Treasury · Merit

NY Public Library

The New York Public Library's staff picks for children — a large library system's answer to what a child should read next.

99 books in the catalog stand on this list. The list itself (opens the list's own website) ↗

A reader aged

16 of these books cover age 13. The 4 that name no age at all are left off rather than guessed at — choose any age to bring them back.

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, 1962 · ages 9–13 · Lexile 740L · AR 4.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Halsted - Best Friends, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award
  Remember
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, 1977 · ages 9–13 · Lexile 810L · AR 4.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Halsted - Best Friends, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award
  Remember
• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, 2008 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 780L · AR 5.2 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  Remember
• D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire, 1962 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 1070L · AR 6.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet, Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids
  Remember
• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, 2000 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 750L · AR 5.3 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on The Good & The Beautiful
  Remember
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, 1989 · ages 8–17 · Lexile 1020L · AR 5.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Mensa Kids
  Remember
• Holes by Louis Sachar, 1998 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 660L · AR 4.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Newbery Award
  Remember
• Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, 2003 · ages 9–13 · AR 4.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  Remember
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, 1976 · ages 11–14 · Lexile 920L · AR 5.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award
  Remember
• The Giver by Lois Lowry, 1993 · ages 13–17 · Lexile 760L · AR 5.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award
  Remember
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, 2008 · ages 12–15 · Lexile 820L · AR 5.1 · AR Interest: MG+ (6–8)
  also on Newbery Award
  Remember
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937 · ages 12–17 · Lexile 1000L · AR 6.6 · AR Interest: UG (9–12)
  also on Mensa Kids, TJEd Youth Recommended
  Remember
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, 1950 · ages 8–13 · Lexile 940L · AR 5.7
  also on Davidson Gifted, Deep Roots Grade, Mensa Kids, The Good & The Beautiful, Time Magazine 1923-2005, TJEd Youth Recommended
  Remember
• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943 · ages 10–13 · Lexile 710L · AR 5.0 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet, Mensa Kids
  Remember
• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, 1961 · ages 10–13 · Lexile 1000L · AR 6.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Halsted - Best Friends, TJEd Youth Recommended
  Remember
• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, 1978 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 750L · AR 5.3 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Newbery Award
  Remember