First Chapter Friday Books

Books intended for 8-12-year-olds

Updated February 23, 2024
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Dinosaurs before dark
Osborne, Mary Pope.
Other
Where did the magic tree house come from? Before Jack and Anie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them back to the prehistoric past. Now can they do it before dark... or will they become a dinosaur's dinner?
Artemis Fowl
Colfer, Eoin
Paper Book
AT JUST TWELVE YEARS OLD, ARTEMIS FOWL IS A CRIMINAL GENIUS. No scheme is too dastardly, no plot too devious.And he's just discovered that fairies are real. Poor fairies. But these are not the cuddly creatures of bedtime stories. They are armed. They are...
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...
Charlotte's web
White, E. B.
Paper Book
Don't miss one of America's top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS's The Great American Read. This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, is a classic of children's literature that is "just about perfect." This paperback edition includes...
City of ghosts
Schwab, Victoria
Paper Book
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria (V.E.) Schwab (The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue) comes a sweeping, spooky, evocative adventure, perfect for fans of Stranger Things. An instant bestseller! Ever since Cass almost drowned (okay, she did drown, but she doesn't...
The wild robot
Brown, Peter
Paper Book
Soon to be a DreamWorks movie, coming to theaters 9/27/24! This #1 New York Times bestselling illustrated middle grade novel from a Caldecott Honor winner tells an extraordinary story full of action and thought-provoking questions as a robot learns to...
The book of stolen dreams
Farr, David
Paper Book
An exhilarating, awe-inspiring debut from a master storyteller writing for children for the first time, perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson. An exhilarating, awe-inspiring debut from a master storyteller writing for children for the first time,...
The star outside my window
Raúf, Onjali Q.
Paper Book
'My mum is up there somewhere. She's waiting -- I can feel it. I just have to find her in time, that's all ... Because when I do, I'll know the truth about who stole her. ' Told through the innocent voice of a child, this is a story that celebrates the power of...
The outsiders
Hinton, S. E.
Paper Book
The Socs's idea of having a good time is beating up greasers like Ponyboy.Ponyboy knows what to expect and knows he can count on his brothers and friends - until the night someone takes things too far.A ground-breaking, timeless story from a brilliant writer.
Lalani of the distant sea
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Paper Book
"A lush and mysterious fable, full of beauty, full of wonder."--Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly's debut fantasy novel is a gorgeous, literary adventure about bravery, friendship, self-reliance, and the...
The ogress and the orphans
Barnhill, Kelly
Paper Book
A new fantasy classic from the Newbery Medal winning and New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON.
You can't scare me!
Stine, R. L.
Paper Book
Goosebumps now on Disney+!Courtney is a total show-off. She thinks she's so brave; and she's always making Eddie and his friends look like wimps. But now Eddie's decided he's had enough. He's going to scare Courtney once and for all. And he's come up with the perfect plan to do it.Eddie's...
The Field Guide
DiTerlizzi, Tony
Paper Book
The Grace children discover the faerie world is closer than you think in this repackage of the first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles. After finding a mysterious, handmade field guide in the attic of the ramshackle old mansion they've just moved...
Doll bones
Black, Holly
Paper Book
My name is Eleanor Kerchner. You can call me the Queen. I died in 1895. Now it's time to play. A chilling ghost story by the bestselling author of TheSpiderwick Chronicles, Holly Black. Recipient of a...
Percy Jackson and the lightning thief
Riordan, Rick
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times Bestseller | Now a series on Disney+ 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of Poseidon in the opener to the hilarious, fast-paced adventure fantasy series for young readers ages 10 and up The paperback edition of the...
Holes
Sachar, Louis
Paper Book
This groundbreaking classic is now available in a special anniversary edition with bonus content. Winner of the Newbery Medal as well as the National Book Award, HOLES is a New York Times bestseller and one of the strongest-selling middle-grade books to ever hit shelves!
Aru Shah and the end of time
Chokshi, Roshani
Paper Book
Best-selling author Rick Riordan introduces this fantasy adventure by New York Times best-selling author, Roshani Chokshi, inspired by the great epics she grew up on. Named one of 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time by Time magazine! Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a...
Matilda
Dahl, Roald
Paper Book
For most kids, aThe Trunchbulla is pure terror, but for Matilda, sheas a sitting duck.
Amari and the night brothers
Alston, B. B.
Paper Book
New York Times bestseller! Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a series filled with #blackgirlmagic. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor. Amari Peters has...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.