“Tween is a new word that describes youths who are roughly ages 8-14, who are ‘between’ childhood and the teenage years. The term ‘tween’ is a blend of the words ‘between’ and ‘teen.’ ”
–The School of Information Sciences, The iSchool at Illinois
From our friends at Brightly:
“Eleven and twelve is a time of big change for kids, both emotionally and physically. Which is why reading coming-of-age books becomes very relevant at this age. Just like the characters in the books they’re reading, 11- and 12-year-olds are experiencing emotional mood swings and physical changes from puberty that can lead to increased feelings of self-consciousness… Preteens need good books that both resonate with their complex lives as well as educate and entertain them.”
Brightly has put together a great booklist of their 50 best reads for tweens, appealing to a range of interests, backgrounds, and moods.
Check it out!