Books About Steampunk

The Best Steampunk Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about steampunk? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Steampunk

Sale price

$1900

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1995

The Golden Compass

By Philip Pullman · Book #1 in the His Dark Materials series

A girl ventures north to rescue a friend, facing betrayal and parallel worlds.

Carnegie Medal for Writing (1995)

399 pages· 116,792 words· Est. 11 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 1,644,818 ratings

$20.00Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a world of animal familiars and parallel universes, young Lyra races north to rescue her friend from the sinister Gobblers. Amidst witch clans and armored bears, her uncle Asriel's dangerous quest to bridge worlds looms. Lyra's fierce determination may save or betray those she loves. Can she navigate the treacherous path between loyalty and betrayal? Discover the thrilling journey in 'The Golden Compass,' where one girl's courage could change everything.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2011

Goliath

By Scott Westerfeld, Keith Thompson (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the Leviathan series

A ship veers off course with secrets, a hidden identity, and a dangerous passenger onboard.

543 pages· 94,159 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 34,333 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: Alek and Deryn race to end World War I and reclaim a throne, but secrets threaten their mission. Disguised as a boy, Deryn hides her identity from Alek, complicating their growing bond. As their ship, Leviathan, heads to New York, a dangerous passenger lurks, unraveling secrets and alliances. Can they navigate these treacherous waters and achieve their goals, or will hidden truths and enemies tear them apart?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2017

Embers of Destruction

Book #3 in the Mysteries of Cove series

Young riders must free a city enslaved by a powerful dragon's grip.

352 pages

4.3 Goodreads · 979 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Trenton and Kallista fly mechanical dragons to San Francisco, seeking survivors of a dragon battle. They find Kallista's father, Leo, enslaved by a white dragon ruling from a tower. Shocked by Leo's compliance, they must outwit the dragon's guards, reclaim their dragons, and break the dragon's control over the city. With the help of local kids, they discover the dragon's power source hidden in an underwater chamber. As the dragon watches their every move, Trenton and Kallista must use all their ingenuity to liberate the city and confront the dragon in its fortress.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2016

Gears of Revolution

By J. Scott Savage · Book #2 in the Mysteries of Cove series

Teens on a mechanical dragon uncover a city at war, facing trust dilemmas and gathering dragons.

352 pages· 90,310 words· Est. 12.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 1,253 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Trenton and Kallista embark on a quest aboard their mechanical dragon, seeking Kallista's missing father. Instead, they find a city torn by conflict between scavengers and dragon-worshippers. As they navigate this dangerous world, they meet Plucky, a girl with mechanical legs, and Ander, who believes in human-dragon communication. Can they trust these new allies, or are they ensnared in a deadly trap? Meanwhile, dragons ominously gather in the skies, hinting at a greater mystery. Will Trenton and Kallista uncover the truth, or will they become pawns in a war they barely understand?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2018

Skycircus

By Peter Bunzl · The Cogheart Adventures series

A skycircus hides a deadly secret that could trap Lily forever.

432 pages

4.1 Goodreads · 1,050 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Lily, Robert, and their mechanical fox, Malkin, are thrilled to join Slimwood's Traveling Skycircus. But beneath the dazzling performances lies a dark secret. The enigmatic ringmistress, Madame Lyon-Mane, has a dangerous plan for Lily. As the sinister plot unfolds, Lily must confront her past to escape the circus's clutches. Can she unravel the mystery in time, or will the skycircus become her prison?

Sale price

$1139

Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2004

Airborn

By Kenneth Oppel · Book #1 in the Airborn series

A cabin boy discovers mysterious sky creatures, challenging his beliefs and igniting an adventure above the clouds.

Michael L. Printz Honor (2005)

501 pages

4.2 Goodreads · 26,722 ratings

$11.99Save 5%

Mass Market Paperback

Summary: Matt Cruse, a cabin boy on the airship Aurora, dreams of soaring through the skies. His life takes a thrilling turn when he encounters a dying balloonist who speaks of mythical sky creatures. As Matt befriends the balloonist's granddaughter, he uncovers the truth behind these mysterious beings. With pirates and uncharted skies ahead, Matt's journey becomes a swashbuckling adventure filled with danger and discovery. Will he unravel the secrets of the skies, or will the unknown prove too perilous? Embark on a high-flying quest where the air is alive with wonders beyond imagination.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2010

Behemoth

By Scott Westerfeld, Keith Thompson (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Leviathan series

A girl and an heir must survive enemy territory to stop a war.

481 pages· 85,513 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 41,770 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: In a world at war, Deryn, disguised as a boy, and Alek, an incognito heir, unite aboard the airship Leviathan. Their mission: to end the conflict between Darwinists and Clanker Powers. But when disaster strikes, they are stranded in hostile lands, hunted and alone. With only their wits and courage, they must forge new alliances and navigate treacherous paths. Can they alter the course of war, or will they fall victim to the very forces they seek to defeat?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2015

Fires of Invention

By J. Scott Savage · Book #1 in the Mysteries of Cove series

In a city where creativity is forbidden, two teens uncover a secret that could change everything—or destroy them.

313 pages

4.2 Goodreads · 2,393 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In the steam-powered city of Cove, creativity is a crime. Thirteen-year-old Trenton Colman, with his mechanical genius, teams up with Kallista Babbage, daughter of a disgraced inventor. Together, they follow cryptic clues left by Kallista's father, assembling a mysterious machine that could unravel the very fabric of their society. As they piece together the invention, they face the perilous truth that their discovery might not only challenge the city's oppressive rules but also endanger their lives. What secrets lie within the machine, and will they dare to reveal them?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

The Clockwork Ghost

By Laura Ruby · Book #2 in the York series

A cryptic puzzle threatens New York. Can three friends solve it before danger closes in?

480 pages· 82,831 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 2,083 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Tess, Theo, and Jaime are on a perilous quest to unravel the Old York Cipher, a mystery embedded in New York's architecture by the enigmatic Morningstarr twins. As they delve deeper, strange technology and relentless adversaries challenge their every move. With the city's foundations crumbling around them, they must decide how far they'll go to uncover the truth and if the secrets they seek are worth the cost. Will they solve the puzzle, or will the city's mysteries consume them?

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2006

A Darkling Plain

By Philip Reeve · Book #4 in the Mortal Engines series

A hidden secret in a ruined city could end a war, but time is running out.

544 pages· 138,543 words· Est. 13 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 15,544 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: In a world where cities roam and devour each other, Tom and Wren uncover a secret in London's ruins that might end the war. As they delve into the city's dangerous depths, Hester faces a relentless enemy with the power to annihilate humanity. With time slipping away, can they save their world from destruction? Discover the thrilling conclusion to the Mortal Engines saga, where past betrayals and hidden truths collide in a race against time.

The Bookroo Book Club