{"id":73722,"date":"2024-01-22T14:53:17","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T18:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readingmiddlegrade.com\/?p=73722"},"modified":"2025-01-20T18:59:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T22:59:01","slug":"books-for-9-year-old-girls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readingmiddlegrade.com\/books-for-9-year-old-girls\/","title":{"rendered":"Terrific Books for 9 Year Old Girls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Finding books for 9-year-old girls should not be a tough job. Many girls at this age are interested in books and publishing supplies many young middle-grade books starring girls. For this list, I’ve rounded up my favorite cute stories targeted toward younger middle schoolers and starring girls. You’ll find realistic fiction, talking animals, graphic novels, one historical fiction, and one sweet (award-winning — thanks to the 2024 ALA awards!) verse novel.<\/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 and perks, like our seasonal guides, book tasting menus, and book discussion guides, to inspire you. You can also\u00a0buy the standalone printable<\/a>\u00a0from our shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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20 Sweet Books for 9 Year Old Girls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are 20 excellent books to try:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If She Liked the Ramona Books<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ways<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Ways to Make Sunshine<\/h2><\/div>
By Renee Watson<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published:  April 27, 2021<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryan Hart and her family are moving to a new (old) house because her dad lost his post office job and his new job doesn\u2019t pay as much. Still, there are small joys. She doesn\u2019t have to change schools and is still close enough to one of her best friends. With the new house, and selling one of their cars, her parents can better deal with their financial struggles. Throughout this slice-of-life book, Ryan learns how to believe in herself, enjoy public speaking, be a bigger person, and love who she is. Renee Watson\u2019s Ways to Make Sunshine<\/em> is an absolutely delightful early middle-grade book with a memorable protagonist. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Swimming<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Julia on the Go: Swimming into Trouble<\/h2><\/div>
By  Angela Ahn (Author), Julie Kim (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: February 13, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julia LOVES to swim and is excited to participate in Personal Best Day with her swim team. Unfortunately, she develops an ear infection and the doctor\u2019s orders are clear: stay out of the water. But Julia won\u2019t give up and tries several wacky ways to stop water from getting in her ears when she swims, with disappointing and hilarious results. Eventually, she learns there are different ways to be part of a team. I loved this chapter book, especially the depiction of Julia\u2019s immigrant parents, their sushi shop, and Julia\u2019s adventures in the library and with frenemies. It\u2019s an excellent choice for older readers who want the comfort of pictures in their stories. <\/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). <\/em>This 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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More books for Ramona fans<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Young Sleuths<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters<\/h2><\/div>
By  Wendelin Van Draanen<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: October 3, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Whiskers is a street-wise stray dog with a nose for trouble and a fondness for two girls he calls the Shenanigan Sisters. So when Misty and Zelda\u2019s professor father is kidnapped, Mr. Whiskers follows that car, picking up vital clues. With the help of his street friends and the Shenanigan sisters, Mr. Whiskers leads the way to finding Mr. Shenanigan. Kids will love this gentle, funny mystery — especially great on audio. It\u2019s perfect for listeners ages 8 and up.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Magnolia<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All<\/h2><\/div>
By  Chanel Miller  <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

Magnolia Wu spends a lot of time at her parents’ laundromat in NYC, keeping track of lost socks and observing customers come and go. But her summer gets more exciting when her parents introduce her to a family friend’s daughter, Iris. Soon Iris and Magnolia set off through the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock. As they meet people in their community and learn about them, the girls’ lives expand beyond their expectations. This is an adventurous, dryly funny book with illustrations that are perfect for nine year old girls. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For the Graphic Novel Fan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Frizzy<\/h2><\/div>
By  Claribel A. Ortega (Author), Rose Bousamra (Illustrator) <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: October 18, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marlene hates the salon where her mom takes her to get her natural curls straightened weekly. Marlene\u2019s mom and some in their circle\/family believe that \u201cgood hair\u201d is straight hair. Marlene\u2019s mom wants her to focus on school and look \u201ctidy\u201d by having her hair straight and slick. But Marlene isn\u2019t so sure. She sees an internet influencer and her favorite aunt, Tia Ruby rocking their curls and is eager to try. But her first attempt fails woefully. With Tia Ruby\u2019s hair, Marlene learns to care for her natural hair better and embrace her curls. Frizzy<\/em> is a delightful, thought-provoking graphic novel about natural hair, self-acceptance, and body image<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Next Stop <\/h2><\/div>
By Debbi Fong<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published:  March 19, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pia heads out on a desert sightseeing road trip on which one of the stops is a famous lake which many believe has magical properties. Pia has a secret: she\u2019s hoping that the lake will bring back her younger brother who died in a drowning accident several months ago. Along the way, she gets to know the odd group traveling together, including a candy-distributing grandma, a reluctant tween traveler, a couple with ever-bickering kids, and an elderly couple hoping for a health miracle. I liked the camaraderie of the travelers and the flashbacks in every chapter that show us Pia\u2019s life before and just after the accident. I also really liked that the plot is sad but not too heavy. This is great for readers who enjoy sad books or stories featuring a road trip.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Kristy's<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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The Babysitters Club (Graphic Novel Series)<\/h2><\/div>
By  Ann M. Martin (Author), Raina Telgemeier (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: April 28, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids these days may not like the original BSC books (womp womp!), but these graphic novel adaptations are always a crowd pleaser — starting with the first book in the series. Bonus points for being illustrated by THE Raina Telgemeier.<\/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), 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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More graphic novels<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If She Likes Friendship Drama<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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President of the Whole Fifth Grade<\/h2><\/div>
By Sherri Winston<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published<\/strong>: October 5, 2010<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Briana’s desire to become president of her 5th grade class intensifies when she discovers that her role model and school alumnus was also 5th grade president. But when a new girl comes to her class and becomes her main opponent, Briana is embroiled in a fight for the position that will test her ethics and character. This is a high drama tween novel for fans of friendship stories featuring ambitious characters.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ready<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Sew Zoey<\/h2><\/div>
By Chloe Taylor (Author), Nancy Zhang (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: June 4, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the first in a cute series about Zoey, a fashion lover who discovers a love for sewing after a visit to the fabric store over the summer break. She eventually starts a blog to show case her designs and quickly begins to garner a following. But when school reopens, it\u2019s not so easy to share her newfound style with classmates (some of whom aren\u2019t always the nicest). A school fashion show presents the perfect opportunity to reintroduce herself. This is very low-stakes story for sensitive kids who love books about friendship and school issues.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Magnificent Mya Tibbs #1: Spirit Week Showdown<\/h2><\/div>
By  Crystal Allen (Author), Eda Kaban (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: January 3, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth grader Mya Tibbs is excited for Spirit Week! She has made plans to partner with her best friend Naomi Jackson. Mya\u2019s life seems pretty good, but the one scary part is Mean Connie Tate, who everyone knows is the biggest fourth-grade bully. So, you can imagine Mya\u2019s terror when she\u2019s partnered with Connie and Connie refuses to trade partners. On top of that, Naomi is mad at Mya for not trying harder to trade partners. This is a sweet, realistic story of friendship,<\/a> family,<\/a> and forgiveness, featuring a relatable, funny character who isn\u2019t afraid to be herself \u2014 cowgirl boots and all.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For Your Next Family Readaloud<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ferris <\/h2><\/div>
By Kate DiCamillo<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

DiCamillo\u2019s stories can be hit or miss for me, but this one I adored. It\u2019s about Emma Phineas (also known as Ferris because she was born under a Ferris wheel), whose family is having a chaotic summer. Her younger sister Pinky is determined to be an outlaw, her grandmother Charisse is insistent that she\u2019s seeing a ghost, and her father\u2019s brother is separated from his wife and living in their basement. Despite how stressful all these circumstances sound, this book is more funny and heartfelt than anything else, as Ferris and her family find love and tenderness for each other.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Odder<\/h2><\/div>
By  Katherine Applegate<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 20, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Odder loves to play. She loves her home in the California waters and is unafraid to take risks\u2013until she\u2019s attacked by a great white shark. After the attack, Odder and her friend (a fellow otter) are taken in by some scientists who rehabilitate the animals. Soon, they make Odder a surprising offer that will change her life. Based on the real-life experiences of some otters, this book surprised me pleasantly. The audiobook is so delightful, with a full cast and sound effects. It\u2019s perfect for this age group!<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dogtown<\/h2><\/div>
By Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko (Author), Wallace West (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 19, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chance is a three-legged dog at the Dogtown shelter, where able-bodied dogs and robot dogs compete for attention. When a new robot dog, Metal Head, comes to the pound, things start to change. First off, he\u2019s determined to run away (return home). So he hatches a plan with Chance and her mouse best friend to help an older dog get adopted in exchange for helping him escape. But things do not go to plan, and Chance, her mouse friend, and Metal Head spend a night on the streets on an emotional adventure. As someone who isn\u2019t into animal books, I\u2019m shocked by how much I liked this one. It\u2019s charming, beautifully plotted, and full of suspense, heartwarming characters, and plenty of heart. It also has sweet illustrations and very short chapters.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The One Thing You\u2019d Save <\/h2><\/div>
By Linda Sue Park (Author), Robert Sae-Heng (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published:  March 16, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linda Sue Park\u2019s The One Thing You\u2019d Save<\/em> is a unique hybrid of sorts. It\u2019s geared toward middle schoolers, but has lovely black and white illustrations on nearly every page. It is also less than 80 pages long, with sparse text in the Korean sijo poetry style. By the end of the class, even the teacher rethinks her choices, just as every reader will. This book might not satisfy you, if like me you enjoy plot, but it will make you think about the one thing, or things that matter most to you. Teachers and middle schoolers alike will find this book to be an excellent conversation starter, and the illustrations will entice reluctant and younger readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Light and Air<\/h2><\/div>
By  Mindy Nichols Wendell<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

As a non-fan of historical fiction, I was pleasantly surprised by this debut middle grade novel. Set in 1930s New York, where a tuberculosis epidemic is raging, it follows Halle, whose mother is diagnosed with the disease and sent off to JN Adams Sanatarium in Perrysburg. There, everyone, including people of all races, is welcome, and patients are treated with exposure to light and air. Soon, Halle ends up there to treat pneumonia. This book is accessible, plain-spoken, and truly written for kids without dumbing down or info dumping. The characters are richly drawn, and the subject matter is intriguing and rarely explored in books for kids. It\u2019s impressive that the author has created a book all about tuberculosis with a rich, moving, adventurous, and tender plot balancing friendship, family, mystery, and history all at once.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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If She Likes Stories About Brave Girls Overcoming Challenges <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Good Different<\/h2><\/div>
By Meg Eden Kuyatt <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: April 4, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selah knows there\u2019s something different about her. She\u2019s uncomfortable with overstimulation and can\u2019t seem to instinctively figure out social cues, so she follows the rules; does what others do\/expect her to do in those situations. But when she\u2019s home, she practically crashes, needing to recover from shapeshifting all day. She\u2019s doing okay, until one day she hits a fellow student who keeps trying to braid Selah\u2019s hair. This leads to a series of events ending in an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and the realization that although she\u2019s different, it\u2019s good different. Good Different <\/em>is a powerful verse exploration of life on the autism spectrum<\/a> and the illuminating experience of finally understanding oneself. <\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Leeva<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Leeva at Last<\/h2><\/div>
By Sara Pennypacker (Author), Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

In Leeva at Last<\/em>, we meet Leeva, a child who\u2019s been kept indoors and put to work by her famous parents. Her mom is the Mayor, and her dad is the Treasurer. They both only care about fame and money, respectively, but not about their daughter or townspeople. They don\u2019t even send her to school, and Leeva learns new words from a vocabulary section of the newspaper and teaches herself to read. But when Leeva finds her way to the town library one day, her eyes are opened to the world around her, and she finds the answer to a question that\u2019s been on her mind forever: \u201cWhat are people for?\u201d This is a funny, charming, and whimsical young middle grade book about what it means to care about others.<\/p> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ruby<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Ruby Finley and the Interstellar Invasion<\/h2><\/div>
By  K. Tempest Bradford <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published: September 27, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruby is an 11-year-old future entomologist who loves studying insects and playing video games with her neighborhood friends. When she sees a strange bug in her bedroom and shares a picture of it on social media, suspicious agents appear at her door to re-capture the now missing insect. Soon, all the metal in her neighborhood begins to disappear as Ruby and her friends realize there\u2019s more to the strange bug. This was a lot of fun and will appeal to fans of STEM stories and books about robots.<\/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 and perks, like our seasonal guides, book tasting menus, and book discussion guides, to inspire you. You can also buy the standalone printable<\/a> from our shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Books for 9 Year Old Girls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n