Best Books for 10-Year-Olds
Looking for the best books for 10-year-olds? We’ve got the perfect list for you! We know that finding a book for a 10-year-old to read can be a daunting task. Will my child like it? Is it appropriate? These are all questions we ask ourselves when we are helping our kids pick books we hope they love.

Having raised 4 kids through this particular age, we are well-equipped to give suggestions of books for 10-year-olds with all kinds of reading preferences. We’ve got everything for Harry Potter-loving fantasy fans and graphic novel picks for reluctant readers.
Below, you’ll find lots of great stories divided by category. Many of the books for a 10-year-old have links to book lists with even more recommendations, so be sure to poke around.
The Best Books for 10-year-olds
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Fantasy Book for 10-year-olds
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan – Jump to Section
The Best Mystery Book for 10-year-olds
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart – Jump to Section
The Best Realistic Fiction Book for 10-year-olds
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser – Jump to Section
The Best Historical Fiction Book for 10-year-olds
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick – Jump to Section
The Best Audiobook for 10-year-olds
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein – Jump to Section
The Best Book for 10-year-olds Set in School
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds – Jump to Section
The Best Animal Book for 10-year-olds
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly – Jump to Section
The Best Classic Book for 10-year-olds
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder – Jump to Section
The Best Sports Book for 10-year-olds
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander – Jump to Section
The Best Coming-of-Age Book for 10-year-olds
The Candymakers by Wendy Maas – Jump to Section
The Best Graphic Book for 10-year-olds
Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin – Jump to Section
The Best Nonfiction Book for 10-year-olds
All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat – Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Best Fantasy Books for a 10-Year-Old

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Year: 2005
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age:9-13
More info:
Percy Jackson and The Olympian Book #1
Currently a Series on Disney Plus
Plot
This first Percy Jackson book is about our beloved Percy, who discovers he is a demi-god and must recover Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt. He travels into the underworld to locate the lightning bolt and, at the same time, try to save his mother.
His amazing adventures with Annabeth and Grover along the way create the foundation for all the books that follow in this amazing and epic series.
Why Jackie loves it
I don’t think anyone has read this middle grade fantasy series and not loved it. It’s a contemporary Greek mythology retelling for the ages. It is fun and exciting!
Adaptation Information
While the original films based on the books are generally considered to be flops, the show adapted on Disney+ is fantastic! Season 2 is currently being filmed and will follow the second book in the series.
Find this book in: Percy Jackson Books in Order / Rick Riordan Books / Best Books for 10-year-olds / Books like Keeper of the Lost Cities / Tween & Teen Fantasy Books / Books With Neurodivergent Characters

Plot
This tween fantasy novel is a retelling of Anne of Green Gables – except Grace (Anne) is in training with the witch (Marilla). Oh! And Matthew is a cloud.
Why Kirsten loves it
Fantastical? Yes — and utterly delightful. I loved when retellings completely rework the story so readers get glimpses of the classics we love, while experiencing something completely new. This story swept me away and was so sad when it ended.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2023 / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Classic Retellings / Best Books for a 10-year-old

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Author: Kwambe Mbalia
Year: 2019
Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy
Age: 9+
More info: Tristan Strong book 1 of 3
A Rick Riordan Presents Book
Plot
Like me, my eldest is fantasy-book obsessed. After ripping through all of Rick Riordan’s books, he wasn’t sure what to read next.
Enter, Tristan Strong! This epic middle-school fantasy trilogy is based on African American folk heroes and West African mythology and it quickly engrossed my son. He finished the story and begged me to take him to the library for the next installment.
Tristan is grieving the loss of his best friend, Eddie when a mysterious creature shows up and tries to steal Eddie’s notebook.
As he tries to keep the notebook, Tristan accidentally punches a tree…opening a gateway to another world. Soon he’s in the middle of a battle and he needs to figure out a way to get back home.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love the West African mythology in this book. It is so different from the Greek mythology I usually read. This book is action-packed and page-turning- just what I would expect from a Rick Riordan Presents book.
Find this book in: Books Like Percy Jackson / Best Fantasy Books for Tweens / Best Books for a 10-year-old
Mystery Books for 10-Year-Olds

The Mysterious Benedict Society
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Year: 2007
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Age: 9 – 12
More info: Mysterious Benedict Society #1
Plot
This delightful story is about a group of extremely gifted children who are sent to spy on an evil organization. Together, these genius kids use logic and quick thinking to accomplish their secret mission without being caught! The children in the Mysterious Benedict Society must infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened to uncover a plot to control the minds of citizens around the world.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this story to my boys at bedtime and it was the perfect read-aloud. We all enjoyed the complexity of the story and the silly scenarios. Years later, we watched the Disney TV adaptation as well!
Why Jackie loves it
This is the first middle-grade book in a series that is geared toward older kids. It was funny and interesting and extremely clever.
Find this book in: Middle Grade Mystery Books / Books About Puzzles / Books like KOTLC / Secret Society Books / Best Gifts for 10-year-olds / Best Books for a 10-year-old / Books With Neurodivergent Characters

Winterhouse
Author: Ben Guterson
Year: 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery / Fantasy
Age: 9 – 13
More info: Edgar Award Finalist, Agatha Award Finalist
Plot
Elizabeth is an orphan whose aunt and uncle have shipped her to Winterhouse for the Christmas holiday. There, she meets the owner, Norbridge Falls, and learns secrets about his slightly evil family. Along the way, she meets another child guest – Freddy – and becomes fast friends with him. Together, they unlock codes and solve puzzles. The best part is that the first page of each chapter has a mini puzzle for readers to complete.
Why Kirsten loves it
My boys and I like to listen to books together in the car or when doing a puzzle. The standout book for me this month was Winterhouse. This middle grade mystery was as enthralling to me as it was to my children. I loved the slight bits of magic in the story and the captivating setting of an expansive ski hotel on a snowy mountain at Christmas time.
Find this book in: Paranormal Books / Books for a 10-Year-Old / Books About Puzzles / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Hotel Novels / Christmas Chapter Books

The Maze of Bones
Author: Rick Riordan
Year: 2011
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Age: 8 – 11
More info: 39 Clues #1
Plot
Grace Cahill dies and leaves orphan siblings Amy and Dan an option – 1 million dollars or a clue. Amy and Dan decided to take the clue and figure out what happened to their parents. Along the way, they run into other families on the hunt for clues.
Why Jackie loves it
This is like The Da Vinci code for kids. It’s a kids’ mystery book series filled with secret societies, hidden secrets, and an epic quest for treasure.
Find this book in: Puzzle Books / Books Like Keeper of the Lost Cities / Mystery Books for Kids / Best Books for 10-year-olds
Best Realistic Fiction Books for a 10-Year-Old

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
Author: Karina Yan Glaser
Year: 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age: 7 – 12
More info: Vanderbeekers #1
Plot
This charming story is about a bi-racial family in Harlem with 5 kids who are about to lose their home before Christmas. Why? Because their reclusive landlord won’t renew their lease.
My entire family enjoyed this delightful tale of the siblings trying to win their landlord over so they don’t have to leave home. It was full of all the antics you would expect of a big family.
Why Kirsten loves it
I can’t begin to tell you how connected my family has grown to the Vanderbeekers over the course of the series. They are sweet, funny, good-natured, mischievous children – each with a personality all their own. Their antics make for incredible stories, but the heart and love at the center of the family keep me reaching for these books. This is hands down one of my favorite series for middle grade readers and the one I recommend the most often.
Why Jackie loves it
I love that the Vanderbeekers’ story normalizes city living and a bi-racial family – something that’s hard to find in many children’s book series. You will fall in love with this cast of characters and as the series progresses you’ll come to regard them as family.
Find this book in: Best Books for a 10-Year-Old / Best Family Audiobooks For Road Trips / Read Aloud Books / Realistic Fiction Books / Christmas Chapter Books

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
Author: Dan Gemeinhart
Year: 2019
Genre: Fiction
Age: 9-12
More info: Coyote Sunrise #1
Plot
Coyote Sunrise lives with her Dad, Rodeo on an old school bus, riding around the country but never returning to where her mother and sisters died.
Until Coyote gets a call from her grandma that the park where she hid a memory box is scheduled to be torn down. Soon Coyote needs to figure out a plan to get her dad back to Washington before she loses that box.
Trigger Warnings
Child death, Death of parent, Grief
Why Kirsten loves it
Filled with life lessons and charming strangers they meet and transport along the way, I adored Coyote and her unique life. My kids listened with me too and they felt the same way.
Find this book in: Realistic Fiction / Audiobooks for Kids / Audiobooks for a Road Trip / Coming-of-Age Books for Teens / Best Books for a 10-year-old

Front Desk
Author: Kelly Yang
Year: 2019
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age: 9 – 11
More info: Front Desk #1, Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature
Plot
This recently banned book tells the story of Mia and her family who are immigrants from China. Mia’s struggles to be successful in America are met with the divide between classes in her school, the racism she faces, and her family’s quest to make ends meet.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I loved learning from Mia and watching her problem-solve to help her family as they took over caring for the Calivista Motel. If you are looking for realistic fiction middle-grade books that skew a little younger, check out this realistic fiction book.
Find this book in: Coming-of-Age Books / Books for 10-year-olds / Audiobooks for Kids / Hotel Novels / Books about Poverty and It’s Impact
Historical Fiction Books for 10-Year-Olds

The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Year: 2007
Genre: Graphic Novel
Age: 8 – 11
More info: Caldecott Medal Winner
Plot
This middle grade mystery is an amazing story of Hugo Cabret, an orphan in the Paris train station where he winds the clocks so that nobody will discover his secrets. Soon he discovers a drawing and a notebook that will lead him to the biggest adventure of his life.
Trigger Warnings
Grief, Death of parent
Why Jackie loves it
Don’t let the length of this mystery book for kids deter you. Even though it’s long, there are gorgeous illustrations on every other page and the writing is only a paragraph at a time.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Middle Grade Books for Tweens / Mystery Books for Tweens / Long Books

The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog
Author: Adam Gidwitz
Illustrator: Hatem Aly
Year: 2016
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 12
More info: A New York Times Bestseller, Newbery Honor Book
Plot
In 13th century France, three children set out on a quest with their dog. Each of the children and the dog have a magical gift. Together, they survive a kidnapping, help defeat a dragon, and save the kingdom. Come read the tale of these unlikely friends – I promise, you won’t be able to put it down!
Why Jackie loves it
All of my kids have read this book and they all loved it- devoured it in a day. Somehow this book can combine historical characters and mythical tales of the 13th century with morals and lessons that are completely relevant today.
Find this book in: Middle Grade Books / Best Books for a 10-year-old / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Dragon Books for Tweens

Plot
Max, a 11-year old Jewish boy from Berlin, is sent away from his parents to England. Now he will do whatever it takes to get back. He is accompanied by two immortal creatures in the shape of little men that only he can see – a kobold and a dybbuk.
After being brought to Lord Montagu to be fostered, he decides that he will do whatever it takes to protect his family and make it back to them. Thus, he begs Lord Montagu to send him back to Germany as a spy.
Trigger Warnings
Antisemitism, War
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of my favorite books, and the author too is amazing. It was hard to put it down and I’m very excited for the sequel.
Find this book in: Fantasy Books for Tweens / World War II Books for Kids / Best Books for 10-year-olds
Best Audiobooks for a 10-Year-Old

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Author: Chris Grabenstein
Year: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age: 9 – 11
More info: Mr. Lemoncello’s Library #1,
Plot
Mr. Lemoncello’s library is one of a kind. It’s full of holograms, logic puzzles, and hidden games. To officially open the new library, a few lucky kids get to spend the night inside as they try to win Mr. Lemoncello’s game and be the first team to escape.
Why Kirsten loves it
If you are looking for great bedtime stories for kids, this series will hit the mark. It will get your kids engaged with one-of-a-kid puzzles and delightful twists and turns.
Find this book in: Audiobooks for Kids / Netflix Book Adaptations / Middle Grade Mysteries / Books for 10-year-olds / Read Aloud Books / Best Puzzle Books

Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year: 2012
Genre: Dystopian Fantasy/ Sci-Fi/ Fairy Tale Retelling
More info: Lunar Chronicles Book 1 of 4
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 10+
Plot
This four-book series is set in the future in a time of disease and war. This series is part twisted fairy tale, part dystopia, and part sci-fi fantasy.
Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel are re-imagined as you have never seen them before. All of them are smart and strong women far from the helpless damsels in distress we know them to be.
The first in this series of classic book retellings introduces us to Cinder. She is a cyborg (part human, part machine) who lives with her……..you guessed it….. two step-sisters and stepmother.
Why Jackie loves it
I read the first book and immediately read the rest of the books in the series. Even though this is a series that is over a decade old, it is still one of the best YA fantasy book series I have read and still recommend it all the time to teens and adults alike
Find this book in: Books Like Cinder / YA Dystopian Books / YA Romance Fantasy Books / Best Teen Fantasy / Books Like The Selection / Best YA Romance Books / Best Books for 10-year-olds

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation
Author: Stuart Gibbs
Year: 2021
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Age: 10 – 12
More info: Charlie Thorne #1
Plot
Charlie Thorne is a child genius and the world’s best code breaker. So the CIA has dragged her into the hunt for Albert Einstein’s hidden code. She’s trying to get it before the Furies use it to destroy the world.
Why Jackie loves it
Charlie is hunting for something from Charles Darwin and Cleopatra in the subsequent sequels. Each story has her using her wits to outsmart everyone around her. I love that this genius is a female too!
Find this book in: Mystery Books for Tweens / Best Books for 10-year-olds
Books for 10-Year-Olds Set at School

Plot
The kids in room 117 are all together because they have been deemed “unteachable.” Mr. Kermit their teacher seems like someone they will despise, but as the year progresses, the students’ outlook changes.
Trigger Warnings
Bullying
Why Jackie loves it
With rotating narrators and a lovely, if predictable story, this realistic fiction book is inspiring for all students.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Mystery Books for Tweens

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
Author: Jason Reynolds
Year: 2019
Genre: Middle-Grade Short Story
More info: A National Book Award Finalist
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
Age Range: 10+
Plot
I thought this middle-grade novel was a wonderful look at the problems facing young people. Each chapter is a different narrator telling a different story about their walk home from school addressing issues like crushes, bullying, sick parents, and more.
Each tale gives you a glimpse into the minds of the children in the neighborhood – the funny, the sad, and everything in between.
Why Kirsten loves it
I finished this story in one sitting and immediately told Jackie to give it to her son. I can’t wait to give this to my boys one day.
Find this book in: Best School Books / Realistic Fiction Books / Short Stories / Best Books for 10-year-olds

The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy
Author: Anne Ursu
Year: 2021
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 12
Plot
Marya’s brother is going to be a sorcerer. When an accident happens, Marya is sent to Dragomir Academy. It is a place for troubled girls. When she is there, the Dread attacks. The Dread is a cloud-like creature that can spawn itself and destroy villages.
Why Jackie loves it
My daughter read this one. This is what she had to say. “I really liked this book because I love magic and the girls at the school work together as a team. This book was exciting and I want to read anything this author writes.”
Find this book in: Fantasy Books for Tweens / Books like Percy Jackson / Best Books for a 10-year-old
Animal Books for 10-Years-Olds

Plot
This coming-of-age story is about a deaf girl who is struggling to connect with her community and a whale named Blue 52 who can’t find his ocean community either. She sets out to connect with Blue 52 and along the way she finds her inner strength beautifully.
Why Kirsten loves it
This was one of the realistic fiction audiobooks for tweens I listened to with my kids and we all just adored it. I had tears streaming down my face at the end.
Find this book in: Books for 10-year-olds / Audiobooks for Kids / Realistic Fiction / Animal Books for Kids / Best Books for 10-year-olds

Belly Up
Author: Stuart Gibbs
Year: 2010
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Age: 9 – 12
More info: Fun Jungle #1
Plot
After a hippo dies at FunJungle Zoo, it’s up to Teddy and his friend Summer to prove that the Hippo was murdered. But investigating Hippo’s homicide is a dangerous affair. This funny story kept this former zoo employee quite entertained.
Why Jackie loves it
A funny, clever story that’s the first in the FunJungle series by Stuart Gibbs.
Find this book in: Books for 10-year-olds / Zoo Books / Best Middle Grade Books / Best Mystery Books for Tweens

A Wolf Called Wander
Author: Rosanne Parry
Year: 2019
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age: 8 – 11
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Plot
Rosanne does a marvelous job of telling the true story of a wolf trying to survive when separated from his family. Without the protection of his pack, Swift must learn how to thrive on his own.
Swift’s journey takes him across 1,000 miles of forests, highways, and rivers with danger facing him at every turn.
Why Kirsten loves it
My family was riveted by this story when we listened on a recent family road trip. Even though this is a middle-grade book, we love this for adults as well.
Find this book in: Animal Novels / Middle-Grade Fiction / Audiobooks for Kids / Animals Books for Kids / Best Books for 10-year-olds
Classic Books for a 10-Year-Old

The Egypt Game
Author: Zilpha Neatly Snyder
Year: 1967
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Age: 8 – 12
More info: Newbery Honor Winner
Plot
The 6 “Egyptians” play in the back lot of an antique store, dressing up, performing rituals, and speaking with Oracles. Then, a murder happens in the area and trouble comes to the lot.
Why Kirsten loves it
This middle grade fiction enchanted me as a young girl. Don’t worry, there is a happy ending to this tween mystery book and also a sequel about gypsies!
Find this book in: Middle Grade Fiction / Best Books for 10-year-olds / Mystery Books for Tweens

A Wrinkle in Time
Author: Madeleine L’Engle
Year: 1962
Genre: Middle Grade Sci-Fi
Age: 8 – 11
More info: Time Quintet #1, Newbery Medal Winner
Plot
This classic sci-fi book for tweens tells the story of Meg, a high school student, who must travel through space and time to rescue her father.
Along with her younger brother and her friend, Meg learns about the tesseract- a wrinkle in time and space that she must travel through to save her father from Evil.
Why Jackie loves it
I remember loving this science fiction book as a kid. As far as classic sci-fi books go, this is a must-read.
Find this book in: Classic Books for Kids / Kids Audiobooks / Best Sci-fi Books / Middle Grade Books / Best Books for 10-year-olds

Plot
In this classic story, Jim Hawkins is on his way to adventure – and treasure. When he gets to the locale of his quest, he encounters Long John Silver – one of the most famous villains in literature.
Why Kirsten loves it
This swashbuckling tale of piracy and treasure is perfect for children and adults alike. Long John Silver is quite a scary villain, whose legacy lives on in Halloween costumes everywhere.
One-legged, parrot-wearing, map-loving pirates everywhere can thank Robert Louis Stevenson for the inspiration. Why not read this book set in Cornwall to your little buccaneer at bedtime?
Find this book in: Pirate Books / Best Classic Books / Books Set in Cornwall / Best Books for 10-year-olds
Sports Books for a 10-Year-Old

What are the Paralympic Games
Author: Gail Herman
Illustrator: Andrew Thomson
Year: 2020
Genre: Nonfiction
Age: 8-12
Plot
This non-fiction book in the What Are series explains the Paralympic Games and the incredible athletes who participate. There is also a Summer Games and a Winter Games edition of this book.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love this particular book because it highlights all the amazing things people with disabilities can do.
Find this book in: Olympics Books for Kids / Best Books for 10-year-olds

The Tryout
Author: Christina Soontornvat
Illustrator: Joanna Cacao
Year: 2022
Genre: Graphic Novel
Age: 8 – 12
More info: The Tryout #1
Plot
Christina is struggling with the transition to middle school. Her teachers and classmates can’t pronounce her name, she feels like she’s never wearing the right clothes, her best friend is always busy, and she envies the popular crowd. In the process of trying to fit in, she hurts other people’s feelings, starts acting differently, and then decides to try out for the cheerleading squad, hoping it will make her fit in with everyone else.
Cheerleading is harder than it looks and Christina works hard as she prepares for tryouts. Along the way, she figures out how to stand up to bullies and even makes some new friends.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I liked that this graphic novel showed middle schoolers making mistakes. It was hard to see Christina fumble, but the pictures did a great job of illustrating her guilt and sadness when she did. This is a tough age for any kid, but it’s particularly difficult for kids who feel different from their peers. This is a wonderful look at the fumbles of growing up.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Graphic Novels

The Crossover
Author: Kwame Alexander
Year: 2014
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age: 10 – 13
More info: Coretta-Scott King Award Winner, Newberry Medal Winner, The Crossover #1
Plot
Kwame Alexander has won many awards for his incredible prose. This tween novel, the first in a series, is no exception having won both the Newberry and The Coretta-Scott King Award. The Crossover is about Josh Bell a basketball-loving middle-schooler who also loves to rap. He learns to grow up and figure out who he is on and off the court – and especially what differentiates him from his twin brother, Jordan.
Trigger Warnings
Death of parent, Grief
Why Kirsten loves it
Kwame Alexander has won many awards for his incredible proses. This tween novel, the first in a series, is no exception having won both the Newberry and The Coretta-Scott King Award. My son and I loved this one on audiobook!
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Realistic Fiction Books / Middle Grade Fiction / Best Books for Tweens
Coming-of-Age Books for 10-Year-Olds

My Not-So-Great French Escape
Author: Cliff Burke
Year: 2023
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age: 8 – 12
Plot
I adored this story about Rylan, who is staying on a farm in France to reconnect with his former best friend, Wilder. It’s such a heartwarming story about how friendships change as we age, sometimes ending as lives and values grow.
Why Kirsten loves it
This one did not have a happy ending for Rylan’s quest to stay friends with Wilder, but it was a wonderful lesson in being true to yourself and following your own interests. Rylan was well out of his comfort zone, but he was able to connect with new friends, learn new skills, and become a more confident version of himself.
I love that the message at the end of the day is that if you stay true to yourself, you’ll end up with people that love and appreciate the real you.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Realistic Fiction Books

The Candymakers
Author: Wendy Maas
Year: 2010
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Age: 8 – 12
More info: The Candymakers #1
Plot
I decided to read this book with my boys prior to our visit to Candytopia. It was a lovely take on life at a candy factory and felt almost like an updated version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 4 kids are competing to win a candy-making contest to have their creation mass-produced.
Why Kirsten loves it
The candy reminded me of Wonka’s Factory, but the whimsy and fun of the book reminded me a bit of Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. There are puzzles and secrets to unfold and descriptions of delectable delights. In short, it’s a fun read-aloud story that will leave you craving the next book in the series and a closet full of chocolate.
Find this book in: Books for Tweens / Best Books for 10-year-olds / Mystery Books for Tweens / Family Audiobooks

My Side of the Mountain
Author: Jean Craighead George
Year: 1959
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age: 8 – 12
More info: Newbery Honor Book, My Side of the Mountain #1
Plot
This story about a 12-year-old boy who ran away to live in the wilderness spoke to me during a time when I needed to imagine an escape. The thought of someone living off the land being able to survive and thrive captured my imagination. The sketches and notes about how he fashioned himself a home in a tree and a suit of deerskin only added to the allure of this story.
Why Kirsten loves it
Welcome to my favorite book of my childhood. It’s not one that anyone who knows me would pick as one of my favorite books, but maybe that’s why it’s so dear to my heart. It’s the first book in a trilogy, and while the other two are great, this book is forever my favorite of the bunch.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Kirsten’s Favorite Books
Graphic Novels for a 10-Year-Old

Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Dave McKean
Year: 2012
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 9+
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Plot
In this book, Coraline steps through a door and finds a house just like hers, maybe even better! She meets another set of parents who want her to be their little girl. Can Coraline escape these parents and get back to her ordinary life?
Why Jackie loves it
Neil Gaiman’s imagination never ceases to amaze me. The movie adaptation and graphic novel remake are both fantastic as well.
Find this book in: Graphic Novels / Halloween Movies Based on Books / Halloween Chapter Books / Books for a 10-year-old

The Dragonet Prophecy
Author: Tui T. Sutherland
Year: 2012
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 11
More info: Wings of Fire #1
Plot
The first series is about 5 dragons who were told a prophecy about how they would save the world. The 5 dragons, Rain Wing, Sand Wing, Mud Wing, Sea Wing, and Night Wing, start out trapped in a cave. They must escape the cave where they have been locked up and go out into the world to find out who they really are.
Why Jackie loves it
With more than a dozen books in the story, this is a great one for dragon-loving children to get hooked on. More dragons are introduced throughout the series and each adventure is more high-stakes than the last.
My children and I loved this as a read-aloud when they were younger. When they started to read on their own, I got them the graphic novel version!
Find this book in: Middle Grade Fantasy Books / Books Like Harry Potter for Kids / Best Books for a 10-year-old / Dragon Books for Tweens

Kristy’s Great Idea
Author: Ann M. Martin
Illustrator: Raina Telgemeier
Year: 2006
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Age: 8 – 11
More info: The Baby-sitter’s Club #1
Plot
The babysitters are back and updated for a new generation! I love that the stories in this series have been adapted into graphic novels. The very first one, Kristy’s Great Idea, is about the formation of the Baby-Sitters Club and how the friends of the sitters developed.
Why Kirsten loves it
If you have middle schoolers, they should check out the Netflix book adaptation of this realistic fiction series. This graphic novel twist is a fun update to the series I adored when I was younger.
Find this book in: Realistic Fiction Books / Best Books for 10-year-olds / Middle Grade Fiction
Non-fiction Books for a 10-Year-Old

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team
Author: Christina Soontornvat
Year: 2020
Genre: Middle Grade Nonfiction
Age: 10 – 12
More info: Newbery Honor Winner, Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, Kirkus Prize for Young People’s Literature
Plot
It is the true story of the Thai cave rescue of the 12 boys and their soccer coach in 2018. The boys and the coach had gone in to explore the cave and when they went to leave, the floodwaters left them trapped inside.
Why Jackie loves it
Complete with pictures, this story is told in a style that makes you feel like you were there.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds / Best Middle Grade Books

Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive
Author: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Laurie Ann Thompson
Illustrator: Lisa K Weber
Year: 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Nonfiction
Age: 8 – 12
More info: Two Truths and a Lie #1
Plot
This fun book is filled with crazy stories about the living world and the plants and animals in it. Some of the stories are true and some are too crazy to be true. Can you figure out which fact is the lie?
Why Jackie loves it
There are tips for extra research and how to verify facts. This book is such a fun way to think critically, question, and do some scientific research.
Find this book in: Best Books for 10-year-olds

Locomotive
Author: Brian Floca
Illustrator: Brian Floca
Year: 2013
Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book
Age: 6 – 10
More info: Caldecott Medal Winner, Sibert Honor Book, New York Times Bestseller
Plot
Heavier on text but with richly detailed illustrations, this tale of the early American railroad is a Caldecott Winner.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love the retro feel and my train lovers ask me to read this on repeat!
Find this book in: Patriotic Picture Books / Best Books for 10-year-olds
Helpful Tips
- Don’t force your tween to read a genre or book they don’t like – it won’t turn them into life-long readers.
- Despite the ongoing debate on this subject, consuming graphic novels and audiobooks does count as reading!
- Each of the books on this list appears on other book lists across the website. Find a book you (or your child) enjoy and explore other book lists that book is on!
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre should a 10-year-old read?
10-year-olds are just like any other readers, they should read the genre they find most fascinating. I’d advise that 10-year-old readers lean into books about things that inspire them in their everyday lives. Realistic fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction are particularly popular for this age group.
What are the best books for 10-year-olds?
A hard question to answer, but some of my favorites from each genre include The Candymakers by Wendy Maas, The Crossover by Kwambe Alexander, and Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan.
Related Content
Epilogue
Finding age-appropriate books for 10-year-olds comes down to embracing their interests as readers! Did you find any books for a 10-year-old to add to your home library?

Book Lists by Age
If you are looking for more amazing book lists, check out these lists sorted by age.
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