Best Novels for Girls (2026): 5 Picks Compared by Reading Level

A girl who has just finished one series and wants another book will find the best novels for girls easier to choose once her reading level is clear. This list compares each pick by what its Amazon listing publishes: grade level, reading age, page count and series position.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The New Girl by Calin	9.7/10	Buy
2	Benefits of Being an Octopus by Braden	9.7/10	Buy
3	The New Girl: First Crush by Calin	9.6/10	Buy
4	Drama by Telgemeier	9.6/10	Buy
5	The Girls by Cline	9.2/10	Buy

1

The New Girl by Calin

Cassandra Calin·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Lia leaves Romania with her family and has to adjust to a new home, a new language and a new school.

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Pros

• Lia's move gives a clear story about change and acceptance
• Grade level 4 to 7 and a reading age of 9 to 11 both point to a middle grade reader
• 272 pages in graphic novel form, with a clear start to the two-book series

Cons

• Book 1 of 2, so the story continues in The New Girl: First Crush
• The description covers a first period and body changes, so a parent may want to preview
• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher

2

Benefits of Being an Octopus by Braden

Ann Braden·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Seventh-grader Zoey looks after her younger siblings and is pushed into debate club, which changes how she sees her town.

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Pros

• Zoey's family duties and her growing voice in debate make a focused story
• 312 pages with a reading age of 10 to 12 suits a patient reader of that age
• The listing states it appears on several state reading lists

Cons

• The gun debate and a strained home life are central, so preview it first
• Grade level 3 to 7 is a wide band, so it does not pin down difficulty
• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher

3

The New Girl: First Crush by Calin

Cassandra Calin·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Lia's friendships, her mom and a new crush face fresh strains in this follow-up to The New Girl.

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Pros

• Continues Lia's story for readers who finished The New Girl
• Same 272 pages and grade level 4 to 7 as book 1, so the reading load matches
• Friendship and family play a large part alongside the crush plot

Cons

• Book 2 of 2, so it works best after reading The New Girl
• Crushes are central, and the description also mentions periods, so preview it
• Reading age of 9 to 12 is marked as from customers and runs a year above book 1's listing

4

Drama by Telgemeier

Raina Telgemeier·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Callie, who loves theater, becomes set designer for her middle school drama department and must keep the crew working together.

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Pros

• A school theater setting gives readers a clear hook for behind-the-scenes stories
• Grade level 5 to 9 and a reading age of 8 to 11 both point to middle grade
• Friendship, crushes and teamwork are the main threads, with no heavy themes listed

Cons

• Grade level 5 to 9 is a wide band, so it does not pin down difficulty
• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• No series is shown, so readers wanting a longer run will need another title

5

The Girls by Cline

Emma Cline·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A lonely, thoughtful teenager in Northern California is drawn into a cult and the charismatic man who leads it.

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Pros

• The story centers on a teenage narrator and the girls around her
• 384 pages in a 2017 reprint from Random House Trade Paperbacks
• Praise quoted in the listing is the publisher's claim

Cons

• The description mentions a cult and unthinkable violence, so check before buying
• No reading age or grade level is stated, so no listed reader is given
• Single volume with no series or companion book shown

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More picks to compare

• Squished by LloydGraphic novel for readers who like big-family stories and a girl finding her space.Check on Amazon
• Curlfriends: New in Town by MillerGraphic novel for readers who like friendship stories about a new kid at school.Check on Amazon
• Glow by MeyerChapter book for girls starting over after a move to a new town.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. Most picks list both a grade level and a reading age, and The Girls lists neither. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best novels for girls

Start with the reader’s level

Grade level and reading age can point to different readers, so check both on the listing. The New Girl lists grade 4 to 7 and a reading age of 9 to 11 years. For more graphic picks, see best graphic novels for girls.

Check whether it is a series

The New Girl is Book 1 of 2, so read it before The New Girl: First Crush. Drama and The Girls show no series number, so each one works as a single read.

Look at sensitive topics

The description of Benefits of Being an Octopus covers the gun debate and a strained home life, and The Girls describes a cult and violence. Preview either one before giving it to a younger reader. For more lists by theme, see best books for girls.

Before you buy

• Check the series line: The New Girl is Book 1 of 2 and The New Girl: First Crush is Book 2 of 2.
• Compare the listed grade level with the reader’s current grade, since Benefits of Being an Octopus lists grade 3 to 7.
• Look for the reading age label, which these listings mark as from customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pick suits a younger middle grade reader?

The New Girl lists grade level 4 to 7 and a reading age of 9 to 11 years, marked as from customers. Check the reader’s pace against those numbers before buying.

Where should a reader start the series?

Start with The New Girl, Book 1 of 2, then read The New Girl: First Crush, Book 2 of 2. The First Crush listing gives grade level 4 to 7 as well.

Is The Girls right for a younger reader?

The listing states no reading age or grade level. The description mentions a cult and unthinkable violence, so check it closely before buying for a younger reader.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe New Girl by Calin

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Related lists

See every middle grade list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: middle school novels, YA books for girls and chapter books for girls.