OH NO THEY DIDN'T!" These novels have it all, from intense teen angst to heartfelt moments that warm the bitterest of hearts. Whether you're a life-long fan of the genre or a newcomer just dipping your toe into these turbulent, emotion-filled waters, each of these selections promise a wild ride. So, clear that schedule, get the snacks in, and hunker down for some epic tales set in the hallowed halls of high school. Whether they're dealing with killer exams, love triangles, or even something supernaturally peculiar, these characters' trials and tribulations will keep you glued to the page. Go ahead, dive in and lose yourself in the overwhelmingly captivating world of YA drama. After all, who doesn't love a good, juicy story that allows us to relive, and perhaps glamorize, our formative years? So, happy reading, folks!
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