30 Books That Will Inspire Your 10 to 12 Year-Olds

Reading is a fundamental part of children’s development, as it not only expands their vocabulary and improves their language skills, but it also fosters their imagination and creativity and broadens their knowledge. To help you find books suitable for your 10-12 year olds, we’ve compiled a list of varied recommendations spanning different literary genres – discover these exciting reads that will captivate your children and immerse them in unforgettable adventures!

«Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief» by Rick Riordan
- Fiction, Fantasy
- Available in English and Spanish
- Percy Jackson is a normal boy until he discovers he is a demigod, son of Poseidon. When a lightning bolt is stolen from Mount Olympus, Percy and his friends set out on a quest to find the thief and prevent a war between the gods.
«The Lord of the Rings» by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Fiction, Fantasy
- Available in English and Spanish
- The trilogy tells the story of the struggle of good against evil in Middle-earth. Frodo Baggins, a hobbit, sets out on a dangerous journey to destroy a ring that could plunge the world into darkness.
«Momo» by Michael Ende
- Fiction, Fantasy
- Available in English and Spanish
- Momo is a little girl who possesses the gift of listening to others. With this ability, she confronts the gray men, beings who steal people’s time.
«Charlie and the Chocolate Factory» by Roald Dahl
- Fiction, Fantasy
- Available in English and Spanish
- Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. There he lives an unforgettable experience along with other children, each with their own flaws.
“The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan
- Religious novel, allegory
- Available in English and Spanish
- Throughout the story, Christian embarks on a journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, facing various challenges and temptations along the way. The book is a metaphor for the Christian life journey, with characters and events representing virtues, vices and spiritual experiences.
«Chronicles of Narnia» by C.S. Lewis
- Fiction, Fantasy
- Available in English and Spanish
- Through seven books, C.S. Lewis takes us to Narnia, a fantasy world inhabited by talking animals and magical creatures. The children protagonists fight against evil and learn lessons of bravery, friendship and loyalty.
«Treasure Island» by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Fiction, Adventure
- Available in English and Spanish
- Jim Hawkins embarks on an adventure in search of pirate treasure with Captain Silver. Along the way, he faces danger and betrayal.
«The City of Beasts» by Isabel Allende
- Fiction, Adventure
- Available in English and Spanish
- Alexander Cold accompanies his grandmother, a journalist, to the Amazon jungle. There, he discovers a magical and dangerous world populated by mythological creatures.
«The Neverending Story» by Michael Ende
- Fiction, Fantasy
- Available in English and Spanish
- Bastian finds a book called The Neverending Story and plunges into a fantasy world where he himself becomes the protagonist. As he progresses through the reading, he realizes that the fate of Fantasia depends on him.
«Toda Mafalda» by Quino
- Fiction, Humor
- Available in Spanish
- This book compiles the comic strips of Mafalda, an Argentine girl concerned about humanity and world peace. Through her reflections and questions, she addresses political and social issues with humor and irony.
«Anne of Green Gables» by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- Anne Shirley, an orphan girl, is adopted by brothers Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert and taken to live on their farm in Avonlea. The story follows Ana’s antics and adventures as she grows up.
«Lies Girls Believe» by Danna Gresh
- Christian Literature
- Available in English and Spanish
- This book addresses the lies girls believe about themselves, God, and others. With a Christian focus, it offers practical, biblical advice to help girls find their identity in Christ.
«¿Dónde crece el dinero?» by Laura Mascaró
- Thematic, Financial Education
- Available in Spanish
- In this story, two friends embark on a journey to discover where money comes from. Through fun adventures, they learn lessons about the value of work and the importance of saving.
«Little Women» by Louisa May Alcott
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- The novel follows the lives of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, as they grow from childhood to adulthood. Set during the American Civil War, the story celebrates friendship, family and love.
«Little Men» by Louisa May Alcott
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- The sequel to “Little Women” follows the life of Jo March as she becomes a teacher at a school for boys. The story addresses themes of friendship, family and personal growth.
«Case for Christ for Kids » by Lee Strobel, Rob Suggs and Robert Elmer
- Christian Literature, Apologetics
- Available in English and Spanish
- This book offers answers to difficult questions about the Christian faith in language accessible to children. Through real cases and biblical examples, it helps young readers understand and defend their faith.
«The Christmas Carol» by Charles Dickens
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and grumpy old man, is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. Through these visits, Scrooge learns lessons about generosity, compassion and the true Christmas spirit.
«Journey to the Center of the Earth» by Jules Verne
- Fiction, Adventure, Science Fiction
- Available in English and Spanish
- Professor Otto Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel and their guide Hans descend into the interior of the Earth through an Icelandic volcano. On their journey, they face dangers and discover subway wonders.
«The Old Man and the Sea» by Ernest Hemingway
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, struggles to catch a giant swordfish in the Gulf of Mexico. Through this battle, he confronts loneliness, perseverance and the nature of man in the face of the sea.
«Moby Dick» by Herman Melville
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- The novel chronicles Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest for revenge on Moby Dick, a white whale that tore off his leg in a previous encounter. The story explores themes of obsession, destiny and man’s struggle against nature.
«The Adventures of Tom Sawyer» by Mark Twain
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- Tom Sawyer is a mischievous boy who lives on the banks of the Mississippi River. Together with his friend Huckleberry Finn, he embarks on various adventures, including searching for treasure and solving a murder.
«The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn» by Mark Twain
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- Huck Finn, an orphan boy, escapes his abusive and racist life with the help of Jim, an escaped slave. Together, they travel down the Mississippi River in search of freedom and justice.
«Pollyanna» by Eleanor H. Porter
- Fiction, Classic
- Available in English and Spanish
- Pollyanna, an orphan girl, finds happiness in life through the “game of contentment,” which consists of finding something good in every situation. Her optimism and joy transform the lives of those around her.
«Diary of a Wimpy Kid» Series by Jeff Kinney
- Fiction, Comedy
- Available in English and Spanish
- Greg Heffley recounts his misadventures at school and at home through his diary. With hilarious situations and typical pre-adolescent problems, this book is a fun look at the day-to-day life of an elementary school kid.
«I Survived» Series by Georgia Ball
- Fiction, Adventure
- Available in English
- This collection follows the adventures of Jack and his sister Emma as they struggle to survive in different dangerous scenarios, from a shipwreck to a zombie invasion.
«Encyclopedia Brown» Series by Donald J. Sobol
- Fiction, Mystery
- Available in English
- This series follows the adventures of Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown, a young amateur detective who solves mysteries in his hometown. Each book presents several cases that readers can try to solve before learning the solution.
«Reel Kids Adventures» Series by Dave Gustaveson
- Christian Fiction, Adventure
- Available in English
- This series follows the adventures of a group of kids as they travel the world, learning about different cultures and Christian missions. Each book features a new adventure filled with excitement and biblical teachings.
«The Prince Warriors» Series by Priscilla Shirer
- Christian Fiction, Fantasy
- Available in English
- In this series, a group of young people discover they have special powers and are called to fight a spiritual battle against the forces of evil. Through their adventures, they learn about faith, courage and the importance of community.
«The Mandie Collection» Series by Lois Gladys Leppard
- Christian Fiction, Mystery
- Available in English
- Mandie Shaw is an intrepid young woman who goes on exciting adventures in the late 1800s. With the help of her friends, she solves mysteries and discovers the importance of faith and family.
«Glimmer Girls» Series by Natalie Grant
- Christian Fiction, Adventure
- Available in English
- This series follows the adventures of three sisters who travel the world with their mother, a famous singer. As they face challenges and discover new places, they learn about the importance of family, faith and friendship.

These books offer a wide variety of literary genres for children ages 10 to 12, giving them the opportunity to explore new worlds, expand their knowledge and imagination and develop their love of reading. Encourage them to immerse themselves in these exciting stories and discover the wonderful world of literature!