This is definitely a deviation for my typical recipe posts, but more and more I'm hearing from parents looking for clean book suggestions for their tween kiddos. As a homeschooling momma, I have shelves overflowing with books for both of my kids. My oldest (Kylie is 11) is an avid reader, and reads well into a high school reading level. While not all of these books are at a high school reading level, they are appropriate for children between the ages of 11-13.
I have not read these books, but my daughter has. I read carefully through the summary and reviews, then allow Kylie to proceed if I approve.
Here's the agreement I have with Kylie: She knows what I deem appropriate and what I don't (ex: cult-type magic/witchcraft, sexual relationships, or books heavily laden with boyfriend/girlfriend or same sex relationships, etc...). If she starts reading the book and comes across any of those things, she's supposed to tell me immediately (and she does... out of everything my husband and I stress to our girls, honesty is #1). At that point, we chat about what she's read, and I either allow her to continue reading, or I take away the book (I normally take away the book).
Your standards may be stricter than mine, or more lenient... either way, that's your choice as a parent. I'm just explaining to you how it works in our house so you can make a more informed decision about the books below. 😉
Kylie has also added "other helpful notes" you might be interested in.
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Do you have any books to recommend for this age level? Please leave the book name and author in the comments below!
Clean Reads for Tweens (ages 11-13)
The Inheritance Cycle (4 book series) by Christopher Paolini
Main character is a boy, but the dragon is a girl
Other helpful notes from Kylie: The books are very intense because there's lots of fighting and monsters. It's not a light-read type of series. Magic is used.
I Road a Horse of Milk White Jade by Diane Wilson
Main character is a girl
The Ruins of Gorlan (The Ranger's Apprentice series) by John A. Flanagan
Main character is a boy, although there are sub characters that are girls (they appear every few chapters)
Other helpful notes from Kylie: The book isn't as dark as the cover of the book makes you believe. Towards the end there's lots of fighting.
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher
Main characters are both girls
The Colossus Rises (The Seven Wonders series) by Peter Lerangis
Main characters are both male and female (3 boys, 1 girl)
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Main character is a boy
Benjamin Dragon - Awakening (The Chronicles of Benjamin Dragon series) by C. G. Cooper
Main character is a boy
Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan" by Cameron Dokey
Main character is a girl
Other helpful notes from Kylie: Some parts of the book are intense with fighting.
Warriors #1: Into the Wild (Warriors, the Prophesy Begins series) by Erin Hunter
There are several books in this series, main characters will switch between male and female depending on the book.
Sunborn Rising: Beneath the Fall by Aaron Safronoff
Main characters are both male and female (2 boys, 1 girl)
Other helpful notes from Kylie: The pictures in this book are really cool. You can tell Safronoff isn't a seasoned author, but it was still a good book.
Raiders from the Sea (Viking Quest series) by Lois Walfrid Johnson
Main characters are both male and female
(Faith-based Christian fiction)
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Main character is a boy
Other helpful notes from Kylie: The main character gets beat up by his older brother often.
Mystery of the Roman Ransom by Henry Winterfeld
Main characters are all boys
Other helpful notes from Kylie: This is a really funny book.
Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld
Main characters are all boys
Other helpful notes from Kylie: This is a really funny book.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
Main character is a boy
Other helpful notes from Kylie: The ending is really sad.
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles 3 book series) by Rick Riordan
Main characters are both male and female
Other helpful notes from Kylie: There is use of magic.
The Lightening Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians 5 book series) by Rick Riordan
Main characters are both male and female (mostly male though)
Other helpful notes from Kylie: This book can be intense at times with fighting, but Riordan does a good job of lightening it up. There is kissing once or twice throughout the series.
Jen W says
I find a lot of book recommendations for both my son and daughter on the website "A Mighty Girl". It's great for gift ideas for people of all ages.
http://www.amightygirl.com/
Megan says
Great resource! Thank you!
Brenda says
Thanks for the list. I am a homeschool mom to a teenage daughter as well, though mine is older. I also read the summary on books she picks out. There is a lot of garbage out there for sure!
Megan says
Yes! I totally agree, Brenda, lots of garbage.
Angie Lockard says
Thanks for these suggestions! I have to add that our absolute favorite books that fit right in with this genre is the Kingdom Series Books by Chuck Black. There is the original series of 6 books (Biblical allegory), and then a second series with 6 more books (addressing various virtues and vices in an allegorical way). He has also written a third, more intense, series (a trilogy) on Spiritual warfare for the older (teen) crowd or for mature tweens.
Megan says
Ooohh! I'll have to check those out! Thanks Angie. 😉
Heather says
Great list - thank you! Just a heads up though, Riordan does introduce a same-sex potential relationship near the end of the series. It's unrequited, but it is there. We ended up just discussing it and I allowed them to finish the series. We got the audio books from the library so I was listening at the same time they were and we could discuss anything as it occurred.
My son enjoys the Ranger's Apprentice series and another series called Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans. It's a 7 book series, with Book 7 being released this October. There is some romance between some of the characters, but no sex. There's no magic, but most of the teens in this book have electrical powers due to something at their births. Another series we liked was the Century Quartet, there is some magic in this series about four teens all born on February 29th in the same year. We've been trying to find the last two on CD for a couple years now, but have been unsuccessful, so I have no idea what the last books contain.
Megan says
Hey Heather!
As far as I understood (I just talked to Kylie about it again), the same-sex relationship was introduced in The Mark of Athena, which is The Heroes of Olympus series, not either series mentioned above (not unless you can confirm that's wrong?). And heads up, Riordan also brings it back up in The Hidden Oracle (in a bolder way), The Trials of Apollo series (which I will not let Kylie finish reading). Sad really, that stuff like that has to be introduced at such a young age. 🙁
Thank you for the other suggestions! We will have to check those out.
Heather says
Ooops, sorry if I had the wrong series. There were so many of them I may have mixed them up. We really did enjoy all the books in the various series he did, except for that. It was done similarly in another series Riordan is associated with, a spin off of the original 39 Clules books. It's almost like they're just being politically correct by inserting some dialog about one character liking another of the same gender. Personally, I think they lose more than they gain when they do that. I will not financially support any series that does it. If it's small enough, we just get them from the library and discuss them, but we don't reward them financially.
Megan says
No worries! I totally get them confused, too. I had to have Kylie go get me the books so I could keep them straight. LOL!
Leann Glasman says
Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans.
The author originally wrote this series for his son who has Tourette's Syndrome (as does the author) as he was about to enter middle school. The main character also has Tourette's. Additionally, the books deal with good over evil, bullying, nerds/geeks, being popular vs unpopular, adoption, single parenting, loyalty, and scientific technological advances caused by a technological accident. Riveting adventures!
Rush Revere series by Rush and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
Accurate accounts America's beginnings from the Pilgrims through the Presidency. Set in modern times at the local middle school. Characters travel through time on the back of a talking horse named Liberty. Excellent!
Megan says
Thank you for the recommendations, Leann! Kylie has also read the Rush Revere series. She enjoyed them. 😉
Kathryn says
Hi I'm from Texas and this is the first time I've seen your blog. I'm GF - hashimotos. And my kids are 7 & 6.. oldest boy is big time reader. While he is not ready for some of these. I'm always searching for books that are appropriate but also keep him interested. Thanks for all your suggestions on reading & recipes. Take care.
Misty says
Check out Read Aloud Revival for a great list to read to your kids too 🙂
Megan says
Awesome! Thanks for the suggestion!
Lights UP North says
Thank you for this list! The Elizabeth Gail series is also a good series. My daughter is currently reading those ones 🙂
Megan says
Thank you for the suggestion!
Denise says
Robin Jones Gunn, a former youth pastor, has written a couple of book series for Christian girls. My daughter really enjoyed them. Robin has also written a delightful collection for women called "SisterChicks", that are lighthearted, but God-centered! (Try "SisterChicks do the Hula" for a fun read!)
Megan says
Thank you for the recommendations, Denise!
Jacqi Lovell says
I would like to recommend our Mouse Gate adventure books, written by me and my husband, Jeff and Jacqi Lovell. There are four books in the series so far and the fifth is coming out within the month. All these books feature a girl and a boy main character who have time travel adventures while vacationing in Disney World so there are many Disney details in these books as well as spiritual overtones. As former teachers our desire is to foster encouragement, character building, and courage in children. We’ve had three booksignings at our local Barnes & Noble store but our books are available on Amazon. Love for you to include them in your list. amazon.com/author/jefflovell
NOTE: There are also books JEFF has written alone at this site for older teens and adults.
Cassandra Kostuch says
Have you introduced the Redwall series? They were a favorite when I was her age. I'm reading them now again to my toddler before bed 🙂