10 Summer Reading Books Your Tween Will Actually Like

This young adult novel is for all the fashionistas out there. It was written by a mother and daughter duo and deals with themes of belonging, fitting in, and staying true to who you are. The plot centers around MacKenzie "Mickey" Williams who is a student at the Fashion Academy of Brooklyn. She invents a new personality "Kenzie Wills" to fit in, but soon misses being her authentic self. This is the first novel in the series so if your tween loves it, they can keep going.

Omar Mohamed told author Victoria Jamieson about his life growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya. The pair then wrote a graphic novel about it. Omar takes care of his nonverbal brother, Hassan, in the harsh conditions of the camp. When he gets the chance to go to school, he has to make some hard decisions. This book was a National Book Award Finalist.

This new spin on the Cinderella fairy tale won the Newbery Honor Award. Ella is cursed with obedience. She has to do whatever her wicked stepmother and stepsisters tell her, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t rebel in her own way. She is determined to one day break the curse, even if that means breaking the heart of a charming prince. She just has to find the fairy who gave her the “gift” of obedience in the first place.

This National Book Award Finalist is about running. It is not all track and field either. You can also run away from your past. The plot of the story centers around four strong-willed kids who make an elite track team at their middle school, which could lead them to the Junior Olympics if they don't get in their own way. These kids will learn you can't outrun everything just because it makes you feel uncomfortable. Sometimes you have to face it head on.

This is a classic book that deals with themes of growing up, fitting in, and discovering who you are. Almost 12-year-old Margaret Simon moves from New York to New Jersey and quickly befriends Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. They create a secret club to navigate periods, bras, crushes, and more. Margaret also explores religion because her parents have raised her agnostic — her father is Jewish and her mother is Christian. Margaret talks to God and readers in a hopeful and honest way as she copes with all life's ups and downs as a tween.

This Newbery Honor Award Winner is a darker pick, so make sure to do your research to see if it is appropriate for your child. In the town of Waymer, 10-year-olds participate in the annual Pigeon Day by wringing the necks of the wounded birds. Pigeons are released to be shot as a fundraiser for the local playground. Palmer, age 9, is dreading his upcoming birthday because he doesn't want to kill the birds. This feeling intensifies when he rescues a pigeon named Nipper. Read this book to see what Palmer decides.

This one is for the tweens who love spooky things. This book has been compared to Stranger Things. Jake Baker and his friends create the Saturday Night Ghost Club to investigate all the paranormal activities of Niagara Falls under the guidance of his Uncle Calvin. They end up discovering so much more than ghosts.

This Hugo and Nebula Award winning book was first published in 1985. It is a great choice for fans of science fiction and has many sequels. In order to defend itself from an invading alien species called the Formics, humans begin to breed children to use as soldiers. Andrew "Ender" Wiggin and his two siblings are among them. Ender goes on to train in Battle School and makes shocking discoveries about the real nature of the war.

This classic novel was first published in 1868, making it the oldest book on this list. It deals with themes of family, grief, gender roles, poverty, and marriage. The story is told through the perspective of tomboy Jo March as she grows up in her tight-knit family with sisters Amy, Meg, and Beth during the Civil War. The boy next door, Laurie, and his tutor, John, also join in on the adventures. Jo is going to write something big, epic, and great someday. She just knows it.

This Newbery Medal winner is based on the true story of Juana Maria. Around 1830, the Nicoleño tribe relocated from San Nicolas Island, off the coast of California, to the mainland. Juana Maria was left behind. In Island of the Blue Dolphins author Scott O'Dell wonders what that would be like and how she survived.