15 best books for children 12 years old
Parents begin to acquaint children with fiction, when they still do not know how to read. Then they independently learn something new and interesting, being carried away by various genres: fantasy, adventure, science fiction. 12 years is a time when you are on the verge of adulthood, but still a child. There are new attitudes and curiosity towards the unknown. The book will help to satisfy the interest, and reading will be a wonderful pastime during free hours.
Our experts have compiled a ranking of the best works for children 12 years old. It includes books that, according to psychologists and teachers, are best suited for this age.
Top books for children 12 years old
| Nomination | a place | composition | Rating |
| Top books for children 12 years old | 1 | Martin Eden, Jack London | 4.9 |
| 2 | The Adventure of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens | 4.8 | |
| 3 | Captain Nemo, Jules Verne | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Olesya, Kuprin | 4.7 | |
| 5 | The Mystery of the Zappy Parrot and Other Stories, Alfred Hitchcock | 4.7 | |
| 6 | Inkheart, Cornelia Funke | 4.7 | |
| 7 | The hero of our time, Lermontov M.Yu. | 4.6 | |
| 8 | Moving Castle, Diana Jones | 4.6 | |
| 9 | The Invisible Man, HG Wells | 4.6 | |
| 10 | Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Clive Lewis | 4.5 | |
| 11 | Boy and Darkness, Sergey Lukyanenko | 4.5 | |
| 12 | Club of incorrigible optimists, Jean-Michel Genassia | 4.5 | |
| 13 | The true story of Santa Claus, Eugene Pasternak | 4.4. | |
| 14 | The Secret Life of the Bees, Sue Monk Kidd | 4.4 | |
| 15 | Anya from the Green Roofs Farm, Lucy Maud Montgomery | 4.4 |
Martin Eden, Jack London
Rating: 4.9
For more than 100 years, the work of Jack London, won first place in our list, excites the young minds of adolescents and all fans of the great American writer who was able to describe in detail the experiences of the main characters, events and the surrounding reality of those distant times. The action takes place at the beginning of the 20th century in the USA.
Martin Eden - a simple guy from a poor family. Meeting with Ruth Morz turns his life around. She is a girl from high society, does not know what poverty is. Martin decides, by all means to achieve the location of the girl and match her position. He takes on self-education. In a short time, Martin fully masters the letter, begins to read a lot, corrects his pronunciation.
But having achieved much, the guy is disappointed in everything. He understands that he fell out of love with Ruth, lost interest in literature, and, most importantly, he learned that the higher bourgeois society is not at all the world in which the writer would like to exist. Experts recommend starting the acquaintance with the works of Jack London with this book. It will become clear and accessible to children of 12 years old and will help to love the works of the great prose writer who has become part of the world classics.
The Adventure of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
Rating: 4.8
In the second place in the ranking is the second novel written in 1838 by the classic of world literature, Charles Dickens. This is the first book published in England in which the child became the main character. The writer raises social problems that existed at the time.This is the conflict of the aristocratic society with its constant holidays and the working class, forced to work day and night, just to not die of hunger.
Oliver Twist is an orphan who ended up in a shelter after the death of a mother who died during childbirth. For the obstinate nature of his sent to assistants to the undertaker, where his life does not get better. Oliver flees to London, where he falls into a gang of a famous thief. In his plans to teach the boy the art of pickpocket. In the life of Oliver Twist there will be many events and adventures, but like in many of Dickens' novels, a happy ending is surely waiting for the reader.
The book is read not by one generation of young people and is a classic of world literature. Parents are urged to donate this book to a 12-year-old child, if it is not already in the home library, and to give an opportunity to experience something new and unexplored, which happened in another century with the same boys as them.
Captain Nemo, Jules Verne
Rating: 4.8
The third place is the rating of the great work of Jules Verne - the French writer, who first opened the science fiction genre to readers. According to the translatability of works into other languages, his book ranks second after the works of Agatha Christie. The main character - Captain Nemo - is present in several novels of the author. According to legend, he led a rebellion in India against the enslavement of Britain.
His wife and children were killed in captivity. The hero is disappointed in life and becomes the captain Nobody. Together with his like-minded people, he creates a fantastic submarine "Nautilus" and sets sail, basically not eating food of terrestrial origin and never going to land. Only at sea could a captain find peace and live a free life.
The amazing adventures of a submarine leave no indifferent teenager. Descriptions of marine life as if immersed in their mysterious world. Nemo becomes an example of courage and courage, he saves more than one life and, despite the loss, does not lose human qualities, that is why every adventure lover wants to be like this character. Psychologists advise after reading this work to continue acquaintance with other books of the author.
Olesya, Kuprin
Rating: 4.7
The fourth place in the ranking is taken by the great Russian prose writer who worked in various genres, and his work “Olesya”, published in 1898. It was one of the first creations that brought success, and the author's favorite book. The plot is based on the relationship between a gentleman and a simple girl. The young man falls into a remote village, where he starts to get bored of idleness. His only entertainment is hunting and literacy training of his servant.
In the middle of nowhere, Ivan Timofeevich meets a girl of unprecedented beauty who is forced to live in the forest, since everyone in the village considers her a witch. At first glance, he falls in love with Olesya and gradually comes to the idea of marrying her. But the girl does not want to spoil the life of a young man and refuses the offer. The love story is touching and sad, it makes you think about a lot.
Olesya appears to readers not in the form of a witch, despite the fact that local residents consider her as such and punish her when she appears in the village. This is a gentle, kind, sensitive, noble girl, independent of the will of others, which causes admiration. We should also note the description of the author of Russian nature. Everything seems to come alive, and you find yourself in the bright colorful world of animals and birds.
The Mystery of the Zappy Parrot and Other Stories, Alfred Hitchcock
Rating: 4.7
Fifth place ranking experts gave the work of Alfred Hitchcock. An adult audience with delight reads detective stories by a great author. Children 12 years old will definitely enjoy “The Mystery of a Zappy Parrot and Other Stories”. The main characters are three boys who have been friends since childhood. The book presents four stories, each of which begins with the word "mystery."
Bob Andrews, Pete Crenshaw and Jupiter Johns live in a small American town on the Pacific coast. They consider themselves real detectives and are ready to reveal any secrets. To do this, they have their own headquarters, located in a small trailer, and their own crime lab. Young detectives will have to unravel the mystery of seven parrots, expose a gang of fraudsters, uncover the disappearance of the dog figurines and find the mysterious inhabitant of the mirror.
The book is recognized as one of the best works for teenage children. It will appeal not only to boys of 12 years, but also adults who prefer detective stories to all genres and are not yet familiar with this creation by Hitchcock. Experts advise you to purchase this book to a child who loves everything mysterious and mysterious, and are not averse to solving puzzles and puzzles with the main characters.
Inkheart, Cornelia Funke
Rating: 4.7
German writer Cornelia Funke has released a trilogy in the fantasy genre, and Inkheart is the first book of the cycle, published in 2003. The main characters are the father and his 12-year-old daughter. Mortimer and Maggie love reading. They have a special gift that distinguishes them from other people. It is necessary to read the book, how her characters come to life, and in their place a real person appears, who is then considered to be missing.
So in our world there are villains, and the girl's mother is in a fairy tale. Maggie and her father will have to work hard to get everything back to their seats. They are awaited by fascinating adventures full of dangers, but they will stop at nothing and will overcome all difficulties. The story does not end there, but continues in two subsequent works.
The book is read with delight by both girls and boys. Many adults also confirmed their interest in a fantasy story that does not get bored and makes them empathize with the heroes. The “ink” trilogy won the love of readers on all continents, which is why the film adaptation of the work also had worldwide success. The book is undoubtedly recommended for children 12 years old to read.
The hero of our time, Lermontov M.Yu.
Rating: 4.6
Further, the rating includes the classics of Russian literature - the novel “Hero of Our Time”. Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov had a lot of ideas for writing a work, but he always knew that there would be a young nobleman in the center of the story who would personify his generation, and his example would show feelings and throwings of rebellious personalities who had lost their old ideals and had not yet found new ones. Many parts of the novel were published separately. In 1840, the full version was published.
Pechorin is the main character, which, according to the writer himself, was created from the vices inherent in the entire "lost" generation. A feature of the work is the non-chronological construction of chapters. This Lermontov wanted to show that no events and their sequence in any way affect the fate. It depends on the actions, lifestyle and human behavior.
The work is considered a psychological and social novel. The plot is a bit complicated, but the author’s entire idea is gradually revealed, and in the final you understand what he wanted to convey to the reader. “The Hero of Our Time” is a book that constitutes the cultural wealth of our country, and it should be in everyone’s home library. No wonder the product is included in the school curriculum for literature.
Moving Castle, Diana Jones
Rating: 4.6
Diana Jones is a British writer who became famous for her works in the fantasy genre. "Moving Castle" was published in 1986. Characters are so bright and colorful that transferred to the screen, they became even more popular. The animated film broke all rental records in Japan, and its creator Hayao Miyazaki received the Golden Lion at the Venice Festival.
The main character - Sophie. She lives in a city where magic is commonplace. The girl is engaged in the decoration of hats and gives them soul.She is sure that she will not find her destiny and will lead a boring existence until the end of her life. But by mistake, the Swamp Witch turns her into an old woman, mistaking the younger sister that Prince Justin is in love with. She is forced to leave their home and afterwards she finds herself in the castle of the arrogant and dishonest Hole, who eats the hearts of young attractive girls. But as time passes, Sophie realizes that he is not really what he is considered. Hole is kind and has a magical gift.
Sophie is expecting many adventures, she will find her love. The book will appeal to both girls and boys who prefer a fantastic genre. She has two sequels, published in 1990 and 2008, so after reading "The Walking Castle" you can continue to get acquainted with the works of Diane Winn Jones.
The Invisible Man, HG Wells
Rating: 4.6
Next in the ranking include a book by HG Wells, which was released in 1897. She is the most famous work of the great English writer, which entered the classics of world literature. It combines several genres: science fiction, crime detective and psychological novel. The tragic and mysterious history of a talented scientist captures from the first pages. Griffith creates a machine that makes a person completely invisible.
The scientist does not reveal an amazing discovery at once, but is waiting for the right time. But financial difficulties force him to use the car, become invisible and start a new life. Destroying the apparatus, he created impossible living conditions, since clothing and food still remained visible. He was forced to walk naked in the rain and in the snow and eat in secret places.
The final is tragic. The Invisible Man is one of the most famous images of villains and popular characters in the world classics. The book reads people of any age, but it is especially interesting to the younger generation, who craves adventure and is interested in secrets and riddles. Experts advise this book to children of 12 years, as well as all those who are not indifferent to fiction.
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Clive Lewis
Rating: 4.5
Many first met with the adaptation of the work of Clive Lewis, which appeared on the screen in 2005. The colorful fantasy parable did not leave indifferent either children or adults, therefore many preferred to read about the mysterious country of Narnia and its inhabitants. It could be accessed through a portal that was in a regular wardrobe. The heroes were simple children - two brothers and two sisters who were evacuated during the Second World War.
Once in Narnia, they will have to fight the evil queen, who has subjugated the whole country, while they have many adventures and interesting meetings, acquaintance with new characters. Night always reigns in a snowy place, and strange creatures roam in the dusk, but children will not be afraid of difficulties, but will do everything in their power to restore Narnia's independence from the witch, eternal summer and prosperity.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are one of the best children's books in world literature. She takes the children to the world of fairy tales. The book is often compared to "Harry Potter" and "The Lord of the Rings", but it is a separate story that deserves special attention. The creation of C. Lewis will be a desktop piece for children of 12 years old, who like the fantasy genre.
Boy and Darkness, Sergey Lukyanenko
Rating: 4.5
The rating includes the book of the Russian science fiction writer, which was published in 1997. It is written in the fantasy genre and will be a great gift to its fans. Our world has special portals that translate into parallel realities. Magical doors open many secrets and mysteries. The kitten, which was transformed from the sunbeam, takes the protagonist to such a world.
It reigns eternal darkness. It is impossible to return back, so the boy Danka is forced to look for other ways.During his journey he will have to face the Flying and Winged, who are waging a fierce war, meet friends and enemies, take part in the battle and accomplish the feat. Sun kitten will soon find a secret door through which Danka and his new friend Len will be able to return to the boy’s real world.
The book is one of the best works of teenage literature. She is not only about adventures. It contains a philosophical meaning, and raises eternal questions, to which humanity has been searching for more than one millennium. The young generation will enjoy the bright storyline and the main characters, along with whom they will have to stand in difficult conditions and save the world from disaster.
Club of incorrigible optimists, Jean-Michel Genassia
Rating: 4.5
Jean-Michel Genassia, a writer from Algeria, became famous immediately after the release of the first book in 2009. The Club of Incompensable Optimists immediately became a bestseller and was approved not only by readers, but also by critics, deservedly winning the Goncourt Prize. The work is recommended for children 12 years old, so his main character is of the same age, therefore he is close to modern girls and boys. The action takes place in Paris in the sixties of the XX century.
Michelle Marini is an ordinary boy who is no different from his peers. Difficulties of transitional age, school, communication with parents. The only thing that makes it stand out against the background of thousands of such children is the passion for photography and the love of reading. Michel has his own corner where he can retire. This place is a small service room in the bistro. Here are people who come from other countries to a freer world. They spend time playing chess and arguing on many topics that are not always clear to the boy. This room is the Club of unrecoverable optimists.
The book fascinatingly tells about distant times, and reality is seen through the eyes of an ordinary child, caught up in the cycle of those events.
The true story of Santa Claus, Eugene Pasternak
Rating: 4.4
A worthy place in the ranking is a book written in collaboration with Evgenia Pasternak and Andrey Zhvalevsky. It is designed for children who still believe in the New Year's miracle and Santa Claus, but are already on the verge of adulthood with many joyful and sad discoveries. The action begins in 1912, when a couple, walking through St. Petersburg on Christmas Eve, falls under magical snow.
For a whole half-century, they become Grandfather Frost and Snow Maiden, who come to children in the New Year and give a miracle. They get used to their new status for a long time, and all the time they think that the magic they have done is just an accident. But soon the husband and wife begin to realize their true purpose. On the eve of New Year's Eve, the representatives of a little narod — okhly and pterki — become their assistants.
Children 12 years old will love the book, which combines fantasy and reality. The storyline captures from the first minute of reading and does not let go until the end of the story. Experts advise you to purchase this work and give the child magical moments of a fairy tale in which you can learn about the real events taking place in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century and plunge into the history of that time.
The Secret Life of the Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
Rating: 4.4
“The Secret Life of Bees” is a dramatic story of a fourteen-year-old girl who lost her mother in a terrible tragedy. Lily at the age of 4 kills her, but remembers nothing about the accident and tries to answer questions that have been tormenting her all this time. She lives with her father, but does not receive love and warmth from him, therefore she is deeply lonely and unhappy. The black maid Rosalyn becomes the only native person for the girl.
The book raises many problems of adolescence. Against this background, the events of racial unrest in America, taking place in the 60s of the last century. The author keeps the intrigue until the very end, keeping the reader in suspense and in complete ignorance.Along with the main characters, bees, who represent the faith in life and people for Lily, act as non-paramount characters.
The work will be interesting not only for teenagers, but also for adult audience. It will tell about difficult relationships with parents, will reveal many social problems. Sue Monk Kidd's book is read in one breath, the syllable is quite understandable and accessible. It is recommended for reading and will be a good gift for a child of 12 years.
Anya from the Green Roofs Farm, Lucy Maud Montgomery
Rating: 4.4
The ranking is completed by a book published in 1908. She made the Canadian writer famous all over the world, and her creation - one of the most popular and important works of world children's literature. The book is translated into several dozen languages, it is printed in many countries of the world, and Prince Edward Island, where events take place and in fact the writer lived, has become a landmark, which is annually visited by admirers of her work.
The book is autobiographical. It is based on the childhood memories of the author. The young heroine, like Lucy Maud Montgomery, is left without parents early and goes to an orphanage. Brother and sister decide to take an orphan boy to brighten their lives and help with household chores. But what was their surprise when a red-haired girl Anya appears on the threshold.
After the publication, the writer received thousands of letters asking to continue the story about the fate of the girl, and Mark Twain called the heroine the most charming child of children's world literature. A good story against the backdrop of tragic events will remind many modern teenagers that you can always change your destiny for the better if you really want it and strive for it.
Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.
