Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
When Amari Peters finds her missing big brother Quinton’s ticking briefcase in his closet, she discovers a world that she never knew existed. Leaving behind her life in the Rosewood low-income housing projects, she enters into a secret life in the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, where she learns that all kinds of supernatural creatures are not only real but kept secret. She’ll do anything to find her brother, but will it be enough? If you enjoy this first book, check out the rest of the series!

Bumps in the Night by Amalie Howard
When Rika is sent to her grandmother’s estate in Trinidad to keep her out of trouble, she meets a group of kids with elemental powers called Minders. When they reveal that her long-lost mother is in danger, she must go on a magical adventure through an endless maze, confronting terrifying jumbies, and save her.

Daughters of the Lamp by Nedda Lewers
Logical and scientific 12-year-old Sahara Rashad always has a plan, but when her dad takes her to her uncle’s wedding in Egypt, all of her plans are ruined. Her family in Cairo insist on their belief in magic, which Sahara refuses, but all that changes when her late mother’s necklace starts glowing and disappears. Dive into a journey of uncovering the past and looking to the future in this magical book.

Leila and the Blue Fox by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Illustrated by Tom de Freston
Twelve-year-old Leila and her climate scientist mother are tracking a tiny arctic fox, Miso, in Norway. This is Leila’s first time seeing her mother in six years, and the Arctic Circle is nothing like Leila has ever imagined. Miso and Leila encounter similar challenges, fighting against the harsh climate of the Arctic and trying to find a home in a difficult world.

The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz
Following the death of her dad, 11-year-old Jerry Blum and her mom end up in the Slumbering Giant motel after a series of dead-end towns and jobs. Jerry’s mom soon gets caught up in her “special work” at the motel, and when she disappears it’s up to Jerry, Paul, a pocket-sized imaginary dragon, and Chapel, her new friend, to find her. Unravel the truth of the Slumbering Giant and cheer on Jerry in this mysterious action novel!

My Side of the Mountain by Jean George
If you’re interested in a book about survival skills in the wilderness, this book follows 12-year-old Sam Gribley, who decides to leave city life with his eight brothers and sisters and try to live in the wilderness. After learning survival skills by reading a book at the New York City Public Library, Sam, with the permission of his father, travels through the woods towards his grandfather’s abandoned farm. On the way, he meets others in the woods, gains a friend in a falcon, and learns how to take care of himself.

Odder by Katherine Applegate
What better adventure is there than one with an otter named Odder? She spends her days flipping around in her local habitat, pushing the boundaries until she encounters a great white shark. This story is based on a real otter, #156, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium otter rescue program. Don’t be intimidated by the poetic writing; you’ll fall into the story quickly as Odder explores her world and does things on her own.

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo
Do you like tales of small, but powerful beings that go on great adventures in fantastical worlds? Then, you’ll adore this book about Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, who is in love with Princess Pea; Roscuro, a rat who wishes to live in a world of light; and Miggery Sow, a serving girl who wishes to be a princess. All three will start a journey that will take them to horrible dungeons, glittering castles, and colliding into each other!

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
This science fiction novel throws two children, Meg Murry and her little brother Charles Wallace, into a journey through space to find their missing father. After meeting their mysterious new neighbors, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, the children are teleported to the planet Uriel where they must work to fight against an evil being to save their father. If you’re interested in a space adventure that’s also a recent movie, this is the book for you! You can also check out the other four books in the series.

Zombie Train by David Macinnis Gill
The Zombie Apocalypse is a real bummer, but Wyatt has been riding it out with his friends on a cobbled together train for what feels like forever. Then, a mysterious girl arrives and tells them that there might be a cure for the zombie parasite. Will Wyatt choose to continue to protect the people on the Zombie Train or will he risk leaving them to search for the cure?