Book List for Tweens: Must-Read Books and Book Series for Older Kids
These are books that were very foundational in my growing up, and are books that fall in a category somewhere between an old classic and a modern novel. They are also great to listen to as a family on audiobook, and can spark some really good discussions with your kids about the topics addressed. (If you have younger kids, some topic matters may be sensitive or mature for them to hear.) Sometimes a book’s reading level is low, but the content is so rich, that I feel it is actually written for older children, and then other times, the subject matter is not very complex, but the author’s use of the English language engages the mind of the reader. These are the best books for tweens, or kids somewhere around 9-13 years old. If you are looking for younger children, here are boxed sets of the best books for kids, perfect for Christmas gifts.
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Judy Blume
Judy Blume was ahead of her time when she wrote her books. She covers a lot of themes that seem heavy for tweens but are, quite frankly, spot on in the real life struggles they face. I recommendAre You There God, It’s Me Margaret, and Then Again, Maybe I Won’t, which are both similar in that they speak on the challenges of growing up, finding yourself, puberty, friendships – one is from a girl’s perspective and the other is from a boy’s perspective. Best for older kids ages 10-14.
This boxed set is sold on Amazon and contains seven classic Judy Blume books including the two mentioned above. There are also some for sale here that are used, for a lower price. How to get books for free and almost free.
This is Judy Blume’s Fudge books, a five book set for $15, or you can get it here used for only $8.
holes by louis sachar
Holes was one of my favorite books as a kid. I found it serendipitously before it was popular, and I loved it purely for its excellent story and style, without any hype. It’s definitely a great book, and one every kid should read – and one Louis Sachar is known for. However, There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom is a HIDDEN GEM. I understand everyone has read Holes because they made a movie out of it – but the depth and intimacy in There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom is phenomenal. I weep every time I read it. I enjoy his conversational style and his humor. Dog’s Don’t Tell Jokes is another good one about an outcast, and it’s very funny.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Bridge to Terabithia is not a cheerful book, but it is a coming of age book and carries a lot of depth and heavy themes. I enjoyed it as a child. I haven’t read it recently but I would have my children read it.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
My favorite book of all time and one of the books I identify as immensely forming my character throughout elementary and middle school, Stargirl is a very unique book about a very unique girl. I still remember the first time I read it, and my treasured copy that was signed by Jerry Spinelli. I will never watch a movie about it, because it is just too personal of a book to ever try to make into a film.
Who Put That Hair In My Toothbrush? by Jerry Spinelli
If you couldn’t tell, Jerry Spinelli was my favorite author as a child, and I have read all of his books multiple times, but if I had to pick a second favorite, it would be Who Put That Hair in my Toothbrush? It is an underrated book that is hard to find even at a library or on the Libby app. It depicts sibling rivalry and family relationships really well, and flips back and forth narrating between the brother and the sister. If your child enjoys realistic fiction and coming of age books, this is a really good one.
Maniac Magee & Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
While on the trend of listing Jerry Spinelli books, I will include Maniac Magee and Wringer, since they both were extremely impactful and unique coming of age stories that I think every child would be profited from. They are written in an easy way but contain a lot of depth can be gathered through inferences. Maniac Magee won the Newberry Medal Award and Wringer won a Newberry Honor Award.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Hatchet is a good book for kids who enjoy outdoors adventure type stories, while it also goes into deeper themes, introspection, and life and death. We listened to it on a long car ride when I was a child and it was very impactful to me.
The Watson's Go To Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Watson’s Go To Birmingham was a book that I often passed by in the library as a child because it didn’t look very interesting. However, we listened to it in audiobook during a long car ride recently and I was very impressed. It confronts racial issues in the south during the sixties and deals with issues like sibling relationships, family dynamics, death, trauma, and prejudice while speaking in a childlike tone and sprinkling in a lot of humorous anecdotes. I highly recommend the audiobook, which is read beautifully by Levar Burton (from Reading Rainbow).
Read More about the Watsons go to Birmingham 1963 here
Okay for Now by Gary d. Schmidt
I read Okay for Now over the summer and I really enjoyed it. Like the Watson’s go to Birmingham, it is set around the 1960’s and deals with coming of age themes, but focuses on the Vietnam War, historically speaking. It’s easy reading but some implied issues are a little intense, like the narrator’s relationship with his abusive father.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
I read Where the Red Fern Grows in middle school and sobbed through the movie, but relistening to it with my son this summer I appreciated a lot more the authors ability to take the seemingly mundane or uninteresting daily activities and describe it with vivid detail that pulls you right into the coon chase. Some themes are life and death, independence, the love between a boy and his dogs, and working hard to achieve your goals.
Buy Where the Red Fern Grows Here
Walk Two Moons
Walk Two Moons is another one of my favorites from when I was a child. It is so uniquely written – flipping between the narrator talking with her grandparents and then to the story she is telling them – and was a very moving story on multiple levels. It won the Newberry Medal.
Absolutely Normal Chaos
Absolutely Normal Chaos is like a prequel to Walk Two Moons, although both can be read separately, they include some of the same characters. It’s less known and not easy to find on Libby but I think it’s Sharon Creech’s second best book.
A yEAR dOWN yONDER & A Long Way from Chicago
These two books are really excellent. A Year Down Yonder won the Newberry Award and A Long Way from Chicago is the sequel. Both tell about a girl and her experiences visiting her grandma in a very endearing way about their adventures and mishaps.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
If you haven’t read The Hunger Games series, or steer away from them due to the hype, I have to say they are very good books, and there is a reason for the hype. Some books are enjoyable when you are a tween but you look back with a frown at your poor taste in literature, and others are ones that stay with you and you reread as an adult and affirm that it was quite good. I would say these are quite good
Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld
If your kid enjoyed the dystopian saga of the Hunger Games, they will probably also enjoy this series by Scott Westerfeld. The Hunger Games received the notoriety and movie contract, but these books are just as fast paced and engaging. The first book, Uglies, is a teacher’s pick book on Amazon. The series includes four books: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras.
Buy Uglies Boxed Set Here
Twilight Saga bY sTEPHANIE mEYER
If you enjoy the genres of vampires and love stories, you will like the Twilight books, despite the fact that Stephanie Meyer is not a very good writer, in my opinion. To quote Stephen King:
“Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people. … The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”
However, according to the New York Times, the Twilight books are “a literary phenomenon”, and Meyer’s books were praised as New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, a Time magazine Best Young Adult Book of All Time, an NPR Best Ever Teen Novel, and a New York Times Editor’s Choice.
So, to each his own.
If you are looking for quality writing, I can’t say this is superb, but I did enjoy these books as a young teenaged simply for the sake of the story.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is presented in the form of a journal of a middle school boy recounting his experiences in a humorous way. The unique blend of text and cartoons makes the series engaging for young readers, and the relatable situations and characters have contributed to its widespread popularity. The books touch on various themes, such as friendship, family dynamics, and the ups and downs of growing up.
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
These books are popular for a reason, and J.K. Rowling’s skill of creating a detailed, believable wizarding world, intricate characters and relationships, excitement and adventure, is really profound. The books are not just an interesting plot, but are written very well, which I appreciate. Some themes are friendship, courage, and the battle between good and evil.
Buy the Harry Potter Box Set Here
They also sell a very beautiful collectors edition here for every die-hard fan:
Buy the Harry Potter Collectors Edition Set Here
A Series of Unfortunate Events
This is a series I avoided at first as a child because they seemed gloomy or disinteresting. However, I began reading them in fifth grade and I was very drawn into the story, the complex story line and mysteries, the fine details and plot twists, and the authors very intelligent, dry humor that makes the books immensely enjoyable, despite being very depressing.
aRTEMIS fOWL
The Artemis Fowl series begins with a boy kidnapping a fairy to hold for ransom, and the story evolves as he becomes more entangled in the complex and sometimes dangerous affairs of the fairy world, facing various magical creatures, foes, and moral dilemmas. The series explores themes of family, friendship, and the line between good and evil, blending fantasy, adventure, and humor throughout the narrative.
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
His Dark Materials includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. The series follows the journey of a young girl and her adventures as she explores parallel universes, confronts oppressive authorities, and grapples with cosmic mysteries, all while challenging societal norms and advocating for free will. My husband loves these books.
The Inheritance Cycle By Christopher Paolini
The Inheritance Cycle includes four books: Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance. The author, Christopher Paolini, creates a detailed fantasy world involved dragons, magic, and a medieval kingdom. He beautifully weaves it together and introduces many interesting characters. I really enjoyed these books at around 11-12 years old.
Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is the most famous of high-fantasy series, written by J.R.R. Tolkien. The story revolves around powerful and malevolent ring created by the dark lord Sauron. The protagonist sets out on a perilous journey to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring and prevent Sauron from conquering Middle-earth. The narrative explores themes of heroism, friendship, power, and the struggle between good and evil in the richly detailed and immersive world of Middle-earth.
Buy the Lord of the Rings Box Set Here
The Ender Saga by Orson Scott Card
If your child prefers science fiction over magical fantasy worlds, the Ender saga is an intricate science fiction series. The highly intelligent protagonist is recruited for a military program fighting against aliens, and follows him as he deals with the consequences of his own actions. He faces dilemmas regarding leadership, empathy, cultural understanding, and the ethical implications of human-alien interaction in a distant future.
The Maze Runner Series
The Maze Runner series is another science fiction world in which the main character wakes up with no memory, in the middle of an intricate maze. Alongside a group of other boys, he must navigate the ever-changing and dangerous maze to find a way out while uncovering secrets the maze holds to understand their purpose in a post-apocalyptic world.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The series is set in the fictional land of Narnia, a magical world filled with talking animals, mythical creatures, and enchanted landscapes. The narrative features epic adventures and moral allegory, as each book introduces new characters and expands the lore of the magical world. I personally remember these being hard to get through as a child, but many people feel differently, so your child may enjoy them.
Box Set: Pax and Pax, Journey Home
Pax is a moving, heartwarming book about the relationship of a boy with his pet Fox, and their journey to seek to find each other after they are separated. The sequel, Pax, Journey Home continues the story of their friendship.
Buy Pax 2-Book Box Set Here