Pierce County Library System: Books for Kids and Tweens: January 2026

Recent Releases

The Stolen Songbird
by Judith Eagle; illustrated by Jo Rioux

While her moms are traveling, 12-year-old Caro and her secret pet rabbit, His Nibs, are sent to stay with strict great-aunt Gam. It's there that Caro discovers a stolen painting and gets caught up with a treacherous gang of art thieves. This twisty illustrated mystery plunges you into an adventure across 1950s London. (Ages 8-12.)

How to Free a Jinn
by Raidah Shah Idil

When anxious middle-schooler Insyirah and her mom move from Australia to Malaysia to care for her grandmother, Insyirah makes a startling discovery: she's inherited the ability to see powerful spirits known as jinn. This supernatural thriller is packed with excitement and Malaysian mythology. (Ages 8-12.)

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. This honest, funny whirlwind of a story offers a peek into one kid's brain. (Ages 9-12.)

Asterwood
by Jacquelyn Stolos

After a violet-eyed girl leads her down a forbidden path in the woods, 10-year-old Madelyn discovers magical forest-dwellers, terrifying cannibals, greedy Tree Eaters, and the truth about the mother she's never known. If you love a deep dive into a complicated fantasy world, don't miss this dark, spellbinding tale. (Ages 8-12.)

The Treasure of Ocean Parkway
by Sarvenaz Tash

Podcasting sleuths Amin and Roya are thrilled when their neighbor Thea brings them a new case: a secret room filled with puzzling clues that lead the trio on a treasure hunt throughout their New York apartment building. The Treasure of Ocean Parkway is a follow-up to The Queen of Ocean Parkway, but this cozy and clever mystery can be enjoyed by fans and newcomers alike. (Ages 9-13.)

Bad Cheerleader
by Alex Thayer

Seventh-grader Margaret, aka Bag, is determined. She doesn't let dyslexia stop her from being a bookworm. And when she realizes that her cheerleader sister Minerva is hiding something, she doesn't let her lack of school spirit stop her from joining the cheer squad to learn the truth. Read-alike: Miss Liberty by Erin Moonyeen Haley. (Ages 10-13.)

Ask your librarian for more great books!