{"id":48837,"date":"2024-02-16T12:00:27","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T16:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readingmiddlegrade.com\/?p=48837"},"modified":"2024-02-16T12:00:33","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T16:00:33","slug":"books-for-13-year-olds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readingmiddlegrade.com\/books-for-13-year-olds\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Books for 13 Year Olds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Age 13 is such a precious spot — new to teenhood but still kinda, sorta a tween. These books for 13 year olds will help your kids keep their love of reading alive. For these picks, I focused on stories centering older protagonists with more mature themes like romance, sexual harassment, and neglectful parents. This makes for a delightful mix of middle grade books and young adult titles. Still, you’ll find extra funny stories, relatable graphic novels, and heart-racing adventure stories. No matter what kinds of books your 13-year-old enjoys, there’s a story for them on this list!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Join our Patreon community<\/a> to get the printable version of this li<\/b>st<\/strong>! You’ll also get access to other kid lit resources, like our seasonal guides and educator interviews, to inspire you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Best Books for 13 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of my favorite books for 13 year olds:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Funny Books for 13 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These funny books for 13-year-olds include a story about an eating contest, a boy helping out at his family restaurant, and a girl who hurtles into the future after using a TikTok filter (a la 13 Going on 30<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Slider<\/h2><\/div>
By Pete Hautman<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 12, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

14-year-old David is a quintessential middle child. His sister Bridgette is in college and the family\u2019s academic success story. Mal, his younger brother is on the autism spectrum, although his family prefers not to use the autism label. Mal is almost non-verbal and only says the word \u201cokay.\u201d David has always has a large appetite and an interest in competitive eating, but after he accidentally leaves a $2000 bill on his mother\u2019s credit card, he\u2019s forced to join a pizza eating contest to win the grand prize of $5000. In between finding his place in the family and trying not to ruin his internal organs by overeating, David also has to navigate the fact that his two oldest friends Cyn and HeyMan might be dating each other. Where does that leave him? As the third musketeer still, or an unwanted third wheel? Slider<\/em> is an engaging, funny, true-to-life story about competitive eating, navigating friendship dilemmas<\/a>, understanding an autistic sibling<\/a>, and finding one\u2019s place in their family.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Million Views<\/h2><\/div>
By Aaron Starmer <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: October 4, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brewster Gaines is a loner obsessed with making videos, and his number one goal is to go viral on YouTube. For his latest video idea, he recruits a new kid in his class, Carly. But soon, Carly brings a friend, Rosa, and before Brewster knows it, he has a team of seven kids working on planning, filming, and editing his new project. At the same time, he starts to notice cracks in his family, even as he realizes that people and friendship matter more than lofty goals. This is a quirky, funny book about a niche interest: filmmaking. I much preferred it on audio, and I laughed out loud multiple times during this one. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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12 to 22: POV You Wake Up in the Future<\/h2><\/div>
By Jen Calonita<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: August 16, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On her 12th half birthday, her parents surprisingly gift her their approval to post on social networks. Thrilled, Harper starts posting TikTok videos like her idol, Blake Riley. When Harper tries a TikTok filter, that, combined with a wish to be 22, suddenly makes her 22! Unfortunately, her future is much different than she imagined. Her little sister is now a teen (aww!). She\u2019s now working for Blake Riley (yay), and so is popular girl Celia, who she\u2019s now friends with. But she and Ava have lost touch as have she and her childhood friend and crush. Is being 22 as great as she imagined? Or will she just want her old life back? And can she even get it back? Or is it too late? 12 to 22: POV You Wake Up in the Future<\/em>\u00a0is a charming, light,\u00a0feel-good story<\/a>\u00a0about\u00a0time travel<\/a>, social media, and treasuring friendships.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Great Romance Books for 13 Year Olds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who says tweens don’t like romance? If your middle schooler\/new high schooler is looking for some tame romances, the books in this section will deliver. Meet a girl who moves to a new neighborhood and finds a new crush, a boy who meets his first love on a school trip to Europe, and two best friends with very different first love stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pizza My Heart<\/h2><\/div>
By Rhiannon Richardson<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: January 4, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pizza My Heart<\/em> follows young Maya Reynolds whose parents are moving from Brooklyn, New York to a small town in Pennsylvania to expand their soul pizza business, Soul Slice. Having grown up in Brooklyn, Maya is devastated to have to leave her best friend and life behind for the move. In the new town, she gets off on the wrong foot with her first pizza delivery customer, who ends up being the son of her parents\u2019 new interior decorator. Add a love for art, a new art exhibition she wants to join but may be unable to, new friends, and a potential new crush \u2014 Maya\u2019s life quickly gets interesting. Pizza My Heart<\/em> is a cute, relatable middle grade book about moving to a new city<\/a>, nurturing a love for art<\/a>, being creative in the kitchen<\/a>, and finding new friends and community.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Keeping Pace<\/h2><\/div>
By Laurie Morrison<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: April 9, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This 5-star romance about two overachieving rivals is perfect for tweens and young teens. Grace feels like being smart is all she has. She doesn\u2019t seem to good at social situations and can\u2019t figure out fashion and styling like her friends. So she holds on to book smarts and finds worth in her grades \u2014 and in competing with her former best friend, Jonah. Their friendship exploded after his dad\u2019s sudden illness and death. Now, it\u2019s the end of 8th grade, and Jonah\u2019s won the coveted top scholar spot, leaving Grace with no raison d\u2019etre. She decides to compete in a half marathon that she finds out Jonah is training for, so she has one last chance to beat him, and she ends up learning a lot about what really matters in life. The romance is sweet and swoony, and Grace and Jonah\u2019s dialogue is so authentic and left me an adult with heart eyes while feeling age-appropriate.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai<\/h2><\/div>
By Debbi Michiko Florence<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: August 3, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai <\/em>is the companion title to fan favorite, Keep It Together, Keiko Carter. Jenna and Keiko have remained BFFs after their fall out with Audrey. But Jenna is having a hard time with several life issues. For one, she and her boyfriend have just broken up (but she\u2019s still stuck in the same school newspaper as he is) and now her parents are divorcing. Jenna is coping by keeping her feelings shut in and brooding a lot \u2014 until she begins to write an investigative piece for the school newspaper contest. She also starts hanging out at a cute Broadway-themed Diner where she meets a schoolmate Rin Watanabe with whom she argues a lot but begins a tentative friendship. Can Jenna find time for all the things in her life, while addressing her hurt feelings and opening up to those who love her? Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai <\/em>is a compulsively-readable middle grade release, perfect for fans of upper middle grade stories<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lunar New Year Love Story<\/h2><\/div>
By Gene Luen Yang (Author) LeUyen Pham (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: January 9, 2024<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The art in this book is phenomenal, and it is also a sweet YA romance featuring Val, a girl who feels like she\u2019s destined for constant heartbreak. I appreciated the plot, but it\u2019s on the longer side and has fantastical elements this author is well known for. Readers who love romance and a touch of fantasy will adore this one. No sexual content and zero language. It also tackles several important themes (parental abandonment, identity, alcoholism) sensitively.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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NerdCrush<\/h2><\/div>
By Alisha Emrich <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: February 7, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramona is a shy 16-year-old who loves cosplay. After she leaves a picture of her cosplay character with a poem in her crush\u2019s locker, the two start communicating via email. In class, though, she can\u2019t seem to work up the courage to talk to that same crush, Caleb. But when Caleb suddenly starts working at the same restaurant she does, the two form a friendship that forces Ramona to re-evaluate their internet relationship. NerdCrush<\/em> is a sweet young YA romance about finding the courage to be oneself, especially on the journey toward finding true love.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Something More<\/h2><\/div>
By Jackie Khalilieh <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: June 6, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessie is a fifteen-year-old Palestinian-Canadian who\u2019s getting into high school soon after an autism diagnosis. She feels \u201cabnormal,\u201d especially as she doesn\u2019t have a cellphone, but is determined to belong to a friend group and fall in love this school year. However, when she finds herself caught between two very different boys, she realizes that things don\u2019t always go to plan. Something More<\/em> by Jackie Khalilieh is an original, relatable, and funny young adult novel about autism, family, and coming-of-age. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mystery Books for 13 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A good who-dun-it is the quickest way to get your 13 year old hooked on a story. Try these mystery books for 13 year olds. Meet a girl who won’t take no for an answer as she investigates a classmate’s social downturn, four boys who find an underground hideout, and an average middle schooler who’s being tailed by a black car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Happened to Rachel Riley?<\/h2><\/div>
By Claire Swinarski<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: January 10, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Anna Hunt moves from Chicago to Wisconsin for her mother\u2019s new job, she soon realizes that something\u2019s off about her new eighth-grade class. One student, Rachel Riley, who was once popular is now treated as a social pariah. So when their English teacher assigns them an un-essay \u2014 which is an exploration of a topic in any other format besides an essay \u2014 Anna decides to investigate the question: What happened to Rachel Riley? Of course, the teacher rejects Anna\u2019s topic despite her lawyer mom\u2019s protests. But with some hesitant help from Rachel and some other schoolmates, Anna pieces together the mystery. What Happened to Rachel Riley?<\/em> is a stellar middle grade mystery about sexual harassment<\/a>, creativity, and standing up for something.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Fort<\/h2><\/div>
By Gordon Korman<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: June 28, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four eighth-grade buddies and a new tag-along (whom they\u2019re reluctant to include) discover a posh underground bunker in the wake of a hurricane in their small town. CJ, Evan, Jason, Mitchell, and Ricky quickly begin to hang out at the fort for different reasons. One of the boys is escaping an abusive step-parent, another is dodging his big brother and his bully of a friend, yet another loves to study there, while one just wants to stop hiding the hideout from his new girlfriend. When things get intense for the boys, their safe space becomes at risk of exposure \u2014 but maybe that\u2019s the only way they can stay safe? The Fort<\/em> is a realistic, suspense-filled, and heartwarming middle grade book about male friendships<\/a>, history, and domestic violence<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Liars Society<\/h2><\/div>
By Alyson Gerber<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: February 6, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weatherby is a new kid to the Boston School on a sailing scholarship: Old school phone booths, friends with kids who go to the country club, a famed school secret society\u2026 and a boy, Jack, who seems to hate her guts. When Jack, Weatherby, and three of their friends are contacted via an anonymous message, they think they\u2019re getting invited to the famed Liars Society, only to unravel a deep secret about the Hunt family that involves Weatherby. Plenty of of character setup and worldbuilding make for a slightly slower start, but Gerber\u2019s writing is engaging as always, and the second half of the book is wonderfully fast-paced. Middle schoolers looking for a tightly plotted mystery with characters to root for will love this one. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Connect the Dots<\/h2><\/div>
By Keith Calabrese<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: May 5, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oliver and Frankie are 6th-grade besties trying to get through each day and avoid the lunch room bully when a new girl, Matilda, moves into their neighborhood and a slew of random, but not really random, things start happening. First, a mysterious chutney takes down the lunch room bully, then Frankie gets a dog walking gig, and finally, Matilda discovers that someone in a black car is following Oliver. This story of brilliant coincidences and a growing friendship is only the cover for a more sinister plot the three kids have to cover before someone they love gets hurt. Connect the Dots<\/em> is a brilliant, funny, high-action mystery about belonging, friendship, loneliness, and the weight of genius. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Promise Boys<\/h2><\/div>
By Nick Brooks<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: January 31, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This book is FANTASTIC \u2014 and the audiobook is even better (a top-class\u00a0full-cast audiobook<\/a>\u00a0that feels like a movie). When the principal of the Urban Promise Prep school is murdered in his office, three boys are high on the suspect list: J.B., Trey, and Ramon. They were either in the wrong place or have the wrong reputation or affiliation. Now, they must join forces, along with their loved ones, to find the real killer. I\u2019d hand this to readers ages 14 and up, especially if they loved\u00a0One of Us Is Lying<\/em>.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fantasy Books for 13 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fantasy is not my strong suit, but I can share the stories I’ve read and loved. These three fantasy classics are perfect for 13 year olds. Better still, they’re all series, so you won’t have to think about a new book for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Hunger Games Book #1<\/h2><\/div>
By Suzanne Collins<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 14, 2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I loved following Katniss, Peeta, and Gale through all three books in this series. It\u2019s set in a dystopian world ruled by The Capitol. Each year, The Hunger Games are held where one raffle-drawn contestant from each of the surrounding poorer districts competes (fights through life-threatening challenges) to win a prize. The only problem is: losing means death. Book one kicks off with 16-year-old Katniss volunteering to take her little sister\u2019s place in the Games. I was HOOKED to this book and the other two in the series when I read it.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Divergent<\/h2><\/div>
By Veronica Roth<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: May 2, 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beatrice Prior\u2019s society is divided into five factions\u2014Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she\u2019s determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Greenglass House<\/h2><\/div>
By Kate Milford (Author), Jaime Zollars (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: August 26, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler\u2019s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers\u2019 adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo\u2019s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook\u2019s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House\u2014and themselves.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The First State of Being<\/h2><\/div>
By Erin Entrada Kelly<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: March 5, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweet Michael Rosario is shy and anxious about Y2K. The only bright spot in his life besides his doting but BUSY (working three jobs) single mother is his babysitter Gibby, whom he might have a crush on. One day, Gibby and Michael spot an unusually dressed teenager hanging around their housing complex, and after a confrontation, they realize he’s a time traveler from the future named Ridge. The First State of Being<\/em> is a brilliant, highly readable middle grade book from the QUEEN of character-driven middle grade literature. This expansive sci-fi feels at once introspective and cinematic, leaping off the page like something made for a movie. Entrada is gifted at conjuring fully formed characters whose fears and inner lives are wholly and sensitively rendered. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Realistic Fiction for 13 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your kids love stories set firmly in the real world, they’ll love these contemporary realistic fiction books for 13 year olds. A girl and her mother do a 100-mile Lake Superior hike, best friends have a life-changing summer, a girl documents her life-changing summer, and a boy’s life is changed by an expansive summer friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just Keep Walking<\/h2><\/div>
By Erin Soderberg Downing<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: March 5, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jo is still reeling from her parents\u2019 divorce and her father\u2019s decision to leave them for his girlfriend and her family. To prove that she and her mom can handle life without him, Jo and her mom embark on the 100-mile Lake Superior hike with their backpacks, dehydrated food, tents, and a book (for Jo). As the two weather hilly terrain, minor injuries, wild animals, new friendships, disappointments, and adverse weather, they find the inner strength to move on and to forgive Tim, Jo\u2019s father. I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to pack up and go hiking or camping. Downing writes authentically from personal experience about the highs and mishaps of the outdoors, celebrating the solitude, inner strength, and perseverance that being on a hike can foster. Jo\u2019s emotional struggles and humor bring a richness and levity that make this one an enjoyable pageturner.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Turning Point<\/h2><\/div>
By Paula Chase<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 15, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\u00a0Turning Point<\/em>, we reunite with the Pirates Cove gang (minus a few) \u2014 mostly Mila, Mo, Sheeda, and Tai. This book focuses on Monique (Mo) and Rasheeda (Sheeda)\u2019s friendship and how it changes over a summer when both girls are drawn into different pursuits. Mo is off at a ballet intensive with Mila, while Sheeda is stuck at church (with her church \u201cfriends\u201d) feeling like she has no life. I adored this book.\u00a0Turning Point<\/em>\u00a0by Paula Chase is a compulsively readable upper middle-grade book (more mature than the average but not quite YA) that explores a horde of important themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gloria Buenrostro Is Not My Girlfriend<\/h2><\/div>
By Brandon Hoang<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: June 27, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gary Vo is a Vietnamese-American soon-to-be junior high schooler. Gary and his friend Preston have been at the bottom of the social totem pole forever, and Preston is determined that this is the summer they rise up the ranks. So when they\u2019re approached by two popular classmates with an offer to join their group, the boys are all ears! The task is to steal a bracelet from Gloria Buenrostro (a popular, but mysterious A+ student) so the boys can add it to their collections of tokens from \u201cthe hottest girls\u201d in school. Easy enough, no? That is until Gary Vo befriends Gloria and realizes that there\u2019s more to her than meets the eye. Gloria Buenrostro Is Not My Girlfriend<\/em> is a richly layered, relatable teen novel about what it means to be a man and how to be a good friend.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes<\/h2><\/div>
By Kristi Wientge<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: May 17, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes<\/em>, Alex is looking forward to spending the summer (as she\u2019s always done) with her best friend, Will. Will\u2019s mother runs the concession stand at their community pool, and both kids have spent several summers playing games at the pool. This summer, though, a schoolmate named Rebekah has eyes for Will \u2014 and him for her! As Rebekah and Will begin a tentative crush-friendship, Alex feels threatened and ropes Will into a big summer project (building their treehouse), for which they\u2019ll need several summer jobs to afford building supplies. Surprisingly to Alex, Rebekah also wants to be her friend too. Can Alex get over her jealousy and other issues in her life to figure out this summer friendship drama? Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes<\/em> is a terrific summery middle grade book<\/a> about evolving friendships<\/a>, growing up, and adjusting to changes.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The First Magnificent Summer<\/h2><\/div>
By R.L. Toalson<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: May 30, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the 90s, and Tori (Victoria) Reeves is planning the first magnificent summer with her father since he left their family over two years ago. He now has a new partner and two kids but is taking Victoria and her two siblings with his new family camping in Ohio. As the trip progresses, Victoria and her siblings realize that their father hasn\u2019t changed much from the emotionally abusive parent he was. But will he stop Victoria from writing her own story? The First Magnificent Summer<\/em> is a vivid, heartwrenching, and emotionally resonant book about dealing with difficult parents and navigating a first period<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Adventure & Thriller Books for 13 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Break out of boring daily life with these kids living life on the edge as spies and time travelers. This section is perfect for 13 year olds who love adventure and a splash of danger in their stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Undercover Latina<\/h2><\/div>
By Aya De Leon<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: October 11, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her debut for younger readers, Aya de Le\u00f3n pits a teen spy against the ominous workings of a white nationalist. Fourteen-year-old Andr\u00e9a Hern\u00e1ndez-Baldoqu\u00edn hails from a family of spies working for the Factory, an international organization dedicated to protecting people of color. For her first solo mission, Andr\u00e9a straightens her hair and goes undercover as Andrea Burke, a white girl, to befriend the estranged son of a dangerous white supremacist. In addition to her Factory training, the assignment calls for a deep dive into the son\u2019s interests\u2014comic books and gaming\u2014all while taking care not to speak Spanish and blow her family\u2019s cover. But it\u2019s hard to hide who you really are, especially when you develop a crush on your target\u2019s Latino best friend. Can Andr\u00e9a keep her head, her geek cred, and her code-switching on track to trap a terrorist? Smart, entertaining, and politically astute, this is fast-paced upper-middle-grade fare from an established author of heist and espionage novels for adult.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Concealed<\/h2><\/div>
By Christina Diaz Gonzalez<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: October 19, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Concealed<\/em>, 12-year-old Katrina has had a long line of names beginning with letters of the alphabet A-K so far. Her last two names were Ivette and then Joanna. Her whole life as she remembers, her parents have been moving her from city to city and changing their names after every move. When they move this time, Katrina finds a new friend named Parker and a slip-up on her part leads to both her parents being kidnapped, leaving her to fend for herself with Parker\u2019s help. Things begin to unravel when she discovers that her parents are not in the Witness Protection Program like they claimed to be, but rather that they\u2019re on the run. Concealed <\/em>is a engaging middle grade spy book<\/a> with a clever female protagonist trying to piece together her identity.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Glitch<\/h2><\/div>
By Laura Martin<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: June 9, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cadets Regan Fitz and Elliot Mason are two \u201cGlitchers\u201d in an academy for learning how to time travel and stop \u201cButterflies\u201d\u2014rebels traveling through time to change history\u2014from successfully changing American history. Regan is the daughter of the school principal, and Elliot can\u2019t stand her because he thinks she\u2019s a snob. But when a letter from future Regan with a warning about the future threatens to disrupt his career plans, Elliot must team up with Regan to prevent a future disaster. Glitch<\/em> is a thrilling, sci-fi time travel romp anchored by two formidable protagonists, their burgeoning unlikely friendship, and the United States\u2019s turbulent history. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sports Books for 13 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sports are just as fun to play as they are to read about. The kids in these books play a variety of sports while dealing with real-life challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Free Throws, Friendships, and Other Things We Fouled Up<\/h2><\/div>
By Jenn Bishop <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: October 24, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Rory moves to Cincinnati, Ohio, with her dad after her parents\u2019 separation, she meets Abby, a tall fellow basketball lover, and the two become fast friends. Imagine their shock when they find out that their dads can\u2019t stand each other \u2014 and not because they coach the city\u2019s rival basketball teams but because of something that happened years ago when THEY were middle schoolers. Bishop takes us through the girls\u2019 lives as they dig into what happened between their dads, telling the story from multiple perspectives: the girls\u2019, their dads\u2019, and a ball-playing nun in their lives. Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up<\/em> is a fast-paced and compelling book about true friendships, family secrets, forgiveness, and basketball. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper<\/h2><\/div>
By Brie Spangler<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: April 11, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fox Point\u2019s Own Gemma Hopper<\/em> follows 7th grader Gemma Hopper whose mother has left their family. Gemma lives with her dad, older brother Teddy, and their twin younger brothers. While their dad works overtime to fend for the family materially, Gemma is saddled with caring for the home and her twin siblings while also serving as a ball machine\/practice partner for her brother, who\u2019s a baseball prodigy of sorts. Understandably, she\u2019s tired and frustrated sometimes. Her schoolwork is also proving a bit challenging. This school year, her teacher has asked their class to create a family tree project, which Gemma is not thrilled about because of her mother. One day, while practicing with Teddy, she strikes him out with two impressive pitches, capturing the attention of some scouts from a competitive baseball team. All of sudden, Gemma now also has star potential. Can both siblings find a way to work together? And can Gemma get through the family tree project? Fox Point\u2019s Own Gemma Hopper<\/em> is an engaging graphic novel about family (absent mothers), baseball, and sibling relationships<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Historical Fiction for 13 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Does your 13 year old love history? Then they’ll love these historical fiction books for 13 year olds. Travel from Ukraine to the US to Mexico with this section’s picks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Lost Year<\/h2><\/div>
By Katherine Marsh<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: January 17, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s 2020, and Matthew is sick of being inside with the pandemic raging outside. While reluctantly helping his great-grandmother sort through her belongings, he finds a picture of two girls. As she shares her experience during the Ukrainian famine, the story alternates between three narrators: Matthew, Helena, and Mila. A powerful, unforgettable account of historical events.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Enemies in the Orchard<\/h2><\/div>
By Dana Vanderlugt<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 12, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set in the 1940s, this debut historical verse novel delves into the lesser-known history of (prisoner-of-war) German soldiers brought to work in the United States during WWII. Claire’s brother Danny is off fighting the war while she’s working in their family’s Midwestern apple orchard, where her father has hired a bunch of POW soldiers, including one named Karl. Over time, Claire and Karl begin a tentative friendship, even as the presence of enemies in their orchard causes tensions in their community. Told from Karl and Claire’s perspective, this story, the history behind it, and the important themes it highlights will appeal to older middle schoolers ages 11 and up<\/strong>. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Across So Many Seas<\/h2><\/div>
By Ruth Behar<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: February 6, 2024<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sprawling family saga follows three generations of women over nearly 100 years and the ancestor that came before them over 400 years earlier. Behar traces the journey of a line of Sephardic Jewish women as the first one flees Toledo, Spain, to Turkey, from where one of her descendants will be exiled to Cuba and from where her daughter will flee to Miami. I flew through this historical fiction title (and you know how rare that is for me) and admired the author\u2019s ability to keep such a saga under 300 pages and kid-appropriate. Come for the moving history of Sephardic Jews and stay for the exquisite storytelling and literary tourism. Heads up for accounts of child marriage.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Graphic Novels & Graphic Memoirs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This section is for all the 13 year olds who will only read graphic novels. Hand some of these heavy hitters to disappear into!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A First Time for Everything<\/h2><\/div>
By Dan Santat<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: February 28, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A First Time for Everything<\/em> is Dan Santat\u2019s new graphic memoir about his school trip to Europe at the end of middle school. Middle school Dan is shy and socially awkward. He spends most of his time helping his mom, who has Lupus, and gets made fun of a bit by some girls in his grade. Thankfully, his parents are determined that he sees the world, and they support his Europe trip. As they visit Germany, France, Switzerland, and England, Dan is swept up in many, many firsts, making for a life-changing trip. A First Time for Everything<\/em> is a stellar, relatable graphic novel about growing up, wading through the awkward tween years, and finding one\u2019s voice.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sunshine<\/h2><\/div>
By Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Author, Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: April 18, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was in high school, he was part of a program that sent students to be counselors at a camp for seriously ill kids and their families. He documents this life-changing experience in this wonderful graphic memoir. This book is so moving and includes an author\u2019s note with pictures of the kids mentioned in the story.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dragon Hoops<\/h2><\/div>
By Gene Luen Yang<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: March 17, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author Gene Luen Yang doesn\u2019t particularly like sports, but at the high school where he teaches\u2013sports are a BIG deal. Especially basketball, where the boys\u2019 varsity team is getting closer and closer to the California State Championships. What Gene loves is stories, and he realizes that the stories behind the athletes on the basketball team are just as engaging as anything he could read in a comic book. This memoir is packed with history, stats, thrilling stories, and the hunt for glory, making it a perfect choice for 8th graders who love sports or graphic novels.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Join our Patreon community<\/a> to get the printable version of this li<\/b>st<\/strong>! You’ll also get access to other kid lit resources, like our seasonal guides and educator interviews, to inspire you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There they are: 30+ of my best books for 13 year olds! Which of these books have you read? Which ones did I miss?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Books for Older Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n