Holiday Book Gifts for Tweens
Ages 9 – 12
by Kari Ness Riedel
I’m a big believer in the “4 Gift Rule” for holiday giving: 1) Something they want, 2) Something they need, 3) Something to wear, and 4) Something to read. As the founder of Bookopolis.com, you can guess which one is my favorite. If you’re unsure what books to give as gifts for young readers, ask questions about what movies they like, YouTube channels they follow, things they do in their free time, or the last book they enjoyed.
Here are the best books to gift, all kid-approved by tween readers, including titles for those who like magical adventures, inspiring sports stories, sad but hopeful coming-of-age tales, page-turning mysteries, mind-bending riddles, and more.
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For kids who like fast-paced fantasy and adventure:
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Impossible Creatures
Buy from:Two kids, Christopher and Mal, find themselves on an epic adventure to save magical creatures. Beautiful world-building, intriguing characters, and important themes about courage, duty, and bravery abound in this page-turning story. This is a must-read for kids who love epic fantasy tales.
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The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents
Buy from:Young readers who love a good “hero’s journey” story arc will adore this book centered around Lavinia “Vin” Lucas. Her disinterested parents send her to Last Hope, a school for troubled magical kids like her, where she tries to be on her best behavior. When weird things happen around the school, drama ensues as she must decide who her true allies are. This unique book will make you laugh, cry, and root for all the heroes.
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The Graveyard Gift
Buy from:Twelve-year-old Rosemary has the “gift” of knowing how people will die. Her family sends her to Fern's School for Wayward Fae, a school for kids like her who are half human, half magical. As Rosemary and her new friends work together to find a student who has gone missing, they discover belonging, community, and an appreciation for their unique gifts. This is an excellent choice for fans of exciting books filled with fantasy and mystery.
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Forever Twelve
Buy from:Set in an elite boarding school for gifted kids, this compelling and complex story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of three students, Abigail, Ivy, and Ronan. They all look the same age, but Abigail is an “Ever,” a group of immortals who mysteriously remain forever 12 years old. Ronan comes from a family of psychics. Ivy is mortal but looks oddly like one of Abigail’s “Ever” friends who disappeared years ago. The three kids come together to unravel a centuries-old mystery that will have readers on the edge of their seats.
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For kids who like realistic fiction with heart and humor:
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And Then, Boom!
Buy from:This captivating novel-in-verse from the award-winning author of Starfish will touch readers’ hearts and souls. It spotlights kids living in poverty with disengaged parents and the unsung hero adults who help when needed. I highly recommend this for readers who like empathy-building realistic fiction and for any kid who has received free or reduced lunch at school, shopped at Goodwill, or lived in a non-traditional family.
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The Frindle Files
Buy from:Humor, coding, and mystery combine in this fantastic sequel to the beloved classic Frindle. Josh, a tech-loving 6th-grader, is frustrated by his teacher, Mr. N., who operates a strict “no tech” classroom. As Josh fights his teacher over his seemingly outdated policies, he uncovers a secret that leads to multiple plot twists in his pursuit of bringing Mr. N’s classroom into the modern age.
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Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All
Buy from:Ten-year-old Magnolia loves her NYC neighborhood even if she is occasionally embarrassed when classmates visit her parent’s laundromat. When her mom’s friend and daughter move to New York from California, Magnolia and Iris go on a mission to find the owners of the lost socks that Magnolia has collected over the years at the laundromat. This is a fun way to show Iris her new city, and the girls learn several surprising and profound life lessons along the way. This is a sweet and touching story with mystery and humor. It is a bit shorter than other books on this list, which makes it perfect for emerging tween readers.
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Simon Sort of Says
Buy from:Most kids might be upset about moving to a town without internet or cellphone service. But, for Simon, this is precisely what he needs. A place where no one can Google him and learn about the horrible tragedy he is known for in his hometown. Simon quickly meets Agate and Kevin, and his new friendships grow as they work together to unravel a local mystery, which also supports Simon’s healing journey. This well-crafted book expertly integrates humor with tragedy and offers a fresh take on familiar themes like identity, friendship, and overcoming adversity. I will not spoil this tragedy's dramatic reveal, but sensitive readers should read the publisher’s full summary of this book.
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For kids who like more hands-on reading:
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Would You Rather? Box Set
Buy from:"Would You Rather? questions make a great family game. And this boxed set, complete wit three bestselling “Would You Rather?” books — Made You Think! Edition, Family Challenge! Edition and Christmas Edition — will lead to hours of family fun, creativity, and thoughtfulness as participants answer questions like: Would you rather jump into a pool filled with paint or a huge pile of glitter? Would you rather have Christmas dinner with Ebenezer Scrooge or bake Christmas cookies with the Grinch? Would you rather spend an hour floating around in space or swimming in the depths of the ocean?
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Science Magic Tricks for Kids
Buy from:The perfect book for budding scientists and magicians, Science Magic Tricks for Kids offers step-by-step instructions and clear explanations of the scientific principles behind each trick. With common household materials, young magicians can learn and perform these age-appropriate tricks while gaining confidence in their scientific knowledge and abilities. Create a cloud in a bottle, make a flame jump from candle to candle, and so much more with this book that fosters curiosity, creativity, and imagination.
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The Minecraft Ideas Book
Buy from:Discover the Minecraft universe like never before! Featuring over 70 mind-blowing build ideas and expert tips and tricks from Minecraft builders, this hands-on book is sure to ignite any Minecraft player's imagination. From iconic landmarks to natural wonders, explore the world around you and bring it to life in Minecraft. With building techniques, customization ideas, and inspiration from expert builders, the possibilities are endless.
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The Mad Libs Silly, Hilariously Funny, Belly-Busting Joke Book
Buy from:This classic game is a perfect holiday gift, as it will provide hours of entertainment and laughter for everyone in your home. If you’re traveling for the holidays, consider making it an early gift so you can enjoy it on the plane, in the car, while waiting at stores, etc. And don’t tell your kids, but they practice English Language Arts skills when playing Mad Libs.
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For kids who like graphic novels:
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Katie the Catsitter: More Cats, More Fun! Boxed Set (Books 1 and 2)
Buy from:This is a book that kids like to read on repeat. It’s perfect for tweens who enjoy realistic graphic novels…or cats! Katie deals with the things all kids deal with, such as boredom, dread of returning to school, nagging parents, and friendship drama. It’s laugh-out-loud funny and an excellent choice for both reluctant and voracious readers.
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The Last Kids On Earth: The Graphic Novel
Buy from:A ragtag group of friends take on Zombies and other creepy creatures when a monster apocalypse hits their town. If you know a kid who says they don’t enjoy reading but like humor, adventure, action, or slightly scary things, hand them this book. It’s also an excellent way for fans of this bestselling novel series to compare this full-color graphic novel adaptation to the pictures created in their heads.
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The Night Librarian: A Graphic Novel
Buy from:Have you ever wondered what would happen if book characters met each other? Book-loving twins Page and Turner have always thought there was “magic in books,” but when they start meeting characters from their favorite books, they have a whole new appreciation of this phrase. Their adventure-filled quest to get characters back into their books before the entire New York Public Library is destroyed leads to new realizations about their identities and family relationships.
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Shock City: A Graphic Novel
Buy from:Two young monsters and unlikely friends — spunky Sunny and anxious Milo — team up to save their town and Sunny’s family’s reputation. Hilarious hijinks and outlandish monsters make this a highly engaging story for readers who enjoy series like The Last Kids on Earth or Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
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Taxi Ghost
Buy from:When Adèle gets her first period, she also gains the ability to see ghosts and learns she comes from a long line of mediums. Humor and heart abound as she navigates her new relationships with local ghosts, including ones that want to cause harm to her neighborhood. This book blends sci-fi with realistic fiction themes and would be great to read and discuss with your tween as they enter puberty.
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We Are Big Time
Buy from:This inspiring sports tale is based on a true story about an all-girl, hijab-wearing basketball team. It celebrates the power of teamwork, breaking cultural stereotypes, and owning one’s unique identity. Fans of graphic novels like Roller Girl or The Crossover will love this book.
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For kids who like mystery, puzzles, and games:
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The Bletchley Riddle
Buy from:This fascinating historical fiction thriller contains intrigue, spy codes, and family secrets. Told in alternating chapters by siblings Lizzie and Jakob, it is set in a secret British intelligence site during World War II. Famous British cryptanalysts like Alan Turing are characters in this page-turning tale, which offers a fresh perspective on this historical period and the war’s impact and influence on young people.
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The Codebreakers Club
Buy from:When Chris, Ren, and Kaira realize their favorite teacher, Professor Perez, is missing, they follow the clues on an epic quest to save him. Part mystery novel, part activity book, this book is perfect for kids who love escape rooms, word games, and logic puzzles.
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Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale
Buy from:The final book in this beloved series centers around Mr. Lemoncello, aka the Willy Wonka of games, and is full of page-turning mysteries, codes and puzzles, and crazy escapades. If your child hasn’t read this series, get the first one, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, and then be prepared to run out to get the following five books in the series.
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A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits)
Buy from:This is a fun mystery filled with quirky kids who work as undercover spies to stop a jewelry heist and save their beloved boarding school in a former prison off the coast of San Francisco. I recommend it for readers who enjoy series like Spy School or City Spies. This book is mostly text but includes pictures from award-winning illustrator Dan Santat.
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For kids who like compelling nonfiction:
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Who Is Taylor Swift?
Buy from:Want to know what Tay Tay did to become the superstar she is today? Swifties and anyone interested in an inspiring success story will enjoy this short biography of one of today's most prolific and renowned singer/songwriters.
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Unstoppable Us: The Two-Book Boxed Set
Buy from:The famous historian, philosopher, and bestselling author of Sapiens shares his vast knowledge of human development and how our species has evolved and thrived on planet Earth. This two-set collection mixes text, illustrations, maps, timelines, and other graphic organizers, making this heady topic exciting and accessible for tween readers (or teen and adult readers who like information broken down into bite-sized pieces!)
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Knowledge A Visual Compendium: Making Sense of the World
Buy from:This nonfiction book offers essential and random facts about chemistry, bird species, US Presidents, anatomy, and more. It is full of engaging text and beautiful images, making it perfect for curious kids who like to choose what they learn about. It could spark a new interest or provide excellent fodder for family conversations.
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