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

Stowaway
Anderson, John David
Paper Book
The beloved author of Posted and Ms. Bixby's Last Day returns with the first book in a coming-of-age sci-fi duology about Leo, a kid trying to navigate the galaxy in order to save his family--and, possibly, the planet Earth. When scientists discover a rare and mysterious...

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

Moongarden
Barry, Michelle A.

4

Cleo Porter and the body electric
Burt, Jake
Paper Book
In a future forever changed by a pandemic, a girl survives in total isolation. A woman is dying. Cleo Porter has her medicine. And no way to deliver it. Like everyone else, twelve-year-old Cleo and her parents are sealed in an apartment without windows or doors....

5

The Area 51 files
Buxbaum, Julie
Paper Book
Sky and her friends tackle their biggest mystery yet--the discovery of Area 52!--in the third installment of this laugh-out-loud, highly illustrated middle grade series by New York Times bestselling author Julie Buxbaum, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu. Sky's life in Area 51...

6

The Flicker
Edgmon, H. E.
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of The Marrow Thieves, Hatchet and The City of Ember, H.E. Edgmon's middle grade debut offers a bittersweet tale of hope and survival, a modern classic for the climate change generation. One year ago, a solar flare scorched the Earth and...

7

Maya and the robot
Ewing, Eve L.
Paper Book
From award-winning author Eve L. Ewing comes an illustrated middle grade novel about a forgotten homemade robot who comes to life just when aspiring fifth-grade scientist Maya needs a friend -- and a science fair project. Maya's nervous about fifth grade. She tries to keep calm...

8

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...

9

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...

10

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 . . .  ...

11

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...

12

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...

13

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...

14

Last gate of the Emperor
Mbalia, Kwame
Paper Book
From Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel David Makonnen comes an Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this epic journey to the stars. Yared Heywat lives an isolated life in Addis Prime -- a hardscrabble city with rundown tech, lots of rules, and not...

15

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...

16

Trouble in the stars
Prineas, Sarah
Paper Book
"A space chase that would feel right at home in the world of Star Wars. Unexpectedly out of this world." --Kirkus Reviews   From acclaimed author Sarah Prineas comes an action-packed, funny, and heartwarming outer-space adventure about a troublesome little shape...

17

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...

18

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...

19

Project Mercury
Smith, Ronald L.
Ebook
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 alert: Ike...

20

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...

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