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Adventure Books for 9 to 12 Year Olds

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

Big journeys, difficult choices, and memorable worlds for readers who want a story with real forward motion.

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30 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

Choose by the kind of jeopardy your reader enjoys: fantasy, history, mystery, wilderness, or everyday courage. The related themes on each book page make it easy to narrow the shelf without losing the age fit.

Quick comparison

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

James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl · Chapter Book · ages 6–10 · adventure and friendship
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Northern Lights
Philip Pullman · Novel · ages 11–16 · courage and adventure
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Coraline
Neil Gaiman · Novel · ages 9–12 · courage and adventure
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Gangsta Granny
David Walliams · Chapter Book · ages 7–10 · family and humour
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The Borrowers
Mary Norton · Classic · ages 8–11 · adventure and courage
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Five Children and It
E. Nesbit · Classic · ages 8–11 · adventure and imagination
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James and the Giant Peach book cover
James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl
Ages 6–10
James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake
Choose James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl for children aged 6 to 10. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. This chapter book is shelved with books about adventure, friendship, courage and imagination.
Chapter Book1961
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Northern Lights book cover
Northern Lights
Philip Pullman
Ages 11–16
Northern Lights
Philip Pullman
Northern Lights, a novel by Philip Pullman, is selected for readers aged 11+. Compare it with other books exploring courage, adventure, wonder and loyalty.
Novel1995
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Coraline book cover
Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Ages 9–12
Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Coraline, a novel by Neil Gaiman, is selected for children aged 9 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring courage, adventure and perseverance.
Novel2002
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Gangsta Granny book cover
Gangsta Granny
David Walliams
Ages 7–10
Gangsta Granny
David Walliams · Tony Ross
Ben expects another dull Friday with his cabbage-loving grandmother until he learns that she claims to be an international jewel thief.
Chapter Book2011
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The Borrowers book cover
The Borrowers
Mary Norton
Ages 8–11
The Borrowers
Mary Norton
The Borrowers by Mary Norton is a classic for children aged 8 to 11. A useful choice for reading about adventure, courage, family and wonder.
Classic1952
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Five Children and It book cover
Five Children and It
E. Nesbit
Ages 8–11
Five Children and It
E. Nesbit
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit is a classic for children aged 8 to 11. A useful choice for reading about adventure, imagination, humour and wonder.
Classic1902
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland book cover
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
Ages 7–12
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
For readers interested in imagination, wonder, adventure and courage, compare Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. It is a classic for children aged 7 to 12.
Classic1865
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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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The Wind in the Willows book cover
The Wind in the Willows
Kenneth Grahame
Ages 7–11
The Wind in the Willows
Kenneth Grahame
The Wind in the Willows, a classic by Kenneth Grahame, is selected for children aged 7 to 11. Compare it with other books exploring friendship, adventure, nature and loyalty.
Classic1908
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Peter Pan book cover
Peter Pan
J. M. Barrie
Ages 7–11
Peter Pan
J. M. Barrie
For readers interested in adventure, imagination, wonder and courage, compare Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. It is a classic for children aged 7 to 11.
Classic1911
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The Jungle Book book cover
The Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling
Ages 8–12
The Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling
The Jungle Book, a classic by Rudyard Kipling, is selected for children aged 8 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring adventure, courage, nature and loyalty.
Classic1894
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Prince Caspian book cover
Prince Caspian
C. S. Lewis
Ages 8–12
Prince Caspian
C. S. Lewis
On the shelf for children aged 8 to 12: Prince Caspian, a classic by C. S. Lewis. It connects with courage, loyalty and adventure.
Classic1951
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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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Stig of the Dump book cover
Stig of the Dump
Clive King
Ages 8–11
Stig of the Dump
Clive King
Choose Stig of the Dump by Clive King for children aged 8 to 11. This classic is shelved with books about friendship, adventure and imagination.
Classic1963
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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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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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Varjak Paw book cover
Varjak Paw
S. F. Said
Ages 8–12
Varjak Paw
S. F. Said · Dave McKean
Choose Varjak Paw by S. F. Said for children aged 8 to 12. It is illustrated by Dave McKean. This novel is shelved with books about courage, adventure, friendship and perseverance.
Novel2003
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The Explorer book cover
The Explorer
Katherine Rundell
Ages 9–12
The Explorer
Katherine Rundell
For readers interested in adventure, courage, friendship and perseverance, compare The Explorer by Katherine Rundell. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.
Novel2017
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The Wolves of Willoughby Chase book cover
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Joan Aiken
Ages 9–12
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Joan Aiken
First published in 1962, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is a novel by Joan Aiken for children aged 9 to 12. Its themes include courage, adventure, loyalty and heritage.
Novel1962
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Cosmic book cover
Cosmic
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Ages 9–13
Cosmic
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce is a novel for children aged 9 to 13. A useful choice for reading about family, humour, adventure and wonder.
Novel2008
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The Boy Who Grew Dragons book cover
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
Andy Shepherd
Ages 7–10
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
Andy Shepherd
The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd is a novel for children aged 7 to 10. A useful choice for reading about adventure, humour, friendship and wonder.
Novel2018
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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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How to Train Your Dragon book cover
How to Train Your Dragon
Cressida Cowell
Ages 8–12
How to Train Your Dragon
Cressida Cowell
Hiccup must capture and train a dragon as part of becoming a Viking hero, despite being smaller and less confident than his peers.
Novel2003
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Five on a Treasure Island book cover
Five on a Treasure Island
Enid Blyton
Ages 7–11
Five on a Treasure Island
Enid Blyton
On the shelf for children aged 7 to 11: Five on a Treasure Island, a chapter book by Enid Blyton. It connects with adventure, friendship and courage.
Chapter Book1942
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Beetle Boy book cover
Beetle Boy
M. G. Leonard
Ages 8–12
Beetle Boy
M. G. Leonard
On the shelf for children aged 8 to 12: Beetle Boy, a novel by M. G. Leonard. It connects with adventure, nature and friendship.
Novel2016
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Podkin One-Ear book cover
Podkin One-Ear
Kieran Larwood
Ages 8–12
Podkin One-Ear
Kieran Larwood
Podkin One-Ear, a novel by Kieran Larwood, is selected for children aged 8 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring courage, adventure and heritage.
Novel2016
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The Last Wild book cover
The Last Wild
Piers Torday
Ages 9–12
The Last Wild
Piers Torday
For readers interested in nature, courage and adventure, compare The Last Wild by Piers Torday. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.
Novel2013
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Sky Song book cover
Sky Song
Abi Elphinstone
Ages 9–12
Sky Song
Abi Elphinstone
For readers interested in adventure, courage and wonder, compare Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.
Novel2018
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Time Travelling with a Hamster book cover
Time Travelling with a Hamster
Ross Welford
Ages 9–12
Time Travelling with a Hamster
Ross Welford
First published in 2016, Time Travelling with a Hamster is a novel by Ross Welford for children aged 9 to 12. Its themes include family, adventure and wonder.
Novel2016
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Who Let the Gods Out? book cover
Who Let the Gods Out?
Maz Evans
Ages 9–12
Who Let the Gods Out?
Maz Evans
For readers interested in humour, adventure and courage, compare Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans. It is a novel for children aged 9 to 12.
Novel2017
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