Older Kids - Best of 2025

"Born during the throes of World War I, Pocket was designed to fit into the pocket of a soldier's jacket, eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that he always gazed upward. That way, when the soldier glanced at his pocket, he would see an endearing token of love from someone back home, and, hopefully, a good luck charm. Now, over a century later, Pocket serves as unofficial leader of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where stuffed...

"Rick Kotani is looking forward to spending the entire summer playing baseball. Sure, his team never wins, but he's been practicing a special pitch he knows is going to land him a 400-million-dollar major-league contract . . . someday. That all changes when his mother throws a curveball of her own: Instead of playing ball in California, Rick will be heading to Oregon to help keep an eye on Grandpa Hiroshi while they move him to a retirement home....

When Caro Monday's mother disappears on one of her jaunts across the globe, Caro is forced to stay with her miserable great-aunt all the way across town. To make matters worse, Caro's beloved rabbit, His Nibs, isn't allowed to come with her. Of course, Caro sneaks him into her aunt's strict household anyway. Although Caro's wild behavior exasperates her dour aunt, she never dreamed of the trouble she finds herself in when she discovers a small painting...

Young Feather ventures into the dangerous Forest in pursuit of a stranger who stole her people's precious spyglass.

"A narrative nonfiction account that explores how Mount Tambora's eruption in 1815 affected the global climate and inspired Mary Shelley's work"-- Provided by publisher.

"No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale's thing is fencing. She's the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was--until the accident. After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it's much harder than before. Her body doesn't move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new numberone: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can't accept that. But the harder...

Jackie and her friend Milo deal with all the pressures of other kids' everyday life as they begin middle school.

A Quiet Place meets Cormac McCarthy's The Road in this intense YA horror read. The world has been overrun by hitherto unknown beasts. Society has collapsed: the power is gone, cars are abandoned across the highways, and anyone left is hiding from the terrifying creatures-and each other. Thirteen-year-old Abdi and his five-year-old sister Alva are on the run, their last hope to escape through the forest and to the sea. As they recall the strange...

In this sequel to Maggie Lou, Firefox, the irrepressible Maggie Lou acquires a new cousin, and a horse - both of whom have minds of their own. When Uncle Bobby gets married, Maggie Lou suddenly finds herself with a new cousin, Rosie. Rosie is the same age as Maggie. She also has a fabulous head of curls, although hers are red. And Rosie knows everything about horses and riding - something Maggie Lou has longed to do. A rivalry sparks between the...

Narrator Albert Einstein takes kids through time--literally. Measuring time is explored, from the stone circles and giant pyramids of ancient cultures to hourglasses and sundials to early time pieces and watches to atomic clocks. This explains why there are 12 months a year, 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute. And seven days in the week. From Stonehenge to Greenwich Mean Time to James Hutton's Deep Time, the book...