Awkward Moments and First Kisses: Romance for Tweens
It can be tough to find romances for tweens since the ones in the teen section might be too much and romance isn't usually the main focus in middle grade books. Here's some suggestions gleaned from several places.
Janssen Bradshaw of Brightly says, "Gracie and Sienna have been best friends for a long time. So, when Gracie’s giant crush, A.J., starts crushing on Sienna, Gracie refuses to admit she is heartbroken. She tries to hold it together and be the best…
Janssen Bradshaw of Brightly says, "Penny’s world of doodles and big feelings gets even more interesting when an anonymous note makes her wonder: does someone in her class have a crush on her? Perfect for kids navigating nerves, laughs, and those…
Janssen Bradshaw of Brightly says, "Juli first met Bryce in second grade, and her stomach completely flipped. Bryce was the opposite and felt uncomfortable around Juli. Six years later, they feel the same way — or do they? Just as Bryce warms up to…
Afoma Umesi of Reading Middle Grade says, "Pizza My Heart follows young Maya Reynolds whose parents are moving from Brooklyn, New York to a small town in Pennsylvania to expand their soul pizza business, Soul Slice. Having grown up in Brooklyn, Maya…
Afoma Umesi of Reading Middle Grade says, "Since her mom died during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been just Chloe and her dad. She worries about their finances, so when she has the chance to go on a school trip to Broadway, she’s hesitant to tell…
Janssen of Everyday Reading says, "This clever, funny, and sweet retelling of Cinderella might be one of my top five all-time favorite books! Ella was cursed shortly after birth to obey any order given to her and there doesn’t seem to be any way for…
Janssen of Everyday Reading says, "I just LOVED this young adult historical fiction trilogy, and it was such a fun, delightful read with a little sprinkle of romance and a lot of adventure. If I remember right, there was only one kiss in the entire…
Erica of What Do We Do All Day? says, "If your tween has been watching (or begging to watch) The Summer I Turned Pretty, hand them Jenny Han's middle grade novel, Shug. 12-year-old Annemarie Wilcox, aka "Shug," is going through some things. Her dad…
Erica of What Do We Do All Day? says, "Callie wants to be in her school's latest production but she doesn't think she can sing so instead she helps out as the set designer and is determined to create a Broadway-worthy show. The "drama" of the book's…
