Burton, Tim. (Director). (2005). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Bros. Pictures. Ages 9-14.

Based on Roald Dahl’s classic story by the same name, this movie tells the story of a young boy named Charlie Bucket, a kind caring boy who has very little but who has a very big heart. When he and four obnoxious and spoiled children find golden tickets in their Wonka chocolate bars and win a tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, it is a dream come true. But the eccentric Wonka is unsympathetic when one by one, the children break the rules and lose out on the grand prize, leaving Charlie to take over the chocolate factory. And Charlie is able to give Wonka something back in return—a real family and reconciliation with his father.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory contains some violence and verbal insults from both Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas at the expense of the misbehaving and spoiled children and their parents. The film uses classic Burton style, pairing dismal blacks and grays with bright, colorful scenery, making his vision a perfect pairing with Dahl’s eccentric story. Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Wonka is first-class and stays true to the version of Wonka found in the text. While the film is entertaining, it does teach lessons about being humble and giving, not greedy and self-centered. The film is a wonderful companion to the book, and could be shown in both the age-appropriate classroom or in a library.

Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. Little, Brown & Company, 2005. ISBN 031615556X. Ages 11-14.

Max is just a kid, but she’s a kid with a lot of responsibilities—five brothers and sisters to be exact. Oh, and she and her siblings can fly. After the mutant Erasers abduct their youngest sister Angel, the “bird kids,” who are the result of genetic experimentation, take off in pursuit. Throughout their adventurous journey, they also find themselves struggling to understand their own origins and purpose as they fight to keep the only family they’ve ever known together, no matter what the cost.

This story, as well as the others in Patterson’s bestselling series, is adventure-packed and the characters are well developed. The plot is fast-paced and visually dynamic, with short chapters perfect for keeping even the most reluctant reader’s attention. The story tells of a futuristic world when child mutants are created to fight man’s wars in hopes of gaining the most power, even at the expense of the child. Tweens will have an easy time relating to the recombinants’ feelings of not belonging and feeling different, as well as Max’s feelings of responsibility for her younger siblings.

Lasky, Kathryn. Chasing Orion. Candlewick Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0763639822. Ages 10-14.

In the summer of 1952, polio has spread throughout Indiana, causing a widespread panic. With pools closed and camps cancelled, Georgie is stuck at home all summer in a new neighborhood with nothing to do. That is, until she discovers that her next-door neighbor is a beautiful young teenage girl stuck in an iron lung. Fascinated by Phyllis’s eighty-seven cubic centimeters of air, Georgie vows to help Phyllis and works to bring her and her brother Emmett together. But Georgie realizes that Phyllis has other plans in store for Emmett, and soon Georgie must save Emmett from Phyllis's deception before it is too late.

In this coming-of-age story, Georgie is facing life in a new part of town, having to go to a new school and make all new friends. In addition, most of the things she loves to do that enable her to make friends are forbidden now due to the polio outbreak. Her only human contacts besides her family are Evelyn (the quirky girl she meets at the library) and Phyllis. Georgie first becomes entranced by the romanticism of Phyllis’s life in the iron lung, but her childlike innocence eventually enables her to see through all the lies and deception. There she finds a family who is determined to hang on to what little of their daughter they have left, and a daughter who wants so desperately to be freed from her iron prison, even if it means death. While Georgie’s situation is unique, the feelings she experiences are ones that tweens can relate to—trying to fit in, finding a purpose, living vicariously through older siblings, and wanting what she cannot have.

Boyce, Frank Cottrell. Cosmic. Walden Pond Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0061836831. Ages 9-12.

It’s not Liam’s fault he keeps getting mistaken for an adult—he’s abnormally tall for a twelve-year-old and already has facial hair. And he can’t act his age because everyone says, “He should know better.” So after being mistaken for the father of his friend Florida, Liam decides to try his hand at being an adult. Soon Liam and Florida are on their way to China after winning a father/child contest to be one of the first kids in space, only Liam isn’t a "kid" anymore. So when the dads get to compete to see who gets to join the children on the spaceship, Liam uses his inner child to win the final spot. But all goes wrong once they take off, and Liam finds himself stuck between two worlds once again.

Liam is the quintessential tween—no longer a child but not yet an adult. And even though he is not allowed to do adult things, he keeps getting mistaken for one anyway! Ironically, Liam finds himself viewing life and the world around him as an adult and a father when he chooses to play the role with Florida. And as he finds himself making more adult decisions, he soon comes to admire and appreciate the role that adults and parents play in their children’s lives. Stuck out in the middle of space, Liam manages to find a middle ground between being responsible and “adult-like,” while still allowing himself to embrace not growing up just yet.

Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. ISBN 978-0375831003. Ages 12-14.

Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young orphaned German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her foster family, their neighbors, and the Jewish man they are hiding in their basement in war-torn Munich. But when the Nazis close in on her Jewish friend, Liesel must witness one of the most heart-wrenching and terrifying experiences of the Holocaust.

Though Liesel begins the story as a nine-year-old and we follow her through her childhood, the content of the story is quite complex and full of adult content simplified through the eyes of a child. Tweens interested in learning about Nazi Germany and Holocaust history, as well as those who have ever experienced issues of abandonment and/or finding themselves will enjoy this story. It can be powerful and emotional at times, but extremely rewarding. Death's commentary and Max's drawings add a special touch to the story as a whole.

Westerfeld, Scott. Uglies. Simon Pulse, 2005. ISBN 978-0689865381. Ages 12-14.

In Tally’s world, no one wants to be an Ugly. So that’s why she can’t wait to turn sixteen so she can have the operation that will turn her into a Pretty. But then she meets Shay, an Ugly who would rather run away and rough it on the outside then be turned into a Pretty and move into their superficial world. Soon they meet a whole society of Uglies who inform them about the true intentions behind the Pretty operation. And when they get caught, Tally must make a life-changing decision—turn in her new friend or stay Ugly for the rest of her life.

The author's story provides a social commentary on the need to be flawless in today's society in the style of other dystopian works. Tween readers will initially be intrigued by the idea of becoming a Pretty, but will soon realize that there is more to life than image and that the power of the mind is more important and not something to be given up lightly.

Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. Wendy Lamb Books, 2009. ISBN 978-0385737425. Ages 9-12.

Miranda is your average latchkey child growing up in 1978, and navigating the streets of New York City. But her world starts to turn upside down when her best friend refuses to talk to her, and then she begins receiving anonymous notes talking about things that haven’t even occurred yet. Suddenly, all the pieces begin to fall into place and Miranda sees the big picture. But is it too late to help her anonymous friend accomplish his mission?

Though the book is set in a time period that few tweens will identify with, they most certainly will identify with the central issues addressed by Stead. This remarkable story manages to keep you guessing to the very end, weaving in fantastic ideas of time travel with the everyday relationships of a tween girl. Each of these relationships are dynamic on their own—the partnership she shares with her mother, the curious bond that grows between her and Marcus, the budding friendship with Annemarie, and the seemingly bitter rivalry with Julia—but together they encompass what it truly means to be a tween. Tweens will no doubt identify with this story, traveling through time themselves as they discover the importance of making things right.

Bloor, Edward. London Calling. Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. ISBN 978-0375836350. Ages 10-14.

If anyone has something to be depressed about, it’s Martin Conway. His father is a drunk and a disgrace to the family. His family worships his late grandfather, whom he was named after. And his mother insists on making him attend All Souls Preparatory in order to live up to that namesake. But all Martin really wants to do is sleep. So when he receives his grandmother’s old radio and through it a young boy reaches out to him from the past, Martin is sure he’s going crazy. But fact by fact, every “dream” he experiences checks out. And as the story unfolds, he is asked the all-important question—What did you do to help?

This powerful and moving book not only chronicles a heartbreaking story set in WWII London, but also the story of a young boy who is battling his own demons on several fronts. Besides suffering through the everyday battles of being in middle school, he is dealing with real issues of alcoholism and depression in his family, and surviving a war in his dreams. Martin is a dynamic character, struggling to make sense of the world around him. Bloor does so by illustrating his struggles through vivid flashbacks, where you can almost feel the bombs dropping and smell the fires burning. Together with Martin, tweens will struggle to figure out his purpose, and perhaps walk away from the book wondering what they can do to help as well.

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow. Scholastic, 2005. ISBN 0439353793. Ages 10-14.

This collection of photographs and experiences tells the history of the rise of Hitler and World War II from the perspective of the youth of Germany. From the millions of children who joined the Hitler Youth, to those who opposed Germany’s tyrannical leader and paid for it with their lives, to the German Jews who fought their own battle in the concentration camps—Bartoletti paints the entire picture of what it meant to be a tween or teen growing up in the shadow of Adolf Hitler, and the years of guilt and anguish they have lived with in the aftermath.

Thought provoking and heart wrenching, this unique perspective of World War II places tweens and teens at the heart of history, enabling them to experience it in a way they never have before. Centering on themes of peer pressure and conformity, it celebrates the actions of those who took a stand for what they believed was right. It also gives tweens and teens a sort of empowerment, showing them that they can make a difference in light of any circumstance. Hitler Youth are juxtaposed with staunch protestors and Jewish victims of the war, giving the history of such a troubling time a well-rounded feel. Paired with gritty, untouched photographs and firsthand accounts, this book is a must-read for any history or World War II enthusiast.

Philbrick, Rodman. The Last Book in the Universe. Blue Sky Press, 2000. ISBN 0439087589. Ages 10-14.

In the backtimes, the Big Shake nearly destroyed everything. Now in this post-apocalyptic future, there is no color except grey and brown and normals live in the Urb, trapped amidst violence and despair. Against all odds, Spaz must navigate his way through the Urb’s latches, facing gangs and turf wars in order to reach his ill sister. On the way he meets Lanaya, a proov (or a genetically improved human) who lives in Eden, a paradise that lies off limits at the center of the Urb. With the help of others he meets on the way, Spaz manages to reach his sister safely, where he finds her near death. Together they work to sneak her into Eden so that she might be saved. But will a taste of paradise spoil Spaz’s fight for life in the Urb, or will it drive him to fight for something better?

Spaz exists in a world where normals are uneducated and ignorant of their past, and spend most of their time fighting to stay alive and probing their brains like dope addicts to escape the Urb and experience a taste of Eden. Because Spaz has epilepsy, he is unable to probe and thus has a unique clarity in his understanding of the world around him. It is this clarity that allows him to continue the work of his friend Ryter, to tell the story in the last book in the universe, so that others may know their past and work towards a better future. His ability to turn his disability into an advantage makes for a strong main character, and gives the reader hope when viewing such a desolate future existence.

Phelan, Matt. The Storm in the Barn. Candlewick Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0763636180. Ages 10-14.

Being an eleven-year-old is tough, between dealing with bullies and failing to live up to other’s expectations. But Jack Clark is also facing even greater challenges as he and his family struggle to survive in 1937 Kansas during the Dust Bowl. With one sister sick from the dust and another he can barely keep out of trouble, Jack struggles to be strong for his family and yet hold onto the last fragments of his childhood. With the town fighting to survive and praying for rain, Jack comes face to face with the cause of their severe drought. But is there such a thing as the Storm King? Or has the dust gotten to him as well?

This striking graphic novel of little color and few words beautifully illustrates the role that tweens must play of being in between—in between the world of what is real and what is not, growing up and being a kid, and doing what you are told and following your heart. The story also perfectly melds images of tall tales with a historical thriller, making Jack’s character even more dynamic and unique. For Jack may be living in desperate times, but it is his choice to face adversity and be a hero that makes this story timeless.

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Zen and the Art of Faking It. Scholastic, 2007. ISBN 978-0439837071. Ages 12-14.

When San Lee arrives in his new town, he decides he needs to invent a new identity in order to seem cooler than he really is. And to attract the attention of Woody, who might just be the girl of his dreams. Quite by accident, he decides to fool everyone into thinking he is a reincarnated mystic of Zen Buddhism. And for quite some time, it actually works! But lies have a funny way of turning on you when you least expect it, and when his whole persona blows up in his face, it is up to San to pick up the pieces and make things right with the ones he cares about.

Like most middle schoolers, San is just trying to fit in and find his identity. As an Asian kid in a small Pennsylvania town, he also wants to both fit in and stand out (in a good way, of course). Ironically, in his quest to fool others into believing that he is a Zen mystic, he actually learns quite a bit about himself and the person he wants to be. We also get a glimpse into San’s rocky home life; one that tweens will appreciate and identify with on many levels. Full of ancient wisdom and powerful life lessons, this book has much to offer to the tween population.

Spinelli, Jerry. Stargirl. Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. ISBN 0679886370. Ages 10-14.

Stargirl is one of a kind. From the moment she enters Leo Borlock’s life at Mica High, he is completely enchanted by her. And so are the rest of the students at the school, until one day everyone turns against her for being exactly who she always has been—different. Now Leo is desperate to hold on to both his relationship with Stargirl and his status at school. So he asks her to do the one thing that might just save them both—be normal. But when Stargirl dies and Susan takes her place, everything changes in a way Leo never expected.

This book is a perfect commentary on the social structure of school and the roles tweens and teens play in them. When Stargirl does not fit into any conventional role, she is at first admired and then shunned simply because no one understands her. Her refusal to conform illustrates the importance tweens and teens place on popularity, and how unimportant it really is when compared to everything else in the world around us. Add in a charming tale of a budding first love, and Stargirl offers a high school experience most everyone can relate to.

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. HarperCollins, 2008. ISBN 978-0060530921. Ages 10-14.

In some ways, Nobody Owens (known simply as Bod) is a normal kid like any other. He has a family and friends who love him, teachers who teach him, and freedom from the burdens of the real world. But that is where normal ends. Raised by ghosts in a graveyard after his family is brutally murdered, Bod grows from toddler to teen in a world of ghouls and witches, spirits and hellhounds. As he experiences one adventure after another, he can’t help but wish for a “normal” life outside the graveyard full of school, friends, and the living. But the graveyard is the only safe place for Bod, who continues to be hunted down by a man known only as “Jack,” the same man who killed his family and is determined to finish the job once and for all. It will take great courage, cunning and the help of the only family he has ever known to defeat Jack once and for all, allowing Bod to finally be freed from life as a child amongst the dead and enter the world of the living as a young man.

Griffin, Adele. Amandine. Hyperion, 2001. ISBN 0786806184. Ages 12-14.

Delia Blaine is the new girl in town, her weight issues and insecurities made worse by her parents’ insistence that she make friends and not “play the loner.” So when she meets the over-the-top, larger-than-life Amandine, her parents couldn’t be happier. And neither can Delia—at least a first. But as Amandine drags Delia down into her crazy world of fantasy and games, Delia begins to see the cracks in the character that is Amandine. She begins to see her for what she truly is—damaged and disturbed. Amandine is a product of an unstable environment, one that begins to frighten Delia away. But when Delia finally decides to distance herself from Amandine, it is then that the true Amandine rears her ugly head. Now Delia must face her fears and stand strong as the world she and Amandine have built up around them comes crashing down. Amandine is a story like no other, addressing everyday tween issues while juxtaposing them with serious mental and personality disorders. She is the epitome of the damage that can be done by one young girl with a vivid imagination and a need for revenge.

Riordan, Rick. The Red Pyramid. Hyperion Books, 2010. ISBN 978-1423113386. Ages 9-12.

Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane have grown up apart since their mother died six years earlier. But when their Egyptian archaeologist father sacrifices himself to bring the ancient gods back into power, they are forced to work together to defeat the evil god Set who has imprisoned their father and seeks to destroy the world. Along the way, Carter and Sadie develop allies and defeat enemies with the help of the gods Horus and Isis who have taken host within them. So begins an adventurous race from New York to Phoenix, AZ where two siblings must sacrifice everything they hold dear for the greater good. And as an even greater, unseen enemy stirs, Carter and Sadie come face to face with a sacrifice neither was prepared to make.

The first book in the Kane Chronicles, The Red Pyramid does for Egyptology what Percy Jackson and the Olympians did for Greek mythology. Chock full of history and mythology, Riordan entices young minds with a what-if scenario where ancient Egypt collides with modern day society—where magic is real and the fate of the world lies in the hands of young children. His juxtaposition of Carter, an awkward, dark-skinned 14-year-old, with Sadie, a bitter and abandoned, fair-haired 12-year-old, makes their ultimate journey of becoming a team that more rich and rewarding. Because at the heart of the story are two children who have lost their parents, and turn to one another for support and friendship when all seems lost. That alone would feel like the end of the world, but our heroes find the strength within themselves and one another to do what is right, and not what is easy. This series should speak to tweens much like Riordan’s previous works, offering strong characters who are easy to root for, and more importantly relate to.