Cunningham, David L. (Director). (2007). The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising [Motion picture]. United States: Twentieth Century Fox. Ages 9-14.

The seventh son of a seventh son, Will Stanton finds out that he is The Seeker on his fourteenth birthday. Meant to restore the balance between light and dark, he is challenged to find six signs hidden throughout time. With these signs in his possession he will obtain the power to defeat the Rider, who is gaining the power necessary to destroy the Light. With the help of the Old Ones, Will takes on the Rider in a final battle of Light versus Dark, and consequently restores his family as well. Loosely based on the second book in Susan Cooper’s popular series.

Harrison, John Kent. (Director). (2003). A Wrinkle In Time [Motion picture]. United States: Disney. Ages 9-14.

When their father goes missing, Meg and Charles Wallace are certain that he is somewhere and needs to be found. Together with a neighbor friend named Calvin, they embark on a magnificent journey through the universe and time in search of him, with the help of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which. They find him on a distant planet controlled by IT, a pulsating brain-like creature living beneath the surface. But when Charles Wallace is taken under IT’s control, it is up to Meg to save Charles Wallace and bring her family back together again. Based on the Newbery medal-winning book by Madeleine L’Engle.

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.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Found (The Missing: Book 1). Simon & Schuster, 2008. ISBN 978-1416954170. Ages 9-12.

Thirteen years ago a plane full of babies appeared out of nowhere, then later disappeared without a trace. Now Jonah and his friend Chip, who are both adopted, are getting anonymous messages and warnings telling them they are “one of the missing.” Along with Jonah's sister Katherine, they vow to solve the mystery. Were they two of the babies from the plane? And if so, where did they come from? And who is sending the mysterious messages? Find out in Found, the first book in Haddix’s exciting new series—The Missing.