Looking for some new chapter books for kids and tweens to read in 2023? Well look no further as this book list will give you all the must-read, new chapter books all tween readers will devour in 2023.
My tween readers at home love to read and I am all about fostering that love of reading so I make it my mission to stay up on the latest, most anticipated new chapter books for kids.
Whether they are new chapter books in a book series my kids already enjoy or new releases kicking off a new series, I’m all about finding the best books worth reading this year.
*Disclosure: I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program so if you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
New Chapter Books We Can’t Wait to Read
This year already has a number of new chapter books we can’t wait to get our hands on.
Probably our most anticipated new chapter book is The Chalice of the Gods, the new book in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series!! Is it September yet?
All fans of the Percy Jackson books will want to preorder this new chapter book for sure.
Disney kicks off a new series, The Dark Ascension series, which sounds really great for older tween readers and for fans of A Twisted Tale series.
My son is looking forward to The Sister Switch because he loves body swapping books!
The House Swap is also one he wants to check out though it isn’t about switching bodies, but about two girls switching houses.
I’m sure many tween readers will be picking up Katherine Applegate’s latest, The One and Only Ruby, if they like The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob.
In nonfiction, we love the Who Is/Who Was series of books and there are definitely some new ones to read in 2023 including the one I’m most looking forward to reading, What Is the Story of Anne of Green Gables!
Ready to see all that 2023 will bring when it comes to new chapter books? Check out the entire book list below and add these to your “to be read” list!
Once you make your way through these chapter books, be sure to check back periodically because I’ll add more to the list as their release dates are announced.
If your tween reader also loves graphic novels, don’t miss my list of new graphic novels releasing in 2023 as well!
Be sure to also share which new chapter book your tween reader is most looking forward to reading in 2023 in the comments below!
Happy reading,
Leslie
New Chapter Books for Kids and Tweens Releasing in 2023
The Secret Explorers and the Desert Disappearance
by SJ King
Releasing January 10, 2023
Meet the Secret Explorers – a band of brainiac kids from all around the world, here to take young readers on a series of fact-filled fictional adventures!
Each with their own specialty, from outer space to dinosaurs, these young globetrotters will teach kids that learning can be fun, encouraging them to become experts in something they love.
In this story, Leah the biology explorer and Connor the marine expert set off into the Mexican desert. There, they have to rescue a pack of wolf cubs while avoiding dust storms!
The gripping narrative is filled with scientific facts as the explorers navigate the desert and come across different species and habitats.
What is the Story of Nancy Drew?
by Dana Meachen Rau
Illustrated by Dede Putra
Releasing January 10, 2023
When the very modern character of Nancy Drew first appeared in 1930, no one had a clue that she would remain a star for the next century!
To this day, Nancy is still the main character in new TV shows, movies, and books. What makes her so interesting to so many generations of readers?
Nancy can do it all! She’s a daring teenage girl who solves mysteries, expertly drives her famous blue car, cooks like a gourmet chef, swims like a pro, and more!
Since her first appearance, the prodigy detective has inspired young readers to believe that they can do it all, too.
The Wicked Ones
by Robin Benway
Releasing January 10, 2023
Drizella and Anastasia only know one thing for certain: they will never end up like their mother, Lady Tremaine.
When their father left them as young girls, he took what was left of their family’s fortune and their mother’s dignity with him.
A few years and one deceased stepfather later, the only version of Lady Tremaine that Drizella and Anastasia know is a bitter and cruel head of house. Anastasia and Drizella have promised themselves—and each other—that they’ll be different.
They’ll find love, see the world, and never let their hearts go cold. But both sisters are all too aware of what it can mean when cast into disfavor with their mother, and fueled by Lady Tremaine’s tendencies to pit the daughters against one another, Drizella and Anastasia are locked into a complicated waltz of tenuous sisterhood.
On the cusp of the royal debut party—their one chance to impress the Prince and live up to their mother’s expectations—the sisters at last get a glimpse of what life could be like outside of Lady Tremaine’s intentions: Drizella discovering a love of science and Anastasia sparking a secret romance.
But never underestimate the power a mother whose greatest talents lie in manipulation, and the sisters may learn that even the cruelest of hearts can spill blood.
Super Dweeb and the Time Trumpet
by Jess Bradley
Releasing February 1, 2023
Super-doodler Andy may have an awesome atomic pencil that brings his drawings to life, but he’s still pretty new to the whole hero thing.
The Big Sting
by Rachelle Delaney
Releasing February 7, 2023
Eleven-year-old Leo is an “armchair adventurer.” This, according to Dad, means he’d choose adventures in books or video games over real-life experiences.
And while Leo hates the label, he can’t argue with it. Unlike his little sister Lizzie, Leo is not a risk-taker.
So when he, Lizzie, Mom and Dad leave the city to visit Grandpa on Heron Island, Leo finds all kinds of dangers to avoid — from the deep, dark ocean to an old barn on the verge of collapse.
But nothing on the island is more fearsome than Grandpa himself — Leo has never met anyone so grumpy! According to Mom, Grandpa is still grieving the recent death of his wife, a beekeeper beloved by everyone on the island.
Despite Leo’s best efforts to avoid it, adventure finds him anyway when Grandma’s beehives go missing in the dead of night.
Infuriated, Grandpa vows to track down the sticky-fingered thieves himself . . . with risk-averse Leo and danger-loving Lizzie (plus a kitten named Mayhem) in tow.
Discover the Best Chapter Book Series for Tweens!
Who is Lebron James?
by Crystal Hubbard
Illustrated by Stephen Marchesi
Releasing February 7, 2023
Today, LeBron James is an international superstar who has won four NBA Championships, earned two Olympic gold medals, written books, and starred in blockbuster movies.
He has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and has gained fans across the country as he led each of those three teams to victory.
Many basketball lovers consider LeBron James to be one of the greatest players of all time. But how did LeBron come to be “King James?”
Find out all about LeBron’s childhood, how he started playing basketball at the age of nine, and went on to rule the court in this new book for young readers!
Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom
by Nina Varela
Releasing February 14, 2023
When Juniper Harvey’s family moves to the middle of nowhere in Florida, her entire life is uprooted.
As if that’s not bad enough, she keeps having dreams about an ancient-looking temple, a terrifying attack, and a mysterious girl who turns into an ivory statue.
One night after a disastrous school dance, Juniper draws a portrait of the girl from her dreams and thinks, I wish you were here. The next morning, she wakes up to find the girl in her room…pointing a sword at her throat!
The unexpected visitor reveals herself as Galatea, a princess from a magical other world. One problem—her crown is missing, and she needs it in order to return home.
Now, it’s up to Juniper to help find the crown, all while navigating a helpless crush on her new companion. And things go from bad to worse when a sinister force starts chasing after the crown too.
Whale Done
by Stuart Gibbs
Releasing February 21, 2023
After an escaped kangaroo starts a fire that burns down his house, Teddy Fitzroy accepts an invitation to go to Malibu with his girlfriend, Summer, and her mother, Kandace.
He’s hoping to spend some time relaxing on the beach, but wherever Teddy goes, trouble isn’t far behind.
First, a massive dead whale has washed up on the beach—and before anyone can determine what killed it, it explodes.
Doc, the head vet from FunJungle, suspects something fishy is going on and ropes Teddy and Summer into helping him investigate.
Then, Teddy stumbles upon yet another mystery involving tons of stolen sand. And the paparazzi start spreading rumors about Summer dating a celebrity, leading Teddy to question their relationship.
Without Summer as his trusted partner, can Teddy navigate the rough waters of this glitzy world and uncover what’s going on?
The House Swap
by Yvette Clark
Releasing February 28, 2023
Allie is British and dreams of being a spy. Sage is an only child from sunny California. They meet when their families swap houses for the summer.
Though they’re polar opposites, Allie and Sage quickly realize that they’re both dealing with family issues—Sage’s parents may be on the brink of divorce, and Allie’s struggling to feel heard in her big family. It may take a trip around the world for them to find their place at home.
This sweet and emotional story is told in alternating chapters from each girl’s point of view, offering two unique perspectives on family and belonging.
Link and Hud: Heroes by a Hair
by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey
Releasing March 7, 2023
Lincoln and Hudson Dupré are brothers with what grown-ups call “active imaginations.”
Link and Hud hunt for yetis in the Himalayas and battle orcs on epic quests. Unfortunately, their imaginary adventures wreak havoc in their real world.
Dr. and Mrs. Dupré have tried every babysitter in the neighborhood and are at their wits’ end.
Enter Ms. Joyce. Strict and old-fashioned, she proves to be a formidable adversary. The boys don’t like her or her rules and decide she’s got to go.
Through a series of escalating events—told as high-action comic panel sequences—the brothers conspire to undermine Ms. Joyce and get her fired.
When they go so big that even Ms. Joyce can’t fix it, suddenly she’s out. Finally, success! Or is it?
Curses are the Worst: Scared Silly
by Elizabeth Eulberg
Releasing March 7, 2023
WARNING: This book contains a very scary and silly story about a long-dormant witch’s curse that’s been unleashed on the unsuspecting town of Cauldron’s Cove.
It’s revenge, over three hundred years in the making. (Hey, better late than never!)
When Regan, Sofia, Bennett, and Darius unfairly get put into detention, they know something is wrong. And they’re right: This detention is far from ordinary.
Their science teacher, Ms. Stein, believes that by using these kids’ DNA she can create an army of “perfect” students who have Sofia’s smarts, Regan’s heart, Bennett’s likeability, and Darius’s loyalty.
Soon the clones are wreaking havoc around town and getting the real kids in trouble!
Will the kids be able to save the town or will they be cursed for eternity? There’s only one way to find out and fair warning, dear reader, you should definitely read this with the lights on.
The Girl Who Built a Spider
by George Brewington
Releasing March 21, 2023
When Theresa Brown wins the Charleston County Middle School Science Fair, she receives the opportunity of a lifetime―an invitation to celebrated scientist Dr. Flax’s laboratory and a summer spent building the invention of her dreams.
Along with the second- and third-place finishers of the science fair, Theresa is whisked off to a world of robots, excitement, and danger.
Dr. Flax claims his inventions are going to help stop climate change and make the world a better, safer place, but is that true?
And can Theresa and her friends get to the bottom of the mysteries of his laboratory?
Press Start: Super King Viking Land
by Thomas Flintham
Releasing April 4, 2023
Sunny’s dad enters Super World as none other than King Viking himself! In order to get off a faraway island, King Viking has to become the HERO and help Captain Trevor fix his boat.
But since Dad is not very good at playing the game, King Viking struggles to find all the supplies. Will King Viking be able to save the day and defeat the island monster?
And where does Super Rabbit Boy show up in this zany adventure?
Good Different
by Meg Eden Kuyatt
Releasing April 4, 2023
Selah knows her rules for being normal.
She always, always sticks to them. This means keeping her feelings locked tightly inside, despite the way they build up inside her as each school day goes on, so that she has to run to the bathroom and hide in the stall until she can calm down.
So that she has to tear off her normal-person mask the second she gets home from school, and listen to her favorite pop song on repeat, trying to recharge.
Selah feels like a dragon stuck in a world of humans, but she knows how to hide it.
Until the day she explodes and hits a fellow student.
Selah’s friends pull away from her, her school threatens expulsion, and her comfortable, familiar world starts to crumble.
But as Selah starts to figure out more about who she is, she comes to understand that different doesn’t mean damaged. Can she get her school to understand that, too, before it’s too late?
A Breath of Mischief
by MarcyKate Connelly
Illustrated by Yuta Onoda
Releasing April 4, 2023
Aria is raised by the Wind. She grew up in a castle, floating among the clouds with creatures of the air.
She spends her days racing and soaring through the sky with her best friend, Gwyn, a young gryphling. At night, she falls asleep to the music of the Wind.
One morning, Aria is woken by a frantic Gwyn. The chimes are silent, there is not a breath of breeze, and their castle has settled on the ground. The Wind has vanished.
Aria and Gwyn go on a desperate search only to discover the Wind is being held captive by a sinister alchemist named Worton.
To free the Wind, Aria and Gwyn must complete a series of trials to find and retrieve three magical talismans for Worton.
Nothing will keep Aria from rescuing the element who raised her—not a riddle, not a quest, not a race against time. Except Worton can’t be trusted, and it’s not just the Wind that needs saving…
The Sister Switch
by Sarah Mlynowski and Debbie Rigaud
Releasing April 4, 2023
Eleven-year-old Addie Asante of Columbus, Ohio, is sick of being the middle sister. Her big sister can do whatever she wants, and her little sister is totally spoiled.
When Addie receives a mysterious box in the mail containing a magical bracelet–and a note from a girl in New York named Becca–she’s intrigued.
Addie makes a wish on the bracelet to no longer be in the middle and suddenly–POOF–she’s literally transformed into her big sister!
At first, getting to be thirteen is amazing: Addie is allowed to hang out at Starbucks after school, wear make-up, go on social media… this is the life!
But as her new long-distance friend Becca warns her, this wish-granting bracelet isn’t all that it seems.
Having a wish come true can get really messy really fast. Plus, in a bit of magical chaos, Addie’s big sister has become the baby sister, and Addie’s baby sister is living as ADDIE!
Can the sisters find their “happily ever after”?
Related: Body Swapping and Switching Books Tween Readers Will Love
The Piper’s Promise
by Leah Cypess
Releasing April 18, 2023
Clare’s brother, Tom, also known as the pied piper, has stolen away the children of Hamelin. But Clare knows that’s only half the story.
Tom isn’t the easiest person to love, but she’s certain that he couldn’t be so cruel. There has to be a good reason why he stole the Fae Queen’s magic pipe and led the children to a faraway land, never to be seen again.
Together with Anna, the mayor of Hamelin’s daughter, Clare embarks on a journey into the Faerie Realms.
In order to succeed, she will have to dodge faerie traps and stay out of the evil Rat Prince’s claws. Only she can save the children of Hamelin and clear her brother’s name.
But who will she have to betray to do it?
Home Away From Home
by Cynthia Lord
Releasing April 18, 2023
Mia and her mom visit Grandma in Maine every summer, but this year Mia is going alone. Her mom will stay behind to get their house ready to sell. It’ll be a new start, she says, after the divorce.
Mia doesn’t want a new start. She’d rather everything just stayed the same! At least things will be the same at Grandma’s, though.
Mia will walk to town for ice cream, and wait by the water, watching for birds, just like always.
Then Mia meets Grandma’s know-it-all new neighbor, who’s just her age. Cayman acts like he belongs at Grandma’s house.
He acts like he’s the expert on everything. And when he and Mia spot an unusual white bird of prey, he acts like it’s his job to find out what it is.
Unless, that is, Mia finds out first. And, in her effort to prove herself to him, she makes a decision that will change things for the town, for the bird, for Cayman, and even for herself.
Can Mia stop what she’s put into motion?
The Golden Frog Games: Witchlings
by Claribel A. Ortega
Releasing May 2, 2023
Every four years, the Twelve Towns gather for a legendary magical tournament–the Golden Frog Games.
With Ravenskill hosting this year’s games, all eyes are on Seven Salazar, Valley Pepperhorn and Thorn Laroux: the most famous Spares in the Twelve Towns.
Thorn is ready to compete as a fashion champion, but when a forbidden hex is used to turn her fellow champions to stone, suspicion lands on the Witchlings.
As the Witchlings attempt to unravel the mystery of the stonifications, future Uncle Seven is harboring a dangerous secret: While she’s supposed to be able to communicate with animals, the voices she hears most clearly belong to monstruos, and one spine-chilling voice is the loudest of all.
Can Seven fix her broken magic and find out who is stonifying the champions . . . before Thorn becomes the next victim?
The One and Only Ruby
by Katherine Applegate
Releasing May 2, 2023
Ruby’s story picks up a few months after the events of The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby’s caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting.
Seeing him again brings back a flood of memories both happy and sad of her life before the circus, and she recounts the time she spent in the African savannah to Ivan and Bob.
Pack Your Bags
by Maggie Diaz
Releasing May 2, 2023
Spring semester is here and Maggie is killing it! Her grades are up, she’s loving outdoor track and field, and being a seventh grader means the awesome spring break trip to St. Augustine is almost here.
She can’t wait for her first overnight trip away from her overprotective parents, lovesick sister, and busybody abuela. Nothing will get in the way of Maggie having the best time ever with her two best friends, Zoey and Julian!
But all of Maggie’s plans for their unforgettable trip start to fall apart as everyone gets carried away with the upcoming dance instead.
Even Julian has a crush—throwing their group dynamic into turmoil when he asks the new girl to be his date. Zoey’s so stressed with school that her straight A streak is in trouble . . . and why can’t Maggie stop thinking about Eerie Eddie?
The three best friends have been inseparable for years, but everything is changing as everyone splits into twos leaving Maggie unsure of where—and with who—she still fits.
The Storyteller
by Brandon Hobson
Releasing May 2, 2023
Ziggy has ANXIETY. Partly this is because of the way his mind works, and how overwhelmed he can get when other people (especially his classmate Alice) are in the room.
And partly it’s because his mother disappeared when he was very young, making her one of many Native women who’ve gone mysteriously missing.
Ziggy and his sister, Moon, want answers, but nobody around can give them.
Once Ziggy gets it in his head that clues to his mother’s disappearance may be found in a nearby cave, there’s no stopping him from going there.
Along with Moon, Alice, and his best friend, Corso, he sets out on a mind-bending adventure where he’ll discover his story is tied to all the stories of the Cherokees that have come before him.
Ziggy might not have any control over the past — but if he learns the lessons of the storytellers, he might be able to better shape his future and find the friends he needs.
What is the Story of Anne of Green Gables?
by Ellen Labrecque
Illustrated by Laurie A. Connelly
Releasing May 9, 2023
Author L. M. Montgomery first brought Anne Shirley onto the page in 1908, and this independent and inspiring character has been capturing readers’ hearts ever since.
The story of an orphaned girl who is sent to Avonlea on Prince Edward Island to live with the Cuthbert family includes adventure, romance, and an ensemble of iconic characters like Diana Barry and Gilbert Blythe.
Today, fans enjoy Anne on page, on screen, and even on stage as the popular series continues to draw audiences.
Learn about the history of this iconic literary character, Anne with an “e” – in this exciting biography.
The Sea of Terror
by Stuart Gibbs
Releasing May 9, 2023
After helping Princess Grace foil the villainous Prince Ruprecht—twice!—junior knights Tim, Belinda, and Ferkle are on a new quest—this time to recover the Queen of Merryland’s precious golden fleece (and more importantly, the protective amulet in its pocket) from the Kingdom of Dinkum.
The safety of all Merryland depends upon them.
But first, they must face the deadly Sea of Terror and the dastardly perils it contains.
Tim and his friends will have to use every ounce of bravery, valor, and intelligence they possess to navigate the treacherous waters—or else risk becoming flotsam on the waves.
Perfect Villains: Bad Princesses
by Jennifer Torres
Releasing May 16, 2023
Every girl dreams of going to The Royal Academy and becoming a princess. But Dalia and Dominga are different.
And when they meet on the first day of school, they realize they are the same kind of different. Neither of them wants to be in Woodland Wildlife class with the other princesas.
They don’t want to wear the dresses, or learn to curtsy, but the tiaras are alright… Instead, they want to join a secret society of villains and tricksters. In order to be considered, they know they have to do something terrible.
So they cook up one terrible scheme after the other, but they all go wonderfully wrong and make Dalia and Dominga seem perfectly pleasant!
Penny Draws a Best Friend
by Sarah Shepard
Releasing May 16, 2023
Why does the cubby room always smell like farts? Who etched the words “I Am Bug Man” inside my desk? Why is Mom suddenly acting like she has a secret?
Nobody said starting fifth grade would be easy, and Penny Lowry’s anxiety means a million questions are always spinning through her thoughts.
Luckily she’s got a lot to look forward to, like her favorite after-school activity, Art Club, and seeing her best friend Violet again after spending the whole summer apart.
The thing is, Violet has been acting weird ever since she got back. She never wants to hang out anymore, says Art Club is for babies, and spends all her time with Riley, the meanest girl in school.
Did Penny do something wrong? And if she did, can she undo it?
Falling Out of Time
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Releasing May 30, 2023
Twelve-year-old Zola thinks she has the perfect life. She thinks everyone does, now that it’s 2193, and humanity has solved all its problems.
Insta-Closets deliver new clothes every morning, Insta-Ovens deliver gourmet meals on demand, and virtual reality goggles let her have any adventure she wants, with friends from all over the world.
Then one day Zola finds a handwritten note in her Insta-Closet:
If you want to see things as they really are, come find me.
What if Zola’s wrong about everything—even the year? As she struggles to figure out who wrote the note, she discovers a printed book in her Insta-Closet called The Jessie Keyser Story: How One Girl Escaped from Clifton Village.
Zola wonders: Who is Jessie Keyser, and why does she look like her . . . and what else do they have in common?
Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One
by Andres Auseon
Releasing June 6, 2023
Ben doesn’t feel chosen by anybody—not by his friends, who haven’t kept in touch since he moved after his parents’ divorce, or by his mom, who’s so busy he barely sees her.
He spends all his time living in fantasy worlds and writing extensively planned adventure campaigns in his role-playing-game notebook.
So when Niara, a character who could be right out of one of his favorite games, shows up and tells him he’s destined to save her realm (like, foretold-by-a-prophecy destined), Ben has two possible moves: tell her the truth or play along.
He’s tired of feeling left behind, so his choice is clear—game on.
One interdimensional portal later, Ben is in full hero mode. At first, adventuring in Lux seems like a dream come true, but pretending to be the Chosen One—and lying to his new friends—isn’t quite what he imagined it to be.
And the more he learns about Lux and his quest, the more he realizes this is way beyond a game—and the rules seem to be changing as he goes. In fact, it might be time for him to write some new ones.
Totally Psychic
by Brigid Martin
Releasing August 15, 2023
Paloma Ferrer is psychic. In fact, everyone in her family line has “the gift.” Now that Paloma has come into her powers, she dreams of being a famous medium to celebrities, just like her beloved grandma.
When Paloma’s parents move them from Miami to Los Angeles, she hatches a plan to get her career as a medium up and running:
- Host séances at her new school and stream on social media
- Build her profile and make a name for herself
- Avoid detection from her tattletale of a little sister
But when a reading gone awry leaves Paloma in a sticky situation with a new friend, she’ll need more than a crystal ball to find her way out of this mess.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods
by Rick Riordan
Releasing September 26, 2023
The novel unfolds during Percy’s senior year at Alternative High School in New York — after the action of The Heroes of Olympus, but before The Trials of Apollo.
This time around, Percy is not worried about saving the world. He has a much harder quest: getting into college.
New Rome University requires recommendation letters from three gods, which means . . . yep, you guessed it. Percy has to run quests to get the letters. (That sound you hear is Percy screaming into his pillow in frustration.)
First quest: the cupbearer of the gods, Ganymede, is missing his chalice. Not only is this embarrassing. It’s also a potential disaster, since any mortal who happens to drink from the cup will gain immortality.
Percy, Annabeth and Grover have to find that chalice and return it to Ganymede before anyone realizes he lost it. These gods . . . they really need GPS tags on their magic items, don’t they?
Related: Percy Jackson Books in Order: The Ultimate Guide
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