Books by genre
Top 12 science fiction books for ages 9 to 12
Kid science fiction asks what if: what if the sun went out, if a robot learned to live, if a school bus fell into another world? These books are short enough for a third or fourth grader and sensible enough for an adult to read along. The last few may suit 12.
Titles were chosen from award winners, ALSC notable lists and long-running library favorites, then each title and author was checked against Open Library in Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'Engle · Ages 9-13
Meg, her brother and a friend travel across space to rescue her father. Newbery winner and a lasting classic.
Watch for: Some readers find the middle abstract.
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The City of Ember
Jeanne DuPrau · Ages 9-12
In an underground city that is running out of light, two children find the way out. The first of four books.
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The Wild Robot
Peter Brown · Ages 7-11
A robot learns to care for wild animals on an island. Short chapters and illustrations.
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When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead · Ages 10-13
Miranda in 1979 New York receives notes that seem to predict the future. Newbery winner.
Watch for: A death and a subtle puzzle.
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Space Case
Stuart Gibbs · Ages 9-12
Dashiell lives on the first colony on the moon and investigates a murder. Funny, with real science.
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The Giver
Lois Lowry · Ages 11-14
Jonas is picked to carry the memories of a seemingly perfect community. Newbery winner.
Watch for: Euthanasia (mild) and infanticide appear in the plot.
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Among the Hidden
Margaret Peterson Haddix · Ages 9-13
Luke is a third child in a country where only two are allowed. First of the Shadow Children series.
Watch for: Mild tension and a death.
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George's Secret Key to the Universe
Lucy Hawking and Stephen Hawking · Ages 8-12
George and his neighbor travel through space on a supercomputer. Explains physics inside the story.
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Cosmic
Frank Cottrell Boyce · Ages 9-12
A boy who looks like an adult joins a space flight as a dad. Funny and tender.
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The Fourteenth Goldfish
Jennifer L. Holm · Ages 8-12
Ellie's grandfather has turned himself into a teenager with a jellyfish cell. A science story with a light touch.
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Knights of the Kitchen Table
Jon Scieszka · Ages 7-10
Time Warp Trio book 1: three boys travel to medieval England with a magic book. Short, funny and good for reluctant readers.
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Eager
Helen Fox · Ages 9-12
A household robot named Eager learns to think while the family struggles with robot prejudice.
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More lists
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Top 11 fairy tale collections and retellings for kids
Fairy tales come in two kinds here: the old collections, and newer novels that retell or play with them.