April Henry Standalone Novels books in order

A collection of sixteen standalone YA thrillers by April Henry, published from 2002 to 2026, each featuring a different teen protagonist in a life-or-death situation.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Learning to Fly 2002 April Henry Buy
2 Shock Point 2006 April Henry Buy
3 Torched 2009 April Henry Buy
4 The Night She Disappeared 2012 April Henry Buy
5 The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die 2013 April Henry Buy
6 The Girl I Used to Be 2016 April Henry Buy
7 The Lonely Dead 2019 April Henry Buy
8 Run, Hide, Fight Back 2019 April Henry Buy
9 The Girl in the White Van 2020 April Henry Buy
10 Playing with Fire 2021 April Henry Buy
11 The Eyes of the Forest 2021 April Henry Buy
12 Two Truths and a Lie 2022 April Henry Buy
13 Girl Forgotten 2023 April Henry Buy
14 Stay Dead 2024 April Henry Buy
15 When We Go Missing 2025 April Henry Buy
16 In the Blood 2026 April Henry Buy

April Henry’s standalone YA novels share a common approach: take a teenager, put her in immediate danger, and then let the story run. The settings and situations vary across the sixteen books, but the pacing is consistently tight. Protagonists wake up not knowing how they got somewhere, are taken hostage in mall shootings, discover bodies while hiking, or find themselves suspected of crimes they did not commit.

Some novels draw on specific real-world contexts. The Eyes of the Forest involves a true-crime podcast and a cold case in the Oregon wilderness. Run, Hide, Fight Back is set during an active shooter situation in a mall. The Girl I Used to Be opens with the revelation that a girl who went missing as a child was actually the survivor, not the victim, of a parental murder. Henry tends to pick premises that feel current and uses them to build compact, plot-driven stories.

The standalones span more than two decades and show consistent output rather than a dramatic shift in style. Readers who enjoy one book in this group will find the others reliable in tone and length.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the April Henry Standalone Novels series?

There are sixteen books in the April Henry Standalone Novels series, published between 2002 and 2026.

What is the first book in the April Henry Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the April Henry Standalone Novels series is Learning to Fly, published in 2002.

Which standalone April Henry novel should I read first?

Most readers start with The Night She Disappeared (2012) or The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die (2013), which are her most frequently recommended standalones. Each book is entirely self-contained, so any title works as a starting point.

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