Books About Prison Escapes

The Best Prison Escapes Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Prison and Jail, featuring 12 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about prison escapes? 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 Prison Escapes

Sale price

$2469

Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2026

Release Me

By Tahereh Mafi · Book #2 in the Shatter Me: The New Republic series

A vengeful assassin and a wary ally face a crumbling dystopia's dark secrets.

384 pages· 85,654 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 30,091 ratings

$25.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Rosabelle Wolff seeks revenge to save her sister, but her icy resolve falters in the surveillance state of Ark Island. James Anderson, desperate for allies against The Reestablishment, finds himself drawn to Rosabelle, an instinctive killer. As tensions rise, Aaron Warner Anderson senses a looming threat, unable to trust Rosabelle's unreadable nature. Can they unite against a crumbling dystopia, or will their fractured trust doom them all? Welcome back to The New Republic, where danger and desire collide.

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2026

Europa

By James Ponti · Book #7 in the City Spies series

Spies race to stop a criminal's escape and prevent attacks across Europe.

384 pages· 61,693 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.5/5 Goodreads · 1,761 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: The City Spies face their toughest mission yet as a criminal mastermind threatens chaos unless freed. Racing through Rome, Paris, London, and Amsterdam, they must solve cryptic codes and unravel clues to prevent disaster. Can they outsmart the villain and keep Europe safe?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Jailbreak at Alcatraz

By Tom Sullivan · Book #2 in the Unsolved Case Files series

Three inmates vanish from Alcatraz, sparking an unsolved mystery.

106 pages· 7,212 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 332 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In 1962, Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers pull off a daring escape from Alcatraz, leaving behind a baffling mystery. As the guards discover their absence, a decades-long manhunt begins. Dive into this gripping true story, complete with FBI files and investigation photos, and unravel the secrets of an escape that defied the impossible. Will the truth ever surface?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

Twice Magic

By Cressida Cowell · Book #2 in the The Wizards of Once series

A Wizard and Warrior must unite to stop a freed evil spell.

400 pages· 52,952 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 5,144 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In a world of magic and conflict, young Wizard Xar and Warrior Wish must overcome their lifelong enmity. An evil spell has escaped, threatening their realm. To stop it, they must venture into perilous lands to find the ingredients needed to save their world. Can they set aside their differences and work together, or will their past hatred doom them all? Embark on a thrilling journey where alliances are tested, and the fate of magic hangs in the balance.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014

The Return of Zita the Spacegirl

By Ben Hatke · Book #3 in the Zita the Spacegirl series

A young girl is put on trial for her crimes and sentenced to the dungeons, where she meets a cast of characters who aid her in her escape and subsequent adventures.

240 pages· 4,295 words· Est. 48 min read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 7,584 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: Zita the Spacegirl faces her toughest challenge yet: escaping a high-security prison planet. Wrongfully detained, she must outsmart a sinister warden plotting interstellar domination. Can Zita orchestrate the ultimate jailbreak and save the galaxy once more? With time running out, the stakes have never been higher for this fearless heroine.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2017

The Final Spark

By Richard Paul Evans · Book #7 in the Michael Vey series

Michael is missing. Can the Electroclan stop Hatch's world domination plan?

316 pages· 69,706 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 11,093 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Michael Vey has vanished after a heroic sacrifice, leaving the Electroclan in turmoil. With Hatch's forces regrouping for global control, the stakes have never been higher. As the Electroclan faces division and betrayal, Michael's mother becomes a pawn in a deadly game. Can they unite to thwart Hatch's sinister plans, or will this be their final stand?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2020

A Wish in the Dark

By Christina Soontornvat

A young boy named Pong escapes from a prison in a city called Chattana and embarks on a journey to find his place in the world.

Newbery Honor (2021)Jane Addams Children's Book Award (2021)

375 pages· 74,282 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 8,087 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In Chattana, where light is controlled by the Governor, Pong escapes prison only to find freedom elusive. Marked as a fugitive, he navigates a world divided by privilege. Nok, the warden's daughter, is determined to capture him to restore her family's honor. As she chases him through the city's alleys and canals, she discovers unsettling truths that challenge her beliefs. In this Thai-inspired fantasy, the line between law and justice blurs, raising the question: can one child illuminate the darkness?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2025

Super Potato and the Sewer Smackdown

Book #13 in the Super Potato series

A space fugitive seeks revenge in Earth's sewers, but alien hunters complicate the showdown.

64 pages· 1,357 words· Est. 12 min read

4.5/5 Goodreads · 6 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Super Potato faces his smelliest challenge yet as Zort the Slug King drags him into the sewers for a final showdown. With a high-tech weapon aimed at him, Super Potato must outwit Zort while alien bounty hunters close in. Can he escape this cosmic chaos, or will the Slug King finally squash him for good? Dive into this messy adventure where the stakes are high and the sewers are stinkier than ever.

Sale price

$574

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2023

The Great Escape!

By Random House · The Cuphead Show! series

Two brothers' escape plan hits a snag when one enjoys jail too much.

32 pages· 415 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

3.8/5 Goodreads · 21 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Cuphead's antics land him and his brother Mugman in jail. While Cuphead plots a daring escape, Mugman finds comfort in their cell. Can they reconcile their differences and break free, or will Mugman's newfound contentment keep them locked up? Dive into their misadventure and discover if brotherly bonds can outwit the bars.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Civil War Breakout

By W. N. Brown, James Bernardin (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the Great Escapes series

Union soldiers plot a daring escape from a notorious Civil War prison.

128 pages· 15,086 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 43 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In 1863 Virginia, Union soldiers Colonel Thomas Rose and Major A. G. Hamilton face the grim reality of Libby Prison, a place few escape alive. Amidst darkness and vermin, they hatch a daring plan to break free. As they and fellow POWs confront overwhelming odds, will their courage lead to the largest prison escape in American history? Discover the thrilling tale of resilience and ingenuity in this gripping adventure.

The Bookroo Book Club