Find your next great read for National Reading Month by exploring my reviews of these chilling books about teen psychopaths.

Nearly 1 percent of children in the population exhibit psychopathic traits, about as many as have autism or bipolar disorder.  Reading books about teen psychopaths is a great way to learn about this disorder of “empathy erosion” and what the world is like for those who experience it.

No one wants to think their own child, sibling, best friend, boyfriend, or other significant person might be a psychopath. But don’t worry; mental illness isn’t contagious.

Reading books about psychopaths won’t turn you or your teen readers into killers. Most psychopaths aren’t killers anyway. However, they might grow up to be CEOs.

Here are my personal recommendations for several amazing books about teen psychopaths that are guaranteed page-turners. And unlike the psychopaths on the pages, you will feel a wide range of emotions.

Unquiet Riot by Khristina Chess

“Best friends don’t label each other as crazy or rat each other out to adults.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from Unquiet Riot

Riley was born unable to feel emotions. Is that person embarrassed or insecure? Suspicious or curious? It’s confusing when someone says, “Please don’t hate me,” but their face says, “You should definitely hate me for occupying the same planet right now because I wrecked your car.”

But does that make him a psychopath?

Riley’s life is filled with mind-numbing boredom until Henry arrives at his school. Henry’s amazing! Henry believes the world is populated by robots posing as humans. He believes the shadows in his room are monsters escaping from the electrical wires, and he sleeps with knives under his mattresses. For Riley, visiting Henry’s world is like being a tourist in a foreign land.

When police question Riley about Henry’s disappearance, Riley lies about their dangerous game and scrambles to save himself from being named accessory to mass murder. If Henry talks, Riley loses.

When someone feels nothing, do things like loyalty, friendship, and trust really matter?

Exhilarating and mind-bending! What I love most about Unquiet Riot is the slow unfolding of the friendship between the boys and the way Henry’s mental illness becomes revealed a little at a time. I worried for him. Riley is a great unreliable narrator who is witty and scary. This is the kind of authentic novel that really shows how factors like bullying, mental illness, and lack of teacher and parental involvement can allow an environment for a mass school violence event to occur.

You won’t want to miss this chilling YA book about teen psychopaths that explores the consequences of remaining silent. Fans of My Sister Rosa will love this psychological thriller.

My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier

“Killing things shouldn't make you happy, Rosa. That's why they're worried.” ― Justine Larbalester, quote from My Sister Rosa

I went into this book with high expectations that Rosa would be some creepy 10-year-old future (or current) serial killer, and that story question drove the plot for me. What terrible thing will she do?

Although there are some slow points, the pacing in the second half of the book is excellent, and events took some thrilling and quite unexpected turns.

Most of the conversations between Che and his sister Rosa, who is a psychopath, are fascinating, dark, and disturbing.

Rosa shrugs. “How should I know? I asked Seimone lots of questions. She answered them all. I showed an interest. I know all sorts of things about her now.”

She’s a seriously messed-up kid.

Rosa smirks though she can’t see the phone. “I’m going to get a dog, Che. When I get it I won’t hurt it. You’ll see. I keep my promises.”

Indeed she does.

You don’t want to miss this chilling YA book about teen psychopaths.

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

“That joke of a bookshelf has the same crap they had in baby jail I’ve inhaled three times over and I’d kill for something - anything - new to read. But I’d never say that out loud. I’m a killer after all; they’d probably think I’d really do it. Figures of speech are luxuries convicted murderers are not allowed to have.“ ― Tiffany D. Jackson, quote from Allegedly

Mary lives in a group home following her incarceration in baby jail for killing an infant. Allegedly. Life in the group home is hard for Mary, who is smart and trying to take her SATs and apply to college. She works at a nursing home, which is where she met Ted.

Now Mary is pregnant, and they’re going to take her baby away. So after all this time, she decides to tell the truth about what happened that night when Alyssa died.

Allegedly is a dark mystery that keeps the pages turning, and Mary is a compelling character. I really wanted her to succeed because so many things seemed to be against her. The other girls (and even the so-called responsible adults) are truly awful to her, and at least one of them turns out to be a psychopath. Fun times!

If you’re looking for chilling YA books that include teen psychopaths, I highly recommend adding this one to your list. It’s unusual.

We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

“Had I catalogued the downsides of parenthood, ‘son might turn out to be a killer’ would never have turned up on the list.” ― Lionel Shriver, quote from We Need to Talk about Kevin

Told through a series of letters, this novel tells the story from a mother’s point of view. Eva isn’t a particularly likeable mother, and she portrays her son, Kevin, as a bad seed from birth. As events unfold, however, the reader is left wondering about the difference between nature and nurture. Was Kevin born a psychopath who would bring violence to his classmates? Or was he made into a sociopath because of the way he was raised and the failure of his mother to love him?

This novel includes a dramatic crescendo to the actual events at the school, and although I’ve read this book twice now, I could read it again and still find is as chilling as the first time. Shriver deftly manages to create nuanced characters that I simultaneously felt empathy for and utter disgust and loathing.

Though not a YA novel because of the adult viewpoint, don’t miss this devastatingly powerful book that tackles the important and chilling issue of teen psychopaths.

The Lost by Natasha Preston

"Life is a game; you just have to make sure you’re in control." — Natasha Preston, quote from The Lost

This short YA novel kept me engaged in the story, turning pages to see how these characters were going to escape their situation. I forgave the implausible premise because the whole thing was just super creepy. This "cabin in the woods" seemed to go on forever with its torture rooms, and the author built an entire world that I could imagine. The suspense and tension in the plot wasn't predictable for me.

The ending could have worked better if Piper had been given a little different character development earlier in the book

If you’re searching for chilling teen psychopath books that will evoke strong emotions, pick this one up. Natasha Preston has crafted a gem here.

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

“Mr Greenleaf was such a decent fellow himself, he took it for granted that everybody else in the world was decent, too. Tom had almost forgotten such people existed.” ― Patricia Highsmith, quote from The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley is the first in a series of books about a psychopath. You’ve probably watched the movie by now, starring Matt Daemon, but the books are much better, as books almost always are, for giving you the first person viewpoint into character’s thoughts and actions.

Tom Ripley is 23 at the start of the story. He’s one of those boys who has had a series of bad luck: orphaned, not particularly successful. Then he meets a wealthy man and sets on a journey to Italy.

When I read the book the first time, I had no inkling about the events that would follow. No idea.

If you’re looking for books about psychopaths, you definitely want to check out Patricia Highsmith’s series about Tom Ripley.

Other YA Teen Psychopath Books

Goodreads also has a list on Teen Psychopath Books and Psychopath Book Lists.

You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books by type of tough topic.

Do you have any personal favorites to recommend? I’m always looking for another great read in this category.

Khristina Chess is the award-winning author of several YA novels about troubled teens turning corners. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter as an active daily contributor in the #5amwritersclub.