Age-fit picks

The best books for 12-year-olds

30 books ranked by kid score, filtered to age-appropriate fit. No paid placement.

Cover of The Last Kids on Earth and the Midnight Blade

The Last Kids on Earth and the Midnight Blade

by Max Brallier

Kid
89
Parent
73
Teacher
70
Cover of Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder

Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder

by Dav Pilkey

Kid
87
Parent
73
Teacher
73
Cover of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

by J.K. Rowling

Kid
85
Parent
67
Teacher
73
Cover of Bone #4: The Dragonslayer

Bone #4: The Dragonslayer

by Jeff Smith

Kid
82
Parent
70
Teacher
65
Cover of The Adventures of Nanny Piggins

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins

by R. A. Spratt

Kid
81
Parent
78
Teacher
72
Cover of Lu

Lu

by Jason Reynolds

Kid
81
Parent
86
Teacher
90
Cover of Wings of Fire: The Hidden Kingdom

Wings of Fire: The Hidden Kingdom

by Tui T. Sutherland

Kid
80
Parent
64
Teacher
60
Cover of The Neverending Story

The Neverending Story

by Michael Ende

Kid
79
Parent
80
Teacher
76
Cover of The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid

by Rick Riordan

Kid
79
Parent
74
Teacher
70
Cover of The Day My Butt Went Psycho

The Day My Butt Went Psycho

by Andy Griffiths

Kid
78
Parent
61
Teacher
69
Cover of The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan

Kid
78
Parent
59
Teacher
73
Cover of Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy

by Christopher Paul Curtis

Kid
77
Parent
74
Teacher
79
Cover of The Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever

The Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever

by Aaron Blabey

Kid
77
Parent
70
Teacher
70
Cover of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

by Kwame Mbalia

Kid
77
Parent
69
Teacher
69
Cover of Skulduggery Pleasant

Skulduggery Pleasant

by Derek Landy

Kid
77
Parent
69
Teacher
71
Cover of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

by Dan Gemeinhart

Kid
76
Parent
73
Teacher
73
Cover of The Christmas Pig

The Christmas Pig

by J. K. Rowling

Kid
76
Parent
64
Teacher
67
Cover of The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero

by Rick Riordan

Kid
76
Parent
58
Teacher
67
Cover of Sona and the Golden Beasts

Sona and the Golden Beasts

by Rajani LaRocca

Kid
76
Parent
75
Teacher
76
Cover of InvestiGators: Off the Hook

InvestiGators: Off the Hook

by John Patrick Green

Kid
75
Parent
67
Teacher
59
Cover of Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone

by Tomi Adeyemi

Kid
75
Parent
74
Teacher
80
Cover of Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows

Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows

by Ryan Calejo

Kid
75
Parent
63
Teacher
64
Cover of Nimona

Nimona

by N.D. Stevenson

Kid
75
Parent
72
Teacher
74
Cover of The Last Ever After

The Last Ever After

by Soman Chainani

Kid
75
Parent
71
Teacher
59
Cover of The Witches

The Witches

by Roald Dahl

Kid
74
Parent
66
Teacher
71
Cover of Mockingjay

Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

Kid
74
Parent
75
Teacher
78
Cover of City of the Plague God

City of the Plague God

by Sarwat Chadda

Kid
74
Parent
60
Teacher
64
Cover of A Clatter of Jars

A Clatter of Jars

by Lisa Graff

Kid
74
Parent
70
Teacher
66
Cover of Refugee

Refugee

by Alan Gratz

Kid
74
Parent
77
Teacher
82
Cover of Peak

Peak

by Roland Smith

Kid
74
Parent
66
Teacher
68

Not sure which one is right for your kid?

Take the 2-minute SPARK quiz. We'll pick the 2 best matches for your 12-year-old's specific reading personality.

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