Grade 6+ · ages 12–13 · levels R27–R29
Reading Books for 12 and 13-Year-Olds
Reading books for 12 and 13 year olds: 24 long reads at the top of the ladder – classics retold, debates and non-fiction about what science knows and how.
Ages 12–13Grade 6+Levels R27–R2924 books3 free to read
Free reading level test
Not sure which book to start with?
Read a few short texts and answer two questions about each. Young children tap the picture that matches the words. The test finds your exact level, from R1 to R29, and opens the right shelf of books.
- Ages 4 and up
- 5–10 minutes
- No timer
- Picture questions for young readers
At twelve and thirteen, a book is two to three thousand words. Classics are retold in clear modern English, debates weigh evidence on both sides, and information books say plainly what is still unknown. These books sit at levels R27–R29, about Grade 6+.
With a twelve or thirteen year old, pick a book about something they think they already know. The best of these books show how the experts found out, and where they still disagree.
The 24 books on this page, by topic: Big Questions & Debates (4), Jobs & Community (3), How Things Work (3). Good first picks: “Should Everything Be Made Repairable?”, “Keep It or Say No”, “Your Message Went to Sweden”.
Big Questions & Debates
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Jobs & Community
How Things Work
More books
Questions about books for 12 and 13 year olds
Is this the hardest level?
Yes. Readers who manage these books comfortably are ready for real novels and articles.
Can adults learning English use these books?
Yes. Nothing in them is written for small children: they are short, real non-fiction and debates, which suits teenagers and adult B2 learners alike.
Do the books have audio?
Yes. A narrator reads every page and each word lights up as it is spoken; characters have their own voices.