How to Find Engaging Books for Your Advanced Reader Plus 2021 Book List for Tween Girls (ages 10-12)

Do you have a child that needs a book to read like they need air? I love having a reader in the home. She raises the bar for the rest of us. My struggle is that she has read all of the “good ones” I have thrown her way and is “forced” to reread books on her shelf. Because she cannot NOT read. As your child gets older, it can be challenging to find age-appropriate books for your advanced reader. Things get particularly tricky as you enter the tween years. So how do I find books great for my advanced reader?

1. Familiarize yourself with booklists

As soon as my oldest started reading on her own I began to do my homework. I scoured book lists for names and titles that would repeatedly pop up. When I see a book on several lists, I know it has good potential. On the flip side, if I find a book that I have NOT seen before on a list, I take notice if it is a respected source. When you find that you have read most of the books on the list, you start to look for the lists that have unique suggestions. By doing this leg work BEFORE hitting the thrift store or library, it becomes easier to recognize titles that are likely to be a great book for your child.

2. Build your home library

This goes with tip one, because like I said, if you know what to look for, you can be ready to snatch up some amazing finds at the thrift store or book sale. Choose favorites and classics that will likely be read over and over, either by one child or multiple children in your household. Check out books from the library first to see if they are worth purchasing or rereading. Build slowly over time. It can be helpful to buy ahead. Have a small stack of books at the ready for your child to “grow into,” especially if you find them for super cheap or free. You can save a ton of money buying used books. I am always amazed by what people get rid of and it almost feels like I am “rescuing” them.

3. Keep a list of books you own

If buying second-hand you might be buying books of a series piecemeal. By keeping a list of what you already have makes it easier to know what books you still need or avoid buying duplicates. Likewise, keeping a wishlist of books to look for is just as handy if you don’t want to track the books you have already. Find a method that works best for you, written down in a spreadsheet, a notebook, or on your phone. The Libby app is a great option to keep your library list handy on your phone when you are out and about. It even has “scanning” capability with your phone and the barcode of the book for quick entry. My kids fight over using the scanner and playing librarian!

4. Look for books that are part of a series

If your child loves the first book in the series, this can often lead to several more great books to quickly add to your list. Did you know that The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time are each part of a series? Check out the list below for more suggestions.

5. Get book recommendations from the library

Check out your local library website, look for lists posted inside the library, or go “old school” and ask a librarian! Bonus points for teaching your child these research skills and have them come up with their own list of books to check out. Starting with your favorite books so far can help a lot. Under the description section of a loved book may be other titles by the same author or related books your child may also enjoy.

6. Ask friends for book recommendations

Friends often have similar tastes but also may have encountered different book titles. Coordinate a book swap with friends, where you swap favorite book titles or actual books. Talk to your mom-friends as well for ideas, or put a search out on social media.

7. Check out book lists of classic books, living books, and award winners

They are called classics for a reason, they have stood the test of time. Awards such as the Newbery Award are also a great place to find well-renowned works of literature that often become “classics.” Newbury books also often fall into the older elementary age group, which is perfect for the tween demographic. Don’t forget to check out the Newbery Honors books, as well!

“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”
C.S. Lewis

8. Find sites dedicated to recommending good books

Read Aloud Revival is a favorite resource to find reviews of some more recently published books. While we love the classics, there are also tons of new books that are just as fantastic. Go here for middle-grade novels.

9. Read Book Reviews

Book reviews not only can verify suitable content but also help you find similar book recommendations. Two places I often look at for book reviews are Goodreads and Amazon. Because they are well-known popular sites, they tend to also have the most reviews written. This helps you get a pretty good overview of content and quality for any book you might be considering. In addition, Don’t forget to look for “related content” or other books recommended on these sites as well! Amazon and Goodreads are well-populated with reviews.

Find out how to find age-appropriate books for your tween.

Skip to download List of 2021 Books for Tweens