2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Teens
by Iva-Marie Palmer
Buying for teens is rife with obstacles. They’re almost adults and yet so much touchier about their still-developing personae. But, if you nail the gift, you’re suddenly the cool parent/aunt/uncle/family friend who “gets it.”
Start with their interests, add their favorite reading genres, and let it lead you to just the right holiday gift.
Heading out to do some holiday shopping? You can download the full version of the gift guide below.
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For Adventurer Seekers
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The 5th Wave Collection Box Set
Buy from:Forget “We come in peace.” Yancey’s trilogy, about a silent alien invasion, takes the genre to new places. Readers could very well devour the entire set before winter break is over.
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Call of the Wild Tee
London’s classic gets a fashionable treatment on this Out of Print t-shirt. The bonus? Ten percent of all proceeds go to The Uprise Books Project, a nonprofit that fights the cycle of poverty through literacy.
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An Abundance of Katherines
Buy from:Adventure doesn’t have to take the form of blow-‘em-up blockbusters. Sometimes, an adventure is about breaking out of your shell, which is just what happens in Green’s tale of a road trip taken by a normally cautious, somewhat neurotic math whiz.
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Luckies of London Scratch Map
A would-be adventurer has gotta have goals. This scratch map allows a voyager to scratch off countries as he or she visits them.
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The Maze Runner Box Set
Buy from:This sci-fi adventure trilogy was recently a hit at the box office, but regardless of whether your giftee has seen the films or not, they’re likely to enjoy Dashner’s fast-paced, anything-to-survive action.
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Take-Anywhere Airbed
This super-sleek portable sleep mat may not seem glamorous, but the adventurous recipient is probably more in tune with this mat’s practical comfort. It’s the perfect takealong for an impromptu road trip.
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Kangaroo Water Bottle
A great find for outdoor athletes or hikers, this water bottle also includes a “pouch” on its front that can hold an ID, some cash, and a house key.
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For Fantasy Fiends
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An Ember in the Ashes
Buy from:Tahir’s debut blends fantasy with the sensibility of a historical drama. The epic story bounces between two narrators: Elias, a member of the elite caste trained to be an assassin, and oppressed Laia, forced to become a spy.
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Silver Fairy Ring
This silver ring will cast a magical spell over any fantasy fan. And, it’s just enchanted enough to seem worthy of wishing on.
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Six of Crows
Buy from:Bardugo, author of the Grisha series, is a master storyteller and her new book — about a mysterious and compelling young man and a band of misfits performing a heist against a vividly detailed fantasy landscape — is completely captivating.
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The Legend of Zelda: TriForce Heroes
The Nintendo classic is back with a new adventure for the 3DS. Though not out until Dec. 31, pre-order it for any fantasy-loving gamer as it promises to be the most talked-about strategy game in this world or the next.
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A Court of Thorns and Roses
Buy from:Maas, whose Throne of Glass series captivated fantasy fans, has outdone herself with an action-packed tale about 19-year-old huntress Feyre, who becomes a prisoner in a dangerous magical land when she kills a wolf in the woods.
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Agate Gemstone Necklace
What is it about agate that makes it look like it’s from a magical realm? It’s probably best kept a secret — though its mysterious charms are certainly captivating as an accessory.
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For Our Future Leaders
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The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Buy from:Every good leader has to know when to break the rules. In Lockhart’s novel, Frankie Landau-Banks knows exactly how to take a secret society of boys to task.
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Do More of What Makes You Happy Wall Art
A leader can’t be solely eyes-on-the-prize. This cheery wall art is a pretty reminder that being happy is as important as being focused!
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Symphony for the City of the Dead
Buy from:National Book Award-winning Anderson’s latest is a heavy-hitting true history of Lenigrad-dwelling composer Dmitri Shostakovich, who — trapped between the invading Nazi forces and the Soviet government — penned the Leningrad Symphony to unite his beleaguered city at its worst hour.
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Gentle Reminders Pencils
Even the most confident take-charge type sometimes needs a pick-me-up. That’s where these affirmational writing instruments come in.
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#GIRLBOSS
Buy from:Any would-be entrepreneur could learn a lot from Amoruso’s autobiographical tales of how she went from a hitchhiker and a petty thief to CEO of NastyGal, a hip online clothing emporium. Called a “Lean In for Misfits,” our future business leaders are sure to mine this book for gems.
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Passion Planner
Sure, there may be an app for it, but moving onward and upward towards our goals is sometimes more fun when it’s mapped out in pen and paper. The Passion Planner helps the goal-oriented hone in on what’s most important to them.
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Tabletop Conversation StartersGive the gift of gab with these hilarious and thought-provoking questions.
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For the Next Great Novelist
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The Dumbest Idea Ever!
Buy from:This real-life — and often comedic — story of how Gownley went from awkward girl chaser to comic artist will likely hit the right mark with would-be humorists.
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Good Ideas Pen
Get them started on their novel or their college essays with a pen that promises whatever they write will turn out well.
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All the Bright Places
Buy from:The teen years can be a struggle and Niven’s debut recognizes that fact, as two fragile teens find common ground while working together on a class project.
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Old Books Soy Candle
Writers usually have one thing in common: They love books. This candle infuses their space with the delicious scent of well-loved books.
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Everything, Everything
Buy from:Yoon’s stunning debut has already been optioned for a movie. It’s about a girl who is literally allergic to the outside world, which just might resonate with the kind of indoor kids who often want to become writers.
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Bookshelf Necklace
Never let your would-be writer’s goal get too far from their heart — this necklace is one way of doing that.
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Saint Anything
Buy from:Dessen is arguably the queen of contemporary YA and her latest book is another exercise in all-the-feels. Aspiring writers might want to take a cue from her.
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For the Introspective Instagram Addict
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Wonderful World Wall Art
This pretty poster serves a dual purpose: Reminding the giftee that the world is a big place while also serving as a pretty backdrop for Instagrams of that day’s outfit (#OOTD).
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Honor Girl
Buy from:Thrash’s graphic novel-slash-memoir about first love and first heartbreak — at summer camp — is just right for anyone who’s ever been in love or hopes to be.
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Q&A a Day Journal
We’re all looking for inspiration and sometimes the best place to start is within. This pretty journal gives inward-looking teens some means for focusing their efforts.
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For the Record
Romance. Music. Road trip. Huang’s debut has it all and reads like a teenage dream.
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Fuzzy Friend Stuffed Animal
Softer than a Valencia filter, this sweet stuffie can make cameos in a budding photographer’s best shots.
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For Blockbuster Film Fanatics
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We Don’t Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy
Buy from:Sure, the movies are from the ‘80s, but today’s teen filmmakers still know about them. Any would-be director — or everyday movie buff — might be able to learn something great from this fun read.
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EEEKit 8-in-1 Accessories Kit for GoPro HERO 4
On-the-go moviemaker types might already have a GoPro camera. If so, this 8-piece kit will give them more options to expand their shooting capabilities.
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Marvel’s The Avengers Encyclopedia
Buy from:Is your giftee all about “The Avengers,” or the latest comic book fare? Then they need this comprehensive encyclopedia of all things Marvel. (Or, all things “Avengers” and its 250 characters and 40 teams to be precise.)
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Darth Vader Lightsaber
Sure, it’s technically a toy, but with the new “Star Wars” movie out this December, serious fans are going to want to get in touch with the Force.
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Bond by Design
Buy from:Twenty-three movies in and with talk of who the next Bond will be, the series of spy films shows no sign of petering out. Action-movie fans who love fast cars and sleek gadgetry will really get into this full-color Bond book.
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Minimalist Movie Poster
UK-based Displate produces quality artwork on metal, and the company’s selection of minimalist movie posters features ultra-stylish renditions of fan’s favorite flicks.
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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Buy from:Soon to get the big-screen treatment by none other than Tim Burton, this creepy book uniting an abandoned orphanage, a mysterious island, and a set of curious photographs is a cinematic read that should prove chilling onscreen and off.
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Mini Popcorn PopperCinephiles can enjoy the taste of freshly popped popcorn — served with a side of nostalgia — with this retro hot air popcorn popper.
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The Rest of Us Just Live Here
Buy from:A great movie requires a great concept and so does a great book. Amid so many tales of ones chosen to fight the forces of darkness, Ness’s novel humorously and thoughtfully tackles the question of what it’s like to NOT be one of the special ones.
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