Books About Foster Care · 145 titles considered

The Best Foster Care Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about foster care? 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 Foster Care

City Spies
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

City Spies

By James Ponti · Book #1 in the City Spies series

A young hacker joins a secret spy team to stop a villain and save the world.

378 pages· 64,521 words· Est. 9 hour read
6.0/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 19,175 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Sara Martinez, a skilled hacker, faces juvenile detention until a British spy offers her a new life with a secret MI6 team. Now, part of the City Spies, Sara must navigate espionage, teamwork, and danger. As she heads to Paris, she must prevent a rival from winning a fortune and stop a looming threat. Can Sara and her diverse team of young spies outsmart the villains and save the day?
Bud, Not Buddy
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1999

Bud, Not Buddy

By Christopher Paul Curtis

A boy's quest to find his father leads him on an unforgettable journey during the Great Depression.

Newbery Medal (2000)Coretta Scott King Award (2000)Golden Kite Honor (2000)
245 pages· 52,497 words· Est. 6 hour read
6.0/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 116,991 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1936 Michigan, ten-year-old Bud embarks on a daring journey to find his father, armed with a suitcase of treasures and a clue from his late mother. As he follows the trail of flyers for Herman E. Calloway and his band, Bud faces hunger, fear, and unexpected challenges. Will his determination and wit lead him to the truth about his family? Discover a heartwarming tale of resilience and adventure as Bud navigates the uncertainties of the Great Depression in search of belonging and identity.
Three Pennies
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

Three Pennies

By Melanie Crowder

A foster girl seeks her birth mother before losing her chance at a forever home.

208 pages· 25,848 words· Est. 3.5 hour read
5.5/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 490 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Marin, a foster child, clings to her I Ching and three pennies, hoping to find her birth mother and fix her life. As she settles into a promising new home, unexpected news threatens her dreams. Can Marin navigate the shifting ground beneath her feet and find where she truly belongs?
Monday's Not Coming
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2018

Monday's Not Coming

By Tiffany D Jackson

A girl vanishes, and only her best friend notices. Can she uncover the truth?

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award (2019)
435 pages· 83,524 words· Est. 8 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 91,006 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Monday Charles is missing, and Claudia is the only one who cares. As Claudia searches for her best friend, she faces silence from Monday's family and indifference from others. With each passing day, the mystery deepens: how can a girl disappear without a trace? Claudia must unravel the truth before it's too late, but will she find answers or more questions? Dive into a gripping tale of friendship, secrets, and the haunting reality of being forgotten.
Far from the Tree
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2017

Far from the Tree

By Robin Benway

Three teens, connected by blood, navigate adoption, family secrets, and belonging.

National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2017)
374 pages· 88,170 words· Est. 8 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 50,540 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Grace, adopted at birth, discovers she's a middle child after giving up her own baby. She seeks her biological siblings: Maya, a spirited sister questioning her place, and Joaquin, a guarded brother wary of family ties after years in foster care. As they confront their pasts, they must redefine what family truly means. Can they find connection amidst secrets and fears?
One for the Murphys
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2012

One for the Murphys

By Lynda Mullaly Hunt

A foster child must choose between her past and a new family life.

224 pages· 45,214 words· Est. 5 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 34,615 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Carley, a street-smart foster child, is thrust into the warm embrace of the Murphys, a family unlike any she's known. As she navigates their loving chaos, she grapples with belonging and identity. When her mother reappears, Carley faces a heart-wrenching decision: return to her past or embrace a future she never imagined. Will she find where she truly belongs?
The Star Outside My Window
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

The Star Outside My Window

By Onjali Q. Raúf

A girl believes her missing mum is a star and sets out to prove it.

320 pages
4.3 Goodreads · 2,663 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Ten-year-old Aniyah is convinced her missing mum has become a star. When a new star behaves oddly, she embarks on a daring quest to prove her theory, breaking into the Royal Observatory and encountering unexpected allies. Can Aniyah convince the world of her extraordinary belief, or will her journey reveal something even more profound? Join her on an adventure filled with hope and discovery.
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

By Leslie Connor

A boy's quest to reunite with his mother uncovers hidden truths and tests the meaning of home.

The E.B. White Read Aloud Honor (2017)
416 pages
4.3 Goodreads · 7,381 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Eleven-year-old Perry Cook has always lived with his mom in a correctional facility. When a new district attorney forces him into foster care, Perry feels lost in the outside world. Determined to reunite with his mom, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her past. As Perry delves deeper, he learns about resilience and the true essence of home. Can he find a way to bring his family back together and redefine what home means? Discover a tale of love, forgiveness, and the power of innocence in this compelling story.
All the Impossible Things
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

All the Impossible Things

By Lindsay Lackey

A girl with wind powers must find her place amidst foster care chaos.

384 pages
4.3 Goodreads · 2,779 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Ruby "Red" Byrd, a girl with the power to control the wind, struggles to find stability in the foster care system. When she lands with the quirky Grooves, who run a petting zoo, she begins to feel at home. But her mother's return threatens to upend everything. Can Red tame her inner storms and find the family she longs for?
Fighting Words
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2020

Fighting Words

By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Two sisters face trauma and silence. Can they find their voices and heal?

Newbery Honor (2021)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2021)Golden Kite Honor (2021)Odyssey Honor (2021)
272 pages· 49,943 words· Est. 7 hour read
4.6 Goodreads · 14,415 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Ten-year-old Della relies on her sister Suki for protection. But when Suki attempts suicide, Della's world shatters. As secrets unravel, Della must decide if it's time to speak out. Can the sisters find their voices and heal from the past?
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Foster Care Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about foster care for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Room for Bear
Series
Sale price
$1699

Room for Bear

Ages 3–7 · 2015

A bear seeks a new home, but can five ducks make room for him?

Zahra's Blessing
Sale price
$1799

Zahra's Blessing

Ages 4–9 · 2022

A girl's Ramadan wish leads to unexpected blessings at a shelter.

Cody
#13 in Series
Sale price
$499

Cody

Ages 4–8 · 2009

Can a mischievous Dalmatian find a home before Halloween?

Home for A While
Sale price
$1699

Home for A While

Ages 4–8 · 2021

A foster child seeks trust and belonging in a new home.

Otto and Pio
Sale price
$1895

Otto and Pio

Ages 4–8 · 2016

A squirrel's peaceful life is upended by an unexpected guest who changes everything.

Just Like a Mama
Sale price
$1799

Just Like a Mama

Ages 5–9 · 2020

An adopted girl finds love and home with her new family.

Flying High
Sale price
$1899

Flying High

Ages 4–8 · 2020

A young girl's journey through foster care and her passion for gymnastics.

Lucky Dogs
Sale price
$1899

Lucky Dogs

Ages 4–8 · 2024

A girl fosters dogs, hoping to find them forever homes. Can she help a special-needs pup?

View all foster care picture books
Browse by age

Foster Care Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about foster care for developing and independent readers.

Extraordinary Birds
Sale price
$1699

Extraordinary Birds

Ages 8–12 · 2019

A girl believes she's destined to fly, but a new foster home challenges her dreams.

The Season of Styx Malone
Sale price
$799

The Season of Styx Malone

Ages 8–12 · 2018

Two brothers' adventure spirals as secrets threaten their wildest dreams.

Locomotion
#1 in Series
Sale price
$899

Locomotion

Ages 11–16 · 2003

An orphaned boy uses poetry to cope and reunite with his sister.

Ruby Holler
Sale price
$999

Ruby Holler

Ages 8–12 · 2002

Orphaned twins find unexpected adventure and a chance at family in a mysterious place.

Orbiting Jupiter
Sale price
$1599

Orbiting Jupiter

Ages 12–+ · 2015

A teen father seeks his lost daughter, testing the bonds of newfound family.

Wild Cat
#3 in Series
Sale price
$699

Wild Cat

Ages 8–12 · 2009

Kat has two weeks to prove herself worthy of adoption, but challenges at school and the animal rescue test her limits.

Forever, or a Long, Long Time
Sale price
$799

Forever, or a Long, Long Time

Ages 8–12 · 2017

Adopted siblings fear a new baby will divide love, sparking a journey to uncover their past.

Runaway Twin
Sale price
$899

Runaway Twin

Ages 10–+ · 2009

A runaway seeks her long-lost twin, facing storms, bullies, and unexpected truths.

Fast Break
Sale price
$899

Fast Break

Ages 10–+ · 2015

A boy's journey from survival to state finals tests his trust and dreams.

View all foster care chapter books
Keep exploring
Books about family problemsBooks about belongingBooks about feelings and emotionsBooks about mother-daughter relationshipsBooks about traumaBooks about adoptionBooks about coding and programmingBooks about grandparent-grandchild relationships