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Books for Kids and Tweens January 2026 |
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| Agent Cupcake by Mel Hilario and Lauren Davis; illustrated by Katie LonguaJoining the Mystical Beasts Bureau as their first ever human spy, 12-year-Miguel Mangayayam feels pressure to do well -- and that's before he's partnered with ultra-cool unicorn operative Agent Cupcake. Cute, cartoony artwork amps up the energy in this offbeat graphic novel fantasy. For fans of: Adam Gidwitz's Unicorn Rescue Society books or Stuart Gibbs' Spy School series. (Ages 9-13.)
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Confessions from the Group Chat
by Jodi Meadows
Virginia Vaughn just wants to fit in with her super-popular friend group. That means she doesn't let them know how much she loves the library, she never speaks a word about her massive crush on tragically unpopular Grayson, and she says nasty things she doesn't actually mean. But only in the group chat, so it's harmless, right? But when she has a blowout fight with her clique--specifically, with the Queen Bee herself--her mean texts are posted online for the entire school to see. And, suddenly, Virginia has no one but her cat to talk to. Cue 'Knight Errant,' a mystery boy at school who texts Virginia by accident--and who quickly becomes her closest confidante. (Ages 8-12.)
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The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond
by Amy Sparkes
Nine and her friends have cured the house's hiccups and are off to the strange and utterly unpredictable Back of Beyond in search of Professor Dish--Spoon's best friend and partner in all things alchemy. When they find Dish trapped by the greedy witch Ophidia in the basement of a particularly marvelous shop, it soon becomes clear they're going to need something more than Flabberghast's dicey magic and Nine's quick thinking to triumph this time. Perhaps they can find a rather clever witch, one particularly good at curses. (Ages 8-12.)
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The Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch
by Laini Taylor
For centuries faeries have lived safely in their ancient forests, but now their peace is under threat. Devils are escaping the prisons that have held them since the Dawn Days, and only one faerie stands in their way. Magpie Windwitch is the greatest--the only--devil-hunter of the Age. Together with her trusted band of crows, she tracks down and recaptures these ravenous beasts that devour everything in their path. When the hunt leads them to the legendary forest of Dreamdark, Magpie finds herself outmatched. Facing the greatest foe her kind has ever known (not to mention an imposter queen, a disgusting imp, and a young faerie warrior as infuriating as he is brave), one thing is certain: If she's to save the world, she'll need all the help she can get. (Ages 10-13.)
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Famous Anonymous
by Morgan Baden
Sophie, Harper, Luke, and Gus, four middle school friends from the same neighborhood, create a viral video while in disguise that catapults them to online fame, but as their anonymous stardom grows, they must navigate the challenges of secrecy, friendship, and the pressures of internet celebrity. (Ages 8-12.)
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Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend
by Lance Rubin
Zed Moonstein is terrible at making friends. For the most part, though, that's not such a big deal, because Zed has Rishti, his best friend and the only one he needs. They're into the same stuff, they laugh at the same weird jokes, and they love living in MonoTown, the home of MonoLyth, the raddest tech company in the world. Even better, Zed's mom works at MonoLyth, which means they get early access to all the newest devices and apps. But since middle school started, things have been... trickier. Rishti and Zed are in all different classes, and worse, she's made a new, cooler friend that Zed can't seem to compete with. Zed feels left behind, forgotten in a drawer like last year's MonoPhone. That's when Zed comes across something on his mom's work computer: a top-secret new app called MonoFriend. Soon, Zed is chatting with Matt. Matt is funny, he's smart, and he knows Zed better than anyone else, even Rishti. Maybe, Zed thinks, an A.I. best friend can be just as real as any other. Unfortunately, he's about to discover that he's more right than he knows. (Ages 8-12.)
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Chess Club: The Winning Move
by Rebecca Donnelly
A heartfelt, laugh-out-loud illustrated middle-grade novel about friendship, coming of age, and found family following four friends who form a chess club as they try to survive middle school intact. Perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Dan Geimenhart. (Ages 8-12.)
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Blood in the Water
by Tiffany D. Jackson
Sharp-minded 12-year-old Brooklynite Kaylani is stuck spending the summer with wealthy family friends in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. It’s okay at first, but after a local teenager is found dead, Kaylani’s instincts push her to investigate. The dangerous results will keep you turning pages in this gripping thriller. (Ages 9-12.)
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Ask your librarian for more great books!
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