Is your 12-year-old a bookworm? Find the best free books for your child without spending a dime with the well-selected list of 20 free online books for 12-year-olds.
At 12 years of age, your child will experience a lot of emotional and physical changes. Most female children go through a lot of physical changes and emotional changes as a result of puberty. This is why it is advisable to expose your child to the best age-appropriate books.
Reading is one of the best ways for your children to gain valuable knowledge and it also keeps them entertained.
If you’re looking for a way to distract your children from watching TVs, then get them books that are appropriate for their age.
Table of Contents
What Types of Books are appropriate for 12-Year-Olds?
A 12-year-old child should read books appropriate for his or her age. Finding an age-appropriate book shouldn’t be difficult, all you have to do is match your child’s age to the publisher’s recommended age.
For instance, a 12-year-old child can read books in the age group of 9 to 12.
Children’s books should not contain violence, sex, or drugs contents. It should rather preach against those things. A 12-year-old can read books in these categories: middle grade, coming-of-age, young adult, children’s graphic novel, children’s fantasy e.t.c.
Best Websites to Find Free Online Books for ChildrenÂ
In case, you are clueless about where to get free books for your children, we have gathered some of the best websites to find free online books for children, which include:
- Free Kids Books
- International Children’s Digital Library
- Open Library
- Internet Archive
- OxfordOwlÂ
- Barnes & Noble Free Nook BooksÂ
- Amazon Free Kids eBooksÂ
- Project Gutenberg
- FreeEbooks.net
- Manybooks.
20 Free Online Books for 12-Year-Olds
Below is a list of the 20 free online books for 12-year-olds:
- Touching Spirit Bear
- The Crossover
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
- The Hobbit
- The Maze Runner
- Front Desk
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians Thief
- Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase
- Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone
- Sisters
- The Dumbest Idea Ever!
- A Christmas Carol
- The Lost Hero
- The Call of the Wild
- Wonder
- The Imaginary Friend
- Ghosts
- Diary of a Young Girl
- The Care of Keeping of You 2.
#1. Touching Spirit BearÂ
Author: Ben Mikaelsen
Genre(s): Realistic Fiction, Coming-of-age, Young Adult
Publication Date: January 9, 2001
Touching Spirit Bear is about Cole Matthews, a fifteen-year-old boy, who is in big trouble after beating up Alex Driscal. Instead of going to jail, Cole agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the native American Circle.
Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan Island, where his encounter with a huge white spirit bear changes his life.
#2. The Crossover
Author: Kwame Alexander
Genre(s): Young Adult
Publication Date: March 18, 2014
The Crossover follows the life experiences of John Bell, a twelve-year-old basketball player. John has a healthy strong relationship with his twin brother, Jordan Bell, who is also a basketball player.
The arrival of a new girl at school threatens the relationship between the twins.
In 2015, The Crossover won the Newberry Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor for Children’s literature.
#3. The Girl Who Drank the MoonÂ
Author: Kelly Barnhill
Genre(s): Children’s Fantasy, Middle Grade
Publication Date: 9 August 2016
The Girl Who Drank the Moon tells the story of Luna, a young girl who is accidentally enmagicked because she was fed moonlight.
As Luna grows and her thirteenth birthday approaches, she struggles to control her magic power which may have dangerous consequences.
#4. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Author: Chris Grabenstein
Genre(s): Mystery, Middle Grade, Young Adult
Publication Date: 25 June 2013
A millionaire game designer, Luigi Lemoncello built a new library in the town of Alexandriaville, Ohio, after the old library was destroyed 12 years ago.
For the library’s grand opening, Kyle (the main character) and other 11 twelve-year-old children were invited to spend a night in the library.
The next morning, the door remains closed, and they have to play a survivor type of game to escape from the library. The winner will get to star in Lemoncello’s game commercials and win other prizes.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library has received a lot of positive reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly e.t.c. The novel was also the 2013 winner of the Agatha Award for Best Children’s/Young Adult Novel
#5. The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R Tolkien
Genre(s): Children’s Fantasy
Publication Date: 21 September 1937
The Hobbit follows the story of Bilbo Baggins, a peaceful and home-loving Hobbit, who has to leave his comfort zone to help a group of dwarves reclaim their treasure from a dragon called Smaug.
#6. The Maze RunnerÂ
Author: James Dashner
Genre(s): Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction
Publication Date: 6 October 2009
The Maze Runner is the first book released in The Maze Runner series, followed by The Scorch Trials.
This book centers around Thomas, who wakes up in a maze with no memory of his past. Thomas and his new friends try to find a way out of the Maze.
#7. Front Desk
Author: Kelly Yang
Genre(s): Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade
Publication Date: May 29, 2018
Front Desk centers around Mia Tang, a ten-year-old girl working with her parents at a motel. Mia and her parents are not appreciated by the motel owner, Mr. Yao, because they are immigrants.
The Story is based on immigrants, poverty, racism, bullying, and family. It is a must-read for children.
Front Desk won an award from Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature in the “Children’s Literature” category in 2019.
#8. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre(s): Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: 28 June 2005
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is the first book in the Percy Jackson & Olympians series. The book wins the Adult Library Services Association Best Books for Young Adults and other awards.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief tells the story of Percy Jackson, a troubled twelve-year-old boy, who is diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD.
#9. Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase
Author: Jonathan Stroud
Genre(s): Supernatural, Thriller
Publication Date: 29 August 2013
The Screaming Staircase centers on Lucy Carlyle, who escaped to London after a paranormal investigation she was working on went wrong. Lucy started working for Anthony Lockwood, who runs a paranormal investigation agency called Lockwood & Co.
In 2015, The Screaming Staircase won Mystery Winters of America’s Edger Awards (Best Juvenile).
#10. Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre(s): Fantasy
Publication Date: 26 June 1997
Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone is the first book in the Harry Potter series, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The story centers around Harry Potter, a young wizard who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards.
Harry Potter was accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he makes close friends that will help him discover the truth about his parents’ deaths.
#11. Sisters
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Autobiography, Non-Fiction.
Publication Date: 21 August 2014
Sisters details a family road trip taken from San Francisco to Denver by Raina’s family and focuses on the relationship between Raina and her younger sister, Amara.
#12. The Dumbest Idea Ever!
Author: Jimmy Gownley
Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Publication Date: 25 February 2014
The Dumbest Idea Ever! centers around how Jimmy, a brilliant student and basketball star discovers his passion for making comics.
This graphic novel focuses on the dumbest idea that changes the life of Jimmy Gownley, a renowned comics creator. It is the real-life story of the author’s life.
#13. A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
Genre(s): Classics; Fiction
Publication Date: 19 December 1843
A Christmas Carol is about Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean-spirited, miserly old man who hates Christmas. After he was visited by the ghost of his former business partner, the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, Scrooge changed from a miserly man to a kinder, gentler man.
#14. The Lost Hero
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre(s): Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: 12 October 2010
The Lost Hero is about Jason Grace, a Roman demigod with no memory of his past, and his friends, Piper McLean, a daughter of Aphrodite, and Leo Valdez, a son of Hephaestus, who are on a quest to rescue Hera, the queen of gods, who has been captured by Gaea, the primordial goddess of the Earth.
#15. The Call of the Wild
Author: Jack London
Genre(s): Adventure Fiction
Publication Date: 1903
The Call of the Wild is about a powerful dog named Buck, half Saint Bernard and half-scotch Sheperd. Buck lives a comfortable life in Judge Miller’s estate in California’s Santa Clara Valley until the day he was kidnapped and taken to Yukon, where he experiences a hard life.
#16. Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio
Genre(s): Realistic Fiction
Publication Date: 14 February 2012
Wonder tells the story of August Pullman, a ten-year-old boy with a facial deformity. After years of homeschooling, August was sent to Beecher Prep for fifth grade, where he struggles with making friends and learns to deal with a bully.
#17. The Imaginary Friend
Author: Kelly Hashway
Genre(s): Children’s Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: 4 July 2011
The Imaginary Friend is about Samantha, who has been friends with Tray since Kindergarten. Unknown to Samantha that she is just an imaginary friend to Tracy. Tracy made new friends and Samantha feels left alone.
Samantha meets Jessica, a girl who needs an imaginary friend. Will Samantha be able to help Jessica?
#18. Ghosts
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Genre(s): September 2016
Publication Date: Graphic Novel, Fiction
Ghosts tell the story of two sisters: Catrina and her little sister, Maya, who has cystic fibrosis. Catrina and her family moved to the Northern California coast, hoping that the cool sea air will help Maya get better.
#19. Diary of a Young Girl
Author: Anne Frank
Genre(s): 25 June 1947
Publication Date: Coming-of-age, Autobiography
Diary of a Young Girl tells the true-life story of Anne and her family, who were forced to move to Amsterdam during the second world war. It is the true-life story of Anne Frank.
#20. The Care of Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls
Author: Dr. Cara Natterson
Genre(s): Non-fiction
Publication Date: February 26, 2013
The Care of Keeping of You 2 is a guide for girls in the puberty stage. It gives in-depth details about the physical and emotional changes girls are going through. The book covers topics like periods, her growing body, peer pressure, personal care e.t.c.
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Conclusion
Whether you are trying to distract your children from watching TV, or you want them to stop spending most of their time playing games, then provide them with a lot of books in different categories.
We have now come to the end of this article, have you, or your children read any of the 20 free online books for 12-year-olds? Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the Comment Section.
For more children’s books, check out the 100 best free online books to read for Kids and Adults.