Books About Gangs

The Best Gangs Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about gangs? 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 9 Favorite Books About Gangs

Six of Crows
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2015

Six of Crows

By Leigh Bardugo · Book #1 in the Six of Crows series

Six outcasts. One impossible heist. Can they survive each other and save the world?

465 pages· 134,876 words· Est. 12.5 hour read
4.5 Goodreads · 1,227,643 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: In the bustling city of Ketterdam, criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker assembles a crew for a heist that promises untold riches. Joined by a vengeful convict, a gambling sharpshooter, a runaway, a stealthy spy, a magical Heartrender, and a cunning thief, Kaz faces a mission fraught with danger. As tensions rise, can these six outcasts pull off the impossible without tearing each other apart? Dive into a world where the stakes are high, and the line between survival and destruction is razor-thin. Will they succeed, or will their differences lead to their downfall?
Brigands M.C.
Sale price
$1248
Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2009

Brigands M.C.

By Robert Muchamore · Book #11 in the Cherub series

A boy whose family was murdered by bikers goes undercover to infiltrate their gang.

416 pages· 93,183 words· Est. 8.5 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 12,792 ratings
$12.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Dante Scott still has nightmares about the night a biker gang murdered his family. Now a CHERUB agent, he joins James and Lauren on a mission to infiltrate the Brigands Motorcycle Club, the gang responsible. Dante is ready to use everything he has learned to get revenge, but working undercover among violent criminals means he has to keep his anger in check.
Trouble on the Orphan Train
Sale price
$574
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Trouble on the Orphan Train

By Marianne Hering · Book #18 in the The Imagination Station series

Time-traveling kids must clear an orphan's name and find a missing friend.

144 pages· 13,393 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 160 ratings
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Cousins Patrick and Beth step into the Imagination Station, landing on an 1874 orphan train. They befriend a young orphan wrongly accused of robbery, facing a future without a family. As they journey west, they must clear his name and unravel the mystery of their missing friend, Eugene. Can they solve the puzzle before reaching the end of the line?
The Only Road
Sale price
$1797
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2016

The Only Road

By Alexandra Diaz · Book #1 in the The Only Road series

A boy flees Guatemala, risking everything for a new life in the U.S.

Americas Award (2017)
320 pages· 60,861 words· Est. 7 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 2,829 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Jaime's life in Guatemala shatters when his cousin is murdered by a ruthless gang. Fearing he's next, Jaime embarks on a perilous journey to New Mexico with his cousin Ángela. As they navigate danger and uncertainty, Jaime must confront his fears and find courage in the face of loss. Will he find safety and a new beginning, or will the shadows of his past catch up with him? This gripping tale of survival and hope explores the lengths one will go to for a chance at a better life.
Snitch
Sale price
$1348
Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2007

Snitch

By Allison van Diepen

A girl who swore off gang life falls for a boy caught up in it.

320 pages· 46,640 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 3,402 ratings
$13.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: At South Bay High, Crips and Bloods share the halls and the drama never stops. Julia DiVino wants nothing to do with gang life, until Eric Valiente transfers in and changes everything. As she falls for him, the lines she drew for herself start to blur, and Julia finds herself risking everything.
Flight
Sale price
$1049
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2026

Flight

A perilous journey on a deadly train tests a girl's courage and trust as she seeks her lost family.

96 pages· 15,629 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 466 ratings
$10.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Daniela López faces a harrowing journey from Honduras to the U.S. border after being separated from her parents. With her younger brother Carlos, she must navigate the dangers of 'The Beast,' a treacherous freight train, while evading gangs and kidnappers. Trust becomes a precious commodity as they travel with fellow refugees, each decision potentially life-altering. Will Dani find her parents, or will the perils of the journey prove too great? This gripping tale explores the immigrant experience and the resilience needed to forge a new path.
Dirt Road Home
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2010

Dirt Road Home

By Watt Key · Book #2 in the Alabama Moon series

Sent to a harsh boys' home, a runaway must stay out of trouble while gangs push him toward it.

240 pages· 47,374 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 770 ratings
$14.99Save 7%
Paperback
Summary: After his recapture, fourteen-year-old Hal Mitchell is sent to Hellenweiler, a boys' home that is more like a jail. If he keeps out of trouble he could walk out in a few months, but gangs rule the place, and the harder Hal tries to avoid their violence, the harder the other boys work to make him fail. The story of the orphan boy Moon continues from Alabama Moon.
Lockdown
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 13–+ · 2010

Lockdown

By Walter Dean Myers

A teen in juvie must choose between freedom and loyalty when his friend is in danger.

Coretta Scott King Honor (2011)National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist (2010)
272 pages· 45,613 words· Est. 4 hour read
3.8 Goodreads · 1,995 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: Reese Anderson, trapped in a juvenile facility, yearns for freedom. His chance comes with a work program at a senior home, but a difficult resident, Mr. Hooft, challenges him. As Reese struggles to prove he's more than a criminal, his loyalty is tested when his friend Toon faces gang threats. Will Reese risk his early release to do what's right, or will he find a new path to redemption? In a world where survival means more than just getting out, Reese must decide who he truly is.
The Secret Detective
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

The Secret Detective

By James Patterson · Ali Cross series

Young detective Ali faces danger and tough choices after witnessing a crime.

272 pages· 38,084 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 2,072 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Ali Cross, aspiring detective and son of the legendary Alex Cross, dives into crime-solving with his friends. They hack police calls and visit crime scenes, eager to crack cases. But when Ali witnesses a chilling event, he must confront the harsh realities of detective work. Can he follow in his father's footsteps, or will he find himself in danger? The stakes are high as Ali navigates the challenges of being a detective's son.
The Bookroo Book Club

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BoardAges 0–3PictureAges 3–6Junior ChapterAges 7–10Middle GradeAges 9–12
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