Books About Prisoners

The Best Prisoners 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 prisoners? 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.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Prisoners

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2016

The Count of Monte Cristo (Graphic Novel)

By Alexandre Dumas, Lou Cameron (Illustrator) · Classics Illustrated series

A wronged sailor escapes prison to seek treasure and revenge.

52 pages

4.2/5 Goodreads · 932 ratings

$12.95Save 4%

Hardcover

Summary: Imprisoned without trial, Edmond Dantès languishes in Château d'If. Discovering a hidden treasure on Monte Cristo, he plots a daring escape. Will his newfound wealth fuel vengeance against those who betrayed him, or lead to unforeseen consequences? Dive into this gripping tale of justice and retribution, where every twist challenges the boundaries of fate and forgiveness.

Sale price

$2328

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2012

Throne of Glass

By Sarah J. Maas · Book #1 in the Throne of Glass series

An assassin must win a deadly contest to gain freedom, but a sinister force threatens all.

432 pages· 110,619 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 2,644,892 ratings

$24.50Save 5%

Prebound-Glued

Summary: In a kingdom devoid of magic, assassin Celaena Sardothien is summoned to the castle, not to kill, but to compete for her freedom. Facing twenty-three deadly opponents, she must survive a brutal contest to become the king's champion. As the Crown Prince tests her resolve and the Captain of the Guard offers protection, a dark presence lurks within the castle walls. When fellow competitors start dying mysteriously, Celaena's quest for freedom turns into a battle for survival. Can she uncover the evil before it claims her life and the kingdom's future?

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2015

Ruby on the Outside

By Nora Raleigh Baskin

Ruby's secret threatens her new friendship and everything she holds dear.

176 pages· 32,018 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,489 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Eleven-year-old Ruby Danes faces a dilemma as she starts middle school. Her mother is in prison, a secret only her aunt knows. When Ruby befriends Margalit Tipps, she wonders if she can reveal the truth. But Margalit's family history is tied to the event that landed Ruby's mom in prison. If Ruby confesses, she risks losing her first true friend and everything she values. Can Ruby navigate this tangled web of secrets and friendship without losing it all?

Sale price

$1498

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1999

Monster

By Walter Dean Myers · Book #1 in the Monster series

Teen on trial for murder questions identity and truth.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (1999)Coretta Scott King Honor (2000)National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist (1999)Michael L. Printz Award (2000)

281 pages· 28,057 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

3.7/5 Goodreads · 76,144 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Paperback

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon faces a harrowing trial for murder, accused of being a lookout in a fatal robbery. As he navigates the courtroom and the harsh realities of juvenile detention, Steve copes by scripting his life as a movie. But as the lines between reality and fiction blur, he must confront the truth about himself and the choices that led him here. Will he find clarity, or will the system define him as a monster forever? Dive into this gripping tale of identity, justice, and the power of perception.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

A Sprinkle of Sorcery

By Michelle Harrison · A Pinch of Magic series

Sisters race against time to rescue their kidnapped sibling from ghostly pirates.

432 pages· 84,847 words· Est. 12 hour read

5.5/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 3,267 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: The Widdershins sisters, Betty and Fliss, face a new peril when their sister Charlie is kidnapped by poachers. Joined by the mysterious Willow, they set sail on a daring quest to a legendary island, confronting vengeful ghosts and fierce pirates. With their sister's fate hanging in the balance, can they unravel the secrets of the haunted shipwreck and clear an innocent man's name before it's too late?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 7–+ · 2014

Captured on the High Seas

By Marianne Hering · Book #14 in the The Imagination Station series

Captured by British forces, two cousins plan a daring escape during the Revolutionary War.

144 pages· 12,700 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 208 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Time-traveling cousins Patrick and Beth find themselves aboard a captured ship during the Revolutionary War. Amidst cannon fire and clashing swords, they befriend James Forten, a free Black man facing the threat of slavery. As they navigate the perils of a prison ship, they must devise a daring escape plan. Will they save their friend and themselves from a grim fate? Join them on a high-seas adventure filled with danger, courage, and the fight for freedom.

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

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2020

The Puffin Keeper

By Michael Morpurgo, Benji Davies (Illustrator)

A lighthouse keeper's rescue sparks a lifelong bond tested by war.

112 pages· 6,850 words· Est. 58 min read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,179 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Saved from a shipwreck by a lighthouse keeper, young Allen forms an unbreakable bond with his rescuer, Benjamin. Years later, they care for an injured puffin together. As World War Two looms, Allen is called to serve, uncertain if he'll ever return to the lighthouse or see Benjamin again. Amidst the chaos of war and captivity, memories of their friendship and the lighthouse's light guide him. Will Allen's cherished past be enough to sustain him through the darkest times? This tale of friendship, art, and resilience will captivate readers of all ages.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Golden Girl

By Reem Faruqi

A girl must choose between her bad habit and saving her family.

336 pages

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,292 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Seventh grader Aafiyah Qamar loves tennis and quirky facts, but her secret habit of 'borrowing' pretty things complicates her life. When her father is wrongly accused of a crime, Aafiyah devises a plan to clear his name. However, her plan might require indulging in her troublesome habit. Can Aafiyah reunite her family without losing herself? This heartfelt tale explores the challenges of doing what's right amidst personal flaws and family turmoil.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2020

The Plunder Down Under

By James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein, Juliana Neufeld (Illustrator) · Book #7 in the Treasure Hunters series

The Kidds race against time in the Outback to clear their parents' names.

336 pages· 37,374 words· Est. 4 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 605 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Hardcover

Summary: The Kidd siblings, Bick, Beck, Storm, and Tommy, face a daunting challenge in the Australian Outback. Framed by pirate Charlotte Badger, their parents are arrested for a crime they didn't commit. With only seven days, the Kidds must recover stolen gems and outsmart treasure-hunting pirates to prove their parents' innocence. Will they find the evidence in time, or will their parents face a lifetime in prison? Adventure, danger, and a race against time await in this thrilling quest.

The Bookroo Book Club