Okay, brace yourself. Wonder by R.J. Palacio. You’ve probably heard of it, but if you haven’t: it’s about a kid with a facial difference going to school for the first time. It’s heart-wrenching, but it’s also hopeful and funny. Perfect for kids who feel like the odd one out—which, by the way, is roughly every 12-year-old.
For a lighter emotional punch, pick up Stargazing by Jen Wang. It’s a graphic novel about two very different Chinese-American girls becoming best friends. The art is adorable, and it deals with dreams, family pressure, and dealing with illness. I read it in one hour and immediately texted my own best friend.
Crazy Adventures for Wild Imaginations
If your kid wants to escape Earth entirely, hand them A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Yes, it’s a classic. Yes, it has “big words.” But it’s also about a girl who travels through a tesseract (fancy word for a wrinkle in space) with her little brother to save her dad from a giant brain. Chaos. Love. It’s brilliant.
Or go with The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Four weird children have to pass impossible tests to stop a madman. It’s like a puzzle box of a book—long but gripping. Perfect for kids who loved Spy Kids and have the patience of a saint.
24 must-read books for 9-12-year-olds
