The Best Books for Tween Girls

Oh, how I love this novel for middle schoolers! This is a must-read tween book, addressing bullying, objectification, and even harassment. Eve Hoffman never expected to be ranked as “the prettiest” girl on a list ranking the top fifty prettiest girls in the eighth grade. Everyone knows Sophie Kane should be at the top of the list – even Sophie herself. Now, no one in school will stop discussing Eve’s body and appearance, leaving Eve feeling harassed and mortified. Sophie, too, feels bullied and harassed for not being at the top of the list. And Nessa wasn’t even on the list, but is she being honest when she says she doesn’t care? These three girls – an unlikely team – band together, determined to get justice on those who created the rankings. But they may discover that revenge isn’t nearly as sweet as self-acceptance and lifting up your friends.

I am always amazed by the way authors who write for children and tweens make tough topics feel less threatening, more accessible, and easier to understand. This is the story of Mila, a twelve-year-old girl getting far more attention on her appearance than she wants. But how can she stand up for herself when saying “no” or “stop” is so hard? And what happens when people don’t believe that certain boys are harassing her? I love the way this story explores how a young girl learns to find her voice and gain power over a situation that makes her uncomfortable. This story is beautiful, accessible, and a valuable discussion springboard, and it was a meaningful book for The Dawn Society’s virtual book club for tweens.

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Every once in a while, you come across a powerful, authentic, and moving book, one you keep thinking about long after you put it down. For me, this was that book. I read Those Kids From Fawn Creek in one hungry gulp, completely captivated by the ensemble cast, the new girl in town who throws off the rhythm of the seventh-grade classroom, and the relatable story. It is a fabulous story for 5th graders through 7th graders! With themes of authenticity, self-awareness, rumors, and identity, there is something for everyone here. From deception to dreams, bullying to bravery, this story set in a small town in Louisiana is one that every tween will relate to, devour, and think about long after the story has ended. This fantastic book for tween girls was a monthly selection for The Dawn Society’s virtual book club for tweens!

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After her artist mother dies, Andi feels lost and alone. She takes solace in playing the trumpet, but she hasn’t been playing the same since her world lost its color. When she is accepted to a prestigious music camp, though, she meets Zora, a flute prodigy who longs to dance. When the two connect, the only Black girls amidst the other White campers, they find hope, safety, and friendship in each other. And maybe something more, too. This is a beautiful story of life after loss, insecurity, and summer camp. *Note there are some mature themes pertaining to cutting, however, these scenes are handled in an age-appropriate manner.

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Sisters. Dreams. Love. Several years ago, sisters Olivia and Ruth buried a time capsule on the beach. Now, three years later, they are driving on an RV cross-country in an effort to uncover those lost memories. In an attempt to help Ruth with her crippling depression, Olivia creates a scavenger hunt to help her sister remember life before. Can things ever go back to how they used to be? Is loving her sister enough? Beautiful, poignant, and oh-so-moving, this book for tween girls is just stunning.

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Keiko Carter thinks seventh grade will be a no-brainer. She has her best friends by her side after all. But when Audrey decides the girls need boyfriends before the big Fall Ball, things start to change. Jenna doesn’t like Audrey’s demands, and Keiko finds herself caught in the middle of their drama, wondering which side she should take. And what about her own heart? As she navigates a crush she shouldn’t have and the falling-out between her best friends, can Keiko keep it all together?

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Tahlia Wilkins can’t wait to begin the summer – until, that is, she gets her first period (aka “The Red Goddess of Panties”) the day before the big pool party. Even worse? Her mom is out of town and she can’t ask her dad for help! Can her besties help save her from embarrassment with a trip to the grocery store to get the “goods”? This is just the start of a hilarious story perfect for girls who have just gotten – or are waiting to get – their first periods. It’s so much fun!

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Nimra is nervous to go to public school after spending all of her life in an Islamic school. She has her best friend Jenna by her side though, so she feels confident she can take on anything. But middle school is tough, and it gets even tougher when Jenna seems to give Nimra the cold shoulder around the other kids. What can Nimra do to fit in? Join the school’s popular band, of course, especially when she gets an invitation. There’s just one problem – music isn’t allowed in Islam. Will Nimra win her best friend back and keep her parents from finding out what she’s up to? Or will her lies be the end of her? After all, betraying others is never easy. And betraying yourself is even harder.

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Lou believes she has everything she needs – her mom, her sister, and their cozy apartment in the city. But for her mom, these things are not enough. When Lou’s mom decides to get married again, Lou suddenly finds herself packing up her life as she’s known it, realizing this move is going to take her far away from her alcoholic father who left them long before. On her last night before the move, she receives a mysterious gift on her doorstep – a guitar. Could it be from her father? And if she learns to play it, can she bring a piece of him with her? This beautiful story of loss, hope, healing, and family will leave an imprint on your heart forever!

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Sunny St. James gets a new heart… and with it, she creates a new life plan, too, including finding a new best friend and kissing a boy for the first time. There’s just one problem. When she meets Quinn, she may have the best friend thing down. But what if she discovers that kissing a boy isn’t what she wants after all? Will she discover a brand new Sunny St. James?

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Genesis hates a lot of things about herself. Most especially? Her dark, dark, skin, which even her own father holds against her. But this isn’t the only thing she doesn’t like. She also hates that her family keeps getting put out of their home because dad gambles, and he loses the rent money regularly. When Genesis is forced to start over again at a new school, she not only discovers herself and new talent, but she also finds support in a teacher who helps Genesis discover her own truth and confidence. This is a remarkable book for tween girls, especially for those who love novels with Black main characters!

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Why is the school dress code strictly enforced against some kids but not others? Why did Olivia get in trouble for wearing a tank top? Why did Liza get dress-coded but Molly did not, even though they were wearing the same outfit? Molly is fed up with the gross inequities she sees happening at school and decides to take matters into her own hands. The eighth graders thus begin a podcast in which the girls can tell their stories and make themselves heard. And their small act of rebellion may turn into a revolution – and you’ll be wanting in on the action. This book explores body shaming, draconian dress codes, and girl power, and I love it! *Note that this story discusses vaping.

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Sarah crushes it on the basketball court. It’s her safe place, the place she almost forgets how much it hurts when her mom forgets to feed her. But soon her body starts to feel different; she’s slower and missing shots and her body just doesn’t feel like hers. Does Sarah need to change her body back to what it used to be in order to keep up on the court? This is an important book for tween girls about body image, eating disorders, and self-esteem.

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Makeup. Wren loves it. When she plays with makeup and applies it to her face, she can create a different version of herself and her life. Maybe in that life, her best friend will actually like her, and maybe her parents won’t be divorced. When Wren and her mom move to a new town to get a new lease on life, Wren feels hopeful. But then her mom starts acting differently. She’s sleeping a lot. She’s snippy and sick. And then Wren discovers she has a terrible secret. Opioids. This is an important book that tackles some tough topics in a remarkably age-appropriate manner. It will be a memorable story – and lifeline – for so many tweens. We can’t rave about Barbara Dee’s work enough! For another fabulous book about a parent struggling with opioid addiction, Across the Desert, by Dusti Bowling, is a fave.

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After losing her mom and sisters in a terrible car crash, Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have been living in an old school bus. For years they travel the country to escape their painful past. But when Coyote learns the park in her old neighborhood is set for demolition — the same park where she buried a memory box with her mom and sisters — she devises a plan to get her heartbroken dad to drive back to Washington, without him knowing the real reason why. Facing memories and emotions she shut down for so long, this is the remarkable story of a grief-stricken girl who discovers love and joy after a terrible loss. This is one of my very favorite middle-grade books!

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Kate is thrilled when the popular clique at school takes her in. After all, she’s been desperate for a change, and new friends are surely the answer to her problems. But do new friends mean she has to leave her old bestie, Hattie, behind? When Hattie becomes the cool kids’ next victim, Kate finds herself part of a cruel incident that could have seriously hurt Hattie. And when a cell phone video snippet depicts Kate as a hero, she knows the real truth – that a full video will show Kate was part of the problem, not the solution. How do you refrain from succumbing to peer pressure? Will you be a liar or a leader? How do you know if your friends are the right friends or if they’re mean girls? This awesome book for tween girls tackles these questions (and then some!) in a pitch-perfect manner.

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WOW. I’m not typically a fan of sci-fi or dystopian fiction, but this Newbery award winner blew my mind! Steeped in Mexican folklore, this is the story of Petra Pena, a young girl with dreams of becoming a great storyteller like her grandmother. There’s just one problem: Earth has been destroyed by a comet. Several hundred people have been selected to journey and create life on a new planet, and they are tasked to carry on the human race as well. No problem, right? Wrong. When Petra wakes after 300 years to discover she is the only one who remembers planet Earth, the hope of our future rests on her shoulders. Can a child prevent the sinister Collective from taking over? Can she alone carry the stories of our past? Astonishing, unique, and a stunning ode to storytelling and the power of words. This is one of our favorite books for tween girls! For more great survival books for kids, click here!

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Sign me up for any and all ballet books! And when that ballet book is told through the eyes of a young Black girl who offers a little seen perspective of the competitive world of dancers, I’m pretty sure to be hooked. Turning Point is told in dual perspectives. Mo, a ballerina, is off to a prestigious ballet intensive with mostly White dancers, and she tries hard not to make waves. Is she imagining the racial barriers, or do they really exist? Mo’s best friend Sheeda is stuck back home with her uber-religious and very strict aunt, but what happens when Mo’s older brother starts to pay Sheeda an awful lot of attention? From friends to family to finding your voice when in unfamiliar territory, there is so much to love about this important and complex novel!

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I cannot keep this on the shelf at school as it’s a favorite among my students. This is the story of Lucy Callahan, a girl whose life was forever changed when she was struck by lightning and suddenly had genius-level math skills. At only twelve years old, she’s technically ready for college. But after being homeschooled since the accident, her grandmother insists she completes one year of middle school, makes a friend, and participates in one activity. Lucy’s not sure what she can possibly learn in middle school considering she has everything she needs at home. But maybe Lucy’s made some big miscalculations and school is exactly what she needs most.

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Whether in fifth grade or sixth grade, in your fifties or in your sixties, this is one of the single most important books for all readers (my mom was obsessed!). When Ellie was only five years old, she wore a whale swimsuit to a party and made a big splash in the pool. Ever since then, she has been bullied and fat-shamed about her weight. Ellie lives by a set of “Fat-Girl Rules” every day, and she only feels free in the pool. There, she’s weightless, free from the bullies at school. Yet her classmates aren’t the only ones that make Ellie feel bad about her weight. Her mom is on her case too, believing that if she criticizes Ellie enough, Ellie will be motivated to diet. Is this the “support” Ellie needs? With the help of her dad and a wonderful therapist, Ellie learns how to be her very best self — no matter her size.

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