← The Children's Library  /  Age 12

Best Books for 12 year olds

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

A varied shortlist for 12 year olds, balanced across familiar favourites, different authors, and the formats most likely to suit this stage.

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36 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

At age 12, reading confidence and attention span can vary widely. Use the age ranges as guidance, then choose among novel, classic and poetry according to whether the book will be read alone, shared with an adult, or enjoyed as a family read-aloud.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Judith Kerr · Novel · ages 10–14 · courage and family
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The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman · Novel · ages 10–14 · courage and wonder
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The Machine Gunners
Robert Westall · Novel · ages 10–14 · courage and friendship
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Stormbreaker
Anthony Horowitz · Novel · ages 10–14 · courage and adventure
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Millions
Frank Cottrell Boyce · Novel · ages 10–14 · kindness and wonder
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Pig Heart Boy
Malorie Blackman · Novel · ages 10–14 · courage and family
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When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit book cover
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Judith Kerr
Ages 10–14
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Judith Kerr
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr is a novel for children aged 10 to 14. A useful choice for reading about courage, family, heritage and resilience.
Novel1971
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The Graveyard Book book cover
The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman
Ages 10–14
The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book, a novel by Neil Gaiman, is selected for children aged 10 to 14. Compare it with other books exploring courage, wonder, self-reliance and adventure.
Novel2008
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The Machine Gunners book cover
The Machine Gunners
Robert Westall
Ages 10–14
The Machine Gunners
Robert Westall
On the shelf for children aged 10 to 14: The Machine Gunners, a novel by Robert Westall. It connects with courage, friendship and heritage.
Novel1975
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Stormbreaker book cover
Stormbreaker
Anthony Horowitz
Ages 10–14
Stormbreaker
Anthony Horowitz
First published in 2000, Stormbreaker is a novel by Anthony Horowitz for children aged 10 to 14. Its themes include courage, adventure and perseverance.
Novel2000
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Millions book cover
Millions
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Ages 10–14
Millions
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Millions, a novel by Frank Cottrell Boyce, is selected for children aged 10 to 14. Compare it with other books exploring kindness, wonder, family and imagination.
Novel2004
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Pig Heart Boy book cover
Pig Heart Boy
Malorie Blackman
Ages 10–14
Pig Heart Boy
Malorie Blackman
On the shelf for children aged 10 to 14: Pig Heart Boy, a novel by Malorie Blackman. It connects with courage, family, justice and perseverance.
Novel1997
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Goodnight Mister Tom book cover
Goodnight Mister Tom
Michelle Magorian
Ages 10–14
Goodnight Mister Tom
Michelle Magorian
On the shelf for children aged 10 to 14: Goodnight Mister Tom, a novel by Michelle Magorian. It connects with kindness, courage, family and resilience.
Novel1981
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Howl's Moving Castle book cover
Howl's Moving Castle
Diana Wynne Jones
Ages 10–14
Howl's Moving Castle
Diana Wynne Jones
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a novel for children aged 10 to 14. A useful choice for reading about wonder, courage and imagination.
Novel1986
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The Wee Free Men book cover
The Wee Free Men
Terry Pratchett
Ages 10–14
The Wee Free Men
Terry Pratchett
Choose The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett for children aged 10 to 14. This novel is shelved with books about courage, humour and self-reliance.
Novel2003
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The Dark is Rising book cover
The Dark is Rising
Susan Cooper
Ages 10–14
The Dark is Rising
Susan Cooper
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper is a novel for children aged 10 to 14. A useful choice for reading about courage, wonder and heritage.
Novel1973
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The Sword in the Stone book cover
The Sword in the Stone
T. H. White
Ages 10–14
The Sword in the Stone
T. H. White
On the shelf for children aged 10 to 14: The Sword in the Stone, a classic by T. H. White. It connects with wonder, heritage and adventure.
Classic1938
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The Silver Sword book cover
The Silver Sword
Ian Serraillier
Ages 10–14
The Silver Sword
Ian Serraillier
Choose The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier for children aged 10 to 14. This novel is shelved with books about courage, family and resilience.
Novel1956
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Smith book cover
Smith
Leon Garfield
Ages 10–14
Smith
Leon Garfield
Smith by Leon Garfield is a novel for children aged 10 to 14. A useful choice for reading about adventure, justice and heritage.
Novel1967
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Madame Doubtfire book cover
Madame Doubtfire
Anne Fine
Ages 10–14
Madame Doubtfire
Anne Fine
For readers interested in family and humour, compare Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine. It is a novel for children aged 10 to 14.
Novel1987
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When the Sky Falls book cover
When the Sky Falls
Phil Earle
Ages 10–14
When the Sky Falls
Phil Earle
When the Sky Falls, a novel by Phil Earle, is selected for children aged 10 to 14. Compare it with other books exploring courage, kindness and heritage.
Novel2021
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The Skylarks' War book cover
The Skylarks' War
Hilary McKay
Ages 10–14
The Skylarks' War
Hilary McKay
The Skylarks' War, a novel by Hilary McKay, is selected for children aged 10 to 14. Compare it with other books exploring family, heritage and courage.
Novel2018
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Biggles Learns to Fly book cover
Biggles Learns to Fly
W. E. Johns
Ages 10–14
Biggles Learns to Fly
W. E. Johns
Biggles Learns to Fly, a classic by W. E. Johns, is selected for children aged 10 to 14. Compare it with other books exploring adventure and courage.
Classic1935
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Skellig book cover
Skellig
David Almond
Ages 10–13
Skellig
David Almond
On the shelf for children aged 10 to 13: Skellig, a novel by David Almond. It connects with wonder, courage, family and imagination.
Novel1998
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The Hobbit book cover
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien
Ages 9–14
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins leaves his comfortable home with Thorin and a company of dwarves to reclaim their mountain and treasure from Smaug.
Classic1937
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War Horse book cover
War Horse
Michael Morpurgo
Ages 10–16
War Horse
Michael Morpurgo
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is a novel for readers aged 10+. A useful choice for reading about courage, loyalty, perseverance and heritage.
Novel1982
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Treasure Island book cover
Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson
Ages 10–16
Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is a classic for readers aged 10+. A useful choice for reading about adventure, courage, loyalty and heritage.
Classic1883
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Black Beauty book cover
Black Beauty
Anna Sewell
Ages 9–13
Black Beauty
Anna Sewell
For readers interested in courage, kindness, justice and loyalty, compare Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. It is a classic for children aged 9 to 13.
Classic1877
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Watership Down book cover
Watership Down
Richard Adams
Ages 10–16
Watership Down
Richard Adams
On the shelf for readers aged 10+: Watership Down, a classic by Richard Adams. It connects with courage, loyalty, adventure and nature.
Classic1972
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Carrie's War book cover
Carrie's War
Nina Bawden
Ages 9–13
Carrie's War
Nina Bawden
For readers interested in courage, family and heritage, compare Carrie's War by Nina Bawden. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 13.
Novel1973
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The Thieves of Ostia book cover
The Thieves of Ostia
Caroline Lawrence
Ages 9–13
The Thieves of Ostia
Caroline Lawrence
On the shelf for children aged 9 to 13: The Thieves of Ostia, a novel by Caroline Lawrence. It connects with adventure, courage, friendship and heritage.
Novel2001
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The London Eye Mystery book cover
The London Eye Mystery
Siobhan Dowd
Ages 9–13
The London Eye Mystery
Siobhan Dowd
Choose The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd for children aged 9 to 13. This novel is shelved with books about family, perseverance and justice.
Novel2007
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Talking Turkeys book cover
Talking Turkeys
Benjamin Zephaniah
Ages 8–14
Talking Turkeys
Benjamin Zephaniah
Talking Turkeys by Benjamin Zephaniah is a poetry collection for children aged 8 to 14. A useful choice for reading about humour, justice and creativity.
Poetry1994
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Skandar and the Unicorn Thief book cover
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
A. F. Steadman
Ages 9–13
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
A. F. Steadman
On the shelf for children aged 9 to 13: Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, a novel by A. F. Steadman. It connects with adventure, courage and friendship.
Novel2022
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Journey to the River Sea book cover
Journey to the River Sea
Eva Ibbotson
Ages 9–13
Journey to the River Sea
Eva Ibbotson
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson is a novel for children aged 9 to 13. A useful choice for reading about adventure, courage and nature.
Novel2001
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The Weirdstone of Brisingamen book cover
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen
Alan Garner
Ages 9–13
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen
Alan Garner
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, a novel by Alan Garner, is selected for children aged 9 to 13. Compare it with other books exploring adventure, wonder and heritage.
Novel1960
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The Box of Delights book cover
The Box of Delights
John Masefield
Ages 9–13
The Box of Delights
John Masefield
On the shelf for children aged 9 to 13: The Box of Delights, a classic by John Masefield. It connects with wonder, adventure and heritage.
Classic1935
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The Eagle of the Ninth book cover
The Eagle of the Ninth
Rosemary Sutcliff
Ages 11–15
The Eagle of the Ninth
Rosemary Sutcliff
On the shelf for children aged 11 to 15: The Eagle of the Ninth, a novel by Rosemary Sutcliff. It connects with courage, loyalty and heritage.
Novel1954
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Wolf Brother book cover
Wolf Brother
Michelle Paver
Ages 9–13
Wolf Brother
Michelle Paver
For readers interested in adventure, courage, nature and loyalty, compare Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 13.
Novel2004
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Murder Most Unladylike book cover
Murder Most Unladylike
Robin Stevens
Ages 9–13
Murder Most Unladylike
Robin Stevens
First published in 2014, Murder Most Unladylike is a novel by Robin Stevens for children aged 9 to 13. Its themes include friendship, justice and adventure.
Novel2014
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Impossible Creatures book cover
Impossible Creatures
Katherine Rundell
Ages 9–13
Impossible Creatures
Katherine Rundell
First published in 2023, Impossible Creatures is a novel by Katherine Rundell for children aged 9 to 13. Its themes include adventure, wonder and courage.
Novel2023
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Beyond the Deepwoods book cover
Beyond the Deepwoods
Paul Stewart
Ages 9–13
Beyond the Deepwoods
Paul Stewart · Chris Riddell
Beyond the Deepwoods, a novel by Paul Stewart, is selected for children aged 9 to 13. It is illustrated by Chris Riddell. Compare it with other books exploring adventure, courage and wonder.
Novel1998
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