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Books for Kids and Tweens October 2025 |
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| Dear Jackie by Jessixa Bagley; illustrated by Aaron BagleyJackie and Milo have been best friends since they were babies. Now that they’re in sixth grade, though, Milo is spending more time with his soccer teammates -- and is joining in when their classmates criticize Jackie for dressing “like a dude.” Humor and honest emotions make this graphic novel about friendship and self-expression a good choice for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick BarnesAt age 13, Black football phenom Henson is already treated like a hero by his sports-worshipping, mostly white hometown. He loves the attention, but when an act of racist violence causes him to choose justice over the game, his fame turns sour fast. Readers ready for serious realistic fiction won’t want to miss this multi-layered book. (Ages 10-13.)
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| Let's Get Together by Brandy ColbertWhen foster kid Liberty and popular girl Kenya meet in sixth grade, they’re shocked to discover they’re identical twins. Family secrets are revealed, and the two very different girls grapple with surprise sisterhood. Read-alike: Finding Ruby Starling by Karen Rivers, another thoughtful, modern spin on The Parent Trap. (Ages 8-12.)
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| Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes by Tanita S. DavisAs far as seventh-grader Berry is concerned, romance -- whether it’s her best friend’s annoying crush or her divorced parents dating other people -- only leads to change, and change is bad. The smart thing to do is avoid feelings entirely. Right? Read-alike: The Love Report by Beka and Maya. (Ages 9-13.)
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| The Picasso Curse by Dan GutmanAfter accidentally buying a real Picasso drawing at a flea market, average middle-schooler Edwin has to deal with unwanted fame while figuring out what to do with a super-valuable (and maybe cursed) work of art. Popular author Dan Gutman delivers Edwin’s story (plus intriguing bits of art history) with his distinctive quirky humor. (Ages 8-12.)
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| Moonleapers by Margaret Peterson HaddixAt first, Maisie’s excited to get her own phone, even if it’s a hand-me-down from ailing Great-Aunt Hazel. But then weird texts start arriving, and Maisie realizes that she’s inherited Great-Aunt Hazel’s role with the Moonleapers, a secret organization that influences the past and future to change history. For fans of: the thoughtful and moving take on time travel in Erin Entrada Kelly’s The First State of Being. (Ages 8-13.)
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| The Poisoned King by Katherine RundellEver since his first excursion, Christopher has been longing to return to the Archipelago, a hidden realm of mythological animals. So when he’s summoned by a dragon, Christopher is thrilled to follow it into a mystery involving a sphinx, a spreading poison, and a small girl bent on revenge. This exciting, illustrated sequel will be most fun if you’ve already read Impossible Creatures. (Ages 8-12.)
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| Scarlet Morning by N.D. StevensonAbandoned in the boring town of Caveat, orphans Wilmur and Viola trade their only valuable possession -- the mysterious Book -- to pirate captain Cadence Chase in exchange for a voyage on the high seas. But the secrets they uncover on the journey might have deadly consequences. Packed with complex characters and swashbuckling adventure, this illustrated fantasy from the creator of Nimona kicks off a new series. (Ages 9-13.)
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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