Books to Gift Tweens

 

When it comes to buying gifts for kids, many of us are left stumped. What are they into? What do they expect to get from us? In the end, we resign ourselves to books, and risk the fate of being "that boring friend of Mom's" or "that uncle that just gives encyclopedias."

What if I told you there was a way to get those kids books without being branded as lame? 

In this post I've compiled a list of eight compelling and highly rated books that you can gift tweens the next time you meet. We've all heard of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, so let me refresh you with a whole new array of great novels for young readers. Time to get bookish!

1. The 13th Reality by James Dashner

link to goodreads

The 13th Reality is a series of four fantasy novels written by James Dashner, author of the insanely famous The Maze Runner series. It follows the adventures of Atticus Higginbottom, a thirteen year old boy whose life is slowly upended when he starts receiving anonymous cryptic letters in his mailbox, informing him of a terrible fate of death and destruction, alongside twelve stupefying riddles that promise him answers.

I enjoyed this series immensely as a tween. The artfully depicted characters and high stakes battles had me itching to pick up the books every minute of the day.

2. Frost by M. P. Kozlowsky

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Frost by M. P. Kozlowsky is a horrifically beautiful standalone set in a dystopian world dominated by rogue robots and Eaters, a world where human life is considered a luxury. The story follows sixteen year old Frost, who spends her days in an abandoned apartment building, guided and protected by her father, whose consciousness had long ago been uploaded into their robot assistant. Her only living companion is her pet, but with her pet sick and her father fading in and out on the computer screen, Frost is compelled to make the perilous journey across her ravaged city to find medicine. However, for a girl who has known the world only through dusty books and cracked windows, who has seen few to no other human beings her entire life, can she really make it in such a damaged world?

I personally enjoyed the way the author imagined how the world could end up after humanity's fall. The  cruelty of Frost's world strikes readers' not because of its magnitude or horror, but because deep down we know exactly what terrors mankind is capable of.

3. The Magic of the Lost Temple by Sudha Murty

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The story follows the riveting adventures of city girl Nooni when she arrives at her grandparents' village in Karnataka. From papad making to newfound friends, Nooni quickly adjusts to village life. However, her quiet countryside vacation takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles across an old fabled stepwell in the forest. 

I loved the realistic depiction of village life and the thrill of Nooni's adventure. Her enthusiasm about almost everything resonated in my heart and kept me engaged throughout the book.

4. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

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Siblings Kendra and Seth are finally allowed to visit the grandparents they hardly know on their large property. However, they are oblivious to the fact that their grandfather is current caretaker of Fablehaven, a huge sanctuary for mystical beings of all kinds. One of the last strongholds for true magic, danger soon unleashes, with Kendra and her brother caught right in the middle. Thrust with the challenge of saving the world from evil, it is up to them to set things right, and protect magic from extinction.

The daring adventures and plethora of unique characters in this series had me mesmerised from the start. The diverse magic system was complete with its engaging lore and I loved the way the characters navigated all its twists and turns.

5.  Artemis Fowl

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An action packed storyline featuring a twelve year-old criminal mastermind and dangerous fairies with unbelievably advanced technology, what happens when the oblivious humans living above finally manage to capture a fairy living below? This series of eight books is perfect for fans of hidden societies, kid geniuses and an awesome blend of magic and science.

I absolutely loved the humour and daring of Artemis Fowl. Both his villainy and his empathy had me obsessed with his fate in every installment.

6. The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen

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When defiant orphan Sage is dragged away from his orphanage by a shady nobleman named Connor and forced to compete for the role of of a fake prince, he must navigate a treacherous path of politics, schemes and danger as he learns to impersonate the king's long lost son. Alas, it is not quite as easy: civil war is brewing in the kingdom, and with unrest and violence rampant, how much power can a puppet prince, that too a fake, possibly wield?

I found this series to be a perfect blend of fantasy kingdoms and friendship, and I had fun following all the insane adventures of its main character.

7. The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr

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 Eleven year-old Edie is sent to Knight's Haddon, a prestigious boarding school, with a mission:

keep an eye on Anastasia, the daughter of a Russian prince. All is going well when Anastasia's beloved glass bird goes missing, and with nobody at the school being as they seem, Edie's spy skills, and her friendship, are put to the test. 

I was addicted to these two books, not just for the mystery but also how awesomely the author weaved the friendship between Edie and Anastasia.

8.  His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

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What would you do if your best friend was abducted and taken far North, to an unforgiving land ruled by powerful witches, armored bears and Gobblers? 

When headstrong teen Lyra decides to pursue her kidnapped friend Roger, she unravels a series of events that will not just decide her fate, but the world's.

His Dark Materials is a series of three groundbreaking novels that test the boundaries of readers' imaginations. The author's unique perspective of other possible worlds and their intricate workings kept me hooked. I loved how each one of Lyra's adventures bled into the next and culminated in a world- changing, bittersweet ending.