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Books for Kids and Tweens February 2026 |
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| Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. FlakeIt's 1938, and Hattie Mae Jenkins has left rural North Carolina for busy Philadelphia. There, she grapples with homesickness and mean girls as she tries to find her place at an elite girls' school. This vivid historical story in verse stands on its own, but fans of Once in a Blue Moon will enjoy revisiting familiar characters. (Ages 8-12.) |
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The Cursed Spotlight
by Mina Finch
Think school is stressful? Try performing a live solo while fighting off a demon dog. It's winter at K-Pop Academy, and Nari gets her biggest break yet: the coveted (and, um, maybe a little cursed) Spotlight Solo at the school's Lunar New Year celebration. Facing her fears is a lot to ask, especially when a fiery demon dog is on the loose feeding on everyone's chaos and self-doubt. With the other members of AURA by her side and the up-and-coming boy group VORTEX ready to sing backup, Nari must summon the courage to nail her vocals, save her school, and prove that friendship shines brighter than fear. (Ages 8-12.)
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| The Moon Without Stars by Chanel MillerQuiet, creative Luna and her best friend Scott have gotten good at making zines to help their middle school classmates who are struggling. And it's those zines that grab the attention of the popular girls, forcing Luna to decide between social status and staying true to herself. Read-alike: Mallory in Full Color by Elisa Stone Leahy. (Ages 10-13.)
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| The Lions' Run by Sara PennypackerIn Nazi-occupied France, soft-hearted orphan Lucas discovers that small acts of courage, like helping his new friend Alice protect her beloved horse, can lead to bigger ones, like helping the Resistance. With realistic characters and growing suspense, this hopeful historical story will grab all kinds of readers. (Ages 8-13.)
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| Gumshoe by Brenna ThummlerAnxious Willa dreams of becoming a mailwoman, which makes it extra unfair when she's mistaken for mail-stealing outlaw Two Gum Tilly and forced to go on the run. Luckily, Willa is taken in by the Gumshoe Gang, fellow runaways determined to stop Tilly's crimes. Colorful, high-energy artwork will keep you glued to this Western-themed graphic novel. (Ages 8-13.)
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| The Partition Project by Saadia FaruqiAt first, Texas 12-year-old Maha Raheem is annoyed by her Pakistani grandmother, Dadi. But when Dadi begins to share stories from the violent 1947 partition of India and Pakistan, Maha finds a subject for her school documentary project, as well as a new understanding of her history and heritage. Read-alikes: Reem Faruqi's Zarina Divided; Katherine Marsh's The Lost Year. (Ages 8-12.)
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| The Other Side of Perfect by Melanie Florence and Richard ScrimgerThings get complicated after two Toronto middle schoolers' lives intersect unexpectedly: Autumn is a popular Cree girl, and Cody is a white classmate who stays with Autumn's family after running away from his racist, abusive dad. The two characters take turns narrating this bittersweet, realistic story. (Ages 9-13.)
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| Gut Reaction by Kirby Larson and Quinn WyattBaking makes Tess feel closer to her late dad, and she's eager to compete in this year's big baking competition. But there are plenty of complications in her way, including stomach pains that turn out to be Crohn's disease. Realistic fiction fans won't want to miss this funny yet sensitive look at life with chronic illness. Read-alike: The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet by Jake Maia Arlow. (Ages 8-12.)
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| The Night Librarian by Christopher LincolnCuriosity and boredom prompt twins Page and Turner to visit the New York Public Library, where an encounter with the night librarian reveals that magical energy is escaping from the books -along with some dangerous fictional characters. Cartoony illustrations add to the offbeat energy in this graphic novel adventure. Read-alike: Kekla Magoon's The Secret Library, Polly Shulman's The Grimm Legacy. (Ages 8-12.)
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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