Beil, Michael D. The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. ISBN 978-0375848148. Ages 9-12.

After Sophie sees the ghostly face in the church window next to their private school, she and her friends Margaret and Rebecca are quickly swept up in a mystery involving an eccentric old lady who has found a mysterious birthday card addressed to her estranged daughter containing the first of several clues in an elaborate scavenger hunt. With the help of some good friends and a pretty cool teacher, the girls work together to solve puzzles involving everything from religion to literature (and even math!), in the hopes of finding the treasure at the end before several other suspicious characters get their hands on it first. But will it be enough to bring a broken family together again? And can the girls do it without getting expelled—or even arrested?

Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2004. ISBN 0399238611. Ages 9-12.

It’s 1935, and one of the country’s most infamous mob bosses, Al Capone, is behind bars on Alcatraz Island. 12-year-old Moose Flanagan and his family move from Santa Monica to the island where his dad gets a job at the prison so they can send his older autistic sister Natalie to a special school in San Francisco. But when Natalie doesn’t get into the school, Moose has to give up baseball and after school activities in order to take care of her, and her eccentric and occasional difficult ways make life hard for Moose. But when he befriends the warden’s troublemaking daughter and the other children living on the island, he soon finds himself involved in an elaborate moneymaking scheme that has some surprising results.

Fritz, Jean. Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution. Illustrated by Tomie dePaola. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1987. ISBN 978-0399214035. Ages 9-11.

Fritz brings to life the Constitutional Convention and all the drama that it entailed in this historically accurate account of the founding of our nation and its government.  As the country moved from thirteen colonies to “We The People,” much conflict and disagreement occurred between those who were for the national government and those who were for individual states. While the content could be dry and overwhelming, Fritz brings an element of excitement to the creation of our country’s very foundation—its government.  Young readers will enjoy the subtle humor and lightheartedness of the text, while older readers can supplement the text with the complete Constitution included in the back of the book.

Sis, Peter. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. ISBN 978-0374347017. Ages 9-12.

Growing up during the Cold War in Soviet-ruled Czechoslovakia, the author tells the story of his life behind the Iron Curtain, where children were taught to report their parents to authorities, anything deemed Western or American was forbidden, and many longed to be free. This book exists on several reading levels—there is the simple story at the bottom of the page that complements the author’s illustrations, and then there are the additional blurbs and comments written throughout the story that give it much more depth and meaning for more advanced readers.  While younger readers may not fully comprehend the story in its entirety the first time through, as they grasp the story’s meaning they can reread it with the additional commentary and get a better picture of the story as a whole.

MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah, Plain and Tall. HarperCollins, 1985. ISBN 978-0064402057. Ages 9-12.

When Caleb and Anna’s father puts an ad in the paper for a wife (his first wife died when Caleb was born), the children are beside themselves with anticipation and fear. But when Sarah arrives from Maine to their plain prairie life, Caleb and Anna begin to wonder if she is too good to be true, and whether her longing for the sea will take her from them forever. Written for younger tweens, this short book can easily be read and understood by reluctant readers and those just starting to read chapter books. However, some children may need guidance with the concept of the death of a parent, as well as the historical implications of the time period with regard to advertising for a new wife.

Tripp, Valerie. Meet Kit, an American Girl. American Girl Publishing, 2000. ISBN 978-1584850168. Ages 9-12.

Living during the Great Depression hasn’t truly affected Kit, until her father is forced to shut down his car sales business and the family resorts to taking in boarders to help pay the bills. While Kit is upset at first at how unfair the circumstances are, she soon realizes that changes can also be good. Kit is an adventurous young girl, full of life and excitement. Since the content and historical implications of the story are simplified, younger tweens will be able to fully comprehend the significance of living during a time such as the Great Depression. The American Girl series, geared more towards girls, is also a wonderful blend of both fiction and non-fiction, history in particular.

Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House in the Big Woods. HarperCollins, 1932. ISBN 978-0060581800. Ages 9-12.

The first book in the chronicles of the Ingalls family, Little House in the Big Woods tells of the family’s first home in a log cabin in the wild woods of Wisconsin. In a simple life surrounded by nature and not another house or town for miles, Laura and her family must rely on nature, their faith, and each other in order to survive and thrive. Younger tweens will delight in this timeless series as the reader is drawn into the simple life of the Ingalls family. Though the length and few illustrations throughout can be intimidating for reluctant readers and those new to chapter books, taken in steps the story can be enjoyed in small parts, especially the stories that Pa tells the girls about growing up and other adventures.

Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki, and Houston, James D. Farewell to Manzanar. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1973. ISBN 0913374040. Ages 9-14.

The true story of one spirited Japanese American family's attempt to survive the indignities of forced detention, and of a native-born American child who discovered what it was like to grow up behind barbed wire in the United States. This true story offers a real look at Japanese Internment during World War II, but does so through a child's eyes, simplifying the experience in some ways. The content can be more appropriate for older tweens at times, dealing with issues like death and alcoholism. Tweens will identify with Jeanne's struggle to be herself when her family tells her it’s one thing and society tells her it’s another.

Bray, Libba. A Great and Terrible Beauty. Delacorte Press, 2003. ISBN 0385732317. Ages 12-14.

After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend a finishing school where she become aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world. The author creates a seamless blend of historical and fantasy fiction, drawing readers into a world where powerful young women are deeply contrasted against the role of the Victorian woman. Unlike the society in which she lives, the Realms allow Gemma the ability to control and shape her destiny, and use her power to change the fates of others. Tween girls will relate to the story's four young women and find a little piece of themselves in each of them.

Updale, Eleanor. Montmorency. Orchard Books, 2004. ISBN 0439580358. Ages 10-14.

In Victorian London, after his life is saved by a young physician, a thief utilizes the knowledge he gains in prison and from scientific lectures he attends as the physician's case study exhibit to create a new, highly successful, double life for himself. In this tale of thievery and deceit, tweens will be drawn to the main character's desire to reinvent himself, and eventually turn away from his life of crime to one of luxury and good. The author creates a level of intrigue with her portrayal of his dual personalities, and shows Montmorency as he progresses into a mindset where he can use his skills as a thief for the greater good.

Pullman, Philip. The Ruby in the Smoke. Dell Laurel-Leaf, 1985. ISBN 0394895894. Ages 12-14.

In nineteenth-century London, sixteen-year-old Sally, a recent orphan, becomes involved in a deadly search for a mysterious ruby. Though Sally's quest to find her father's murder and solve the mystery of the ruby is a fantastic one set in unfamiliar times, tweens will identify with Sally's need to discover the truth and find her place in a world she has been thrust into all alone. Tweens will also enjoy the book's seamless blending of mystery, adventure, and historical fiction. While there is mild drug use, it is portrayed in a negative and harmful light.

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.

Scott, Michael. The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Delacorte Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0385733571. Ages 10-14.

Josh never expected so much excitement and adventure when he took a job at Nick Fleming’s bookshop. One minute he’s searching for a book on the shelves, and the next minute he discovers his boss is the famed Alchemyst Nicholas Flamel. Soon he and his twin sister Sophie are caught up in a whirlwind of magic, creatures and immortal beings, and follow Flamel on a dangerous path to rescue his wife from the clutches of the evil John Dee, as well as discover their true magical potential.

Herman, Mark. (Director). (2008). The Boy in the Striped Pajamas [Motion picture]. United States: Miramax Films. Ages 13-14.

After Bruno’s soldier father receives a promotion in Nazi Germany, Bruno and his family move to the country. Cooped up and bored, Bruno begins to explore the surrounding area where he sees farmers working in their pajamas, and befriends a young Jewish boy named Shmuel behind an electrified wire fence. Young and naïve, Bruno believes that the fence is up for Shmuel’s protection. Then one day Bruno decides to help Shmuel find his missing father by stealing into the camp disguised in a pair of Shmuel’s pajamas, with horrifyingly tragic results. Based on the bestselling young adult novel by John Boyne.

Davis, Andrew. (Director). (2003). Holes [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures. Ages 10-14.

The Yelnats family has been subject to bad luck ever since an ancient family curse fell upon them, and Stanley Yelnats IV is no stranger to it. Wrongfully accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake where he and his fellow campmates must each dig one hole a day. Though the staff says that digging holes builds character, Stanley believes that they are actually digging for something. And when he finds it, all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together and generations of history rights itself as Stanley breaks the Yelnats curse. Based on Louis Sachar's Newbery medal-winning book.

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.

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.

Balliett, Blue. The Danger Box. Scholastic, 2010. ISBN 978-0439852098. Ages 9-12.

Zoomy Chamberlain is not your ordinary name, and with his pathological myopia (he's legally blind, you see) and coke bottle lenses, he's not your average twelve year old either. But he does live a pretty ordinary life with his grandparents in the small town of Three Oaks, Michigan. That is, until his good-for-nothing drunk of a father returns to town and stirs up trouble with a mysterious, stolen box that he leaves behind. Soon Zoomy and his friend Lorrol are plunged into a mystery involving a missing book and a dangerous stranger who will stop at nothing to get his hands on it. Whose book is it, you ask? Well, Zoomy, Lorrol and their new friend Gas would love to tell you, but you’ll just have to read it first to find out.

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.

Lee, Tony & Hart, Sam. Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood. Candlewick Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0763643997. Ages 12-14.

In this graphic novel retelling of the legend of Robin Hood, Robin of Loxley begins as a child in awe of famed outlaw William Stutely. His father, Patrick of Loxley, Earl of Huntington, devotes his life to teaching Robin to be the very best archer. Twelve years later, Robin returns from fighting by King Richard’s side in the Crusades to avenge his father’s murder. Seeing the injustice that Prince John has subjected his beloved country to, he dons the name of “outlaw” and sets up camp in Sherwood Forest. Together with the help of his men, he steals from the rich to give back to the poor and wins the heart of the fair Maid Marian in the process.