Whatever your tastes, there’s a perfect YA book about music out there to match. We mean, books and music have always been a classic pairing, but these days there are so many that beautifully blend the two that we couldn’t help but dive fully in.
One of our recent favorites is Let Me Hear a Rhyme, the tour de force new novel by Tiffany D. Jackson. You might know her from her previous shocking, twisting tales, but Let Me Hear a Rhyme incorporates those staples with some larger doses of humor, friendship, and, duh, music. It’s a story about three teens in 1990s Brooklyn as they grapple with the murder of their friend. A friend that just so happened to be a rapper whose rhymes they’re determined to still make famous.
The resulting combination—complete with lyrics from rapper Malik-16—is amazing, and you can actually start reading it right here. We know, we just couldn’t wait. But we were so inspired that we put together our own playlist of YA books with music as a handy guide! 🎵🎶
YA Books About Music
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Hip-Hop books featured:
- Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson
- On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
- Spin by Lamar Giles
Pop books featured:
- Fireworks by Katie Cotugno
- Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky
- Sing by Vivi Greene
Rock books featured:
- Last Things by Jacqueline West
- Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
- This Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow
- The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde
- Who’s That Girl by Blair Thornburgh
- Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
- The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
- Here We Are Now by Jasmine Warga
- The Midnights by Sarah Nicole Smetana
- Solo by Kwame Alexander
- The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
- Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
Classical books featured:
- This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
- Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert
- If I Stay by Gayle Forman
- Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
- Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
- The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr
Musical books featured:
- Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, & Justin Paul
- Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story by David Levithan
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan & John Green
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Electronic books featured:
- DJ Rising by Love Maia
- This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
Country books featured:
- Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
- You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn
- Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills
What are some of your favorite books that feature music? Let us know below!