Are your kids excited to read this summer? or reluctant?
Either way, it always helps to get good books, so here are some recently published chapter books your kids will love!
You are reading: Chapter books for kids age 9-12
Bot Wars by J.V. Kade (sci-fi / adventure) Trout’s dad disappeared in The Bot Wars. When Trout makes a plea for his missing dad on a vid that goes viral, things go crazy FAST. Like the government trying to kidnap him. What to they know that he doesn’t know? A fast-paced, excellent adventure!
P.K. Pinkerton and the Petrified Man by Carolinen Lawrence (historical fiction / mystery) 12-year old P.K., a private-eye, lives in the wild west and is a brilliant individual who is hired to solve the murder. P.K.’s characteristics will make adults think of Aspergers – brilliant, prefers to be alone, collects cigars. It’s an entertaining mystery with a fun historical bent.
Saige by Jessie Hass (realistic fiction) Saige (besides being the American Girl Doll of 2013) lives in the balloon capitol of America – Albequerque,New Mexico. She loves horses and art, and is fortunate to have a grandmother who is a professional artist and who owns her own horses, a special breed, Spanish Barbs. Saige faces challenges to overcome with not just friends and family but also with trying to convince her school to bring back art classes. A delightful, inspiring book!
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani (fantasy) If you’re going to read a book with or to your kids, this would be perfect. The theme is a good one: are people all good or all evil? I loved it it really made me think! The School for Good and Evil trains kids to be either heroes of villains. When the next two children are forcefully taken to attend the school, Sophie, a beautiful (yet stuck-up) princess-type, can’t wait to go to the School for Good and tells the other girl, Agatha, a black-wearing, drab classmate, that Agatha is Evil. Only that’s not what happens. Sophie is put in the School for Evil while Agatha goes to the School for Good. Now Sophie spends all her time trying to get into the School for Evil and enlists Agatha’s help. Even if it means manipulation. Or worse. EXCELLENT!
The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors (fantasy) Ben doesn’t think his summer could be any more boring. Until the baby dragon. When Ben and Pearl Petal discover a veterinarian for imaginary creatures, instead of helping the dragon, they accidentally let a sasquatch escape. Big whoops. Now the pair must lure him back to the vets. (Easier said than done.) Lots of fun!
The Last Dogs Dark Waters by Christopher Holt (sci-fi) The second book in one of my new favorite series, Dark Waters continues where The Vanishing left off. The dogs continue their journey to find the missing humans. But in this adventure, they discover just what happened — science to increase animal’s intelligence turned deadly. Will the super-smart pig and elephant at the zoo help the dogs or try to infect them with the virus? Very well written and action-packed!
The Menagerie by Tui Sutherland (fantasy) Stuck in a small town in Wyoming just after his mother disappeared, Logan’s life gets even more strange when he finds a griffin under his bed. Which he learns is connected to Zoe Kahn, a very strange girl in his class at school. Who tells him about their family’s menagerie for the protection of magical creatures. Soon the duo realize that the griffins didn’t escape, they were let out. Now they must find the culprit fast before the menagerie is shut down. A quick, fun read!
The Wells Bequest by Polly Shulman (adventure – science fiction) I just started this book and can already tell that would be a good book for kids who love science and adventure. The hero, Leo, loves science and is researching for a school report (in a magical library of objects) when he stumbles on robots and other inventions from science fiction novels. It is up to him to journey through time to warn scientist Nikola Tesla about a dangerous invention. Second in The Grimm Legacy series.
The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Michael Vey #1) by Richard Paul Evans (sci-fi, adventure)Not new but a fantastic read about a boy with electrical powers, and an evil group who wants to control him and others like him.
The Genius Files by Dan Gutman (realistic, adventure) I didn’t love this series but lots of people do so you might check out the latest book, #3. It’s about genius twins who are meant to save the world.
chapter books that look great & get good reviews (on my nightstand)
rump deliesel shurltiff (fantasy)
See Also: Catherine Bybee – Book Series In Order
escape mr. lemoncello libraryand by chris grabenstein (realist)
end of storyby marissa burt (fairy tale) we just finished reading aloud the bound story (love!!) and can’t wait to start the sequel.
stuart gibbs spy camp (realistic, adventure)
by mr. terupt by rob buyea (realistic)
out of my mind by sharon draper (realist)
jabba the puppet surprise attack: an origami yoda book by tom angleberger (realistic, sort of)
jinx by sage blackwell (fantasy)
coco simon’s collection of cupcake diaries (both of my daughters liked these books – realistic)
the books sweetly yours by lisa papedemetriou (an 11 year old girl loved these books – realistic)
laura schaefer’s tea room girls (realistic)
Books That Didn’t Make This List (because they weren’t that great)
Books That Didn’t Make This List (because they weren’t that great)the colossus risess by peter lerangis
black helicopters by blythe woolston
loki’s wolves by k.l. armstrong
See Also: Cleo Coyle – Book Series In Order
the house of secrets by chris columbus
what are you reading this summer that you can recommend us?
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also, don’t miss this: 26 books for children who like harry potter, books for children who like diary of a wimpy kid, books for children who like junie b. jones and the best chapter book series kids will love
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summer reading book lists
list of picture books for pre-readers
1st grade reading list (6 – 7 years old)
2nd grade reading list (7 – 8 years old)
3rd grade reading list (8 – 9 years old)
4th grade reading list (9 – 10 years old)
5th grade reading list (10 – 11 years old)
sixth grade reading list (11 – 12 years old)
7th grade reading list (12 – 13 years old)
8th grade reading list (ages 13+/teen)