New reads for your Preteen (and teens)

I don’t know if I am the only one feeling this way, but kids books have come a long way! I feel like kids today have the most amazing selection of books to choose from. Sometimes, I have to reign it in and stop myself from reading the kids books. #TrueStory! They all sound so interesting! A few weeks ago, I did a round up of all the books Adam was enjoying. I promised to do one for the 6-8 age group as well and the 9-12 age group. I’ve fallen so behind, but better late than never right? Today I’m, sharing new-ish reads that will be perfect for your preteen  between the ages of 9 and 12.

Boot: Small Robot, big adventures, by Shane Hegarty

When toy robot, Boot, wakes up at a scrapyard, it has no idea how it got there and why it isn’t with its owner, Beth. It only has two and a half glitchy memories, but it knows it was loved, which means something important to humans.

Boot soon realises its emotions make it different to other robots, who just function and don’t think. Boot is scared but tries to be brave, which is hard when its screen keeps showing a wobbly, worried face. Luckily Boot meets Noke and Red – other ‘advanced’ robots who have learned to survive in secret.

With its new friends by its side, Boot is determined to find Beth and the gang set off on a dangerous adventure. Everything Boot thought it knew about the world is changing and things aren’t as simple as it remembers . . .

Boot is a story that will take you by surprise and make you think about the world around you.

The synopsis of this book just hit me in the gut and gave me Haley Joel Osment feels from the movie, A.I. That movie wrecked me! Addison really enjoyed this book and she said a big theme was friendship, which is much needed in 2019. She also thought the book had a lot of action and humour. Definitely sounds like a must read, and if I’m honest, I actually may really read it if I find the time.

Swimming against the storm, by Jess Butterworth

Our land is sinking. It’s disappearing into the water. And no one knows how to save it.

Twelve-year-old Eliza and her sister Avery have lived their entire lives in a small fishing village on the coast of Louisiana, growing up alongside turtles, pelicans and porpoises. But now, with sea levels rising, their home is at risk of being swept away.

Determined to save the land, Eliza and her younger sister Avery secretly go searching in the swamp for the dangerous, wolf-like loup-garou. If they can prove this legendary creature exists, they’re sure that the government will have to protect its habitat – and their community.

But there’s one problem: the loup-garou has never been seen before. And with a tropical storm approaching and the sisters deep, deep in the swampland, soon it’s not just their home at risk, but their lives as well…

Addison has not yet started this book, but it’s next on her to be read pile. This book has some excellent reviews on Goodreads, so I’m really keen for her to get started and let me know what she thinks.

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet, by Zanib Mian

Welcome, readers, to the imaginative brain of Omar! You might not know me yet, but once you open the pages of this book you’ll laugh so hard that snot will come out of your nose (plus you might meet a dragon and a zombie – what more could you want?).

My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn’t have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I’ve also got to try and make new friends. What’s worse, the class bully seems to think I’m the perfect target.

At least Eid’s around the corner which means a feast (YAY) and presents (DOUBLE YAY). Well, as long as I can stay in Mum and Dad’s good books long enough…

I personally was SUPER excited about this book. Why? I’ve never seen a book with a Muslim lead before, so this was really awesome to see! I immediately thought of all my Muslim friends and their culture and kids being represented in a book, and a really humourous book at that. I also think it’s a great book to teach my own kids about different cultures.

The Secret Seven Books

Solve the mystery with the Secret Seven – everyone’s favourite detective club! These timeless stories are perfect for young fans of mystery, adventure or detective series. Also available in audiobook! 

I don’t think there’s a person on Planet Omar…., sorry, I mean Earth, who has not read a Secret Seven book right? These are such a fun, easy read for any young fan of mystery!

That’s a round up of some of the newer books Addison has been reading or is planning to read! Let me know what your preteen is into book wise at the moment!

Note: Your covers may be different to ours, as we received the books sometimes before the covers have been finalised. Thank you to Pan Macmillan kids for sending these books over.