'The Midwife's Apprentice' by Karen Cushman. It's set in medieval England and follows the story of a girl who becomes a midwife's apprentice. It gives a great look into that time period.
'Fever 1793' by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's about the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. It's a really engaging story that shows what life was like during that difficult time but it doesn't get as much attention as some other historical fictions.
The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix. It has a unique magic system and interesting characters. Not as well - known as some big names but still really good. Another is 'The Raven Cycle' by Maggie Stiefvater. It combines mystery and fantasy elements in a story about a group of teens.
One underrated book is 'The Giver'. It presents a dystopian world where a boy named Jonas discovers the truth about his society. Another is 'The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making'. It has a really imaginative and unique take on fairyland. And 'Howl's Moving Castle' is also somewhat underrated among teen fantasy books. It has a great story about a girl who gets cursed and her encounter with the wizard Howl.
A rather underrated science fiction teen book is 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry. It presents a seemingly utopian society where everything is controlled, and a young boy named Jonas starts to question the world around him when he becomes the Receiver of Memory. It's thought - provoking and makes you consider the value of emotions and individuality.
Some underrated historical fiction books are 'The Birth of Venus' by Sarah Dunant. It's set in Renaissance Florence and follows the story of a young girl coming of age in a time of great artistic and social change. 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel is also underrated. It offers a unique perspective on the court of Henry VIII. And don't forget 'A Place of Greater Safety' by Hilary Mantel as well, which focuses on the French Revolution.
'The Historian' by Elizabeth Kostova. It weaves a complex story about Dracula that spans different historical periods. It's not as well - known as some others but is really engaging as it has elements of travel, history, and a spooky mystery.
There's also 'The Book of Merlyn' by T.H. White. It's a sort of continuation of 'The Once and Future King' but often overlooked, and it adds more depth to the Arthurian legend.
A really well - known teen historical fiction is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. It takes place in the American South during the 1930s and deals with themes like racism and justice. 'I am Malala' can also be considered in a way. It tells the true story of Malala Yousafzai's fight for girls' education in Pakistan, which has historical significance. And 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' gives a different view of the Holocaust from a child's perspective.
There's 'The Winter King' by Bernard Cornwell. It's about King Arthur, but in a more historically - based way than the traditional Arthurian legends. It gives a great sense of the Dark Ages in Britain, which is an important part of European history. And 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett is also underrated in a way. It's a huge epic set in 12th - century England, showing the building of a cathedral and all the political and social struggles around it.
The 'Graceling' by Kristin Cashore is quite underrated. It has a strong female lead with a special ability in a world full of political intrigue. Another is 'The Scorpio Races' by Maggie Stiefvater. It's set on an island with a unique horse - racing tradition that involves deadly water horses.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is often overlooked. It's set in Nazi Germany and is narrated by Death. It shows a different perspective of the time through the eyes of a young girl who steals books.