Ages 12–18

13,140 books for children ages 12–18

Young adult books take children seriously as thinkers. The questions get harder here: identity, justice, love, loss, the dawning awareness that the world is more complicated than anyone let on. These 13,140 books trust teenagers to handle complexity and reward them for it.

Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue

Julius Lester

Experience the emotional weight of a pivotal moment in American history through the eyes of enslaved people, slave owner

Ages 9–14

The Cabin Faced West

Jean Fritz

For the child feeling isolated after a move, this story shows how resilience and a surprise visitor can turn a lonely ho

Ages 8–12

Witches & Magic Makers

Douglas Hill

For the curious child fascinated by spells and history, this visual guide explores the real-world facts behind magic mak

Ages 9–12

Ology

Mythology: The Gods, Heroes, and Monsters of Ancient Greece

Hestia Evans, Dugald Steer

For the curious explorer captivated by ancient legends: dive into a lavish, interactive 19th-century journal filled with

Ages 8–14

J. R. Silver Writes Her World

Melissa Dassori

For the child navigating middle school friendship changes who wishes they could control the outcome of every social situ

Ages 8–12

Dear America #33

So Far from Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl

Barry Denenberg

Mary Driscoll's diary chronicles her journey from Ireland to America and her challenging life as a mill girl in 19th-cen

Ages 8–12

How to Build Everything

Jessica Farrell, Hannah Dolan, Nate Dias

For the child with a bucket of bricks and a spark of imagination. This guide transforms a random collection into animals

Ages 6–12

Witch Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare

Andrea Balis, Elizabeth Levy

For the child questioning why people sometimes fear those who are different, this narrative history explores the Red Sca

Ages 10–14

Tales of Mystery and Madness

Edgar Allan Poe

For the young reader who loves things that go bump in the night and craves stories that explore the darker side of the h

Ages 10–16

Usborne Illustrated World History #1

Early Civilization

Jane Chisholm, Anne Millard

For the child who asks how the first cities were built or how writing began. Explore the fascinating origins of Sumer, E

Ages 8–12

Bone

Tall Tales

Jeff Smith, Tom Sniegoski

For the child who loves a good laugh and over-the-top adventures, these silly campfire stories offer a lighthearted way

Ages 8–12

Ornithology

Felicity Brooks

For the child who wonders about the birds in their backyard, this guide transforms a simple walk outside into a fascinat

Ages 8–12

The Descendants #2

Return to the Isle of the Lost

Melissa de la Cruz

For the child navigating who they want to be versus where they came from. This visual adventure explores staying true to

Ages 8–12

Ologies

Oceanology

Emily Hawkins, A. J. Wood

For the child who loves getting lost in mysteries and hands-on discovery. This immersive journey blends ocean science wi

Ages 8–12

Montgomery Bonbon #1

Murder at the Museum

Alasdair Beckett-King

For the child who loves solving puzzles and playing dress-up, this whimsical mystery celebrates the power of a great ima

Ages 8–12

The Egyptology Handbook A Course in the Wonders of Egypt

Emily Sands

For the curious child fascinated by mummies and pharaohs, this interactive workbook invites them to step into the boots

Ages 8–12

Ologies

The Pirateology Handbook

William Lubber

For the child captivated by maritime mysteries and historical secrets. This immersive handbook transforms history into a

Ages 8–12

The Young Scientist

Jets, Spaceflight, Electricity

Mark Hewish, Philip Chapman

For the curious child who constantly asks how things work, this classic guide uses clear diagrams to demystify the power

Ages 8–12

Roomies

Sara Zarr, Tara Altebrando

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth and eighteen-year-old Lauren, living vastly different lives, become acquainted via email th

Ages 12–18

The Taxi Navigator

Richard Mosher

For the child feeling adrift as their parents' relationship changes, this story offers a roadmap for finding belonging i

Ages 8–12

Steering Toward Normal

Rebecca Petruck

For the child adjusting to a sudden change in family structure or navigating the tricky territory of a new, unexpected s

Ages 10–14

Mismatched

Anne Camlin

For the child feeling out of sync as friendships shift and parents separate, this story finds hope in new hobbies and ev

Ages 8–12

Lights, Camera, Quince!

Veronica Chambers

Carmen is turning fifteen, and her friends plan a quinceañera, but when they join a reality show competition, Carmen wor

Ages 9–12

Tales of Alderley #1

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

Alan Garner

For the child who feels the weight of big responsibilities and needs to find the courage to face shadowy fears in the wo

Ages 10–14