Tween Reads

Discover recent releases for tweens.
Updated May 18, 2026
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The moon without stars
Miller, Chanel
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The Newbery Honor-winning author of Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All explores the way growing up, finding friends, and discovering who you are can be both awkward and empowering in this heartfelt middle school novel. ★ "Genuine and...
The nine moons of Han Yu and Luli
Glaser, Karina Yan
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER * INDIE NEXT PICK * FIVE STARRED REVIEWS! Breathtaking suspense, unforgettable characters, and a pinch of magic combine in the dual stories of two young people--one in 731 China, and one in 1931 Chinatown--on perilous journeys...
Out of my heart
Draper, Sharon M.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind. Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is...
A sea of lemon trees : the Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
Águila, María Dolores
Paper Book
This Newbery Honor-winning book is based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident. Vivid and uplifting, this middle grade debut novel-in-verse follows one young child's courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community. Perfect for...
A SCAR LIKE A RIVER
Graff, Lisa
Paper Book
From bestselling author Lisa Graff, this important coming-of-age story follows a thirteen-year-old with a mysterious scar on her face--and a big secret she feels pressured to keep. Fallon Little has a secret--and it's not how she got the enormous scar that divides...
The experiment
Stead, Rebecca
Paper Book
"Many twists await in this fast-moving and optimistic story by one of today's most inventive writers for readers ages 8-12." --The Wall Street Journal From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of...
Pony
Palacio, R. J.
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NAMED ONE OF THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL "Perfection." -The Wall Street Journal The bestselling author of Wonder returns with an enthralling adventure about a boy...
From the desk of Zoe Washington
Marks, Janae
Paper Book
#1 Kids Indie Next List * Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of the Year * SLJ Best Book of the Year * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * Junior Library Guild Selection * Edgar Award Nominee * Four Starred Reviews * Bank Street Best...
A KID LIKE ME: A GRAPHIC NOVEL
Feuti, Norman
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Jeff Kinney and Terri Libensen, A Kid Like Me is a timely exploration about finding your place in the ever-evolving social landscape that is middle school, written and illustrated by award-winning graphic novelist Norm Feuti.  Ethan doesn't...
This is our rainbow : 16 stories of her, him, them, and us
Locke, Katherine
Paper Book
The first LGBTQA+ anthology for middle-graders featuring stories for every letter of the acronym, including realistic, fantasy, and sci-fi stories by authors like Justina Ireland, Marieke Nijkamp, Alex Gino, and more! A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former...
The poisoned king
Rundell, Katherine
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * THE SECOND BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT BEGAN WITH IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES "Rundell is back with a sequel . . . which offers magical thrills for young readers and adults alike."--The New York Times
Three blue hearts
Kelly, Lynne
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * From the bestselling author of Song for a Whale comes a deeply moving story about a boy, an octopus, and the extraordinary bond that changes them forever--perfect for fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures to hand to the young readers in their lives.
The library of unruly treasures
Birdsall, Jeanne
Paper Book
Gwen MacKinnon's parents are dreadful. So she's not upset at all when she's foisted onto her never-before-seen Uncle Matthew for two weeks. Especially when it turns out he has a very opinionated dog named Pumpkin. Things take a turn for the weird when Gwen makes a discovery in the local library...
TWICE ENSLAVED: LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR HENRIETTA WOOD
Castrovilla, Selene
Paper Book
Here is the story of Henrietta Wood, who was enslaved twice-but who demanded justice and was awarded the largest reparations ever granted for enslavement. This nonfiction book for ages 9-12 puts a human face on the current issue of reparations. Henrietta Wood was born enslaved....
THE TEACHER OF NOMAD LAND: A WORLD WAR II STORY
Nayeri, Daniel
Paper Book
Winner of the National Book Award * Named Amazon's #1 Children's Book of 2025    In the shadow of World War II, two orphaned siblings embark on a perilous journey across the mountains of Iran--where survival depends on finding a common language in a world torn...
Scarlet morning
Stevenson, ND
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER * NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER From the powerhouse creator of Nimona comes a breathtaking illustrated novel, the start of a duology, following two orphans who leave the only home they've...
The last resort
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Paper Book
The next evolution in storytelling from New York Times bestselling, Newbery Medal Winning author Erin Entrada Kelly! Twelve-year-old Lila has two goals for the summer: 1. Win back the friends who ditched her for being "too dramatic" 2. Stop being so dramatic ...
The winter of the dollhouse
Schlitz, Laura Amy
Paper Book
"In the small-scale world of Laura Amy Schlitz's novel The Winter of the Dollhouse, the emotional stakes are both intimate and enormous. . . . [She] is a masterly storyteller." --The New York Times Book Review This captivating coming-of-age story is touching,...
Dream
O'Connor, Barbara
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! The highly anticipated follow up to Wish, which has spent six years on the New York Times bestseller list and is beloved by over two million readers. Dream follows a small...
What is Black Lives Matter?
Wilson, Lakita
Paper Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling series comes the latest title in the Who HQ Now format for trending topics. It tells the history of a political and social movement that advocates for non-violent civil disobedience and protests against incidents of police brutality--and all racially...
Coach
Reynolds, Jason
Paper Book
Three starred reviews! In this "beautifully executed victory lap" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) to Jason Reynolds's award-winning and New York Times bestselling Track series, meet Coach as a boy striving to come into...
Some of us are brave
Faruqi, Saadia
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of The Strongest Heart comes a stirring new novel from the perspectives of three very different kids who are navigating the waters of fear and friendship through the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.  It's a humid...
Time lions and the chrono-loop
Seneviratne, Martin
Paper Book
A laugh-out-loud, edge-of-your-seat time-travel adventure perfect for fans of The Last Last-Day-of-Summer and City Spies from New York Times bestseller, Krystal Sutherland. Twins Pearl and Patrick are no ordinary twelve-year-olds. They're geniuses, hiding in...
Schooled
Sumner, Jamie
Paper Book
A Golden Kite Award Winner for Young Readers and Middle Grade Fiction An "insightful and absorbing" (Shelf Awareness, starred review) novel from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner about new schools, unexpected friendships, and overcoming loss. ...
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