Science Fiction for Tweens

From alien invasions to time travel, here’s a wide-ranging selection of middle grade science fiction books for both dedicated sci-fi fans and readers new to the genre. Many titles on the list are the first in a series.

Updated September 9, 2025
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1

The last human
Bacon, Lee
CD

2

The Area 51 files
Buxbaum, Julie
Paper Book
Aliens, sassy hedgehogs, and unexplained disappearances . . . Oh, my! Discover the secrets of the universe in this hilarious, highly illustrated middle-grade series from New York Times bestselling author Julie Buxbaum. "Epically fun!"--Max Brallier, #1 New York Times...

3

The last cuentista
Higuera, Donna Barba
Paper Book
Winner of the Newbery Medal--a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human. "Gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes -- truly a beautiful cuento."--New York Times Había una vez . . .  ...

4

Dragon Pearl
Lee, Yoon Ha
Paper Book
Rick Riordan Presents Yoon Ha Lee's space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you'd never know it by looking at her. To keep the family safe, Min's mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear...

5

Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation
Liu, Sylvia
Paper Book
"A refreshing, imaginative take on a cyberpunk future, filled with wickedly cool technology and unraveling intrigue!" -Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron Widow and Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor Perfect for fans of Dragon Pearl<...

6

Show us who you are
McNicoll, Elle
Paper Book

7

A rover's story
Warga, Jasmine
Paper Book
New York Times bestseller * Best Book of the Year from The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library The One and Only Ivan meets The Wild Robot in this unique and deeply moving middle grade novel about the journey of a fictional Mars...

8

Paige not found
Wilde, Jen
Paper Book
A thrilling adventure story that examines consent and privacy in a way that books have not had to before this generation where everything is online. Nothing about us, without us. When Paige learns that her parents enrolled her in an autism study without telling her, her world turns...

9

Last gamer standing
Zhao, Katie
Paper Book
  Ready Player One meets the action of battle royale video games in this middle-grade sci-fi perfect for fans of Fortnite. To twelve-year-old Reyna Cheng, gaming is everything, so she's thrilled to have the opportunity to attend a gaming summer camp courtesy of Dayhold - the...

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