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.

When you give your children books they love, you give them a gift that lasts forever. But finding books that appeal to kids when there's so much else competing for their time has become really tough. Our recommended lists by theme and topic will help you find books for children of all ages and interests, from All Things Harry Potter to the best books to share with dads.

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showing: science fiction
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The Maze Runner: Maze Runner Trilogy, Book 1 by James Dashner
Parents Need to Know...

that the scenes of violence are stronger in this book and more graphic than those of, say, The Hunger Games, partly because at times it is adults murdering children, and not from a distance or out of sight. The teens stranded in the Maze ... read more

Age 13+
The Maze Runner: Maze Runner Trilogy, Book 1
3
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The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
Parents Need to Know...

that there are some mature elements in this dark story: young men murder their fathers; experiments are performed on children and adults. The poor treatment of children may be historically accurate but disturbing to younger readers today. ... read more

Age 12+
The Hunchback Assignments
2
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Catching Fire: The Hunger Games, Book 2 by Suzanne Collins
Parents Need to Know...

that this follow-up to The Hunger Games concerns a TV tournament in which 20 teens fight a gruesome battle to the death. The violence, while not gory or graphic in detail, is plentiful. Fighting involves primitive weaponry, ... read more

Age 12+
Catching Fire: The Hunger Games, Book 2
5
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Watchmen by Alan Moore
Parents Need to Know...

that this landmark graphic novel is meant for mature readers and contains lots of violent imagery, profane language, and events of vigilante justice. That aside, Moore and Gibbons work together to create a genre-shaping graphic novel ... read more

Age 15+
Watchmen
4
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The Final Warning: Maximum Ride: The Protectors: Book 1) by James Patterson
Parents Need to Know...

that there is a bit of violence here, but not nearly as much as in previous books in the series. read more

Age 10+
The Final Warning: Maximum Ride: The Protectors: Book 1)
2
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Things That Are
Parents Need to Know...

that for a young adult novel there is very little to be concerned with here: one kiss, and a reference to mice being put down a garbage disposal. read more

Age 12+
Things That Are
3
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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a story about a reality show where 24 teens must kill one another until only one survives. They do so with spears, rocks, arrows, knives, fire, and by hand. It's not unduly gory, but there is lots of violence, all of it teen ... read more

Age 12+
The Hunger Games
4
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The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, Book 1) by Patrick Ness
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a gruesomely violent book, with horrible injuries described graphically, and a shocking level of brutality, especially of men towards boys, women, and animals. One climactic fight involves the breaking of bones, snapping of ... read more

Age 13+
The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, Book 1)
4
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The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau
Parents Need to Know...

that there is a brief but graphic description of the butchering of a dead sheep for meat. Otherwise there is little to be concerned about here. read more

Age 9+
The Diamond of Darkhold
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Nick of Time by Ted Bell
Parents Need to Know...

that there is quite a bit of violence here, some rather gruesome, especially a gratuitous scene where a man cuts off and swallows the tip of his own tongue to frighten a boy he is attempting to kill. read more

Age 10+
Nick of Time
4
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Found: The Missing, Book 1 by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Parents Need to Know...

that there's little to be concerned with here: some brands are mentioned, there's some mild fighting and use of a Taser. read more

Age 9+
Found: The Missing, Book 1
4
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Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
Parents Need to Know...

that there's little of concern here, beyond a few moments of sexism, but the world of 19th-century Europe was definitely a man's world. read more

Age 13+
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
4
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One Small Step by P. B. Kerr
Parents Need to Know...

that, though the publisher lists this book for ages 8 and up, and the story certainly seems meant for that age, there are numerous sexual references, and more swearing than you'd expect in a book aimed at middle elementary-aged kids. ... read more

Age 11+
One Small Step
4
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Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a book for older teens and adults. There is a non-graphic scene of teen intercourse and several graphic make-out scenes. There is also some moderate language and drug references. Some parents may have difficulty with the ... read more

Age 15+
Little Brother
5
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The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some cartoonish violence, with science-fictiony weapons that vaporize things, and lots of explosions. Once character is knocked out, and otherwise only non-character aliens are hurt. There is also some mild swearing. read more

Age 9+
The True Meaning of Smekday
3
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The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi book includes some kissing between teens and violence that's mostly mentioned in flashback, including an epidemic and natural disaster that kills scores of people and a car accident that kills teens and lands one in a ... read more

Age 14+
The Adoration of Jenna Fox
4
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The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a grim and, at times, rather gruesome book, with many deaths, including some major characters, and details about decomposing and rat-eaten bodies. This book will be terrifying to some kids, especially those without the ... read more

Age 12+
The Dead and the Gone
4
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Johnny and the Bomb: The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy, Book 3 by Terry Pratchett
Parents Need to Know...

that one of the main characters is a marginal delinquent, and this is played for laughs. Also, the central event is a neighborhood bombing during World War II. read more

Age 9+
Johnny and the Bomb: The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy, Book 3
3
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Under the Radar (Tom Swift, Young Inventor, Book 6) by Victor Appleton
Parents Need to Know...

that there's little of concern here -- just some mild violence and a couple of injuries in vehicle crashes. read more

Age 8+
Under the Radar (Tom Swift, Young Inventor, Book 6)
3
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Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Parents Need to Know...

that this science-fiction tale is set in a society that kills teens to obtain body parts for transplants. Amid other violence, there's a very disturbing (though not graphic) scene of dismemberment that makes this book inappropriate for ... read more

Age 13+
Unwind
4
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George's Secret Key to the Universe by Stephen & Lucy Hawking
Parents Need to Know...

that there's nothing objectionable here, and much to learn. But some kids may need help sorting facts from fiction -- on the fiction side, the authors have made the surprising choice to ignore the rules of science. Kids may be confused. read more

Age 8+
George's Secret Key to the Universe
2

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