Best Books for 9-Year-Olds: 2025 Picks

If your nine-year-old craves adventure, this sci-fi story is a phenomenal choice. Friends Otto and Sheed are ready to kick back as school ends, but things take a wild turn.

The boys are thrust into a time-travel mishap when an eccentric man with a camera literally freezes time. They have to race to save their town before it’s too late. It is fast-paced, funny, and perfect for kids who struggle to stay engaged with slower stories.

This is the first in a trilogy about a Chinese-Caucasian girl who loves reading and writing. The books follow Cilla’s adventures and the nuances of being a mixed-race girl. They also explore her initial struggles with reading alongside some healthy friend drama.

Cilla Lee is excellent for readers who still enjoy illustrations in their chapter books. It features a readable font and plenty of art, making it ideal for readers still finding their footing. I recommend this for kids navigating identity and cultural complexities.

Do you have a basketball player at home? Handing a sporty kid a book about their favorite game is an easy way to inspire reading. This series focuses on Pakistani-American Zayd Saleem, who dreams of becoming a basketball legend.

Zayd is scrawny, and his parents prioritize violin practice over ball, but he doesn’t let that stop him. This pick is amazing for kids passionate about chasing dreams. It is relatable, fun, and shorter than high fantasy novels, making it a quick win for reluctant readers.

Stella Diaz moved to the US as a baby, and her family is bilingual. However, Stella is shy about speaking English because she sometimes mixes it with Spanish in class. Things start to look up when Stella joins an ESL class at school.

This book is perfect for kids learning Spanish since the text is interspersed with Spanish vocabulary. Cautious kids will see themselves in Stella; her story inspires them to speak up because their voices matter.

Your child is finally at the age where they are ready for the Wizarding World. This magical series defined a generation of readers for a reason.

The Sorcerer’s Stone introduces Harry, an 11-year-old orphan who learns he’s a wizard. He is whisked away to a hidden world of magic where he’s a living legend. Alongside his new friends, he must solve a deadly mystery within his school’s walls. While later books get darker, this first installment is charming and appropriate for 9-year-olds ready to tackle a thicker novel.

This book is not only well written, but it is also beautifully designed. Inspired by Chinese folklore, this fantasy weaves a tapestry of stories that feel timeless.

It follows Minli, who resolves to find the Old Man on the Moon to change her family’s poor fortune. On her way, she meets a dragon who accompanies her on the mission. It’s a warm-hearted tale of friendship, imagination, and determination that introduces children to non-Western storytelling structures.

Wish is a powerful story that may cause a few tears, but don’t let that scare you off. Stories like this build compassion and emotional awareness.

Charlie is a girl from a broken home. She spends her energy wishing for the one thing she wants most, but soon learns that what she wants and what she needs are different. It is a touching, bittersweet look at the concept of “found family” that resonates deeply with kids.

When I was a kid, I adored first-person stories. I bet your 9-year-old will love this one too.

Meet Chase Cooper, a 6th grader who also happens to be a ninja. He chronicles his adventures as a warning to other kids not to become ninjas. But before he can save the world, he has to survive his first day at a new school. It is the ideal blend of action tropes and modern humor. Plus, it is part of a 12-book series, so it keeps them reading for months.

Ten-year-old Isaiah’s dad died last year, and he’s trying to help his little sister maintain a sense of normalcy. His mom is grieving, but with the help of his friends, Isaiah tries to find his footing.

This book is excellent for kids who enjoy poetry or creative writing. Isaiah finds meaning in his father’s journals, cultivating his love for the craft. Although the story is emotional, it is a safe portal to discuss tough topics like grief while highlighting the value of community.

With millions of copies sold, Wonder has inspired people worldwide to be kinder. It is a modern classic that belongs on every shelf.

It tells the story of Auggie, a boy with Treacher Collins syndrome, who tries his best to fit in despite bullying at his new school. Before long, his family and classmates come to see him in a different light. It wins points for shifting perspectives between characters. I honestly believe everyone should read this book, whether you’re nine or 99.

I had to include this set because my nine-year-old nephew specifically requested them. As a beginner bookworm, he read one and desperately wanted the rest.

It is a fun fantasy in which twins Alex and Connor are pulled into a world where all the fairy tales they’ve read are real. It is reminiscent of The NeverEnding Story or The Pagemaster. If your child likes fractured fairy tales and recognizable characters like Red Riding Hood, this is a winner.

A family tree project leads Amara to ask her dad questions about his estranged family. After much persuasion, he caves and takes her to New York City to see his side of the family. Secrets are revealed in time for a warm reunion.

This is a heartwarming gem, and Renee Watson is a favorite author for tweens. If your kid is eager to visit the Big Apple, start here; it is packed with historical and touristy details about the city.

Kaia is sad to hear that her Tatang (great-grandfather) has decided to move back to the Philippines. She and her friends decide to submit a film they’re making about Filipino folktales to a contest. She hopes that if they win, Tatang will stay.

This sweet book is full of warm family moments. It is also packed with Filipino folklore and American history. Any Day With You makes for a perfect family read-aloud or a solo read for kids interested in filmmaking.

Katherine Applegate (author of Animorphs) has been a staple in children’s fiction for decades. The story is told from the perspective of a 200-year-old oak tree, Red, who wants the best for his neighborhood. People use Red as a “wishtree,” tying their hopes to his branches.

Although this book is for children, its tone is more serious than many others. It is a good place to start if your child is ready for thought-provoking narratives about inclusion and kindness.

When I think of being nine, I think of this book. It is the start of a thrilling 13-book series about three orphans who go to live with their weird distant relative, Count Olaf.

What I love most, despite the absurd plots, is the prose. Lemony Snicket has a distinct voice. He uses beautiful phrases and explains language to readers, educating them on syntax, idioms, and less common words without feeling like a textbook. It is dark humor at its finest.

If your child enjoys thrilling stories that pull on the heartstrings, introduce them to Refugee.

You meet three refugees from different eras: Josef in Nazi Germany, Isabel in 1994 Cuba, and Mahmoud in 2015 Syria. Although they come from different corners of the world, their stories are connected. It is a beautifully woven tale of suffering and hope. It is educational, too, giving your child a better understanding of global history and empathy.

In league with Watership Down, this is the charming story of a clan of wild cats. A dark prophecy looms, bringing a mysterious danger that threatens their peace.

Six cats step up to protect their forest. They’re led on a magical adventure that puts their home at stake. This story appeals to many personalities, including cat lovers, fantasy geeks, and adventure fanatics. Warning: once they start this series, they won’t stop reading for a long time.

Is your child looking for laughs? I’ve found the right book for them.

Jack and his friends live in a treehouse. They’re the last remaining humans after the Monster Apocalypse, and for them, life is like a video game. They battle monsters and run from zombies, all while having fun.

Jeff Kinney, the author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, described this series as “terrifyingly fun.” It is an excellent choice for reluctant readers who like illustrations and humor.

This series is massive right now. Fans of Harry Potter or superheroes are sure to enjoy it.

Sophie is telepathic, and it’s up to her to save a world she never knew she was part of. She’s led on a journey to a mystical realm where she learns her power isn’t the only thing that makes her different. It is a chunky book, so it’s great for fast readers who need a story with some meat on its bones.

For fans of Judy Blume, kids will enjoy this sweet story of Sheila. She isn’t the most confident; in fact, she has quite a lot of fears (spiders, swimming, and dogs). One summer, her family decides to vacation in the country where Sheila faces all of these fears head-on.

Part of the Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing universe, it gives an insightful look into what it’s like to be a young girl with anxiety. It’s comforting, classic, and relatable.

Remember Choose Your Own Adventure books? This one is similar, but it involves a fresh storytelling method where your child needs to solve a visual mystery at the end of every chapter.

Timmi follows clues in his family’s secret legacy to save a dear friend. Attempting to find a legendary pirate ship, he triggers an ancient power. The story is excellent, beautifully illustrated, and the puzzles make your child feel like a professional sleuth.

This exciting mythological book is about Percy Jackson, a boy who has trouble focusing in school. When bizarre things happen on a field trip, his mother reveals his heritage and sends him to Camp Half-Blood.

There, he learns he is a demigod. In this epic adventure, Percy and his friends must visit the Underworld and stop a deadly war between the gods. It is funny, action-packed, and a brilliant way to teach kids Greek mythology without them realizing they are learning.

For fans of fantasy, nature, and mysteries, check out Greenwild. This is the story of Daisy Thistletown, who is searching for her missing mother when she finds a mysterious door leading to another world: Greenwild.

Readers are blown away by the delicate and gorgeous worldbuilding here. If you want to share important messages with your child about protecting the environment and vulnerable creatures, this book wraps that lesson in a thrilling adventure.

Dive headfirst into this inspiring tale about Bree, a girl forced to take a swimming elective even though she’s scared of the sport. With help from a neighbor and hard work, can Bree help her team toward a state championship?

I love that this is a graphic novel, giving your child a break from dense text. It is also a fantastic book about important social issues and the history of Black people’s relationship with swimming in America.

When Zoe turns 12, she receives a letter from her father, a man she has never met who is in prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit. Zoe becomes preoccupied with her father’s conviction as she learns more about the criminal justice system.

This is a fantastic story to introduce your child to the concept of justice and inequality. But it isn’t all heavy; it also provides a wholesome subplot about a young girl with a passion for baking.

Being the new kid is hard. Jordan Banks starts a new private school that focuses on academics rather than his passion: art. He is also one of the only kids of color in his grade, making him feel even more isolated.

In this graphic novel, Jordan figures out how to find his place in school culture while being true to his identity. It is a Newbery Medal winner for a reason; it tackles microaggressions and fitting in with humor and honesty.

Chase doesn’t remember falling off a roof or anything else about his life except his name. When he returns to school, some children are excited to see him, but others are terrified. Chase realizes he might not have been a nice kid before his accident.

Nine-year-olds will enjoy the amnesia mystery as well as the redemption arc. It opens up important conversations about bullying, second chances, and the choice to be kind.

If your child likes being a little scared, here is a horror story written just for them. Young Coraline explores her new home and discovers a locked door leading to a strange alternate world. At first, it seems better than her own, but soon she discovers a mother and father there who want her to stay forever.

Coraline is the only person who can rescue herself and the other trapped children. It is spooky, atmospheric, and brilliantly written by Neil Gaiman.

Interactive puzzles, smart characters, and mysteries to solve: what more can you ask for? This book begins with a strange newspaper ad prompting children to take mind-bending tests.

Only four children succeed and go undercover on a secret mission at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. If your child is “gifted” or just loves riddles, they will connect with these characters immediately.

Raina Telgemeier is the queen of relatable graphic novels. Based on her true story, Raina has a bad fall after Girl Scouts and injures her front teeth. The book follows her dramatic saga of braces, headgear, surgery, and retainers.

Ringing true to the realities of being a tween, this book is a must-have for anyone dealing with their own dental dramas or friend issues. It helps kids realize they aren’t alone in their awkward phases.

Sunny is sent off to spend summer vacation with her grandfather in Florida. It’s not like the movies; instead of Disney World, she is surrounded by seniors.

But then she meets Buzz, who is obsessed with comic books and fun adventures. Together they battle alligators and disappearing neighbors. In this sweet yet serious graphic novel, you go through an emotional journey covering themes of family secrets and addiction in a way that is accessible to kids.

This Roald Dahl book is a classic for a reason. It follows Matilda, a five-year-old genius neglected by her parents. When she starts school, she has to face Miss Trunchbull, the hammer-throwing, kid-hating principal.

Most nine-year-olds get a kick out of this heartwarming story. It features a girl with a feisty attitude, telekinetic powers, and a strong sense of justice.

Nick Allen is a bit of a troublemaker. When he invents the word “frindle” (meaning pen), it catches on and soon becomes a nationwide phenomenon. This silly book will have you laughing from start to finish.

This book highlights the power of language, which is important when cultivating a young bookworm. It is short, approachable, and great for class discussions.

What happens when two siblings with different strengths have a lemonade stand battle? Evan is good at charming people, while his little sister, Jessie, is a math whiz.

Things get tense as they both try to sell the most lemonade in five days. Readers will root for them both, especially as they try to end the fight. It teaches business basics (math and marketing) wrapped inside a relatable sibling drama.

If your nine-year-old is begging for a puppy, this might be the book that seals the deal.

Opal goes to the supermarket for groceries and returns with a stray dog named Winn-Dixie. Because of this dog, Opal is finally able to make friends in her new town and ask her father about her mother who left. Kate DiCamillo captures the magic of a canine companion beautifully here.

Sixth grader Miranda begins receiving mysterious notes giving her instructions for a secret mission. She would ignore them, but the sender seems able to predict the future. When a note says someone is going to die, Miranda has to act.

Children who love time travel, friendship dynamics, and page-turning mysteries will devour this. It can be a bit confusing at first, but the payoff at the end is absolutely worth it.

If your child hasn’t met the BFG yet, now is the time. The BFG stands for “Big Friendly Giant.” Unlike other giants, he is kind. When young Sophie is stolen by him in the middle of the night, she is relieved to find he eats snozzcumbers rather than children.

Together, Sophie and the BFG set out to stop the nasty giants from eating people. It is a heartwarming, funny tale that plays with language in a way only Roald Dahl can.

When Ella is born, a fairy curses her with the “gift” of obedience. She physically cannot refuse a command. In this retelling of Cinderella, Ella is left with her awful stepmother and stepsisters. Because of the curse, she is forced to do everything they say.

Ella is feisty enough to fight for her freedom. This absolute essential challenges traditional princess stereotypes and uses humor to create an exciting fantasy.

Joe and Ravi are outsiders. Joe is lonely after his best friend moved away, and Ravi has just moved to America from India and is struggling to fit in. Though they seem to have nothing in common, they are both targeted by the same bully.

Told over the course of one week, this fast-paced story is great for children who have ever felt left out. It teaches a fantastic lesson about checking your assumptions and finding friends in unexpected places.

Milo is bored to death when a mysterious tollbooth appears in his room. He drives his toy car through it and ends up in a bizarre world where words and numbers are at war.

Fans of fantasy and puns will love this wild story. Readers love it for its absurdity and clever humor. If your child loves wordplay, this book will sharpen their wit.

If your nine-year-old is a fan of Disney villains and fairy tales, this series is a hit. Best friends Sophie and Agatha are taken to the School for Good and Evil, where they train to be fairy tale legends.

Sophie expects to be a princess, and Agatha expects to be a witch, but they find their fates reversed. Sophie ends up at the School for Evil, and Agatha at the School for Good. It is a fun twist on the genre that questions what it really means to be “good” or “evil.”

Emotion, friendship, and adventure fill the pages of this beautiful book. It follows Pax and Peter, who have been inseparable since Peter rescued Pax as a baby fox.

When war forces Peter to abandon Pax in the woods, he immediately regrets it and sets out to reunite with his friend. Told through alternating viewpoints (boy and fox), it is a heart-wrenching tale of loyalty. It is a bit sad, so be prepared for some heavy emotions.

In this kid-friendly retelling of the King Midas legend, a young boy loves chocolate so much that everything he eats turns into the sweet treat. It sounds great at first, until he tries to drink water or eat lunch.

Published in 1952, this has been a classic for decades. It teaches the moral that you can have too much of a good thing. It is funny, light, and easy to read.

“What are people for?” is the strange question driving this book. Leeva is trying to figure out her purpose in a town where her parents neglect her.

If your child can handle Matilda or A Series of Unfortunate Events, they will love this. Leeva embarks on an adventure with a timid boy, librarians, and a badger to change her community. It is quirky and heartwarming.

Middle-grade literature is amazing for sharing essential messages, and this title is no different. It is an engaging story about a young girl who moves from China to the US to live with her family after being separated for five years.

Many children will relate to Lina Gao, who finds school difficult, is nervous about speaking English, and compares herself to others. Sharing this story is valuable for teaching empathy and inclusion.

Whether your child loves poetry or hates it, this book is for them. It is written in free verse and follows Jack, a boy who initially despises poetry. His teacher keeps assigning it, so Jack has no choice but to engage.

The more he writes, the more he realizes that poetry might not be so bad after all. I love this story for teaching kids a new format and reminding them that they can learn to love new things.

If your child is a fan of cats and fantasy, you can’t get a more apt book than Into the Wild. It kicks off a massive series following a housecat called Rusty, who leaves his comfortable home to join the wild ThunderClan cats.

It is just the kind of novel a 4th grader needs to fall in love with reading. The characters are well-developed, the stakes are high, and the lore is deep.

Get lost in a book about a magical book. If your child has ever imagined the stories they read coming to life, they will devour this.

Meggie and her father are reading a book called Inkheart when the evil ruler escapes from the pages and appears in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is reeled into a magical adventure. This is a thick book, perfect for advanced readers who want to sink their teeth into a rich fantasy world.

Princess Celie loves Tuesdays. On this particular day, the castle grows a new room or wing, making it a living, breathing thing. Being the only person who bothers to map the layout, it’s up to Celie to save the day when the royal family is ambushed.

Can she protect the castle using her knowledge of its secret nooks and crannies? It is a delightful, lighter fantasy for kids who want magic without the darkness.