Finding books for 9 year old girls should not be too tough a job. Many girls at this age are interested in books and publishing supplies, many young middle-grade books starring girls. For this list, I’ve rounded up my favorite cute stories targeted toward younger middle schoolers and starring girls. You’ll find realistic fiction, talking animals, graphic novels, one historical fiction, and one sweet (award-winning — thanks to the 2024 ALA awards!) verse novel.
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20 Sweet Books for 9 Year Old Girls
Here are 20 excellent books for 9 year old girls:
Leeva at Last
Published: March 7, 2023
In Leeva at Last, we meet Leeva, a child who’s been kept indoors and put to work by her famous parents. Her mom is the Mayor, and her dad is the Treasurer. They both only care about fame and money, respectively, but not about their daughter or townspeople. They don’t even send her to school, and Leeva learns new words from a vocabulary section of the newspaper and teaches herself to read. But when Leeva finds her way to the town library one day, her eyes are opened to the world around her, and she finds the answer to a question that’s been on her mind forever: “What are people for?” This is a funny, charming, and whimsical young middle grade book about what it means to care about others.
Lolo Weaver Swims Upstream
Published: April 25, 2023
Willow (Lolo) Weaver’s summer is not going well. Her grandfather has recently died, her grandma isn’t herself, and she’s given away her grandfather’s foster dog, Hank. Lolo’s mother is heavily pregnant, and Lolo is in summer school because she didn’t do too well in her last exams. On top of that, their lake town isn’t a lake town anymore because the lake’s been drained and smells awful now. Lolo wants to help her grandmother feel better, and she’s convinced that getting back her grandfather’s dog will do the trick. The only problem is that the dog now belongs to someone else. So Lolo gets on Pop’s boat to steal Hank back—only to run into her summer school classmate, Noah (who’s the new dog owner). This is a charming story about persistence, unlikely friendships, and the enduring love for a grandparent despite the odds
Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters
Published: October 3, 2023
Mr. Whiskers is a street-wise stray dog with a nose for trouble and a fondness for two girls he calls the Shenanigan Sisters. So when Misty and Zelda’s professor father is kidnapped, Mr. Whiskers follows that car, picking up vital clues. With the help of his street friends and the Shenanigan sisters, Mr. Whiskers leads the way to finding Mr. Shenanigan. Kids will love this gentle, funny mystery — especially great on audio. It’s perfect for listeners ages 8 and up.
Ways to Make Sunshine
Published: April 27, 2021
Ryan Hart and her family are moving to a new (old) house because her dad lost his post office job and his new job doesn’t pay as much. Still, there are small joys. She doesn’t have to change schools and is still close enough to one of her best friends. With the new house, and selling one of their cars, her parents can better deal with their financial struggles. Throughout this slice-of-life book, Ryan learns how to believe in herself, enjoy public speaking, be a bigger person, and love who she is. Renee Watson’s Ways to Make Sunshine is an absolutely delightful early middle-grade book with a memorable protagonist.
Frizzy
Published: October 18, 2022
Marlene hates the salon where her mom takes her to get her natural curls straightened weekly. Marlene’s mom and some in their circle/family believe that “good hair” is straight hair. Marlene’s mom wants her to focus on school and look “tidy” by having her hair straight and slick. But Marlene isn’t so sure. She sees an internet influencer and her favorite aunt, Tia Ruby rocking their curls and is eager to try. But her first attempt fails woefully. With Tia Ruby’s hair, Marlene learns to care for her natural hair better and embrace her curls. Frizzy is a delightful, thought-provoking graphic novel about natural hair, self-acceptance, and body image.
Ferris
Published: March 5, 2024
DiCamillo’s stories can be hit or miss for me, but this one I adored. It’s about Emma Phineas (also known as Ferris because she was born under a Ferris wheel), whose family is having a chaotic summer. Her younger sister Pinky is determined to be an outlaw, her grandmother Charisse is insistent that she’s seeing a ghost, and her father’s brother is separated from his wife and living in their basement. Despite how stressful all these circumstances sound, this book is more funny and heartfelt than anything else, as Ferris and her family find love and tenderness for each other.
President of the Whole Fifth Grade
Published: October 5, 2010
Briana’s desire to become president of her 5th grade class intensifies when she discovers that her role model and school alumnus was also 5th grade president. But when a new girl comes to her class and becomes her main opponent, Briana is embroiled in a fight for the position that will test her ethics and character. This is a high drama tween novel for fans of friendship stories featuring ambitious characters.
Sew Zoey
Published: June 4, 2013
This is the first in a cute series about Zoey, a fashion lover who discovers a love for sewing after a visit to the fabric store over the summer break. She eventually starts a blog to show case her designs and quickly begins to garner a following. But when school reopens, it’s not so easy to share her newfound style with classmates (some of whom aren’t always the nicest). A school fashion show presents the perfect opportunity to reintroduce herself. This is very low-stakes story for sensitive kids who love books about friendship and school issues.
PAWS: Gabby Gets It Together
Published: March 8, 2022
I truly loved this graphic novel about three friends who start a dog-walking business. It feels true to kids (feels like something I would’ve LOVED as a child who adored The Babysitters’ Club), and I enjoyed seeing the ethnic diversity and the parental involvement in this story. If you have kids who love animals or have an entrepreneurial streak, this is the book for them. It’s also delightfully short, and this is a series I totally plan to keep up with since every book is from a different girl’s perspective.
Odder
Published: September 20, 2022
Odder loves to play. She loves her home in the California waters and is unafraid to take risks–until she’s attacked by a great white shark. After the attack, Odder and her friend (a fellow otter) are taken in by some scientists who rehabilitate the animals. Soon, they make Odder a surprising offer that will change her life. Based on the real-life experiences of some otters, this book surprised me pleasantly. The audiobook is so delightful, with a full cast and sound effects. It’s perfect for this age group!
Dogtown
Published: September 19, 2023
Chance is a three-legged dog at the Dogtown shelter, where able-bodied dogs and robot dogs compete for attention. When a new robot dog, Metal Head, comes to the pound, things start to change. First off, he’s determined to run away (return home). So he hatches a plan with Chance and her mouse best friend to help an older dog get adopted in exchange for helping him escape. But things do not go to plan, and Chance, her mouse friend, and Metal Head spend a night on the streets on an emotional adventure. As someone who isn’t into animal books, I’m shocked by how much I liked this one. It’s charming, beautifully plotted, and full of suspense, heartwarming characters, and plenty of heart. It also has sweet illustrations and very short chapters.
Julia on the Go: Swimming into Trouble
Published: February 13, 2024
Julia LOVES to swim and is excited to participate in Personal Best Day with her swim team. Unfortunately, she develops an ear infection and the doctor’s orders are clear: stay out of the water. But Julia won’t give up and tries several wacky ways to stop water from getting in her ears when she swims, with disappointing and hilarious results. Eventually, she learns there are different ways to be part of a team. I loved this chapter book, especially the depiction of Julia’s immigrant parents, their sushi shop, and Julia’s adventures in the library and with frenemies. It’s an excellent choice for older readers who want the comfort of pictures in their stories.
Good Different
Published: April 4, 2023
Selah knows there’s something different about her. She’s uncomfortable with overstimulation and can’t seem to instinctively figure out social cues, so she follows the rules; does what others do/expect her to do in those situations. But when she’s home, she practically crashes, needing to recover from shapeshifting all day. She’s doing okay, until one day she hits a fellow student who keeps trying to braid Selah’s hair. This leads to a series of events ending in an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and the realization that although she’s different, it’s good different. Good Different is a powerful verse exploration of life on the autism spectrum and the illuminating experience of finally understanding oneself.
Ruby Finley and the Interstellar Invasion
Published: September 27, 2022
Ruby is an 11-year-old future entomologist who loves studying insects and playing video games with her neighborhood friends. When she sees a strange bug in her bedroom and shares a picture of it on social media, suspicious agents appear at her door to re-capture the now missing insect. Soon, all the metal in her neighborhood begins to disappear as Ruby and her friends realize there’s more to the strange bug. This was a lot of fun and will appeal to fans of STEM stories and books about robots.
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All
Published: April 23, 2024
Magnolia Wu spends a lot of time at her parents’ laundromat in NYC, keeping track of lost socks and observing customers come and go. But her summer gets more exciting when her parents introduce her to a family friend’s daughter, Iris. Soon Iris and Magnolia set off through the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock. As they meet people in their community and learn about them, the girls’ lives expand beyond their expectations. This is an adventurous, dryly funny book with illustrations that are perfect for nine year old girls.
The Magnificent Mya Tibbs #1: Spirit Week Showdown
Published: January 3, 2017
Fourth grader Mya Tibbs is excited for Spirit Week! She has made plans to partner with her best friend Naomi Jackson. Mya’s life seems pretty good, but the one scary part is Mean Connie Tate, who everyone knows is the biggest fourth-grade bully. So, you can imagine Mya’s terror when she’s partnered with Connie and Connie refuses to trade partners. On top of that, Naomi is mad at Mya for not trying harder to trade partners. This is a sweet, realistic story of friendship, family, and forgiveness, featuring a relatable, funny character who isn’t afraid to be herself — cowgirl boots and all.
Next Stop
Published: March 19, 2024
Pia heads out on a desert sightseeing road trip on which one of the stops is a famous lake which many believe has magical properties. Pia has a secret: she’s hoping that the lake will bring back her younger brother who died in a drowning accident several months ago. Along the way, she gets to know the odd group traveling together, including a candy-distributing grandma, a reluctant tween traveler, a couple with ever-bickering kids, and an elderly couple hoping for a health miracle. I liked the camaraderie of the travelers and the flashbacks in every chapter that show us Pia’s life before and just after the accident. I also really liked that the plot is sad but not too heavy. This is great for readers who enjoy sad books or stories featuring a road trip.
The Babysitters Club (Graphic Novel)
Published: April 28, 2015
Kids these days may not like the original BSC books (womp womp!), but these graphic novel adaptations are always a crowd pleaser — starting with the first book in the series. Bonus points for being illustrated by THE Raina Telgemeier.
The One Thing You’d Save
Published: March 16, 2021
Linda Sue Park’s The One Thing You’d Save is a unique hybrid of sorts. It’s geared toward middle schoolers, but has lovely black and white illustrations on nearly every page. It is also less than 80 pages long, with sparse text in the Korean sijo poetry style. By the end of the class, even the teacher rethinks her choices, just as every reader will. This book might not satisfy you, if like me you enjoy plot, but it will make you think about the one thing, or things that matter most to you. Teachers and middle schoolers alike will find this book to be an excellent conversation starter, and the illustrations will entice reluctant and younger readers.
Light and Air
Published: October 24, 2023
As a non-fan of historical fiction, I was pleasantly surprised by this debut middle grade novel. Set in 1930s New York, where a tuberculosis epidemic is raging, it follows Halle, whose mother is diagnosed with the disease and sent off to JN Adams Sanatarium in Perrysburg. There, everyone, including people of all races, is welcome, and patients are treated with exposure to light and air. Soon, Halle ends up there to treat pneumonia. This book is accessible, plain-spoken, and truly written for kids without dumbing down or info dumping. The characters are richly drawn, and the subject matter is intriguing and rarely explored in books for kids. It’s impressive that the author has created a book all about tuberculosis with a rich, moving, adventurous, and tender plot balancing friendship, family, mystery, and history all at once.
Join our Patreon community to get the printable version of this list! You’ll also get access to other kid lit resources, like our seasonal guides and educator interviews, to inspire you.
There they are: 20 of my favorite books for 9-year-olds! Which of these books have you read and loved? What did I miss?
What do you think? Leave a comment