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
Paper Book
In Lee Bacon's novel The Last Human, in a future when humans are believed to be extinct, what will one curious robot do when it finds a girl who needs its help?   In the future, robots have eliminated humans, and 12-year-old robot XR_935 is just fine...

2

Boy 2.0
Baptiste, Tracey
Paper Book
An action-packed superhero story from New York Times bestselling author Tracey Baptiste Win "Coal" Keegan has just landed in his latest foster home, with a big, noisy, slightly nosy family named the McKays. They seem eager to welcome Coal, but he's wary of trusting them. So, he...

3

The last last-day-of-summer
Giles, L. R.
Paper Book
"The Last Last-Day-of-Summer reminds me that all children deserve to exist in magical spaces where their imaginations and familial bonds will them into heroism. Every single child should have the freedom to be one of The Legendary Alstons. And I, for one, am grateful to Giles, and this brilliant...

4

Sal & Gabi break the universe
Hernandez, Carlos Alberto Pablo
Paper Book
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents a brilliant sci-fi romp with Cuban influence by Carlos Hernandez, winner of the 2020 Pura Belpré Award. "I love this book in every possible universe! With a surprise on every page and two of the most cosmically awesome, vividly unique...

5

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 . . .  ...

6

The lion of Mars
Holm, Jennifer L.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Life on Mars is pretty standard.... until a mysterious virus hits.  Don't miss this timely and unputdownable novel from the bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish. Bell has spent his whole life--all eleven years of it--on...

7

The first state of being
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL A FINALIST FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ALA Notable Book for Children · Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers of 2024 · Shelf Awareness Best Books of 2024 for Kids and Teens · BookPage Best Middle...

8

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...

9

Glitch
Martin, Laura
Paper Book
From the critically acclaimed author of Float comes a new whirlwind adventure about a pair of kids who must break all the rules of time travel, perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and John David Anderson. Regan Fitz and Elliot Mason have been enemies since they started training to become...

10

Show us who you are
McNicoll, Elle
Paper Book
A neurodiverse twelve-year-old girl is shown an amazing new technology that gives her another chance to talk to the best friend she lost. But she soon discovers the corporation behind the science hides dark secrets that only she can expose in this heartwarming and heroic sophomore novel from the...

11

Bloom
Oppel, Kenneth
Paper Book
"The perfect book right now for young readers searching for hope, strength, inspiration -- and just a little horticultural havoc."--New York Times   The first book in a can't-put-it-down, can't-read-it-fast-enough action-thriller trilogy that's part Hatchet, part...

12

The rhythm of time
Questlove
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times Bestseller From the Academy Award-winning, Grammy-winning, and New York Times bestselling author Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and the New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby comes this thrill-a-minute novel-the first in a rollicking...

13

I am the walrus
Shusterman, Neal
Paper Book
Eoin Colfer meets Rick Riordan--with a little Margaret Peterson Haddix sprinkled on top--in this hilarious sci-fi series from New York Times bestselling authors Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman. ​ When fourteen-year-old Noah falls from the trees on...

14

Project Mercury
Smith, Ronald L.
Paper Book
Ike Pressure is an Army brat. Which, if you ask him, is not an insult. His mom's new job is in Mercury, Nevada, on a secretive military base close to Area 51. What's more, his childhood friend, Eesha Webb, and her family are about to move there too. Spoiler...

15

Happy Town
Van Eekhout, Greg
Paper Book
Stay calm and remain HAPPY. Help is on the way. Perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Jennifer L. Holm, this adventure-packed middle grade story, set in a world not too far from our own, follows a family that moves to a remote company town that seems perfect on the surface......

16

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...

17

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. In twelve-year-old Reyna Cheng's world, gaming is everything. Professional esports teams are the mainstream celebrities. Kids begin...

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