Several years ago, I wrote Part 1 of my clean books for teens and tweens series. Because I had so many great books to recommend, I promised a second post. But, life happened, and I forgot all about it.
Since then, I've had dozens of requests from my readers to share the rest of the list! In fact, this morning I had a request to, "Please! Just publish the list without the reviews -- we trust you!"
So, with that flattering recommendation, here's the list! (I'll add to the book reviews and summaries later.)
If you know me, you know that I pretty much always have a book in my hand. If I'm not physically reading, my phone is reading the book to me. Constant reading is a terrible habit, but I'm addicted.
My favorite books are juvenile fiction (especially fantasy and adventure books). But why do I read books for young adults and kids instead of books written for adults? It's simple. They're clean. I can read them and share them with my kids with no worries.
I hope this list of clean books for teens and tweens arrives in time for you to snag a few for Christmas gifts. I'm linking you to the first book in each series or the box set on Amazon.
*I am an Amazon affiliate, and I may earn a small amount from your purchase -- without any effect on your price.
Because this is Part 2 of a series, this is just a partial list. If your favorite series isn't listed, chances are it's in Part 1, but please, add your favorite clean book series in the comments. I'm always looking for new books!
Keeper of the Lost Cities
The Keeper of the Lost Cities series, by Shannon Messinger, came out after I created this list, and it is my and my daughters' favorite series right now. It's not finished yet, and we are dying for the next book! We read the most recent book in the series, Stellarlune, in a day! If you want to wait, book 9.5 comes out in November 2024 with book 10 still to come. If you hate to read books until the entire series comes out, you have more willpower than I do! Don't wait. The books are so good!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan is an amazing adventure! I love the sequel series (The Heroes of Olympus) as well.
The Books of Bayern
If you've heard of any books in this awesome series by Shannon Hale, it's probably "The Goose Girl." That's an amazing book, but, did you know there are three more books in the series? The series starts with a fairy tale retelling and expands as the magic extends to other characters and locations. I love the Books of Bayern series, by Shannon Hale.
The Princesses of Westfalen Trilogy
Jessica Day George does not write your typical fairy tale. I love the twists in these stories from the Princesses of Westfalen trilogy. She reimagines the Twelve Dancing Princesses and Cinderella and twists together Little Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood. (I guess the Hoods stick together!)
If you like this series, you'll love my next planned clean books post about my favorite free books on Kindle Unlimited. I signed up for the service during the pandemic, and my daughters and I have discovered tons of clean authors and great book series!
The Land of Stories
Since we're discussing fairy tales, how about a series where the main characters actually fall into the Land of Stories? They have to navigate their own adventures as they cross paths and team up with real fairy tale characters.
While looking these books up on Amazon, I noticed that this book series says it's for ages 8-11. I never pay attention to that. I think they should be advertised for ages 8-80 instead!
The Mysteries of Cove
The Mysteries of Cove book series, by J. Scott Savage reminds me a lot of "The City of Ember," by Jeanne DuPrau (the first book in another really good series). It's about a society of people that has been hidden deep in a mountain for so long that they have no idea what is going on in the real world. Of course, it takes kids to put things together (literally), save the day, and venture out of the mountain for more adventures.
In looking up these books, I see that Savage has a new series called, "The Lost Wonderland Diaries." Now I have another series to read. Hooray!
The Underland Chronicles
You might recognize Suzanne Collins as the author of The Hunger Games. While I liked those books, I was disturbed by kids killing kids, and I was the weird mom who didn't let my kids watch the movies until they were in high school.
Meyer wrote The Underland Chronicles before that series, and this series is nothing like it. If you're not squeamish about giant rats, cockroaches, and spiders, you'll love this series.
The Janitors
*Spoiler alert: The janitors have a secret. You may think they're around to clean up the school, but they're really around to clean up evil supernatural creatures. And they might just need the help of some ordinary kids who stumble into their adventures.
The Janitors series is a clean adventure full of trash! (The kind you put in a trash can -- not the kind that's offensive.)
Cragbridge Hall
My kids were lucky enough to have Chad Morris, the author of the Cragbridge Hall series, visit their school to talk about his first book, The Inventor's Secret. We ran right out to buy the book and waited on pins and needles for each additional book in the series.
What's the Cragbridge Hall series about? Think really smart kids from the year 2074 enrolled in an amazing boarding school where they don't just read about history -- they watch it happen! They don't run around the track in the school gym -- they run up real mountains. They don't just study about animals -- they become avatar versions. Sound cool? It is! (And, of course, you have to throw in some bad guys trying to rule the world.)
More great clean books for teens and tweens!
Since beginning this list several years ago, my daughters and I have found many more book series to add. But, rather than waiting to create a part 3, I'm including them at the end of this list without details. Just trust me. They're great!
More great series that are not pictured:
- The Far World series, by J. Scott Savage
- The Going Wild series, by Lisa McMann
- The Fairy Tale Reform School series, by Jen Calonita
- The Spoken Mage, by Melanie Cellier (and all of her other series)
- The Network Saga, by Katie Cross
- The Dragon Slippers series, by Jessica Day George
- The Castle Glower series, by Jessica Day George (Her books are written a little more for younger readers, but I still like them.)
- The Neverwood Chronicles, by Chandra Hahn
- The Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale
- Howle's Castle Series, by Diana Wynne Jones (I haven't read these, but my daughter loves them.)
- Any books by K.M. Shea (She has several series, and we love them all. The supernatural books are geared more toward teens, but the fairy tale retellings are okay for tweens.)
- Beauty, by Rose McKinley
- Peter and the Starcatchers, by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
- The Story Thieves, by James Riley
More ideas I think you'll love
Thanks for stopping by today. While you're here, check out more ideas for your kids.
The images are linked to the posts, so click the image below to check out the ideas.
Iona
I have been wanting to read The Goose Girl for a while! And I am curious about the Westfalen Trilogy...Hm. Thanks for sharing theses lists! I didn't know about several, will have to heck them out :)
Iona
I have been wanting to read The Goose Girl for a while! And I am curious about the Westfalen Trilogy...Hm. Thanks for sharing theses lists! I didn't know about several, will have to check them out :)
William Halsted
I'd like to suggest another book for this list, my own first novel that just came out. It captures the spirit of a good war story in a clean paintball medium. Full, detailed parental content guide available in book description.
"Private Owens: A George Owens Novel" (Paintball Wars Chronicles) by William DeForest Halsted IV