22 Chapter Books for PreTeens {Ages 8-12}

Ah the Tween years. The preteens. Most children in this age group can read chapter books easily on their own, and your hope is to really get them hooked on books during this phase. You need good, quality books that are entertaining and keep your child coming back for more, but you also want clean language, pure content, and storylines that won’t keep him up at night.

These are some of our favorite books for this age group. All of these books are books that my preteens have read and loved. Most are books we had to own because they are liked so much. You can find more great suggestions in my 15 Chapter Books for Girls post and my Chapter Books for Boys post. These books are in no particular order. This post contains affiliate links.

Wonder by R. J. Placio

Kaitlyn declares this book the best book ever written. She liked it so much she read it aloud to her sisters many times.

Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland

Kaitlyn and McKenna are both completely obsessed with this series right now.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

If your child handles this book well, have him/her move on to the Lord of The Rings series as he/she gets on the older half of the preteen age.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

This is Brayden’s current favorite.

Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

Huge hit in my house, and a huge hit among all fourth graders at our school right now.

Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

A great follow-up for the Percy Jackson fans.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

One of the best dystopian books ever written. Save it for an older preteen age range–10-12.

Five Kingdoms by Brandon Mull

My tweens all love all of the Brandon Mull books.

Five Kingdoms by Toby Neighbors

I accidentally found this book when searching for the Five Kingdoms above. It has come to be a favorite of Brayden and my husband.

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

A must-have for any book list. This is Kaitlyn’s favorite series.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

This is a really fun series full of mystery and adventure.

The Sorcerer’s Ring by Mogan Rice

This is a great fantasy book. It isn’t one we own, but a good read.

100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson

This is another one that is a good read.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is one for a child who loves to read about World War 2. McKenna has always loved books set in that time.

Ranger’s Apprentice by John A. Flanagen

This is another great fantasy series.

Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans

This is a series Brayden has read several times.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

This is a great ready for the Sci-Fi lover.

Spirit Animals by Various Authors

This is a fun series to read, but it is written by multiple authors. I think that has led to some lack of consistency. Still a fun read at least once.