{"id":50241,"date":"2024-12-04T10:26:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T14:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readingmiddlegrade.com\/?p=50241"},"modified":"2024-12-04T10:26:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T14:26:05","slug":"books-for-9-year-olds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readingmiddlegrade.com\/books-for-9-year-olds\/","title":{"rendered":"20+ Amazing Books for 9 Year Olds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nine year olds are firmly in chapter book reading territory and typically favor shorter, sparsely illustrated options. For this reason, the best books for 9 year olds feature younger characters and more whimsical, but realistic storytelling. That’s what you’ll find on today’s list! These books are charming, sweet, action-packed, funny, and will appeal to a wide range of 9 year olds.<\/p>\n\n\n

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20+ Wonderful Books for 9-Year-Olds to Enjoy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are 20 best books for 9 year olds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If They Like Survival & Adventure Fiction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stranded<\/h2><\/div>
By  Nikki Shannon Smith<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 17, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ava loves nature and wishes she could spend more time in the woods instead of her family\u2019s Manhattan apartment. Fortune seems to smile on her when her auntie Raven, who is estranged from her mom, allows her to come spend the summer in the Adirondacks with her. A summer stay turns into a year-long stay with Ava\u2019s parent\u2019s permission. However, a miscommunication leads to Ava being stuck at the cottage in the winter and having to survive on her own before help comes. This is a riveting survival story with major appeal for upper elementary and younger middle schoolers who love survival stories like Hatchet<\/em> and Alone<\/em><\/a>. Ages 9+<\/strong>
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Clean Getaway<\/h2><\/div>
By Nic Stone (Author)
Published:  January 7, 2020<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

William \u201cScoob\u201d Lamar is hoping to make a clean getaway with his white G-ma. Especially because his dad is mad at him after an unpleasant school incident and subsequent suspension. At first he\u2019s happy to be spending time with this G-ma, but soon, he realizes that this isn\u2019t quite the trip he expected. As Scoob and G-ma travel through the US South, G-ma lets him into family history: his grandfather\u2019s life, G-ma\u2019s misdeeds and what life was like when Black people needed the Green Book to move through the US. This is a fast-paced, clever story full of twists and a sense of adventure.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Long Way Around<\/h2><\/div>
By Anne Nesbet<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 10, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an engaging survival story about three cousins\u2013two sisters and their cousin, Owen\u2013who get separated from their parents when an earthquake strikes during a hiking trip. The three kids are dealing with individual challenges in their lives, and as they try to hike a long route to reconnect with their families, they also make time for healing together. I love how much this book celebrates nature while being appropriate for younger middle grade readers, and maintaining a strong sense of adventure. Also, one of the kids loves cooking, and I just adored all the foodie scenes on the trail. Hand to kids who loved Downing\u2019s Just Keep Walking<\/a><\/em> and Lang\u2019s Out of Range<\/a><\/em>. Grades 4-7<\/strong><\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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If They Love Funny Books<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science<\/h2><\/div>
By Kate McKinnon
Published: October 1, 2024<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This book by comedian Kate McKinnon is a delightful riot. Set in a quirky world where a group of girls get invited to join a school of etiquette that is really a training school for female mad scientists who will save the world, this book took me on the most fun rollercoaster plot and the audiobook is EXCELLENT!
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Stand Up, Yumi Chung<\/h2><\/div>
By Jessica Kim <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

Yumi, the book\u2019s young heroine, wants to be a stand-up comic, but her immigrant Korean parents want a different path for her. When Yumi ends up in a comedy camp as a result of mistaken identity, she grabs the opportunity with both hands. This book is funny and relatable and features stand-up comedy, so if you have any young wannabe comedians, it will be extra appealing.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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If They Love Friendship Stories<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Happy & Sad & Everything True<\/h2><\/div>
By Alex Thayer
Published: November 12, 2024<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dee is excited about middle school until her best friend stops talking to her and starts hanging out with the popular crowd. It doesn’t help that Dee’s mom is a bit… quirky. Quirky, like she fell in school and accidentally showed her underwear to all the kids, making Dee the subject of teasing. But things start to look up for Dee when she gives some good advice to a kid in distress in the school bathroom. Soon more kids start coming to her for advice, but her friend and family woes aren’t far behind — especially when her mom starts dating her P.E. teacher. I liked this book a lot, even though it is a bit quirky and far-fetched. It’s a relatable fish-out-of-water story about a girl who figures out how to embrace everything she is and appreciate her strengths. I’d hand it to new middle schoolers trying to find their feet (especially with friend drama).
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The Many Fortunes of Maya<\/h2><\/div>
By Nicole D. Collier
Published: January 24, 2023<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Maya enjoys playing soccer, but especially so because it makes her sports-obsessed dad happy. She\u2019s convinced herself that to be a great soccer player and be picked by a junior league, she needs to stop focusing on the other thing she loves (but won\u2019t admit to loving as much): playing her flute. But when her parents tell her they\u2019re separating and friendship with her bestie starts to evolve with the addition of a third friend, Maya begins to feel really lost and it\u2019s tough to figure out what she wants. Thankfully, she has a trusty wheel of fortunes she made from fortune cookie fortunes she\u2019s collected over time. This is a great addition to stories about families experiencing parental separation<\/a>, kids trying to find their passions, and separating one\u2019s goals from external validation.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lolo Weaver Swims Upstream<\/h2><\/div>
By Polly Farquhar<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: April 25, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willow (Lolo) Weaver\u2019s summer is not going well. Her grandfather has recently died, her grandma isn\u2019t herself, and she\u2019s given away her grandfather\u2019s foster dog, Hank. Lolo\u2019s mother is heavily pregnant, and Lolo is in summer school because she didn\u2019t do too well in her last exams. On top of that, their lake town isn\u2019t a lake town anymore because the lake\u2019s been drained and smells awful now. Lolo wants to help her grandmother feel better, and she\u2019s convinced that getting back her grandfather\u2019s dog will do the trick. The only problem is that the dog now belongs to someone else. So Lolo gets on Pop\u2019s boat to steal Hank back\u2014only to run into her summer school classmate, Noah (who\u2019s the new dog owner). Lolo Weaver Swims Upstream<\/em> is a charming story about persistence, unlikely friendships, and the enduring love for a grandparent <\/a>despite the odds. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For Fans of Graphic Novels<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Swim Team<\/h2><\/div>
By Johnnie Christmas (Author)
Published: May 17, 2022<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After she and her dad move from Brooklyn to Florida, Bree is excited for her first day in middle school. But also, she\u2019s super anxious about whether she\u2019ll make friends and fit in. Thankfully, she makes a new friend in the housing complex where they live. Unfortunately, when Bree goes to choose her math club elective, it\u2019s fully booked. As a math lover who can\u2019t swim, she\u2019s crushed to hear that the only elective left is swim 101. At first, Bree avoids getting in the water, but after a near-drowning in her housing complex, an elderly neighbor (who used to be part of her swim team) decides to coach Bree. Bree gets so good that she joins her swim team, but can the team get past the drama and win? This is a highly engaging graphic novel about swimming, Black history (and why many Blacks don\u2019t swim), and friendship.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Adventures of Invisible Boy<\/h2><\/div>
By Doogie Horner<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: January 30, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When his family moves in the middle of the school year, Stanley wishes he could be invisible because being the new kid is too hard. Then he’s caught in a spill during the science fair and his wish comes true: he’s invisible. There’s only one problem: the kid who made the potion is not pleased! Can Stanley escape his wrath? This is such a fun sci-fi graphic novel for kids who love funny books with plenty of hijinks. Ages 8+<\/strong><\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chickenpox<\/h2><\/div>
By Remy Lai <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: January 14, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a hilarious graphic novel for fans of Squished<\/em> and The Vanderbeekers<\/a><\/em> about a girl who is sick of her little siblings but gets stuck at home with them when they all get chickenpox. Set in Indonesia and roughly based on Lai\u2019s own experiences but written from her older sister\u2019s perspective, this book will sing to firstborns but also to any sibling in a large family who\u2019s trying to find their voice and see the gift their siblings are to them. I loved the funny depictions of life with chickenpox, the tween angst and gossip as Abby navigates her friend group and friendships that may or may not be crushes. While there is some sibling angst, this one has a lovely, heartwarming resolution and will appeal to kids between the ages of 8 and 12.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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If They Love The Babysitters Club Graphic Novels<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Tryout<\/h2><\/div>
By Christina Soontornvat (Author), Joanna Cacao (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: November 1, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The Tryout<\/em> follows young Christina as she tries out for her middle school\u2019s cheerleading team. As one of the few Asians in her small Texas town, Christina and her Iranian-American best friend are nervous about trying out, but determined to give their best. Unfortunately, tryouts quickly lead to heartbreak when Megan decides to partner up with another girl, leaving Christina to fend for herself. Can the girls make it work? This is a fantastic graphic memoir that will appeal to fans of sports stories and books about life as a minority and child of immigrants.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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PAWS: Gabby Gets It Together<\/h2><\/div>
By Nathan Fairbairn (Author), Michele Assarasakorn (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: March 8, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I truly loved this graphic novel about three friends who start a dog-walking business. It feels true to kids (feels like something I would\u2019ve LOVED as a child who adored The Babysitters\u2019 Club<\/em>), and I enjoyed seeing the ethnic diversity and the parental involvement in this story. If you have kids who love animals or have an entrepreneurial streak, this is the book for them. It\u2019s also delightfully short, and this is a series I totally plan to keep up with since every book is from a different girl\u2019s perspective.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Curlfriends: New in Town<\/h2><\/div>
By Sharee Miller (Author)
Published: October 10, 2023<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Charlie is the new kid for the umpteenth time, but this time, things will be different. Her dad is no longer in the military, and this is a more permanent home, so she feels more pressure to find and impress some new friends. When she meets a cool group of Black girls with varying interests, she decides to hide her \u201cbabyish\u201d style and hobbies to befriend them. But she soon learns that with true friends, you can be your whole self. This is the cute first book in a new graphic novel series about Black hair, girlfriends, fashion, and adjusting to change.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For Dog Man & Wimpy Kid Fans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza<\/h2><\/div>
By Mac Barnett (Author), Shawn Harris (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: May 10, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something terrible is happening in the skies! Rats are eating the\u00a0MOON<\/em>! Only one hero can stop them: a cat with a microchip-enhanced brain. Along with the Moon Queen and a toe-clipping robot, the first cat in space has his work cut out for him. This book is bizarre (in the best way) but so entertaining, creative, and cinematic. Tween boys won\u2019t be able to stop flipping the pages. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Family Readaloud Picks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Operation Final Notice<\/h2><\/div>
By Matthew Landis
Published: November 8, 2022<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Best friends Ronny and Jo learn what friendship, community, and kindness mean in this heartwarming, funny story set in the snowy days leading up to the holidays. Jo is a cellist struggling with performance anxiety, while Ronny is reeling from discovering a \u201cfinal notice\u201d warning among his parents\u2019 stack of bills. Told from alternating perspectives, this story is warm, sweet, and absolutely delightful. Bonus points for ADHD and Latino representation.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman<\/h2><\/div>
By Gennifer Choldenko
Published: June 11, 2024<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hank Hooperman has been alone with his 3-year-old sister Boo since their mother left the house a week ago. Armed with the name of someone his mother wrote as her emergency contact on his field trip form, Hank takes the bus to Lou Adler\u2019s doorstep. There, he and his sister start to find some sort of normalcy until Hank\u2019s 10th mistake threatens to cost him everything that means something to him. Hank is a character to love and truly one to root for every step of the way! <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Let It Glow<\/h2><\/div>
By Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: October 29, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set during the holiday season, this is a cute story about twin sisters separated at birth and adopted by different families. Aviva is adopted by a Jewish family. Her father is Black and converted to Judaism to marry her mother, so she has black siblings. Holly was adopted by a single mother who is Christian and lives with her Gramps and mom. The two girls meet at a home for seniors where Aviva\u2019s Bubbe lives, and Holly\u2019s mom hopes to house Gramps, who\u2019s been having some falls lately. They soon hatch a plan to switch houses a la The Parent Trap and learn about each other\u2019s families. This story is a comfortingly cozy, Hallmark channel-y collaboration, with some musings about Hanukkah vs Christmas, being adopted, being Black and Jewish, and stepping out of your comfort zone. Ages 9+<\/strong><\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tree. Table. Book.<\/h2><\/div>
By Lois Lowry<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: April 23, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This book is about two Sophies\u2013one preteen and an octogenarian\u2013who are friends, best friends. Older Sophie is losing her memory and is at risk of being moved to a nursing home by her son and younger Sophie is determined to help prove that her friend has still got it. She ends up learning more than she bargained for about life, history, and her friend\u2019s life. Very sweet, very much a classic, touching, and with historical elements that add a healthy heft to the story. Lowry’s writing is gorgeous and thoughtful but also accessible. Darling! <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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If They Like Coming-of-Age Stories<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just Right Jillian<\/h2><\/div>
By Nicole D. Collier (Author)
Published: February 1, 2022<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jillian is a shy fifth grader who is put to the test when her teacher suggests that she join the Mind Bender quiz competition. Her class is also learning about chick development and incubating a few too! As Jillian works to improve her mindset and use her voice, she also has to deal with the grief of losing her grandmother, her mom\u2019s lupus flares, and helping out a friend dealing with his own family challenges. Will Jillian get it right? Just Right Jillian is a sweet young middle grade debut that elementary and middle schoolers alike will love.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Playing the Cards You\u2019re Dealt<\/h2><\/div>
By Varian Johnson (Author)
Published: October 5, 2021<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ant isn\u2019t your average 10-year-old. He loves a good game of spades, and he and his best friend are planning to revamp their reputation after losing badly at the last spades tournament. But things are changing in Ant\u2019s life. His dad is acting weird, asking him to hide things from his mom. There\u2019s a new girl in class who Ant may like and who plays spades better than many boys he knows. When his best friend is grounded, Ant teams up with Shirley, hoping to impress his father and finally be tough like Joplin men should be. But instead, he learns what it really means to be a man\u2014and it\u2019s not about never crying. There\u2019s SO MUCH going on in this story, but the author does a stunning job of keeping all the threads in place. I was very surprised by all the protagonist has to manage at his age and the fact that it all remains believable. The story is told by Ant\u2019s ancestor, lending a touch of magic realism. There are also many details about playing a game of spades and I loved, loved the audiobook narrator.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For Mystery Fans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trouble at the Tangerine<\/h2><\/div>
By Gillian McDunn<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: April 2, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon Hyde and his parents have been moving around the country and creating social media content around their travels for as long as he can remember. Now they\u2019ve moved into the Tangerine Apartments, and Simon is hoping to put down roots for a while. Thanks to a recent accident, his leg is in a cast, so he\u2019s happy when Amaya, a talkative neighbor, actively befriends him with little effort on his part. Just as the two begin to hit it off, a theft in the building puts everyone on edge, and even Simon\u2019s parents begin to contemplate moving away again. This moves Simon to agree with Amaya\u2019s proposal that they solve the mystery together. As the kids unravel the mystery, they also learn plenty about each other, what it means to be a good friend, and their eclectic group of neighbors. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

Maizy\u2019s life gets more interesting when a box of Nancy Drew books with an inscription to a girl with the same name as her grandmother (Susie, aka Jacuzzi). There\u2019s also a picture of what appears to be a young Susie. When Jacuzzi denies sending over the box, Maizy reunites with a former neighborhood friend, Nell, to get to the bottom of the mystery. In the process, the girls learn a lot about Jacuzzi and the Nancy Drew books. This is a fantastic middle grade mystery about friendship, Nancy Drew history, intellectual property, and film-making. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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More Book for 9 Year Olds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n