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Books for Kids and Tweens Summer 2025 |
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When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea
by Karen Cushman
When orphan Sally O'Malley decides to travel west as far as the sea,
she encounters a very independent lady, a loyal donkey, a loving dog, and a bratty boy. Along the way, Sally learns that letting herself count
on others might feel scary, but finding true friends feels wonderful.
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A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation
by Pablo Cartaya
13-year-old Gonzalo Alberto Sanchez Garcia has never considered himself the hero of his own story. Forced to spend the summer with his estranged grandfather -- a very famous reclusive author -- he doesn't expect to learn that heroes and monsters are not only the stuff of fantasy. Gonzalo and his grandfather embark on a cross-country road trip, and over the course of ten epic days together they slay demons, confront old stories and write new ones, and learn what it truly means to show up for
your family.
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The Garden Just Beyond
by Lindsey Leavitt
14-year-old Maggie and her eccentric family harvest crops that alter emotions and then host magical dinner parties, but their centuries-old agricultural secrets come under threat when a mysterious stranger moves to town.
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The Queen Bees of Tybee County
by Kyle Casey Chu
Derrick Chan is the star of his middle school basketball team, and his father couldn't be prouder. But there are parts of Derrick that nobody knows about, like the toe nail polish he wears under his basketball sneakers, his secret lip-sync performances in the bathroom mirror, and the feelings he's developing for his best friend JJ. When Derrick spends the summer with his eccentric grandmother, she introduces him to the world of small-town beauty pageants... and Derrick feels that he has finally found where he belongs. Can he learn to love and accept the unique parts of himself, and what if others can't do the same?
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| The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith RossellWhen she arrives at the Midwatch Institute, headstrong Maggie Fishbone discovers that the gloomy orphanage is actually a school that trains girls to solve mysteries, do good deeds, and fight bad guys! Set in a 1920's era world of airships and motorcars, this clever story offers plenty of intrigue and thrills. |
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El Niño
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Kai Sosa is so passionate about swimming, he's practically a fish! But something is holding him back from training for the swim team. Dreams of his missing sister Cali haunt him, even though it has been two years since she disappeared. When Kai discovers a library book that Cali had checked out about a mysterious underwater realm, details from the story begin to appear in his own life. As myth and reality collide, Kai is swept up in storm of events that will change his understanding of love, death, grief, and how best to honor those that have been lost.
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Boy Who Lost His Spark
by Maggie O'Farrell
When Jem and his family move to a small town, he struggles with his new life. The unhappier he grows, the stranger things become -- mischief and chaos seem to bloom everywhere! His younger sister Verity is sure it is the work of a "nouka," an ancient creature forged from the sparks of a long-extinct volcano that lives deep down inside the hill above the town. Jem is adamant that there is no such thing, but it is through the magic and mayhem of this small mystical creature that Jem finally finds a sense of belonging and once again discovers a spark of magic.
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Team Awkward : Leah vs. Art
by Joy McCullough
Super-organized sixth-grader Leah will never understand how she
was born into her artsy go-with-the-flow family. They're as different
as different can be! When her parents sign her up for Art Club, Leah
is sure she would be better at Quiz Bowl (which meets at the same time) instead. But the more Leah lies about her activities, the more she jeopardizes both her friendships and her parent-defying scheme!
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Survive This Safari
by Natalie D. Richards
12-year-old Lucy is excited to be selected for the Wildlands Safari Escape Challenge, which involves solving a series of puzzles to unlock access to new animal habitats across the park. But when her team discovers that a beloved baby elephant is on the loose and might be
in danger, their fun puzzle turns into a serious test.
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Afia In the Land of Wonders
by Mia Araujo
16-year-old Afia leaves her beloved twin sister to embark on a journey of self-discovery, and finds herself in a magical land with a beguiling queen and many untold dangers.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for kids age 8-12! |
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