One day, while browsing new releases at the local library, three YA novels with flashy covers and catchy titles grabbed my attention. I plucked them from the shelf, read the back cover summaries . . . and immediately put them back, almost embarrassed for having picked them up in the first place. And I thought to myself, “How is are young readers supposed to maintain a pure minds with literature like this?!”
The mainstream YA fiction market is rife with books that shamelessly promote lifestyles contrary to biblical teaching. Sexual relationships (both of the homo and hetero variety), underage drinking, assisted suicide . . . And those are the ones that make their content obvious on the back cover.
What about the ones you don’t realize are full of foul content until you take it home?
To be clear, not all secular fiction is bad. But spotting clean young adult books within all the muck is like looking at a plate of hamburger patties and trying to guess which one won’t give you food poisoning. Guessing doesn’t work.
That’s why I’ve compiled this guide on how to find clean young adult fiction in a dirty market. Specifically, these resources were gathered with Christian teens in mind, but they’ll work for anyone seeking clean books for teens. I use them all the time when compiling my lists of YA book recommendations.
You don’t have to navigate the murky waters of the YA fiction market alone!
Hey, I’m Lauren, author of YA Christian fiction and blogger for teens with higher aim.
In This Article
How to Find Clean Young Adult Fiction: 6 Resources for Christian Teens
1) Goodreads
I’m starting with this one because everyone knows about it, but not everyone knows how to use it to prescreen books. If you’re not sure what to read, Goodreads has a number of book lists to get you started. A few that might be of interest to you:
- Secular Fiction Christians Can Be Comfortable Reading
- Best YA Christian Fiction Books
- Good, Clean YA Books
Occasionally, a title that doesn’t belong will sneak on to one of these lists, so don’t let down your guard. But if you already have a book in mind and you want to know what kind of content is between the covers without having to read it, Goodreads can help you prescreen it.
Here’s how I do it:
- Search the title of the book in question and click on its page. The list of genres that follows the summary is helpful for obvious red flags (like erotica, for example), but they aren’t always complete.
- Scroll down to Ratings & Reviews. You’ll see the Community Reviews with a breakdown of ratings (1-5 stars) and a search bar.
- Type keywords into the search bar. Some good options: “sex,” “profanity,” “violence,” and “clean.” (Do them one at a time, not all at once.) When you click enter, you’ll only see reviews with the word you searched. If there’s any questionable content, you can bet that someone has already commented on it in their review.
This is the most effective resource for screening young adult fiction. Unfortunately, it does not work in the Goodreads app—you have to use your browser. You can find this same information in the app by skimming the 3 and 4-star reviews (these are the ones who usually comment on content), though it takes longer.
2) Book Review Sites With Content Warnings
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a website that gave content ratings to books the way IMDB does for movies? A number of sites actually do this, though capturing every book in a single site is near impossible. That’s why I recommend bookmarking a few for your personal use to up the odds of finding someone who has screened the book in your hand.
- Common Sense Media: Offers easy-to-view level ratings for multiple content areas (violence, language, sex & nudity, etc.) along with a brief summary of each book, plus kid and parent reviews. Works best for popular books; lesser known titles are hit-or-miss. Costs a small monthly fee (the only one here that isn’t free).
- Busy Moms Read Too: I screen books for this database which, despite the matronly name, is not all women’s fiction. Content warnings are listed plainly; no need to dig. Great for searching specific titles or authors, but because YA fiction is mixed with middle-grade and children’s, it’s not the best for browsing.
- Redeemed Reader: Great for both searching and browsing. Teen/YA fiction has its own section. Offers age recommendations within individual reviews, plus similar books.
- Books For Christian Girls: Offers easy-to-navigate lists of book recommendations by age, plus a list of books to avoid—which I will point out includes books currently on my recommended reading lists (This Quiet Sky and A Daring Sacrifice). I see this as an example of differing goals. Books for Christian Girls appears to use stricter content criteria when reviewing books, so it’s great for readers seeking maximum standards for clean young adult books.
- Find a Book or Author: Can browse by category or search specific titles/authors. Gives an overall rating for content (high, moderate, mild) rather than listing out content areas individually. (Less helpful if you’re looking to avoid specific content areas.)
3) My Blog & Newsletter
I don’t just write books. I read them too, and I’m friends with other authors of clean and YA Christian fiction so I can give you an inside look at the industry. Subscribers to my newsletter get the most updated information including monthly recommendations for clean and/or Christian fiction and nonfiction young adult books (plus free YA Christian fiction short stories!)
Check out my reading lists:
More Resources for Christian teen readers:
- Standout Characters in YA Novels: Lauren’s Picks
- Emotionally Charged YA Fiction That Will Alter Your Perspective
- Christian Teen Fiction Spotlight: Author Cher Gatto
- Christian YA Fiction Spotlight: Author Jenny B. Jones
- Seasons of Kane: A Christian YA Short Story Series
- YA Fiction for Christians: An Honest Look at Kasie West
Related: The Truth About Why I Write YA Christian Fiction
5) Friends of Faith
Do you have friends who share your tastes in fiction and the same dedication to Christian values? Great! The community of believers is itself a resource. Work together to demand clean young adult books worth reading. Share recommendations with your friends for books that make the cut and warn each other against novels that stray from your beliefs.
Goodreads also allows you to see what other people are reading. Find someone with the same values as you and follow her reading list.
6) Your Bible!
Honestly, the only way you can know if what you’re reading is moral and good is to become one with the Holy Spirit—and that happens through God’s word. If you’re cruising through a “clean” book and suddenly stumble into a moral situation, knowing what God says about it will tell you if you should keep reading or put the book down.
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
More Ideas for Finding Clean YA Books
1) Be faithful to “clean” authors and publishers.
The amount of YA fiction books on the market that embrace teenage sex, drinking, and vulgar language is staggering. It used to be that you might come across one or two of these while browsing the shelves of your local bookstore, but this has become commonplace.
Furthermore, certain publishers are dedicated to bringing you books with clean content. Check out Blink (an imprint of Harper Collins) and Monster Ivy. Others that are not strictly YA are Tyndale, Pelican Book Group, and Enclave Publishing.
Cautions:
- Note that “clean” means different things to different people. For some, kissing is okay if it doesn’t escalate and the occasional swear word can be overlooked. If your standards are tighter than that, use more caution in the mainstream clean YA market.
- Beware that fiction can be “clean” but still immoral. Christians must pay heed to moral content. If the book you have in your hand embraces a non-biblical view on worldly issues (homosexuality, for example), put it down and find another.
Related: Is Book Banning the Answer? What Christian Teens Should Know
2) Give Your Business to the YA Christian Fiction Market.
If you think choosing a faith-based novel means sacrificing quality or enduring stodgy preaching, think again. The Christian fiction market has come a long way and continues to evolve in response to our changing culture. Christians are real people fighting real battles and the best YA Christian novels let you experience their battles alongside them.
You can trust the books published at companies like Zondervan, Baker, Bethany House, Thomas Nelson, Waterbrook, Revell and Tyndale to not contain profanity or sex scenes. That doesn’t, however, mean every book not published by these is bad.
Wondering who to try? Check out these reviews & recommendations from my blog:
External resources:
Cautions: See my post 6 Red Flags to Watch for In YA Christian Fiction.
3) Download booklists.
There are places that make lists based on your specific age, interests, etc. Read-Aloud Revival is one of those places. Looking for clean YA romances? Check out this list from Copperfield’s Books.
4) Ask a trusted mentor to review the book or read it with you.
Yes, sometimes we forget the value of Christian parents. My then-preteen son once asked me to join him in reading a book series he was working through, and I did. Not only did I find the middle-grade series to be fascinating, but we also got the chance to discuss some life issues that had never come up before.
The Bottom Line
“Therefore, I urge you . . . to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God . . . Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:1-2
Never forget, it’s not just a book. Everything you read and view seeps into your mind and alters the way you think. So fill your mind with Godly ideas. With all the wonderful uplifting and pure fiction out there, there’s no reason to settle for garbage.
Embrace literature that emboldens your faith and makes you stronger in Jesus!
Further Thoughts on YA Christian Fiction
You don’t have to have all the answers.
But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
Check out my other posts that talk specifically about YA Christian fiction: