It's here! Browse the 2024 Penguin Christmas gift guide

Books for 9 – 12-year-olds

Adventure, comedy, mystery: there’s something to entertain every child when it comes to books. Fantasy-lovers can get lost in the world of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials books, Struan Murray’s Orphans of the Tide, The Uncommoners series by Jennifer Bell and the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan, while those looking for a laugh will love Katie Kirby’s Lottie Brooks books. For adventure and magic, Terry Pratchett’s The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents will delight and challenge, while Robin StevensMurder Most Unladylike series is perfect for mystery fans. Whatever children are looking for, they’ll find it in a book.

Latest books

Funny stories

View more
An image showing a selection of adventure stories for 9-12 year olds on a bright yellow background with orange doodles that include a hashtag, flag, danger sign and speech bubble

Reading list

16 books for 9 to 12-year-olds that love adventures

From space-obsessed kids to half-gods, would-be witches and talented magicians, the characters in these stories will take any young adventurer on the most unforgettable of journeys…

Learn more

Fantasy

View more

Action & adventure

View more
A selection of Rick Riordan's books on a faded pink and blue background

Reading list

Where to start with Rick Riordan’s books

From Norse and Greek mythology to the legends of Ancient Egypt, dicover where you should start with Rick Riordan’s imaginative worlds.

Learn more

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more