Books for Kids and Tweens
July 2026
N.C. Battle of the Books: Focus on elementary
 
Battle of the Books is a statewide reading competition designed to  promote reading comprehension, teamwork, and a love of literature among students. Battle of the Books teams participate in a quiz-bowl-style competition where students collaborate to answer detailed questions about books they’ve read from a curated list. 
 
Full list of elementary school titles
Full list of middle school titles
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston
Amari and the Night Brothers
by B. B. Alston
 
Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a series filled with #blackgirlmagic. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor. Ages 8-12. 
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez
by Adrianna Cuevas

A Cuban American boy must use his secret ability to communicate with animals to save the inhabitants of his town when they are threatened by a tule vieja, a witch that transforms into animals. Ages 8-12.
The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie
The Mystery of Locked Rooms
by Lindsay Currie

Three seventh grade, puzzle-loving best friends set out to find a hidden treasure in an abandoned 1950s funhouse. Ages 10-12. 
nope Popcorn by Rob Harrell
Popcorn
by Rob Harrell

Seventh-grader Andrew worries a lot on a good day. And today -- a school picture day packed with small mishaps and big fears -- is not a good day. Sprinkled with Andrew’s doodle-style "Anxiety Files" comics, this relatable slice of middle school life has both humor and heart. Ages 10-13.
Linked by Gordon Korman
Linked
by Gordon Korman

After someone vandalizes their middle school with swatiskas, six different students find their own ways of responding, including Dana, who faces unwanted attention as the only Jewish student. Read-alike: Dana Alison Levy's It Wasn't Me, another school-based mystery that leaves you thinking about the impact of hate and the power of connection. Ages 9-13. 
Not If I Can Help It (Scholastic Gold) by Carolyn Mackler
Not If I Can Help It
by Carolyn Mackler

From award-winning Carolyn Mackler, the story of Willa, who has been living with Sensory Processing Disorder but is thrown for a BIG loop when her dad announces he's dating Willa's best friend's mum. Ages 8-12. 
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
by Stacy McAnulty

A lightning strike gave her a super power...but even a super genius can't solve the problem of middle school. This smart and funny novel is perfect for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish, Rain Reign, and Counting by Sevens. Ages 8-12.
Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Radiant
by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

As she begins 5th grade at a mostly white school in 1963, Cooper Dale tries to puzzle out how she can "shine" when she's surrounded by uncertainty, racism, and bullies. If you like historical fiction and moving, sensitive poetry, Radiant might be for you. Ages 10-13.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Forsyth County Public Library
660 W. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-703-2665
forsythlibrary.org