Here at Rooted we celebrate the writing of good books! Through our annual book awards, we recommend new titles that encourage God’s people to experience his steadfast love and walk with him in obedience. What better way to encourage teenagers to love great books than to give them hard copies of those books to hold in their hands? (Okay, we’d certainly be thrilled for these titles to end up on teenager’s e-readers too!) However you do it, give a teenager you love some great books this Christmas. Here are our favorite titles for teenagers published in 2025.
The 2025 Book Awards team includes Tim Franks, Rebecca Heck, Isaiah Marshall, Tracy Yi, and Rooted’s editorial team.
Honorable Mention
12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust: Core Beliefs of the Christian That Will Change Your Life by Paul David Tripp (Crossway)
There is a deep need in this world for young people to have a firm foundation of theological truth. Paul David Tripp’s 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust offers a refreshing, steadying voice for teenagers navigating a world full of pressure, uncertainty, and noise. The author writes with a rare balance. The book focuses on theology with honesty and warmth, speaking directly to teens without condescension. He frames each truth not as a rule to follow but as an anchor. He answers the bigger questions about identity: who do we belong to and what is our purpose?
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. Tripp uses clear language, relatable examples, and gentle humor. He asks good questions that move a young reader to understand abstract truth and how it is relevant to them. The structure of short chapters allows teenagers to engage in bite-sized moments of introspection. You could best use this as as an individual study, with a small group of teenagers, or as a lesson series for a student ministry.
Ultimately, the work stands out as a thoughtful, heartfelt resource for teens who are forming their worldview and seeking strong, foundational truths in an ever-shifting environment. It’s a book that comes with deep truth, encouraging resilience, hope, and faith without minimizing the difficulties of life. Tripp’s book offers teenagers something rare: confidence grounded not in worldly pursuits, but in relational precision and theological depth. He provides teenagers a strong place to plant the flag of their lives in: Christ.
Honorable Mention
Make It Your Ambition by Jeremy Writebol (The Gospel Coalition)
The book is a much-needed resource for today’s teens. In a world filled with competing voices telling young people to chase money, fame, and career success, this book redirects their attention to what truly matters. Writebol wisely lays out seven godly pursuits for the next generation. Four center on a vertical relationship with Christ and three shape our horizontal relationships with others. Clear, biblical, and practical, this book helps teens put life into perspective, grounding their ambitions not in fleeting achievements, but in the eternal call to follow Jesus faithfully.
Winner (Tie)
Iconic: Being God’s Image in Your World by Mike McGarry (New Growth Press)
There are serious identity issues teenagers face in the current cultural climate. Looking to address these, Mike McGarry’s Iconic: Being God’s Image in Your World, offers important biblical truths and practical application. The gospel-centeredness of this work is evident through the mix of truth, compassion, and nuance coupled with the hard topic of identity. The flow is very accessible, beginning with relationships and coming to a crescendo with pondering eternity as image bearers of God.
The focus and tone of the book throughout is one of joy and hope. The idea of us being living and breathing displays of God’s glory, including how we are to reign in His creation, is so powerful and helpful for the culture we are living in now. This great work reminds us that our identity in a person, Jesus Christ, is a gift from God. It is not something we perform under pressure to receive. Teenagers feel isolated in today’s world. McGarry’s book offers a comfortable and safe place to answer the hard questions they are facing.
We deeply need this guide for teenagers on the idea of image bearing and its daily application. The target audience is high school and college age readers, though I believe all people would benefit from reading it. The book gives language for moving from “I am what I do” to “I am who and what God says I am.” This is what we should strive to call all teenagers in our lives too: living out the “iconic” life for the glory of God.
Winner (Tie)
Worth It: Following Jesus When Life Feels Complicated by Chris Morphew (The Good Book Company)
This book is an engaging and thoughtful read that speaks directly to the questions and doubts many young people wrestle with. Apologetic in tone, the book aims to help teens understand why God is trustworthy in every area of their lives. Morphew’s writing is both honest and accessible, making deep truths approachable for readers who are still exploring faith. It’s an excellent resource for teenagers who are on the fence about following Jesus—those who may not yet believe but are open and searching for answers.
What I appreciate most about Worth It is how it builds a strong foundation by focusing on who God is and what he’s like. Morphew beautifully unpacks God’s character before moving into how that understanding shapes the way we live. The result is a book that doesn’t just tell teens what to believe but invites them into a relationship with a trustworthy God. It’s a powerful and needed guide for both new believers and those still considering faith, helping them see that following Jesus is not only reasonable—it’s worth it.
Looking for more Gospel-centered book resources? Check out the list of Rooted’s own publications, especially the new book Teenagers and Mental Health: A Handbook for Parents, Pastors, and Youth Leaders by Danny Kwon and Monica Kim!
