Books for Kids and Tweens
January 2026

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen
One Wrong Step
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
 
For a climber, letting go means certain death. For Atlas, it means something even worse. But he'll have to learn how to let go and look up if he ever wants to see the top...
 
 Atlas Wade has been trying to forget the memory of his mother by climbing mountains ever since she died when he was nine years old. When his father signs them up for an expedition group hoping to be the first to ever summit the unconquerable Mount Everest, Atlas can't wait for the chance to prove himself to his father, and maybe finally he can leave his mother behind him on the mountain.
But this time, Atlas is the one left behind, as well as a young girl named Maddie and their sturdy yet injured Sherpa, Chodak. 
 
The tree have to rely not just on their own wits for survival, but on each other as well, especially as sickness, bad weather, and their fears of a Nazi spy watching them puts their mission -- and lives -- at risk in the brutal terrain. 
On Thin Ice by Jessica Kim
On Thin Ice
by Jessica Kim

Fraternal twins Phoebe and Dexter Bae are polar opposites in every way except for their love of the ice. Phoebe is hyperfocused on pairs figure skating, and Dex loves his hockey team. But when Phoebe’s partner injures his knee just two months before competitions and Dex gets cut from his team in favor of a new hotshot goalie from Canada, they’re both left spinning.

With their skating dreams dashed, their mother suggests that Dex fill in as Phoebe’s doubles partner. It’s a hard sell—the twins haven’t been close since their father passed away two years ago. For Dex, working with a perfectionist like Phoebe would be a challenge, but if it means he’d improve his skating technique enough to get back on the hockey team. Phoebe isn’t thrilled either, but what choice does she have if she wants to bring home the gold, something that would’ve made her dad happy?

Can these siblings skate past their differences toward victory?
Curling Crunch by Jake Maddox
Curling Crunch
by Jake Maddox

Maisie loves pitching for her softball team in Arizona, so she's crushed when she has to move to Minnesota to live with her dad. Upset about the move and her parents' divorce, Maisie isn't thrilled when her dad asks her to join his curling team. She thinks it's a strange sport. But as she learns more about curling--and how much her dad loves it--she begins to have a change of heart. But when its crunch time for the team, will Maisie be able to take charge and lead? 
At the Speed of Gus
by Richard Scrimger

For 13-year-old Gus, having ADHD means that his racing thoughts can become a maze, and sometimes it's tough to separate imagination from reality. When a school suspension gives him time to visit his sister on Vancouver Island, the journey is anything but straightforward. 
 
The Case of the Rigged Race by Michael Hutchinson
The Case of the Rigged Race
by Michael Hutchinson
 
Windy Lake First Nation is hosting the annual Trappers Festival, and the four Mighty Muskrats are excited about the sled-dog races and the chance to visit with family and friends from far and wide. But during the Teen Sled Race, the lead dog is the victim of a frightening accident that may be more than it seems.
Between mysterious strangers seen lurking by the trail and a loud group of animal rights protestors, the Muskrats have a lot of suspects. Despite the chill of winter, the case is heating up for Sam, Otter, Atim, and Chickadee!
 
Read more in the Mighty Muskrats series!
Trouble on the Voyage: The Strange and Dangerous Voyage of the Henrietta Maria by Bob Barton
Trouble on the Voyage: The Strange and Dangerous Voyage of the Henrietta Maria
by Bob Barton

The Henrietta Maria has been trapped in the Hudson Strait for two months finally breaking free August 6, 1631 to search for a northwest passage. The crew knows it must leave Hudson Bay by early October to avoid being caught in the ice. With half the crew suffering from scurvy, will anyone survive in this cold and desolate place?
A Wolf Called Fire: A Voice of the Wilderness Novel by Rosanne Parry
A Wolf Called Fire
by Rosanne Parry
 
Warm is the smallest pup, the one his father calls the heart of the pack. But all Warm sees is his bigger brothers and even his sisters winning all the wrestling matches. Warm finds his place in the pack helping take care of the young pups, a role he is assured is important, but doesn't always feel like it is. 
 
When enemy wolves attack, the pack is forced to defend themselves. Instead of joining the fight, Warm leads the pups away to safety, only to find himself alone on the mountain with four helpless pups. His pack has scattered. The pups are his responsibility now. Fearful and uncertain, Warm and the pups climb higher and higher into the mountains. Their journey is grueling, lonely, and full of danger, and they face hunger, storms, fire, and enemy wolves nipping at their heels. Will Warm have the courage to be the leader his pack needs when the fiercest enemy of all comes to challenge him? Will Warm and the pups ever find a place to call home?
The Giant from the Fire Sea by John Himmelman
The Giant From the Fire Sea
by John Himmelman
 
Jat is a boy who wants more from life than collecting coal from the Fire Sea. Newton is a misfit giant, cast out of his homeland for his love of science and reading. Brought together by chance, the two become the best of friends. But when enemy giants threaten to ruin everything, it's up to Jat and Newton to defend Jat's village, leading to the journey of a lifetime.
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