Tween Reads

Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s journal. Tristan chases after it — is that a doll? — and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American gods John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?

Max wants to be a knight! Too bad that dream is about as likely as finding a friendly dragon. But when Max's uncle Budrick is kidnapped by the cruel King Gastley, Max has to act—and fast! Joined by a band of brave adventurers—the Midknights—Max sets out on a thrilling quest: to save Uncle Budrick and restore the realm of Byjovia to its former high spirits!

Once, in a cottage above the cliffs on the Dark Sea of Darkness, there lived three children and their trusty dog, Nugget. Janner Igiby, his brother Tink, and their crippled sister Leeli are gifted children, as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and an ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the Dark Sea to rule the land with malice and pursue the Igibys, who hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of the good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.Andrew Peterson spins a quirky and riveting tale of the Igibys’ extraordinary journey from Glipwood’s Dragon Day Festival and a secret hidden in the Books and Crannies Bookstore, past the terrifying Black Carriage, the clutches of the horned hounds and loathsome toothy cows surrounding AnkleJelly Manor, through the Glipwood Forest and the mysterious treehouse of Peet the Sock Man, known for a little softshoe and for wearing tattered socks on his hands and arms, to the very edge of the Ice Prairies.Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness presents a world of wonder and a tale children of all ages will cherish, that families can read aloud and that readers’ groups are sure to discuss for its layers of meaning about life’s true treasure and the tangle of the beautiful and the horrible, the temporal and the eternal, and the good and the bad.

Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library.Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high.In this cross between Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Night in the Museum, Chris Grabenstein uses rib-tickling humor to create the perfect tale for his quirky characters. Old fans and new readers will become enthralled with the crafty twists and turns of this ultimate library experience.EndorsementsA New York Times Bestseller

‘Forty-two days ago I was an ordinary kid, living an uneventful life. But now it’s total monster zombie chaos and I’m battling beasts on a daily basis. Crazy, right? But I know exactly how to make it through the zombie apocalypse.’Meet Jack Sullivan, a self-described late-blooming, slow-developing 13-year-old who has so far survived the zombie apocalypse by hiding out in his treehouse. Overnight Jack’s life has become like the plot of a video game and he has come up with his own ultimate feats of apocalyptic:· Locate Quint Baker, best friend and inventor· Find and rescue June Del Toro, his secret love interest· Defeat Blarg, the biggest, baddest monster in town· Become a zombie-fighting, monster-bashing tornado of cool!The Simpsons meets The Walking Dead in the first book of a hilarious new monster adventure series. Fans of Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates, Barry Loser and Dogman will love accompanying Jack on his mission to become the post-apocalyptic action hero. With hilarious, action-filled illustrations from Douglas Holgate bringing the story to life on every page, The Last Kids on Earth will captivate even the most reluctant readers. Perfect for zombie-hunters aged 8 and up.Endorsements‘Terrifyingly fun! Max Brallier’s The Last Kids on Earth delivers big thrills and even bigger laughs.’ — Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Samantha Spinner's Uncle Paul disappeared, and here's what he left:Samantha's sister got a check for $2,400,000,000.Samantha's brother got the New York Yankees.And Samantha got a rusty red umbrella with a tag hanging off its worn handle. The tag says "Watch out for the rain."Thanks a lot, Uncle Paul.After all the strawberry waffles, stories, and puzzles they've shared, how could he just leave without saying goodbye? And what is the meaning of that mysterious message?The answer is simple. Sam knows in her heart that Uncle Paul is in danger. And if he taught her anything, it's that not everything is exactly what it seems. Which is why we should pay close attention to that rusty red umbrella.The rain is coming and Samantha Spinner is about to find herself mixed up in some super-important, super-dangerous, super-secret plans.

Fifteen years ago, eight supernatural criminals fled Estero City to make a new life in an isolated tropical hideout. Over time, seven of them disappeared without a trace, presumed captured or killed. Now the remaining one has died. Left behind to fend for themselves are the criminals’ five children, each with superpowers of their own: Birdie can communicate with animals. Brix has athletic abilities and can heal quickly. Tenner can swim like a fish and can see in the dark and hear from a distance. Seven’s skin camouflages to match whatever is around him. Cabot hasn’t shown signs of any unusual power—yet. Then one day Birdie finds a map among her father’s things that leads to a secret stash. There is also a note: Go to Estero, find your mother, and give her the map.

Merci Suarez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don’t have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci’s school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna’s jealousy. Things aren't going well at home, either: Merci’s grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately — forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in her family will tell Merci what's going on, so she’s left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school.In a coming-of-age tale full of humor and wisdom, author Meg Medina gets to the heart of the confusion and constant change that defines middle school — and the steadfast connection that defines family.

All I've ever wanted is for Juli Baker to leave me alone. For her to back off — you know, just give me some space.Juli has been making Bryce's life hell from the moment they met. All he wants is to live a normal life, without some crazy person mooning after him.The first day I met Bryce Loski, I flipped. Honestly, one look at him and I became a lunatic. It's his eyes.But she doesn't see it that way. In her eyes, they're meant for each other, even though he might not realize it yet.That is, until the eighth grade, when everything flips. And just as Juli starts to realize that Bryce may not be all he seemed, Bryce begins to think that there's more to Juli than meets the eye...Wendelin Van Draanen's Flipped is a modern-day classic about first love and not judging a book by its cover. A romantic comedy-of-errors told in alternating chapters by two fresh, funny voices.

At her birth, Ella of Frell was the unfortunate recipient of a foolish fairy's gift—the “gift” of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day and a half, or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse—once and for all.How can a fairy's blessing be such a curse?

Gracie has never felt like this before. One day, she suddenly can't breathe, can't walk, can't anything and the reason is standing right there in front of her, all tall and weirdly good-looking: A.J.It turns out A.J. likes not Gracie but Gracie's beautiful best friend, Sienna. Obviously Gracie is happy for Sienna. Super happy! She helps Sienna compose the best texts, responding to A.J.'s surprisingly funny and appealing texts, just as if she were Sienna. Because Gracie is fine. Always! She's had lots of practice being the sidekick, second-best.It's all good. Well, almost all. She's trying.

Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a big, epic fail?For Arturo, summertime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela’s restaurant. Maybe.But this summer also includes Carmen, a poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo’s apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn’t notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it.Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight, and as he schemes with Carmen, Arturo discovers the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of José Martí.Perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia.EndorsementsA 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book

Leo Borlock follows the unspoken rule at Mica Area High School: don't stand out — under any circumstances! Then Stargirl arrives at Mica High and everything changes — for Leo and for the entire school. After 15 years of homeschooling, Stargirl bursts into tenth grade in an explosion of color and a clatter of ukulele music, enchanting the Mica student body.But the delicate scales of popularity suddenly shift, and Stargirl is shunned for everything that makes her different. Somewhere in the midst of Stargirl's arrival, rise, and fall, normal Leo Borlock has tumbled into love with her.A celebration of nonconformity; a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularity — and the thrill and inspiration of first love. Ages 12+

Bridge has always been a bit of an oddball, but since she recovered from a serious accident, she's found that fitting in with her friends has become increasingly difficult. Tab and Em are getting cooler and more confident and they don't understand why she insists on wearing novelty cat ears every day. Bridge just thinks they look good. It's getting harder to keep their promise of no fights, especially when they start keeping secrets from each other.Sherm wants to get to know Bridge better, but he’s hiding the anger he feels at his grandfather for walking out.And then there is another girl who is struggling with an altogether more serious set of friendship troubles...Told from interlinked points of view, this is a bittersweet story about the trials of friendship and growing up.

Jane Brannen wants nothing more than to become a famous author like Jane Austen—she just needs to figure out the key to literary success! Her chance to uncover the secret arrives when famous author J. E. Fairfax visits the tiny lobster town of Whickett Harbor, Maine. Unfortunately, a hurricane rolls in and Jane gets stuck with the author's snobbish son, Devon, instead. But when the skies clear, Jane realizes the wind has blown in something worse than annoying boys: Her mother, Susan, and Susan's new fiancé, Erik, have flown all the way from Hollywood to file for custody and bring Jane back to California. Now she needs to find a mate for her marine biologist father and figure out what's truly important about Whickett Harbor, so she can prove to her mother that this is where she's meant to stay.

Carmen gets the jeans at a thrift shop. They don’t look all that great: they’re worn, dirty, and speckled with bleach. On the night before she and her friends part for the summer, Carmen decides to toss them.But Tibby says they’re great. She'd love to have them. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides that they should all try them on. Whoever they fit best will get them.Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Even Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything) thinks she looks good in the pants. Over a few bags of cheese puffs, they decide to form a sisterhood and take the vow of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants... The next morning, they say goodbye.And then the journey of the pants — and the most memorable summer of their lives — begins.

This tech-filled adventure series pits intrepid Mars Patel and his outcast friends against a brilliant, enigmatic billionaire as they race to figure out why kids are disappearing from their school.Mars Patel's friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed about her job. But Mars refuses to give up—after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he and Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help: smart Toothpick, strong and stylish JP, and maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (and Mars's hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt's mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems—and anyone could be deceiving them.Slick science, corporate conspiracies, and an endearingly nerdy protagonist make this first book in the series a fresh, exciting sci-fi adventure.EndorsementsBased on the Peabody Award–winning podcast.

Paul Marconi has always thought that Bellwood was a strange town, but also a boring one. Not much for an eleven-year-old to do. Fires are burning nearby, Paul's parents are obsessed with winning a bratwurst contest, and his best friend, one of the founding members of their only-child detective club, the One and Onlys, is about to acquire a younger sister, sort of undoing their whole reason for existing. But then! Hundreds of rubber duckies have appeared on the lawn of poor Mr. Babbage without any explanation. Finally! There is something that Paul and his friends can actually investigate.In the face of all these bizarre occurrences, Paul is convinced that uncovering who deposited the duckies will finally bring some sense to what has become an upside-down world. Soon the three friends have a long list of suspects, all with their own motives, but no clear culprit. When everything comes to a head at the town's annual Bellwood Bratwurst Bonanza, Paul discovers that some things don't have an easy explanation and not every mystery can be solved.The best mysteries can only be solved with your best friends. The perfect summer read for fans of Stuart Gibbs. A perfect summer story about friends, amateur sleuthing, and a whole lot of rubber duckies.Endorsements“The perfect mix of hilarious and heartwarming—kids won’t be able to get enough of Paul and his friends’ Bellwood adventures.” — Elsie Chapman, author of All the Ways Home“Delightful fun for budding mystery fans.” — Kirkus“The quirkiness of the premise and the light, punny humor give the narrative its momentum.” — Booklist

If you go down to the woods today... Well, every child knows not to, don't they? Tamaya is on a scholarship to the prestigious Woodridge Academy and every day she and seventh-grader Marshall walk to school together. They never go through the woods. When they arrive at school they stop talking to each other — because Marshall can't be seen to be friends with a little kid like Tamaya. Especially not with Chad around—the bully who makes Marshall's life utterly miserable. But today, hoping to avoid Chad, Marshall and Tamaya decide to go through the woods... And what is waiting there for them is strange, sinister and entirely unexpected. The town is about to be turned upside down by the mysterious Fuzzy Mud.

Boom! Clang! Crash! D.J. and Gina are totally ordinary kids. But Hilo isn’t. Hilo just fell out of the sky and doesn’t know where he came from or what he’s doing on Earth (or why going to school in only your underwear is a bad idea!). But uh-oh — what if Hilo wasn’t the only thing to fall to our planet? Can the trio unlock the secrets of Hilo’s past? Can Hilo survive a day at school? Find out in Hilo — a laugh-out-loud, epic story of friendship, adventure (and the occasional mutant space robot).Dog Man meets Big Nate in Hilo — the hilarious graphic novel series kids love!EndorsementsNew York Times bestselling series“A total blast.” — Miami Herald

In the small city of Strattenburg, there are many lawyers, and though he’s only thirteen years old, Theo Boone thinks he’s one of them. Theo knows every judge, policeman, court clerk—and a lot about the law. He dreams of being a great trial lawyer, of a life in the courtroom.But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than expected. Because he knows so much—maybe too much—he is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial. A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo knows the truth.The stakes are high, but Theo won’t stop until justice is served.A perfect murder A faceless witness A lone courtroom champion knows the whole truth... and he’s only thirteen years old Meet Theodore Boone