Tween Reads

Fiction books for ages 9-12

Updated June 18, 2026
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Absolutely, positively Natty
Greenwald, Lisa
Ebook
Natty deals with moving after her mom's departure by pulling a "Ted Lasso" and starting a pep squad in this standalone middle-grade novel about friendship and toxic positivity by the author of TBH and the Friendship List series. When Natty's mom kind of takes a break from her dad...
Across so many seas
Behar, Ruth
Ebook
NEWBERY HONOR WINNER SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD HONOR WINNER "As lyrical as it is epic, Across So Many Seas reminds us that while the past may be another country, it's also a living, breathing song of sadness and joy that helps define who we are." --Alan Gratz, New York...
Another
Tremblay, Paul
Ebook
Eagle drums
Hopson, Nasug?raq Rainey
Audiobook
A magical realistic middle grade debut about the origin story of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a Native Alaskan tradition. As his family prepares for winter, a young, skilled hunter must travel up the mountain to collect obsidian for knapping―the same mountain where his two...
Echo Mountain
Wolk, Lauren
Paper Book
★ "Historical fiction at its finest." -The Horn Book "There has never been a better time to read about healing, of both the body and the heart." -The New York Times Book Review Echo Mountain is an acclaimed best book of 2020...
The eyes & the impossible
Eggers, Dave
Audiobook
NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER * #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER An enthralling novel for all ages by award-winning author Dave Eggers, told from the perspective of one uniquely endearing dog. "Johannes is a highly engaging narrator whose exuberance and good...
Ferris
DiCamillo, Kate
Ebook
The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up. It's the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer...
The fire, the water, and Maudie McGinn
Pla, Sally J.
Audiobook
The first state of being
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Audiobook
Impossible creatures
Rundell, Katherine
Ebook
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * THE FIRST BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT CONTINUES WITH THE POISONED KING "A glorious fantasy adventure . . . Brimming with intelligence, inventiveness and generosity of heart."--The Wall Street Journal (One of...
In your shoes
Gephart, Donna
Paper Book
"A unique and compelling novel from a master storyteller."--School Library Journal, starred review  The critically acclaimed author of Lily and Dunkin delivers another heartfelt story that will remind readers you never know who needs a friend the most. ...
Insignificant events in the life of a cactus
Bowling, Dusti
Paper Book
"Aven is a perky, hilarious, and inspiring protagonist whose attitude and humor will linger even after the last page has turned." --School Library Journal (Starred review) Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator...
King and the dragonflies
Callender, Kacen
Paper Book
A 2021 Coretta Scott King Honor Book! Winner of the 2020 National Book Award for Young People's Literature! Winner of the 2020 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction and Poetry! In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy's grief takes him...
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 . . .  ...
The list of things that will not change
Stead, Rebecca
Paper Book
EIGHT STARRED REVIEWS! The reassuring book kids and families need right now. "An absolute original . . . a story that kids will love." --R. J. Palacio, bestselling author of Wonder At a time when everything is changing for Bea and her family, the important things...
Look both ways : a tale told in ten blocks
Reynolds, Jason
Paper Book
A National Book Award Finalist Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book UK Carnegie Medal winner An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 A New York Times Best Children's Book of 2019 A Time Best Children's Book of 2019 A...
Marcus Vega doesn't speak Spanish
Cartaya, Pablo
Paper Book
One boy's search for his father leads him to Puerto Rico in this moving middle-grade novel, for fans of Ghost and See You in the Cosmos. Marcus Vega is six feet tall, 180 pounds, and the owner of a premature mustache. When you look like this and you're only in the...
Max in the house of spies
Gidwitz, Adam
Audiobook
"Max in the House of Spies is everything you could hope for in a book," -R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder, White Bird, and Pony "Espionage! Secrets! Suspense! If you've ever dreamed of being a spy, this book is for you." -Alan Gratz,...
The night war
Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker
Ebook
From the two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The War That Saved My Life and Fighting Words comes a middle grade novel set at the border between freedom and fear in World War II France, at the Chateau de Chenonceau, where a Jewish girl who has lost everything but her life must...
The only black girls in town
Colbert, Brandy
Paper Book
A Bank Street Best Book of 2021! From award-winning YA author Brandy Colbert comes a debut middle-grade novel about the only two Black girls in town who discover a collection of hidden journals revealing shocking secrets of the past. Beach...
Planet earth is blue
Panteleakos, Nicole
Paper Book
"Tender and illuminating. A beautiful debut." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me A heartrending and hopeful debut novel about a nonverbal girl and her passion for space exploration, for fans of See You in the Cosmos, Mockingbird, and...
The prince of nowhere
Hassan, Rochelle
Paper Book
This sweeping middle grade fantasy debut by Rochelle Hassan follows Roda and Ignis, who embark on an adventure filled with magic and mystery--perfect for fans of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Roda isn't afraid of the monsters that roam the wilds of the...
See you in the cosmos
Cheng, Jack
Paper Book
"I haven't read anything that has moved me this much since Wonder." --Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places A space-obsessed boy and his dog, Carl Sagan, take a journey toward family, love, hope, and awe in this funny and moving...
Snoop
Korman, Gordon
Audiobook
If Carter hadn't been checking his phone, he might have seen his brother coming down the ski slopes in his direction. And if Carter had seen his brother in time and avoided the crash, he might not have two broken legs right now.   Oops.   Now Carter is stuck...
Starfish
Fipps, Lisa
Paper Book
A PRINTZ HONOR BOOK . Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this poignant novel-in-verse. "In her debut novel, Starfish, Lisa Fipps confronts diet culture and fat phobia head-on. . . . The book reads as if Ellie herself is writing these poems, which...
The Swifts : a dictionary of scoundrels
Lincoln, Beth
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestseller! "Knives Out feel by way of Lemony Snicket...This archly told, never muddled debut whodunit reveals a roster of distinct characters, a labyrinthine setting and plot, and a mystery that is as clever as its heroine." - Publishers Weekly...
Unstuck
Dee, Barbara
Audiobook
Lyla is thrilled when her seventh-grade ELA class begins a daily creative writing project. For the past year she's been writing a brilliant fantasy novel in her head, and here's her chance to get it on paper! The plot is super complicated, with battle scenes and witches, although basically it's a...
The worlds we leave behind
Harrold, A. F.
Paper Book
A Booklist Editor's Choice Title for 2023 From acclaimed author and illustrator pair A.F. Harrold and Levi Pinfold comes another powerful and poignant story about friendship, betrayal, and redemption. Hex doesn't know why he does the things he does...

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