Bestselling Action & Adventure Books for 12 Year Olds

Here are the top 30 bestselling action & adventure books for 12 year olds. Please click Read Review to read book reviews on Amazon. You can also click Find in Library to check book availability at your local library. If the default library is not correct, please follow Change Library to reset it.

1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

by: J.K. Rowling
Release date: Nov 18, 2016
Number of Pages: 304
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J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting debut is captured in this exciting hardcover edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenplay.

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt’s fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best.

Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader’s bookshelf.

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Reptiles & Amphibians

2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter, Book 2)

by: J.K. RowlingJim Kay
Release date: Oct 04, 2016
Number of Pages: 272
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The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls’ bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone — or something — starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects… Harry Potter himself?

 

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Friendship

3. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2 The Hammer of Thor

by: Rick Riordan
Release date: Oct 04, 2016
Number of Pages: 480
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Thor’s hammer is missing again. The thunder god has a disturbing habit of misplacing his weapon–the mightiest force in the Nine Worlds. But this time the hammer isn’t just lost, it has fallen into enemy hands. If Magnus Chase and his friends can’t retrieve the hammer quickly, the mortal worlds will be defenseless against an onslaught of giants. Ragnarok will begin. The Nine Worlds will burn. Unfortunately, the only person who can broker a deal for the hammer’s return is the gods’ worst enemy, Loki–and the price he wants is very high.
tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5 Book Paperback Boxed Set (new covers w/poster) (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)

by: Rick RiordanJohn Rocco
Release date: Jun 03, 2014
Number of Pages: 1840
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All five books in the blockbuster Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, in paperback, have been collected in a boxed set fit for demigods. Now with glorious new cover art and packaged with a special poster, this value-priced set includes the best-selling The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan’s Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian. Whether it is for readers who are experiencing Percy’s thrilling adventures with Greek gods and monsters for the first time, or for fans who want to devour the saga again, this gift will be prized by young and old.
tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

5. DanTDM: Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal

by: DanTDMDoreen Mulryan
Release date: Oct 25, 2016
Number of Pages: 192
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#1 Bestseller!

From the mind of one of the most popular YouTubers of all time, DanTDM, comes a graphic novel adventure that reimagines the Minecraft-style worlds and characters he’s created like you’ve never seen them before.

After a day of experiments, Trayaurus and DanTDM are about to call it a night when a strange-looking crystal plummets to earth, breaking into five pieces that scatter far and wide. DanTDM and Trayaurus recover one of the shards and quickly realize they are in possession of an object more powerful than anything they’ve ever known.

Word reaches DanTDM and Trayaurus that other pieces of crystal have been recovered—a group of pigs have harnessed the crystals’ power to enable them to talk. But they’re not alone—Dan and Trayaurus’s archenemy, Denton, has also found a shard and manipulated its power for evil. He has created a cloning machine and is producing a terrifying marauding army intent on hunting down the remaining crystals in his effort to become all-powerful.

It’s down to DanTDM and Trayaurus to stop him. Will they prevail, or will the forces of evil be too great for them to overcome?

Fans of the Elementia Chronicles and the Gameknight999 series will be drawn to DanTDM’s tale about an epic power struggle in a high-stakes world.

tags:

Children’s Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy & Magic

6. Gravity Falls: Journal 3

by: Alex HirschRob RenzettiAndy GonsalvesStephanie Ramirez
Release date: Jul 26, 2016
Number of Pages: 288
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Journal 3 brims with every page ever seen on the show plus all-new pages with monsters and secrets, notes from Dipper and Mabel, and

the Author’s full story. Fans of

Gravity Falls will simply love this 288-page full-color jacketed hardcover version of Journal 3! Plus the book

jacket doubles as an exclusive poster!

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

7. The Fever Code (Maze Runner, Book Five; Prequel) (The Maze Runner Series)

by: James Dashner
Release date: Sep 27, 2016
Number of Pages: 384
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All your questions are answered in the fifth book in James Dashner’s #1 New York Times  bestselling Maze Runner series. The story that fans all over the world have been waiting for — the story of how Thomas and WICKED built the Maze  is finally here. You do not want to miss it.

    Once there was a world’s end.
    The forests burned, the lakes and rivers dried up, and the oceans swelled.
    Then came a plague, and fever spread across the globe. Families died, violence reigned, and man killed man.
    Next came WICKED, who were looking for an answer. And then they found the perfect boy.
    The boy’s name was Thomas, and Thomas built a maze.
    Now there are secrets.
    There are lies.
    And there are loyalties history could never have foreseen.
    This is the story of that boy, Thomas, and how he built a maze that only he could tear down.
    All will be revealed.
 
    A prequel to the worldwide Maze Runner phenomenon, The Fever Code is the book that holds all the answers. How did WICKED find the Gladers? Who are Group B? And what side are Thomas and Teresa really on? Lies will be exposed. Secrets will be uncovered. Loyalties will be proven. Fans will never see the truth coming. Before there was the Maze, there was The Fever Code.
    Don’t miss The Maze Runner and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, now major motion pictures from Twentieth Century Fox, starring Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, Giancarlo Esposito, and Aidan Gillen. And look for James Dashner’s new bestselling series the Mortality Doctrine: The Eye of Minds, The Rule of Thoughts, and The Game of Lives.

Praise for the Maze Runner series:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
A USA Today Bestseller
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick

 
“[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost.“—EW.com

“Wonderful action writing—fast-paced…but smart and well observed.”—Newsday
 
“[A] nail-biting must-read.”—Seventeen.com
 
“Breathless, cinematic action.”—Publishers Weekly
 
Heart pounding to the very last moment.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
Exclamation-worthy.”—Romantic Times
 
Take a deep breath before you start any James Dashner book.”—Deseret News

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Boys & Men

8. The Trials of Apollo, Book 1: The Hidden Oracle

by: Rick Riordan
Release date: May 03, 2016
Number of Pages: 384
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How do you punish an immortal?

By making him human.

After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disoriented, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus’s favor.

But Apollo has many enemies-gods, monsters, and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go . . . an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

9. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1: The Sword of Summer

by: Rick Riordan
Release date: Oct 06, 2015
Number of Pages: 512
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Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by an uncle he barely knows-a man his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

10. The Boxcar Children Books 1-4

by: Gertrude Chandler Warner
Release date: Sep 01, 1990
Number of Pages: 160
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The paperback editions of The Boxcar Children Mysteries: #1, The Boxcar Children; #2, Surprise Island; #3, The Yellow House Mystery; and #4, Mystery Ranch are offered together in a cardboard case.

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Orphans & Foster Homes

11. Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Silver Eyes

by: Scott CawthonKira Breed-Wrisley
Release date: Sep 27, 2016
Number of Pages: 400
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Ten years after the horrific murders at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza that ripped their town apart, Charlie, whose father owned the restaurant, and her childhood friends reunite on the anniversary of the tragedy and find themselves at the old pizza place which had been locked up and abandoned for years. After they discover a way inside, they realize that things are not as they used to be. The four adult-sized animatronic mascots that once entertained patrons have changed. They now have a dark secret . . . and a murderous agenda.
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Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

12. Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans

by: Rush Limbaugh
Release date: Oct 29, 2013
Number of Pages: 224
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America’s #1 radio talk-show host and multi-million-copy #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a book for young readers with a history teacher who travels back in time to have adventures with exceptional Americans.

MEET RUSH LIMBAUGH’S REALLY GOOD PAL, RUSH REVERE!

Okay, okay, my name’s really Rusty—but my friends call me Rush. Rush Revere. Because I’ve always been the #1 fan of the coolest colonial dude ever, Paul Revere. Talk about a rock star—this guy wanted to protect young America so badly, he rode through those bumpy, cobblestone-y streets shouting “the British are coming!” On a horse. Top of his lungs. Wind blowing, rain streaming…

Well, you get the picture. But what if you could get the real picture—by actually going back in time and seeing with your own eyes how our great country came to be? Meeting the people who made it all happen—people like you and me?

Hold on to your pointy triangle hats, because you can—with me, Rush Revere, seemingly ordinary substitute history teacher, as your tour guide across time! “How?” you ask? Well, there’s this portal. And a horse. My talking horse named Liberty. And—well, just trust me, I’ll get us there.

We’ll begin by joining a shipload of brave families journeying on the Mayflower in 1620. Yawn? I don’t think so. 1620 was a pretty awesome time, and you’ll experience exactly what they did on that rough, dangerous ocean crossing. Together, we’ll ask the pilgrims all our questions, find out how they live, join them at the first Thanksgiving, and much more.

So saddle up and let’s ride! Our exceptional nation is waiting to be discovered all over again by exceptional young patriots—like you!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Horses

13. Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner

by: Rush LimbaughKathryn Adams Limbaugh
Release date: Oct 27, 2015
Number of Pages: 240
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IT’S THE DAWN OF AN IMPORTANT NEW DAY IN AMERICA. YOUNG READERS, GRAB THE REINS AND JOIN RUSH REVERE, LIBERTY THE HORSE, AND THE WHOLE TIME-TRAVELING CREW IN THIS PATRIOTIC HISTORICAL ADVENTURE THAT TAKES YOU ON AN EXCITING TRIP TO THE PAST TO SEE OUR REMARKABLE NATION’S MOST ICONIC SYMBOLS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!

“Rush Revere here, along with my chatty horse, Liberty! Wait a minute . . . Liberty? Where did he go?”

“Reporting for duty, Captain Revere!”

“Liberty, where did you get that spinach smoothie?”

*Slurp*

Well, he certainly didn’t get it from 1787—that’s where we’re rush, rush, rushing off to next with our enthusiastic young friends in the Time-Traveling Crew (but not before causing a major security incident at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.!) A funny case of mistaken identity and a wild chase through the busy streets of Philadelphia will lead us to the famously introverted Father of our Constitution, James Madison, and the heated secret debates over the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Fast-forward a few years, and we’ll help his brave wife, Dolley, risk her life to save an important portrait from the White House as the British set Washington afire!

What greater symbol of our exceptional nation’s hard-won freedoms than the Star-Spangled Banner, sewn by American icon Betsy Ross? Perhaps Francis Scott Key can explain what inspired him to pay tribute to our glorious flag by writing our beautiful national anthem. But watch out for the bombs bursting in air, because when we reach 1814, we’ll be front and center at a major battle to defend our liberty.

Jump back in the saddle with me, Rush Revere, and the Time-Traveling Crew, as my trusty horse, Liberty, takes us on another flying leap through American history into a past teeming with heroes and extraordinary citizens who have so much to teach us about patriotism. All you need to bring is your curiosity about the birth of our democracy—I’ve got plenty of tricornered hats for everyone!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Horses

14. The Maze Runner Series (Maze Runner)

by: James Dashner
Release date: Jul 08, 2014
Number of Pages: 1390
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The perfect gift for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent, this boxed set includes the paperback editions of James Dashner’s #1 New York Times bestselling series–The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure and The Kill Order. The first and second books, The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials, are now major motion pictures featuring the star of MTV’s Teen Wolf, Dylan O’Brien; Kaya Scodelario; Aml Ameen; Will Poulter; and Thomas Brodie-Sangster! Also look for James Dashner’s newest novels, The Eye of Minds and The Rule of Thoughts, the first two books in the Mortality Doctrine series.
 
If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.
 
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
 
Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.
 
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
 
Everything is going to change.
 
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
 
Remember. Survive. Run.
 
Praise for the Maze Runner series:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
A USA Today Bestseller
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick
 
“[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost.“—EW.com
 
“Wonderful action writing—fast-paced…but smart and well observed.”Newsday
 
“[A] nail-biting must-read.”Seventeen.com
 
“Breathless, cinematic action.”—Publishers Weekly
 
Heart pounding to the very last moment.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
Exclamation-worthy.”—Romantic Times
 
[STAR] “James Dashner’s illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred

Take a deep breath before you start any James Dashner book.”-Deseret News

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

15. Diary of a Minecraft Zombie Book 1: A Scare of A Dare (Volume 1)

by: Zack Zombie
Release date: Mar 26, 2015
Number of Pages: 90
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Ever wonder what it would be like to be a Minecraft Zombie?

In the first book of this hilarious Minecraft adventure series, we get to read the diary of an actual 12 year old Minecraft Zombie. Take a peek at what is really going on between the hollow eyes, and dead expression that we normally see when we face the dreaded Zombies of Minecraft.

Are Zombies really different from us? You’ll be surprised at what you discover. So, jump into this Minecraft adventure and find out!.

Diary of a Minecraft Zombie is a must-read for any kid who loves Minecraft. Kids ages 7+ can’t wait to jump into to these Minecraft adventures!

Get Your Copy Today!

tags:

Children’s Books > Activities, Crafts & Games > Games > Video & Electronic

16. Warriors Box Set: Volumes 1 to 6: The Complete First Series (Warriors: The Prophecies Begin)

by: Erin Hunter
Release date: Mar 17, 2015
Number of Pages: 2112
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Join the legion of fans who have made Erin Hunter’s Warriors series a #1 national bestseller! This box set—featuring striking new art—includes all six books in the first Warriors series and is perfect for the collections of longtime Erin Hunter fans and readers new to the Warriors world.

For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their warrior ancestors. But now ThunderClan is in grave danger. Rival ShadowClan is growing stronger, a traitor may be hiding in their midst, and rising tensions threaten every cat in the forest.

In the dark days ahead, ThunderClan’s fate will rest in the paws of an unexpected hero: an ordinary house cat named Rusty…who may yet turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Cats

17. Rush Revere and the American Revolution: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans

by: Rush LimbaughKathryn Adams Limbaugh
Release date: Oct 28, 2014
Number of Pages: 256
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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN—AND RUSH REVERE, LIBERTY THE HORSE, AND THE TIME-TRAVELING CREW ARE READY TO RIDE INTO THE ACTION!

Join us on this incredible time-travel adventure!

Liberty, my wisecracking horse, our old friends Cam, Tommy, Freedom, and I are off to meet some super-brave soldiers in the year 1775. Yep, that’s right. We’ll be visiting with the underdog heroes who fought for American independence, against all odds—and won! But not before eight very real years of danger and uncertainty. Be a part of Rush Revere’s crew as we rush, rush, rush into a time when British rule had become a royal pain, and rebellion was in the air. We’ll be on hand to see two lanterns hung in the Old North Church, prevent a British spy from capturing Paul Revere, and grapple with danger at the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill.

The extra special part of this trip is that right here in the twenty-first century, Cam’s dad is a soldier fighting in Afghanistan, and Cam has been pretty angry that he is away. Visiting with exceptional American heroes like Dr. Joseph Warren and George Washington, racing along after Paul Revere on his midnight ride, and seeing the Declaration of Independence signed make Cam see his own dad in a new and special way.

But don’t worry. Along with the danger, excitement, and patriotism, there will still be time to stop for a delicious spinach, oats, and alfalfa smoothie. No, wait—that one’s for Liberty. The kids and I voted for strawberries.

Now let’s open the magic portal to the past!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Horses

18. Goosebumps Retro Scream Collection: Limited Edition Tin

by: R. L. Stine
Release date: Oct 27, 2015
Number of Pages: 480
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Reader beware–it’s the original scare!

Five of the all-time bestselling Goosebumps books including Welcome to Dead House, Say Cheese And Die!, Night of the Living Dummy, The Haunted Mask, and One Day at HorrorLand.  Each with their original cover in an exclusive retro collector’s tin!

Goosebumps is now a major motion picture starring Jack Black as R.L. Stine!

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

19. Pokémon Adventures (7 Volume Set)

by: Hidenori KusakaMato
Release date: Aug 07, 2012
Number of Pages: 1504
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Capture the excitement of Pokemon Adventures!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for all ages.

All your favorite Pokémon game characters jump out of the screen into the pages of this action-packed manga!

Contains Pokemon Adventures vols. 1-7 and a color poster!

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Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

20. Rush Revere and the First Patriots: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans

by: Rush Limbaugh
Release date: Mar 11, 2014
Number of Pages: 256
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America’s #1 radio talk-show host and multi-million-copy #1 New York Times bestselling author presents the second book in a series for young readers with a history teacher who travels back in time to have adventures with exceptional Americans.

Rush Revere rides again! Saddle up with Rush Limbaugh’s really good pal for a new time-travel adventure.

“Whoa there, young historians! Before we go rush, rush, rushing off anywhere, I’d like a moment. I’m Liberty, Rush Revere’s loquacious equine companion—his trusty talking horse! Always at the ready to leap from the twenty-first century into America’s past, that’s me. When he says ‘Let’s go!’ I’m so there. I’m jazzed, I’m psyched, I’m—”

“Ah, excuse me, Liberty?”

“Yeah, Rush?”

“Usually you say ‘oh no, not again!’ and ‘while we’re in colonial Boston, can I try the baked beans?’”

“Okay, fine—you do the talking. I’ll just be over here, if you need me.…”

Well, he’s sulking now, but I couldn’t be your tour guide across time without Liberty! His name says it all: the freedom we celebrate every July Fourth with fireworks and hot dogs (and maybe some of those baked beans). But how did America get free? How did thirteen newborn colonies tell the British king where he could stick his unfair taxes?

Jump into the bustling streets of Boston in 1765, where talk of revolution is growing louder. I said LOUDER. You’ll have to SHOUT to be heard over the angry cries of “Down with the king!” and “Repeal the Stamp Act!” that fill the air. You’ll meet fierce supporters of liberty like Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and my idol, Paul Revere, as they fearlessly defy British rule. It’s an exciting, dangerous, turbulent, thrilling time to be an American…and exceptional young patriots like you won’t want to miss a minute. Let’s ride!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Horses

21. Hatchet

by: Gary Paulsen
Release date: Dec 26, 2006
Number of Pages: 192
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This award-winning contemporary classic is the survival story with which all others are compared—and a page-turning, heart-stopping adventure, recipient of the Newbery Honor.

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered Windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present—and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parent’s divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self pity, or despair—it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive.

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Reference

22. Serafina and the Twisted Staff (Serafina Book 2)

by: Robert Beatty
Release date: Jul 12, 2016
Number of Pages: 384
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The brave and unusual Serafina lives in the magnificent Biltmore Estate in the opulence of the Gilded Age and the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But she’s caught between two worlds: she’s too wild for Biltmore’s beautifully dressed ladies and formal customs, and too human to fully join her forest kin. 
Filled with history, mystery, and magic for both adults and young readers (8+), this Disney-Hyperion thriller debuted as a #1 New York Times Best Seller, earned the prestigious “Starred Review” from Kirkus Reviews, and is now being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide. Be sure to watch the exciting book trailer in the media section below.

Late one night while prowling through the forest, Serafina encounters a strange and terrifying figure, and then she’s attacked by the vicious wolfhounds under his control. Even worse, she’s convinced that the stranger is not alone, that he has sent his accomplice into Biltmore in disguise.

A mysterious series of attacks test Serafina’s role as Biltmore’s protector, culminating in a tragedy that tears Serafina’s best friend, Braeden Vanderbilt, from her side. Heartbroken, she flees.

Deep in the forest, she comes face-to-face with the evil infecting Biltmore–and discovers its reach is far greater than she’d ever imagined. All the humans and animals of the Blue Ridge Mountains are in terrible danger. For Serafina to defeat this new evil before it engulfs her beloved home, she must search deep inside herself and embrace the destiny that has always awaited her.

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Children’s Books > Animals

23. Michael Vey 6: Fall of Hades

by: Richard Paul Evans
Release date: Sep 13, 2016
Number of Pages: 352
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Michael and his friends try to recruit Hatch’s Electric Youth to their side as the thrilling action continues in this electrifying sixth installment of the New York Times bestselling series!
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Boys & Men

24. Warriors: The New Prophecy Box Set: Volumes 1 to 6: The Complete Second Series

by: Erin Hunter
Release date: Mar 17, 2015
Number of Pages: 2176
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Erin Hunter’s #1 nationally bestselling Warriors series continues in Warriors: The New Prophecy! This box set—featuring striking new art—includes all six books in the second Warriors series and is perfect for the collections of longtime Erin Hunter fans and readers new to the Warriors world.

The wild cat Clans have lived in peace and harmony for many moons, but now strange messages from their warrior ancestors speak of a terrifying new prophecy and a mysterious danger.

Six cats, including young Brambleclaw of ThunderClan, must embark on an unprecedented journey, with the fate of the entire forest in their paws. The strength and courage of the greatest warriors will be put to the test as the prophecy unfolds—and the quest to save the Clans begins.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Cats

25. Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel (The Descendants)

by: Melissa de la Cruz
Release date: May 24, 2016
Number of Pages: 320
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The sequel to the #1 New York Times best seller The Isle of the Lost
Mal’s an expert at intimidating her enemies, but she’s broken the habit since leaving her villainous roots behind. So when she and her friends Evie, Carlos, and Jay all receive threatening messages demanding they return home, Mal can’t believe it. Sure, she’s King Ben’s girlfriend now, and she’s usually nice to her classmates, but she still didn’t think anyone would be silly enough to try to push her around.

The thing is, it kind of worked. Especially since she and her friends have a sneaking suspicion that their villainous parents are behind the messages. And when Evie looks into her Magic Mirror, what she sees only confirms their fears. Maleficent’s just a tiny lizard after her run-in with Mal at Ben’s Coronation, but she’s the worst villain in the land for a reason. Could she have found a way to escape? Whatever’s going on, Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay know they have to sneak back to the Isle and get to the bottom of it.

Without its infamous leader, the island’s even worse than when they left it, but the comforts of home-even a home as gloomy as the Isle of the Lost-can be hard to resist for recently reformed villains. Will the kids be able to beat the evil bubbling at the Isle’s wicked core, or will the plot to destroy Auradon succeed?

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

26. The Kane Chronicles: The Complete Series

by: Rick RiordanJohn Rocco
Release date: Oct 01, 2013
Number of Pages: 1472
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A collection fit for the (Egyptian) gods! All three paperback books in the blockbuster Kane Chronicles trilogy-The Red Pyramid, The Throne of Fire, and The Serpent’s Shadow-are together at last in a beautiful package. This boxed set is sure to be treasured by readers of all ages, whether they’re experiencing Sadie and Carter’s amazing adventures for the first time or are faithful fans eager to devour the saga all over again.

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

27. The Secret Keepers

by: Trenton Lee StewartDiana Sudyka
Release date: Sep 27, 2016
Number of Pages: 512
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A New York Times Bestseller!

This heart-pounding mystery adventure, by the author of the New York Times bestselling series The Mysterious Benedict Society, is laced with magic and humor

A magical watch

A string of secrets
A race against time

When Reuben discovers an extraordinary antique watch, he soon learns it has a secret power and his life takes an intriguing turn. At first he is thrilled with his new treasure, but as one secret leads to another, Reuben finds himself torn between his innately honest nature and the lure to be a hero.
Now he is on a dangerous adventure–full of curious characters, treacherous traps, and hairsbreadth escapes–as he races to solve the mystery before it is too late. Even with fearless Penny, mighty Jack, and the wise Mrs. Genevieve on his side, can Reuben outwit and outmaneuver the sly villain called The Smoke and his devious defenders the Directions and save the city from a terrible fate?
In this ingeniously crafted novel, acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Trenton Lee Stewart invites readers to join the adventure, decipher the clues, and ask themselves the question: Is knowing a secret a gift or a curse?
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Multigenerational

28. Warriors: Power of Three Box Set: Volumes 1 to 6

by: Erin Hunter
Release date: Jun 30, 2015
Number of Pages: 2256
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Erin Hunter’s #1 nationally bestselling Warriors series continues in Warriors: Power of Three! This box set—featuring striking new art—includes all six books in the third Warriors series, and is perfect for the collections of longtime Erin Hunter fans and readers new to the Warriors world.

The time has come for three young cats of ThunderClan—Hollypaw, Jawpaw, and Lionpaw—to become apprentices. Grandchildren of the great leader Firestar, they possess unusual power and talent. But secrets and uncertainty surround them, and a mysterious prophecy promises trouble to come. The fate of the warrior code rests in the paws of these three apprentices—and all of their strength will be needed for the Clans to survive.

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Cats

29. A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story

by: Linda Sue Park
Release date: Oct 04, 2011
Number of Pages: 128
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The New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.

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Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Orphans & Foster Homes

30. Serafina and the Black Cloak

by: Robert Beatty
Release date: Jun 14, 2016
Number of Pages: 320
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A brave and unusual girl lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate amidst the splendor of the Gilded Age and the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Serafina’s pa, the estate’s maintenance man, has warned her to keep herself hidden from the fancy folk who live on the floors above, but when Serafina sees a terrible crime, she and her friend Braeden Vanderbilt must work together to solve a dark and dangerous mystery. This page-turning thriller from Disney-Hyperion is a #1 New York Times Bestseller, has been on the bestsellers list for more than 40 weeks, and is already being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide. It also won the prestigious 2016 Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize for “representing the best in Southern literature.” A blend of history, mystery, and magic, this new series has become a favorite for both adults and young readers (8+). Be sure to watch the book trailer in the media section below.
 
“Never go into the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There’s plenty to explore in Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt’s vast and opulent home, but she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa have lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember. She has learned to prowl through the darkened corridors at night, to sneak and hide, using the mansion’s hidden doors and secret passageways.
But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows the clues to follow. A terrifying man in a black cloak stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear, where she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must not only face her darkest enemy, but delve into the strange mystery of her own identity.

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

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Last updated: Monday, December 5, 2016 8:59 AM