Inspiring biographies, twist-filled mysteries, exciting history—all genres that delight and enrich curious young minds. But when it comes to your child exploring every colorful emotion swirling and stirring inside them, fiction is where the heart can wander far and wide.
From superhero tales to magical flowers, fiction opens the doors to all things possible and impossible. These imaginary tales will stretch their minds to empathize, learning more about themselves and their world through rich characters and fresh adventures. To make reading a place where anything and everything can happen, start with this list of best fiction books for kids.
Frindle
Tree. Soup. Armchair. What’s in a word? And where exactly do they come from? When class jester Nick Allen asks his teacher those questions, he ignites the inspiration for his best prank yet: Frindle, his clever new word for a pen. Soon enough, his hometown catches onto his inventive vocabulary, making Nick a hometown hero. But things get a little out of hand when frindle makes waves across the county. Can young Nick truly change the dictionary by the seat of his leg sleeves? A hilarious and imaginative adventure, Frindle dares your elementary school reader to make their mark in permanent ink.
The Last Cuentista
Petra Peña has always dreamed of being a storyteller, una narradora, just like her Abuelita. But when a comet crashes into Earth, Petra and all remaining humans must take a space-bound quest to a new planet—one that’s far from paradise. What’s worse, an evil Collective wipes the memories of passengers, making Petra the only person who can remember humanity’s time on Earth. Can she share the stories of the past to save their future? Part science fiction, part cultural celebration, The Last Cuentista tells us that home isn’t our location—it’s where our love flourishes. Your middle-school reader will practice the power of storytelling and abstract thinking with this title as they graduate to more young-adult fiction.
Stuntboy in the Meantime
Science was always Natalie’s favorite class. So when she learns about an egg drop competition, she jumps at the chance to win prize money with her keen smarts. Finally, she’ll be able to soothe her botanist mother’s depression by taking her to see the Cobalt Blue Orchids—flowers with the power to flourish in almost any condition. But Natalie learns that perhaps joy needs more than flowers to blossom. With incredible empathy, The Science of Breakable Things is one of the best fiction books for readers working on their literary mood discernment skills. This uplifting novel will enrich your 8- to 12-year-old’s understanding of hope, support, and love.
The Science of Breakable Things
Science was always Natalie’s favorite class. So when she learns about an egg drop competition, she jumps at the chance to win prize money with her keen smarts. Finally, she’ll be able to soothe her botanist mother’s depression by taking her to see the Cobalt Blue Orchids—flowers with the power to flourish in almost any condition. But Natalie learns that perhaps joy needs more than flowers to blossom. With incredible empathy, The Science of Breakable Things is one of the best fiction books for readers working on their literary mood discernment skills. This uplifting novel will enrich your 8- to 12-year-old’s understanding of hope, support, and love.
The Season of Styx Malone
Despite his love of exploring with his brother Bobby Gene, Caleb Franklin itches for something more. That more turns out to be Styx Malone, Caleb’s new neighbor, who’s so cool he doesn’t need sunscreen. Soon enough, Styx convinces Caleb and Bobby Gene to join him on his Great Escalator Trade—a mischievous game of swapping items in stores. But there’s more to this trade game than Styx is letting on. Thrilling and insightful, The Season of Styx Malone is a diverse coming-of-age book with plenty of heart. Middle-school readers will discover the importance of trust, intuition, and metaphorical language through Caleb’s relatable journey.
Other Words for Home
Goodbye, Syria, hello… Cincinnati? In this poetic novel, a young Jude leaves her family in Syria to live with relatives in Ohio. Her first impression of the American midwest? Head-scratching perplexion. Why do they put chili on spaghetti? And why do people keep calling her “Middle Eastern?” While navigating the relatable trials of moving to a new place, Jude learns that home is wherever you want it to be—as long as you stay true to yourself. A Newbery Honor Book, Other Words for Home infuses beauty, delicacy, and heart into a tale of immigration, family, and diversity. In its poetry, young readers will learn to find the cultural touchstones that define their sense of self.
Nurture a Fiction Fan with Literati Book Clubs
Fiction is more than make-believe. It’s believing that life is what you make it. With relatable characters they’d call friends, mind-stretching new words, and engaging visual language, these fiction books help young readers build empathy, imagination, and advanced vocabulary. From backyard adventures to space-bound quests, our best fiction books can help your little one’s inner magic shine through.
Ready to help them craft a narrative of their own? Plot a path toward literary love with the Literati Kids Book Club. We’ll send bunches of our favorite books customized to their skill level and tastes sure to support their reading journey. Kick off the first chapter with our personalization quiz.
