First Chapter Friday Books

Books intended for 8-12-year-olds

Updated December 14, 2024
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Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone
Keller, Tae
Paper Book
In her first novel since winning the Newbery Medal for When You Trap a Tiger, Tae Keller offers a gripping and emotional story about friendship, bullying, and the possiblity that there's more in the universe than just us. Sometimes middle school can make you feel like...
Dinosaurs before dark
Osborne, Mary Pope.
Paper Book
Eight-year-old Jack and his younger sister Annie find a magic treehouse, which whisks them back to an ancient time zone where they see live dinosaurs.
Glitter Gets Everywhere
Clark, Yvette
Paper Book
This debut novel is a poignant exploration of grief, change, and hope, perfect for fans of Lisa Graff and Lindsey Stoddard. After Kitty's mother dies on an inappropriately sunny Tuesday, all Kitty wants is for her life to go back to "normal"--whatever that will mean without her mum....
Artemis Fowl
Colfer, Eoin
Audiobook
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius, and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories; these fairies are armed and dangerous. ...
The mouse and the motorcycle
Cleary, Beverly.
Paper Book
In this imaginative adventure from Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary, a young mouse named Ralph is thrown into a world of excitement when a boy and his shiny toy motorcycle check in to the Mountain View Inn. When the ever-curious Ralph spots Keith's red toy motorcycle, he vows to...
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 high-quality paperback features...
City of ghosts
Schwab, Victoria
Paper Book
From #1 NYT bestselling author Victoria Schwab comes a sweeping, spooky, evocative adventure, perfect for fans of "Stranger Things" and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.A New York Times bestseller!Ever since Cass almost drowned (okay, she did drown, but she doesn't...
The Wild Robot
Brown, Peter
Paper Book
Now a DreamWorks movie available on Prime Video! 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 survive--and...
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...
Maizy Chen's Last Chance
Yee, Lisa
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER . NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST . ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family's Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family. NAMED...
The world according to Humphrey
Birney, Betty G.
Paper Book
The first in the series about everyone's favorite classroom pet! You can learn a lot about life by observing another species. That's what Humphrey was told when he was first brought to Room 26. And boy is it true! There are always adventures in the classroom and each weekend he gets to...
Whale Done
Gibbs, Stuart
Paper Book
In the eighth novel in New York Times bestselling Stuart Gibbs's FunJungle series, Teddy Fitzroy returns as FunJungle's resident sleuth to find the culprits behind a blown-up whale and a string of beach sand thefts. After an escaped kangaroo starts a fire that burns down...
The outsiders
Hinton, S. E.
Paper Book
THE ICONIC INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER WITH OVER 25 MILLION COPIES SOLD * The inspiration for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical! A heroic coming-of-age novel revolving around friendship, belonging, and brotherhood that has touched the hearts of readers for generations. "...
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...
Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence
Thomas, Sonja
Paper Book
From the Desk of Zoe Washington meets Ways to Make Sunshine in this "noteworthy" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade novel about a determined young girl who must rely on her ingenuity and scientific know-how to save her beloved cat. Twelve-year-old...
The Ogress and the Orphans
Barnhill, Kelly
Paper Book
A National Book Award finalist and instant fantasy classic about the power of community, generosity, books, and baked goods, from the author of the beloved Newbery Medal winner The Girl Who Drank the Moon. The town of Stone in the Glen used to be lovely, but it hasn't been so in...
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...
Unplugged
Korman, Gordon
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unteachables, Gordon Korman, comes a hilarious middle grade novel about a group of kids forced to "unplug" at a wellness camp--where they instead find intrigue, adventure, and a whole lot of chaos. Perfect for fans of Korman's Ungifted and the...
A Snow Day for Plum!
Phelan, Matt
Paper Book
Sid Fleischman Award for Humor Finalist SCBWI Golden Kite Award Finalist The animals of the Athensville Zoo are going to school! But then an unexpected blizzard strands the animals at the elementary school overnight--yikes! This sequel to Leave It to Plum! is...
The Field Guide
DiTerlizzi, Tony
Paper Book
After moving into their elderly aunt's old house, three siblings experience unexplainable events and discover a magical new world in this first book in the Spiderwick Chronicles. After finding a mysterious, handmade field guide in the attic of the ramshackle old mansion they've...
Doll bones
Black, Holly.
Paper Book
Discover the Newbery Honor winner Doll Bones, from Holly Black, the cocreator of the Spiderwick Chronicles. A Kirkus Reviews Best Book. A School Library Journal Best Book. A Booklist Editor's Choice Books for Youth. A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book. A...
The lightning thief
Riordan, Rick
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times Bestseller Percy Jackson and the Olympians series now streaming on Disney+! The hardcover edition of the first book in Rick Riordan's thrilling middle grade series, filled with magic, Greek mythology, and plenty of monsters...
Mr. Popper's penguins
Atwater, Richard.
Paper Book
The classic Newbery Honor book that inspired the hilarious Jim Carrey movie--and a childhood favorite book for generations. Mr. Popper's Penguins is one of the handful of American books for children that has attained the status of a classic. A humble...
Fish in a tree
Hunt, Lynda Mullaly
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller * An emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who's ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn't fit in. "Fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder will appreciate this feel-good story of friendship...
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!
Skunk and Badger
Timberlake, Amy
Ebook
EL PRIMER TÍTULO DE LA SERIE SOBRE UNA EXTRAÑA PAREJA DESTINADA A CONVERTIRSE EN UN CLÁSICO. Nadie quiere una mofeta. No se abre la puerta a una mofeta. No se la invita a pasar. Especialmente, si en la casa se desarrolla una "importante labor petrológica". Y, por supuesto, jamás...
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...
Root magic
Royce, Eden
Paper Book
"A poignant, necessary entry into the children's literary canon, Root Magic brings to life the history and culture of Gullah people while highlighting the timeless plight of Black Americans. Add in a fun, magical adventure and you get everything I want in a book!" --Justina Ireland, New York...
Matilda
Dahl, Roald.
Paper Book
For most kids, aThe Trunchbulla is pure terror, but for Matilda, sheas a sitting duck.
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...
Tight
Maldonado, Torrey
Paper Book
Tight- Lately, Bryan's been feeling it in all kinds of ways . . . Bryan knows what's tight for him--reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But drama is every day where he's from, and that gets him tight, wound up. And now Bryan's friend...
The sky over Rebecca
Fox, Matthew
Paper Book
In this breath-taking debut novel, two worlds--and timelines--collide when ten-year-old Kara discovers mysterious footprints in the snow that lead her to another place entirely, perfect for fans of When You Reach Me and Echo.    When...
The Very Unfortunate Wish of Melony Yoshimura
Brown, Waka T.
Ebook
Mysteries of Trash and Treasure: The Secret Letters
Haddix, Margaret Peterson
Paper Book
In this page-turning middle grade series by New York Times bestseller Margaret Peterson Haddix, Colin and Nevaeh, whose parents own rival junk-removal businesses, uncover mysteries hidden in attics and basements and discover how trash can become treasure. In The Secret Letters, Colin and Nevaeh...
Ragweed
Avi
Paper Book
The first book in the beloved Poppy series by Newbery Medal-winning author Avi, with illustrations from Caldecott Medal-winning artist Brian Floca A mouse has to do what a mouse has to do. Ragweed is determined to see the world. He leaves his family and cozy country home and sets off by...
Kwame Crashes the Underworld
Farmer, Craig Kofi
Paper Book
Winner of the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award Discover a stunning middle grade fantasy about a boy hurled into the Ghanaian underworld to help his grandmother save humanity, perfect for fans of Tristan Strong and Amari and the Night Brothers.

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