Handpicked by Our Editors

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson
Age 5+
4

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson

Why We Recommend It

Jackie Robinson was special on the baseball field and off. His daughter's bio of the slugger-as-dad emphasizes courage.

Read our full review
Finding great books for children makes them lifelong readers.

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showing: mystery
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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart
Parents Need to Know...

that kids who are already into the Mysterious Benedict Society series will find the third installment a little milder than the second. Armed with their briefcases filled with various weapons (but no real guns), Ten Men kidnap the four ... read more

Age 9+
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma
3
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The Amanda Project: invisible i by Melissa Kantor, Stella Lennon
Parents Need to Know...

that despite the apparent commercialism of a series of 10 books tied to a Web site that promotes their purchase, this is an excellent book by a talented writer. Each book in the series will have a different author, all writing under the ... read more

Age 12+
The Amanda Project: invisible i
4
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Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series by John Feinstein
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some discussion of drinking, drunkenness, and rehab, and the story revolves around a possible drunk driving accident in which a mother is killed. There's also a bit of mild swearing. read more

Age 9+
Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series
4
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Being Nikki: An Airhead Novel by Meg Cabot
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a mystery novel, so there's talk of murder, a possible kidnapping, eavesdropping, and other mysterious events. There's also underage drinking, heavy consumerism, and some sexual situations. read more

Age 12+
Being Nikki: An Airhead Novel
3
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The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket
Parents Need to Know...

that this introduction to the orchestra is presented as a murder mystery. Readers ready for tongue-in-cheek, and slightly macabre, humor will be ready for it. Also, it comes with a CD of the author reading against the backdrop of newly ... read more

Age 7+
The Composer Is Dead
3
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The Ring of Rocamadour: The Red Blazer Girls, Bk. 1 by Michael D. Bell
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some mild swearing here, a few brands, some smoking, and that the main characters engage in some sneaky and dishonest behavior, though for a good cause. read more

Age 9+
The Ring of Rocamadour: The Red Blazer Girls, Bk. 1
4
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Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman
Parents Need to Know...

that the accompanying videos might be scary to younger or more sensitive readers/viewers: though nothing worse than a skeletal ghost is shown, the mood is suspenseful and creepy. read more

Age 9+
Skeleton Creek
4
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Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some violence here, though it mostly happens offstage, including a father who loses an arm to an RPG in Iraq. read more

Age 10+
Scat
4
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Pemba's Song: A Ghost Story by Marilyn Nelson, Tonya C. Hegamin
Parents Need to Know...

that there are some incidents of violence in this book including a murder, a poisoning, and spousal abuse, all relived in some way by a clairvoyant teen. Parents should also be aware that part of the novel takes place during the time of ... read more

Age 12+
Pemba's Song: A Ghost Story
4
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What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
Parents Need to Know...

that the book has references to and discussions of adulterous sex, a man almost has sex with a minor, and two minors begin to have sex but don't finish, this last incident described somewhat graphically. Also, all the adults smoke ... read more

Age 15+
What I Saw and How I Lied
4
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Curse of the Night Wolf: Barnaby Grimes, Book 1 by Paul Stewart
Parents Need to Know...

that the violence here is a bit more gruesome than one might expect from a book the publisher says is for kids as young as 8. Wolves rip out people's throats and snap their necks, tear apart horses, and are skinned to make coats. None of ... read more

Age 8+
Curse of the Night Wolf: Barnaby Grimes, Book 1
3
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The 39 Clues Series by Gordon Korman, Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson
Parents Need to Know...

that nearly everyone in this book is trying to kill, sideline, or deceive the heroes, who are orphaned children. There is some violence (arson, explosions, traps, and several fights with injuries) though it's mostly cartoonish. This book ... read more

Age 9+
The 39 Clues Series
3
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Billy Bones: Tales from the Secrets Closet by Lincoln Christopher
Parents Need to Know...

that there's a murder and attempted murder in this book. Lots of talk of the afterlife and death, but it isn't graphic or particularly scary. read more

Age 9+
Billy Bones: Tales from the Secrets Closet
4
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The Postcard
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some violence here, but it's mostly played lightly. In order to have the freedom to pursue the mystery, Jason lies to his mother, the police, and the neighbor who is supposed to take care of him. read more

Age 9+
The Postcard
4
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Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks
Parents Need to Know...

that this book involves a murder of a teen by a teen, suicide, hallucinogenic drug use, and drunken teen sex. After all that, other iffy behavior seems rather tame: teens lie to their parents and police, smoke cigarettes and pot, and ... read more

Age 16+
Black Rabbit Summer
2
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The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman
Parents Need to Know...

that there is nothing to be concerned about here. Some characters cheat, but are caught, and the main character is honest, even when offered bribes. read more

Age 9+
The Gollywhopper Games
4
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Madapple by Christina Meldrum
Parents Need to Know...

that this creepy mystery is full of mature themes including teen pregnancy (there are three pregnant teens here), teen sex (fully described), incest, divine birth, controversial religious beliefs, and the usage of plants for medicinal and ... read more

Age 15+
Madapple
3
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The Mysterious Cheese Thief: Geronimo Stilton #31 by Geronimo Stilton
Parents Need to Know...

that there is a bit of cartoonish violence: characters getting bopped on the head with things like umbrellas, a mouse's tie gets stuck inside a conveyor belt, and a mouse is accidentally locked in a cold factory. read more

Age 7+
The Mysterious Cheese Thief: Geronimo Stilton #31
4
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The Calder Game by Blue Balliett
Parents Need to Know...

that the only troubling thing here is the behavior of the kids who are the main characters. Calder strikes up a conversation with a stranger in a public park, decides not to tell his father, and later goes off alone with the man. Tommy ... read more

Age 9+
The Calder Game
2
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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
Parents Need to Know...

that they'll find more violence in this second book in the Mysterious Benedict Society series, though the book's humor works to offset the impact of some of the more perilous parts. The less intimidating teen Executives from the first ... read more

Age 9+
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
4
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Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff
Parents Need to Know...

that there is little to be concerned about here. read more

Age 9+
Eleven
4

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