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
Is your 13-year-old bugging you to read young adult novels?

It's natural for kids this age to want to act like they're older than they are. They're trying on different personalities, and books are a great way to explore what's ahead. Young adult girls' books tend to have a healthy dose of social angst and sexual escapades. Young adult boys' books often feature violent situations. While both can be well handled, read reviews first, because the stories can be more graphic than you bargained for.

Good alternatives: Kids still love series. Try Twilight, or see our favorite book series.

Show Reviews for:

New Book Reviews for Early Teens (ages 12-14)

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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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Ring of Fire: Century Quartet, Book 1 by Pierdomenico Baccalario
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a fast-paced and fun mystery, despite the involvement of murders and assassins. There is no bad language or sex and the violence is about on the level of the first couple Harry Potter books. It's fun to see the four diverse ... read more

Age 12+
Ring of Fire: Century Quartet, Book 1
4
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Pop by Gordon Korman
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a complex story involving family secrets and the lengths that some families will go to in order to protect them. There is one party where teens drink beer and there are a couple of minor fights, but overall this is a mild ... read more

Age 12+
Pop
4
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Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Parents Need to Know...

that for a fast paced adventure story set during WWI there is surprisingly little violence. There are some battles that culminate in deaths and injuries, but there is very little blood and no gore. Genetically engineered fighting ... read more

Age 12+
Leviathan
5
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Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose
Parents Need to Know...

that amidst this award-nominated, inspirational history lesson there are mentions of upsetting violence: stories of women being raped by men in the segregated South; several teens are arrested; a girl becomes pregnant by a much older, ... read more

Age 13+
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
5
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Love Is the Higher Law by David Levithan
Parents Need to Know...

that the main story is how three teens experience the terrorist attack on New York City, and the tremendous impact it had immediately on their lives. A budding gay romance between two of the characters is prominent, but secondary to the ... read more

Age 14+
Love Is the Higher Law
5
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Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
Parents Need to Know...

that this book has frank talk about sex and relationship issues among teens. The main character sleeps with many boys and one "hook-up" results in pregnancy. There is some swearing (including "f--k"), copious drinking ... read more

Age 14+
Jumping Off Swings
3
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Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
Parents Need to Know...

that this National Book Award Finalist is an educational read more than a recreational one. Charles’ voyage on the Beagle takes place before the book begins, and the story starts when he decides to get married. A very good overview of ... read more

Age 12+
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith
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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Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Parents Need to Know...

that there is some fantasy violence, like a vampire drinking blood, zombies being decapitated, and a fight between a werewolf and teen boy. Aden gets into all kinds of fights: One fistfight between Aden and a school bully ends with him ... read more

Age 14+
Intertwined
2
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My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
Parents Need to Know...

that this book features both fantastical creature and murders, though violence is pretty limited. Kaylee has to deal with demons --  both real ones and symbolic ones (like accepting that her mother died so she can live).  Also, it is ... read more

Age 14+
My Soul to Take
3
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Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Parents Need to Know...

this book is a fairly conventional portrayal of witches -- they fled Europe because of persecution, they observe Samhain and practice ancient rituals under the moon. The teen smoking and drinking is gratuitous, and the romance is gentle. ... read more

Age 14+
Once a Witch
3
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Bad Apple by Laura Ruby
Parents Need to Know...

that the scandal at the center of this book involves an alleged affair between a teen girl and her art teacher. There is some other heavy stuff: Her sister takes pills for depression and her grandfather nearly dies. Other than that, ... read more

Age 14+
Bad Apple
3
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Diary of a Witness by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Parents Need to Know...

that there's a lot of bullying here. There are adults who are alcoholic, absent, uninvolved, or enablers. Also, a child dies in an accident, a teen tries to commit suicide, and someone takes a gun to school. read more

Age 14+
Diary of a Witness
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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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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Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Parents Need to Know...

that although this is a werewolf story, there's more romance than horror. It's a love story between a boy and a girl; the boy just happens to be a werewolf. The passion between the characters grows throughout the story, and they do have ... read more

Age 13+
Shiver
4
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Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Parents Need to Know...

that this realistic portrayal of teen life includes drinking, romance, and some non-graphic sex. Although these teens are just out of high school, there is a lot of beer drinking done by all. The main character's parents divorce after ... read more

Age 14+
Along for the Ride
3
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Hannah: Daughters of the Sea by Kathryn Lasky
Parents Need to Know...

that there is no bodice ripping in this gothic fantasy. The most you'll find is an unsettling attraction two girls have for a young painter and some passionate kisses. There is also much discussion of the eldest daughter’s madness and ... read more

Age 12+
Hannah: Daughters of the Sea
3
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The Door of No Return by Sarah Mussi
Parents Need to Know...

that this story revolves around slavery and the slave trade. There are some scenes that are intense, sad, and suspenseful, and there's a reasonable amount of danger, but the danger and intrigue are part of any good mystery/adventure ... read more

Age 12+
The Door of No Return
4
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Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
Parents Need to Know...

that this book is heavy on the vampire lore, with some related vampire violence. There's also some mean girl-type violence, with one girl nearly being killed. Much of the violence happens without real consequences. read more

Age 13+
Glass Houses
3
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