Generation R (R Is for Reader)

But amid this good news there is a subtext of controversy because of the mature content of many of these books for teens. Some, like the "The Gossip Girls" series that is popular with young girls, are graphic in their depictions of drinking and even sexuality, while others, such as "13 Reasons Why," look at teen suicide. Others are graphically violent and uncompromising in their language and depictions of real-life situations. There are books written specifically for teens about just about everything, from meth addiction to sexual abuse to the war in Iraq.

Still, most of these books, even the darkest ones, cling to some semblance of hope. And most are smart, well written and do not pander or talk down to their audience. That's a welcome change, because for more than a decade, the common knock on young-adult books has been that there were too many so-called problem novels that self-righteously told kids how to behave in a "just say no" fashion. "A lot of those books were based on fear, they were cautionary and sermonlike. Teen readers rejected them," explains Martin. "Too many books for teens just stated obvious messages, like 'doing drugs is bad.' But now the messages are imbedded into the story. This new crop of writers would rather present drugs as a miserable existence and show what it's like to live through this experience than to preach."

There may also be some pain behind this book-reading trend among teens. A majority of teens interviewed for this story agreed that reading books—especially fantasy fiction—is a healthy way to momentarily escape from the sometimes debilitating stresses of adolescence (grades, peer pressure, sports, parental pressure, etc.). Madison Springgate, 17, who attends University High School in Morgantown, W. Va., is an avid reader of fiction because it takes her to a world different from her own: "With all the stressful things about school and sports and getting into college, it's really relaxing to get into bed and read about kids that are experiencing the same things but also are more interesting than your own life."

Mante Koliakinaite, 15, who attends Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Ariz., and is currently reading "Elizabeth CEO" by Alan Axelrod, says that while she was forced to read at first by her parents, "when they stopped pressuring me, it kind of stuck to me. I got hooked. I think books are popular with teens because of all the stress they're going through. Books are a way a way to just forget about everything for a while. My favorite books would probably have to be the Harry Potter series. They are so amazingly written, and I guess they just take me away when I read them."

Connie LeFever, a former middle-school teacher who coordinates the young-adult section at Bay Books, an independent bookstore in Coronado, Calif., says teen books now act as a sort of therapy for teens. "There's a lot of pressure on teens now, and sometimes they aren't getting what they need at home in terms of communication and support. And they're finding that what they see on TV isn't working in their daily lives," she says. "A lot of these books are resources that are almost like talking to a counselor. There are some quality writers of young-adult fiction now who are telling great stories that resonate with these kids."

Among the most celebrated authors of new teen fiction is Sarah Dessen, whose stark but poignant books ("Just Listen," "The Truth About Forever") are packed with raw emotion. Dessen, who's sold more than 1.5 million books, is one of the hottest writers this side of J. K. Rowling, but she doesn't deal in fantasy. Her books address such topics as divorce, intimate-partner violence, substance abuse, alienation and loneliness. In her latest, "Lock & Key," which is No. 3 on the New York Times best-seller list this week, she tells the story of Ruby, a tough, complex teen living by herself after her mother leaves her. Dessen, whose first two books were consolidated into the Mandy Moore movie "How to Deal," always employs a female narrator in her books.