Midvale, UT — Out of the thousands of books in circulation at the Hillcrest High School library, ten unique books were clear front-runners in the pack. Based on the total number of student checkouts in 2025, these books earned the top spots:
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One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus. This page turning mystery follows four high school students whose lives are turned around when detention turns into the crime scene for a murder.
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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. The town of Fairview thinks they had the murder of Andy Bell figured out six years ago. A-grade student Pip isn’t so sure…
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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. The Sinclairs seem to be the perfect family—wealthy, poised, and beautiful. But shocking twists will leave you wondering if there are dark secrets lying beneath their flawless facade.
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You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron. In this heart-pounding horror novel, Charity becomes a counselor at a slasher-themed summer camp. But soon, her fellow camp counselors begin disappearing and a killer lurks nearby.
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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This revolutionary dystopian novel is set in a future where every year, twenty-four children are faced with a choice: be the last one standing to win the infamous Hunger Games, or die trying.
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Scythe by Neal Shusterman. In a world that has conquered natural death, two teenagers are chosen to be ‘Scythes;’ people tasked with killing to keep the population in check.
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Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter. Taking a turn away from the grim plots of the previous novels, Better Than the Movies is a sweet and funny teen rom-com about Liz, a hopeless romantic, and her efforts to gain the attention of her crush.
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Refugee by Alan Gratz. The only historical fiction on this list, Refugee follows three children in different times and places, and their journeys seeking a home amongst hard times.
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The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Avery Grambs’ life is turned upside-down when she inherits the fortune of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, a stranger she has no relation to. Vague riddles and clues lead Avery to discover the secrets surrounding the elusive Hawthorne family.
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The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. This swoony romance is about the summer of Belly, who gets caught up in a love triangle between two brothers.
This list speaks volumes about the preferences of Hillcrest students. Reading patterns provide deep insights on current high school mindsets and trends. Hillcrest librarian Jenny Olsen has some thoughts on why these particular books stand out in terms of popularity.
“Mystery and horror are our top categories,” Olsen says. “I talk about mystery books a lot. I just think as humans, we’re intrigued by this question, right? Who did it? Why did this person disappear? What happened to them? Whatever it is, I think it’s just that curiosity compels us to keep turning the pages.”
Brook Wallace, a freshman at Hillcrest, also finds mystery to be fascinating. “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is probably my favorite. I love that book. The entire series is so suspenseful. Some books are just fun, but this book has a good meaning to it.”
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is also streaming as a Netflix series, one of many top ten books adapted into televised versions.
“I joke that sometimes Netflix informs my buying decisions,” Olsen comments. “The show makes it more popular, I think. I book talk all of these regularly in English classes, and I think word just gets out that it’s a good book.”
Another thing to be noted is the currency of these novels. It seems that Hillcrest Students prefer slightly older books than ones that came out this year. “We’re seeing trends,” Olsen says when studying circulations from the past few years. “The same books seem to remain popular for quite a while. Many of [the top ten books] are five plus years old.”
Even though some books are maintaining their position on the top of the shelf, Olsen is still noticing changes in the overall reading tastes of students. “I think every year we’ve seen more and more graphic novel circulation, particularly manga. I am seeing less interest over the years in fantasy. It used to be one of our top checked out, and it’s not so much anymore.”
One of the important factors in what students read is what books are accessible to them. In the case of Hillcrest’s library, Olsen prioritizes student demand over having a balanced collection of novels.
“More and more teenagers are interested in trends,” Olsen explains. “And so they want to read what everybody’s reading, the new show, Tick Tock, or whatever it might be. If a student wants a book, I’m happy to get it for them because it’ll get checked out. Whatever it takes to get a book in kids’ hands.”
