We’ve highlighted some awesome Harry Potter tattoos before, as well as awesome bookish ink in general. But YA book tattoos have been sorely missing from the spotlight. Part of it might be that YA books reach teenagers not yet ready for ink and part of it might be that it’s easy to forget just how vast the category of literature is and the incredible possibilities there are for tattoos. Let’s take a peek at some rad as hell YA book tattoos. I’ve also included a few other tattoos that aren’t YA books but fall either in the middle grade or children’s literature categories because they’re too good not to. It’s really interesting to see the books that are inspiring permanent skin commitments—you’ll see a few series repeat themselves below but in unique ways. Note that because we’v highlighted so many awesome Harry Potter tattoos before, I’ve limited their appearance here.
YA Book Tattoos and Tattoo Inspiration
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuzzEbZnAKs/ It’s a little Six of Crows ink.
A post shared by Shelby (@shelby_thin_mint) on May 25, 2019 at 4:49pm PDT In honor of Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me.
A post shared by • A. Luna • (@intopages) on Jul 25, 2019 at 11:45am PDT Another Tahereh Mafi–inspired tattoo, this time from Ignite Me.
A post shared by Allie Macedo (@allie.lanning) on May 31, 2019 at 10:19pm PDT This We Hunt The Flame tattoo is gorgeous.
A post shared by Sarah Jules ☘️ (@literary.booked) on Jun 6, 2019 at 3:17am PDT How clever is this tattoo? Cann you name all of the YA book series (and non-YA books!) represented here?
A post shared by Amy The Bibliophile (@amybibliophile) on Jul 11, 2019 at 10:28am PDT This full color Caraval series tattoo is downright magical.
A post shared by a m b e r d i o r🦄📚☕️ (@stopandsmellthepages) on Jul 17, 2019 at 11:06am PDT This seer tattoo inspired by Children of Blood and Bone is beautiful and I love how easily it’ll start a bookish conversation.
A post shared by Between The Page |Melissa Rose (@b3tweenthepage) on May 13, 2018 at 3:09pm PDT The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer inspired this tattoo—and according to the reader, it’s their second inspired by the series.
A post shared by Rachel James (@galaxygirlreads) on Jul 27, 2019 at 7:28am PDT Knowing how magical and lush Laini Taylor’s books are, it’s not a surprise they have inspired a ton of tattoos. Let’s start with this one, inspired by Strange The Dreamer.
A post shared by Erin Wilder (@crown0fstars) on Sep 7, 2019 at 6:21pm PDT Though not in color like the last, the black and grey Strange The Dreamer tattoo here is intricate and perfect.
A post shared by Kara (@kara_reads_) on Sep 18, 2019 at 4:46pm PDT As is this take!
A post shared by Laini Taylor (@lainit) on Aug 21, 2019 at 5:49pm PDT This homage to Strange The Dreamer includes a fabulous quote.
A post shared by Caitlin O’Callaghan (@caito_callaghan) on Sep 19, 2019 at 4:09am PDT How fantastic is this tattoo of Howl’s Moving Castle? https://www.instagram.com/p/B3yOJseBNjS/ A mix tape is totally appropriate for The Perks of Being A Wallflower. https://www.instagram.com/p/BsDDLZnHz9Z/ “Claim yourself,” inspired by Beautiful Creatures.
A post shared by Laurie Halse Anderson (@halseanderson) on Feb 9, 2019 at 6:29am PST How beautiful this Speak cover tattoo is!
A post shared by Mariana Monasi Photography (@marianamonasiphotography) on Apr 22, 2019 at 9:44pm PDT A tattoo that honors the OG YA book, The Outsiders.
A post shared by Aeriel Diettra (@aerieldiettra) on Apr 25, 2019 at 11:50am PDT From E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars.
A post shared by Lucy 👻 (@mslollywillowes) on May 2, 2019 at 11:57am PDT From His Dark Materials.
A post shared by GeeMonster (@gee_monster) on Sep 6, 2019 at 5:17am PDT I’m obsessed with watercolor tattoos (I have one myself!) so I’m really taken with this His Dark Materials ink.
A post shared by Sam (@eatsfoodsleepshappy) on Apr 7, 2019 at 1:07pm PDT One more from Pullman’s series. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2dXLWTgQZe/ There’s no surprise given the fandom around Maggie Stiefvater’s books that there are a ton of tattoos in honor of them. First up, The Scorpio Races.
A post shared by ally 🌙 (@booksofstarlight_) on Oct 22, 2019 at 2:14pm PDT A gorgeous tattoo from The Raven Cycle series.
A post shared by 𝖇𝖆𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖞 (@needlef0x) on Jul 29, 2019 at 10:55am PDT This is a clever take on The Raven Cycle via a tarot card.
A post shared by @ jikaartstf on Sep 1, 2019 at 6:28pm PDT There just aren’t enough trash polka tattoos out there and certainly not for kid lit–inspired ink. So this The Little Prince tattoo is everything.
A post shared by MG (@mg_reads) on Nov 4, 2019 at 6:15pm PST This Stargirl tattoo is simple but not boring.
A post shared by Ethan Fuhrer (@tattoos_by_fuhrer) on Oct 22, 2019 at 9:45am PDT Wow, wow, wow. This tattoo looks just like the cover for Escape From Furnace.
A post shared by Michael (@bookish_michael) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:10pm PDT Aristotle and Dante in the desert! But wait. This book lover has a second gay couple from YA books tattoo…
A post shared by Michael (@bookish_michael) on Nov 12, 2019 at 8:14pm PST It’s Jonathan and Web from Ziggy, Stardust and Me.
A post shared by Emma | QuietMountainReader 🖤 (@quietmountainreader) on Oct 25, 2019 at 9:01am PDT The Hunger Games will never not be a powerful tattoo inspiration.
A post shared by @ thetattooshop.co.uk on Aug 11, 2019 at 9:30am PDT Katniss can attest.
A post shared by Jessy Schae (@jessyschaebookshelf) on Oct 25, 2019 at 4:59pm PDT It’s a symbol from Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.
A post shared by Behind The Ink (@storybehindtheink) on Oct 31, 2019 at 4:37am PDT Speaking of symbols, here’s one inspired by Percy Jackson.
A post shared by Anni 🧚🏻♀️ (@whimsiereading) on Nov 2, 2019 at 4:22am PDT Inspired by Cassandra Clare’s books.
A post shared by Kaitlin (@betweenthelinesreads) on Nov 18, 2019 at 3:36pm PST From Clockwork Angel.
A post shared by bookbee (@beesbookhabit) on Oct 24, 2019 at 4:22am PDT Not only is the tattoo cool, but the photo with the collector’s edition of the book with the symbol is great.
A post shared by Lorin Petrazilka (@lorinpetrazilka) on Aug 23, 2019 at 7:51pm PDT Buckle in: we’re going to see a lot of Sarah J. Maas–inspired tattoos. This watercolor one is just beautiful.
A post shared by Cassidy Albert (@lydianne93) on Jul 18, 2019 at 5:46pm PDT Inspired by Heir of Fire. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2nY7z9nFCA/ Another take on the one above.
A post shared by Cheryl Simiakakis (@post_apocalipstick) on Jul 14, 2019 at 8:23am PDT From Kingdom of Ash.
A post shared by Erin Trump (@erins_adventures_in_the_pages) on Aug 6, 2019 at 5:54pm PDT Some more Throne of Glass ink.
A post shared by Kalie Anderson (@kandybookventures) on Oct 24, 2019 at 8:47pm PDT This is one badass Sarah J. Maas–inspired sleeve.
A post shared by Rogério Opix | Geek Tattoo (@opix.tattoo) on Oct 24, 2019 at 3:09pm PDT Damn!
A post shared by Lynne (@lynne8686) on Sep 14, 2019 at 1:04am PDT “Let’s go rattle the stars” with a bright watercolor book.
A post shared by 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚕 – 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚜, 𝚊𝚞𝚜. (@angel.inbookwonderland) on Oct 23, 2019 at 2:58am PDT “Don’t let the hard days win” is such a powerful quote.
A post shared by emilee ✨ (@fabledletters) on Oct 23, 2019 at 2:42pm PDT From Holly Black’s The Wicked King.
A post shared by Michael Speak (@maiinwonderland) on Oct 4, 2019 at 4:55am PDT Inspired by Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse.
A post shared by Sara Carey (@sj___writes) on Sep 20, 2019 at 6:33am PDT This is such an eye-catching tattoo and it marries so many YA books in one place.
A post shared by Alexis Lampley | Nerdy.Post (@dropandgivemenerdy) on Nov 18, 2019 at 8:41am PST This more minimalist tattoo (comparatively, at least!) marries a bunch of YA books together, too. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3pBnTkolhH/ “It kills me sometimes how people die” from The Book Thief.
A post shared by carrie (@eirracenna) on Jul 6, 2019 at 7:55pm PDT Another tattoo inspired by The Book Thief.
A post shared by Between The Page |Melissa Rose (@b3tweenthepage) on Feb 24, 2019 at 7:54am PST The symbol inspired by Marie Lu’s Legend series. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1cUTr3jBAn/ Until perusing YA book tattoos, I hadn’t realized the level of fandom there was for Jay Kristoff’s “Nevernight” series. There are so many tattoos inspired by it!
A post shared by Alice (@alimai_) on Oct 21, 2018 at 7:05am PDT “You’ve got words in your soul” is a nice line.
A post shared by Meaghan Carpenter (@adele365) on Oct 31, 2019 at 10:28am PDT That cat!
A post shared by Králík, který čte 🐰 (@bunny_the_reader) on Nov 17, 2019 at 12:24pm PST “Never flinch, never fear, never forget.”
A post shared by Becky Coombs (@beckycoombsy) on Oct 4, 2019 at 8:33am PDT Here’s Hogwarts, take one.
A post shared by Anne Ryan (@anneryantattoos) on Oct 1, 2019 at 6:56pm PDT Take two: a beautiful watercolor Hogwarts. https://www.instagram.com/p/B03DsERgFmL/ Last, but not least, I just love this simple line from The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue as a tattoo.
