Empathy is our ability to understand and experience someone else’s feelings. It builds stronger, kinder communities. It’s a crucial life skill that young people need to learn, thrive and make a positive difference. We’re not born with a fixed quantity of empathy – it’s a skill we can all learn. Excitingly, research shows that books are a powerful tool to develop it. When young people identify with book characters, they learn to see things from others’ points of view. As they read, they are building their empathy skills. 

You’ll find twenty-five fantastic empathy-boosting books – chosen by an expert panel – to help young people aged 12 to 16 gain insights into other people’s feelings, perspectives and ways of life.

See all our empathy themed books for children aged 12 to 16

Reading Well for Teens suggests recommended reading and digital resources to help you understand your feelings and boost your confidence. Teens and health and wellbeing experts have chosen the books to help you manage your emotions and cope with difficult times. The booklist is targeted at teenagers (13–18) and includes a range of reading levels and formats to support less confident readers and encourage engagement.

Visit the Reading Well for Teens page