Tween Reads

Discover recent releases for tweens.
Updated June 7, 2026
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Graciela in the abyss /
Medina, Meg.
Paper Book
"A thrilling, action-packed journey filled with heart, bravery, and ghostly exploits." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A sea ghost, a mortal boy, and a dangerous enchanted harpoon . . . A Newbery Medalist takes us far beneath the waves in this extraordinary foray into...
Stamped (for kids) :
Cherry-Paul, Sonja,
Paper Book
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER This chapter book edition of the groundbreaking #1 bestseller by luminaries Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds is an essential introduction to the history of racism and antiracism in America  
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...
Out of my heart /
Draper, Sharon M.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind. Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is...
A sea of lemon trees :
OAguila, MarOia Dolores,
Paper Book
This Newbery Honor-winning book is based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident. Vivid and uplifting, this middle grade debut novel-in-verse follows one young child's courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community. Perfect for...
The experiment /
Stead, Rebecca.
Paper Book
"Many twists await in this fast-moving and optimistic story by one of today's most inventive writers for readers ages 8-12." --The Wall Street Journal From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of...
Pony /
Palacio, R. J.
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NAMED ONE OF THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL "Perfection." -The Wall Street Journal The bestselling author of Wonder returns with an enthralling adventure about a boy...
The incredibly human Henson Blayze /
Barnes, Derrick,
Paper Book
All eyes in the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, have been on Henson Blayze since he first showed star power in youth football. Now a thirteen-year-old phenom playing his first varsity game, he stuns the crowd with his sheer talent and drive. Knowing they're seeing a national legend in the...
A year without home /
Bidania, V. T.,
Paper Book
A poignant novel in verse about a Hmong girl losing and finding home in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. For fans of Jasmine Warga and Veera Hiranandani. "As gripping as it is informative and as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, A Year Without Home does what all great books...
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...
A kid like me /
Feuti, Norman,
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Jeff Kinney and Terri Libensen, A Kid Like Me is a timely exploration about finding your place in the ever-evolving social landscape that is middle school, written and illustrated by award-winning graphic novelist Norm Feuti. Ethan doesn't want to stand...
This is our rainbow :
Paper Book
The first LGBTQA+ anthology for middle-graders featuring stories for every letter of the acronym, including realistic, fantasy, and sci-fi stories by authors like Justina Ireland, Marieke Nijkamp, Alex Gino, and more! A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former...
The poisoned king /
Rundell, Katherine.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * THE SECOND BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT BEGAN WITH IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES "Rundell is back with a sequel . . . which offers magical thrills for young readers and adults alike."--The New York Times
A tale of plagues and perfumes /
Halpern, Jake.
Paper Book
"A stunningly original fantasy world that will blow your mind." --Eoin Colfer, #1 New York Times-bestselling author "A delightful, redolent adventure--I couldn't put it down! . . . I'll never sniff a spice drawer the same way again." --Catherine Gilbert Murdock,...
Paradise on fire /
Rhodes, Jewell Parker.
Paper Book
From award-winning and bestselling author Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful coming-of-age survival tale exploring issues of race, class, and climate change.​   Addy is haunted by the tragic fire that killed her parents, leaving her to be raised by her...
Finding lost /
Sloan, Holly Goldberg,
Paper Book
A stray dog leads to major change for Cordy and her grieving family in this heartwarming novel by the beloved author of Counting by 7s. "It's impossible to read a book by Holly Goldberg Sloan without coming away wiser, kinder, and happier. She is a singular talent indeed."...
The library of unruly treasures /
Birdsall, Jeanne
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . In this funny, winning, and unexpected adventure from the New York Times bestselling, National Book Award-winning author of the Penderwicks series, a girl finds herself an unlikely hero when she stumbles upon a big secret about little creatures.
Attack of the black rectangles /
King, A. S.
Paper Book
Award-winning author Amy Sarig King takes on censorship and intolerance in a novel she was born to write. When Mac first opens his classroom copy of Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic and finds some words blacked out, he thinks it must be a mistake. But then when he and his friends...
Bye forever, I guess /
Meadows, Jodi.
Paper Book
Can a guarded gamer girl lower her shield for a new friend... or more-than-friend? "EARNEST AND LAUGH-OUT-LOUD... PITCH PERFECT."--Publishers Weekly, starred review Thirteen-year-old Ingrid's been living a double life. At school, she's her popular...
The talk :
Paper Book
Thirty diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators invite you intotheir homes to witnesstheconversationsthey have withtheir children about race in America today in this powerful call-to-action that invites all families to be anti-racists and advocates for change. "Project s love...
Scarlet morning /
Stevenson, ND,
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER * NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER * NPR BEST BOOKS OF 2025 * KIRKUS BEST BOOKS OF 2025 * BOOKLIST 2025 EDITOR'S CHOICE * NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST OF YEAR * CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST OF YEAR ...
Uncomfortable conversations with a black boy /
Acho, Emmanuel.
Paper Book
Adapted from Emmanuel Acho's New York Times bestseller Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, comes an essential young readers edition aimed at opening a dialogue about systemic racism with our youngest generation. Young people have the power to affect...
The AI incident /
Thomas, J. E.
Paper Book
The Wild Robot meets Restart when Colorado's unluckiest foster kid battles a rogue AI robot at school. Malcolm Montgomery is the new kid at Shirley Chisholm Charter Middle School. In no time at all, he's been slapped with the weird kid label. Is it because he's a...
The last resort /
Kelly, Erin Entrada.
Paper Book
The next evolution in storytelling from New York Times bestselling, Newbery Medal Winning author Erin Entrada Kelly! Twelve-year-old Lila has two goals for the summer: 1. Win back the friends who ditched her for being "too dramatic" 2. Stop being so dramatic ...
Yusuf Azeem is not a hero /
Faruqi, Saadia.
Paper Book
At a time when we are all asking questions about identity, grief, and how to stand up for what is right, this book by the author of A Thousand Questions will hit home with young readers who love Hena Khan and Varian Johnson--or anyone struggling to understand recent U.S. history and how it still...
The winter of the dollhouse /
Schlitz, Laura Amy.
Paper Book
"In the small-scale world of Laura Amy Schlitz's novel The Winter of the Dollhouse, the emotional stakes are both intimate and enormous. . . . [She] is a masterly storyteller." --The New York Times Book Review This captivating coming-of-age story is touching,...
What is Black Lives Matter? /
Wilson, Lakita.
Paper Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling series comes the latest title in the Who HQ Now format for trending topics. It tells the history of a political and social movement that advocates for non-violent civil disobedience and protests against incidents of police brutality--and all racially...
Coach /
Reynolds, Jason.
Paper Book
Three starred reviews! In this "beautifully executed victory lap" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) to Jason Reynolds's award-winning and New York Times bestselling Track series, meet Coach as a boy striving to come into...
Schooled /
Sumner, Jamie.
Paper Book
A Golden Kite Award Winner for Young Readers and Middle Grade Fiction An "insightful and absorbing" (Shelf Awareness, starred review) novel from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner about new schools, unexpected friendships, and overcoming loss. ...
The beautiful something else /
Van Otterloo, Ash,
Paper Book
Full of humor and heartbreak, this story about a nonbinary character navigating a binary world is perfect for fans of Alex Gino and Kyle Lukoff. It's exhausting trying to be the perfect daughter. Still, getting good grades without making any waves may be the only way to distract from the...
Some of us are brave /
Faruqi, Saadia.
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of The Strongest Heart comes a stirring new novel from the perspectives of three very different kids who are navigating the waters of fear and friendship through the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.  It's a humid summer in Houston,...
Junius Leak and the spiraling vortex of doom /
Wolf, Allan.
Paper Book
"Wolf's latest weaves a dazzling tale. . . .Considering the vividly depicted events, the strong cast, and the young protagonist's personal triumphs, there's wow-worthy content aplenty here." --Booklist (starred review) Part mystery, part fantasy-adventure, part riveting...
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