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Tween Tuesday: Popular Books in My Library

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. I haven't posted a booklist in awhile, so I decided one was due!

When giving reader's advisory to library patrons, I have my go to authors and series that I always suggest. The tweens on the other hand have their go to authors and series. I was thinking about what the tweens ask for compared to what I suggest. Here is my (very unscientific) results of what is popular at my library:

Tween Go To Books:
 Margaret Peterson Haddix
Mary Downing Hahn
Carolyn Keene
Peg Kehert
Jeff Kinney
Rick Riordan

My Go To Books:
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows (for younger tweens)
Allie Finkle Series by Meg Cabot
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
Catwings by Ursula K. LeGuin
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Herbert's Wormhole by Peter Nelson
Alcatraz Series Brandon Sanderson
Time Warp Trio by John Scieskza (for younger tweens)
Meanwhile by Jason Shiga
Sammy Keyes Mysteries by Wendelin Van Draanen


A lot of my go to books are readalikes for popular series that are usually checked out and I'm looking for something new to interest the tween readers. Others, like Anne, Mrs. Frankweiler, A Wrinkle in Time, and Catwings, are favorites from my childhood.

Sometimes I can sell the tweens on these books, other times it doesn't work as well. But I always give it a try because I love sharing my favorite books!

What books are popular with your tween readers and what books are popular as your suggestions?

Comments

  1. Allie Finkle! I love her. I always recommend The Penderwicks for 6th grade girls. My kids (both at elementary & middle school) have loved The Warriors books. An author who is getting more popular is Dan Poblocki. And Mary downing Hahn is still popular! Also, The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney. I always have a few readers who go through that whole series each year!

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  2. Jana-I forgot about the Warriors! I get asked for those a lot too! And I do give out The Penderwicks-especially for readers looking for a good old fashioned story.

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  3. So interesting. I'm not a librarian or teacher but it's so interesting to hear what teens are into.

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  4. I'm so excited to get into Tom Angleberger's books! Origami Yoda is in my book bag right now. And I tooootally second Jana's comment about The Face on the Milk Carton. That book is AWESOME and my kids still love it today. Thanks for all of the tips!

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  5. Such a wide variety!

    I've noticed a huge circ for the following books/series:

    Warriors (I can never get the reading order straight!)

    Alex Rider series
    Ranger's Apprentice series
    Mother Daughter Bookclub
    Penderwicks
    Bone graphic novel series
    Baby Mouse series

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  6. One of my favorite recommendations for tweens is also by E.L. Konigsburg-The View From Saturday. I recommend The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck to everyone who hasn't read it-tweens, teens, and adults!

    I agree that tweens seem to get hooked on certain series. In addition to the series already mentioned, Guardians of Ga'hoole by Kathryn Lasky are popular with our tween patrons. The Redwall books seem to go out a lot as well. I see an animal theme here.

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  7. Thanks for recommending my Sammy Keyes series. Loved the lists!
    Wendeln

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  8. Natalie-I agree! I always like seeing what is popular at various libraries.

    Katie-We have The Face on the Milk Carton in YA. I think it checks out a good amount, but would probably do really well if I booktalked it!

    Rummanah-Alex Rider and Ranger's Apprentice are popular here too! And how could I forget Bone-probaby because it's so popular it's almost always checked out!

    Lupine Librarian-Animal books seem to always be popular with tween readers. And we've had lots of patrons asking for Hugo Cabret because of the movie!

    Wendelin-Of course! It's one of my favorites!:)

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  9. Shug is NEVER on our shelves. Haddix is getting a second wind. And they always come back to the Horowitz Alex Rider Books. Ranger's Apprentice, anything by Rick Riodan, and now all the George O'Connor gns.

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  10. My ten-year-old son loves the Warrior books, The Percy Jackson books, and the Eragon books. Our biggest difficulty in finding reading material for him is finding those that are age appropriate (because he's not ready for some of the heavier teen reading) but he reads at a ninth grade level. So far the fantasy books have been a hit because they don't get too serious. Any other suggestions for him would be appreciated (I check your tween posts religiously). :) Oh, we also listen to Harry Potter audiobooks repetitively and he likes those but prefers the audio over reading them.

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