Books About Second Chances

The Best Second Chances Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about second chances? 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 Second Chances

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2015

The Seventh Most Important Thing

By Shelley Pearsall

A boy's punishment leads to unexpected discoveries in a world of discarded treasures.

288 pages· 54,074 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 9,232 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: After a reckless act lands Arthur in trouble, he's sentenced to work for the mysterious Junk Man. Tasked with collecting seemingly worthless items, Arthur uncovers a hidden world where trash transforms into treasure. As he delves deeper, he learns that redemption and beauty can emerge from the most unlikely places. What secrets does the Junk Man hold, and how will they change Arthur's life forever?

Sale price

$2071

Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2001

Touching Spirit Bear

By Ben Mikaelsen · Book #1 in the Spirit Bear series

A violent teen faces a life-changing encounter with a mystical bear on a remote island.

241 pages· 56,072 words· Est. 5 hour read

3.9 Goodreads · 37,707 ratings

$21.80Save 5%

Prebound-Glued

Summary: Cole Matthews, consumed by anger, faces a choice: prison or a year of Circle Justice on an Alaskan island. After a brutal attack by a legendary Spirit Bear, Cole's survival hinges on confronting his inner demons. Can he transform his rage into redemption, or will his past consume him? As he battles the wilderness and his own soul, Cole's journey raises questions about responsibility, healing, and the power of forgiveness. Will the island's isolation and the bear's mysterious presence lead to his salvation, or is it too late for change?

Sale price

$2089

Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2025

Fake Skating

By Lynn Painter

Childhood friends reunite, fake romance, and uncover secrets in a hockey town.

448 pages· 105,512 words· Est. 10 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 134,951 ratings

$21.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Dani returns to her hometown, facing a changed Alec, her childhood friend turned hockey star. Amidst family turmoil and unresolved feelings, they fake a relationship, sparking unexpected reconnections. As they navigate their past, secrets unravel, challenging their perceptions and revealing why Alec distanced himself. Will their pretend romance lead to real emotions, or will hidden truths keep them apart?

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Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2010

Ghostopolis

By Doug TenNapel

A boy gains powers in a ghostly realm and must escape its evil ruler.

272 pages· 6,359 words· Est. 57 min read

4.0 Goodreads · 13,981 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Garth Hale is unexpectedly transported to the spirit world by a bungling ghost wrangler. There, he discovers unique powers that the sinister ruler of Ghostopolis covets. With his grandfather's ghost, Cecil, Garth embarks on a perilous quest to return home. As hope dwindles, the unlikely hero must navigate a realm of danger and deception. Will Garth outwit the malevolent forces and find his way back, or will he be trapped forever in a world where nothing is as it seems?

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 14–17 · 2024

Nothing Like the Movies

By Lynn Painter · Book #2 in the Better Than the Movies series

Can Wes win back his lost love with grand gestures, or is it truly over?

442 pages· 102,259 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 280,381 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Wes once had his dream girl, Liz, but a tragedy tore them apart. Now in college, Wes is determined to rekindle their romance with grand gestures. However, Liz isn't easily swayed, and a new guy friend complicates matters. As Wes schemes like a rom-com hero, he must confront the possibility that their love might be lost forever. Can he overcome these obstacles and win Liz back, or is their story truly over?

Sale price

$574

Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2012

The Legend of Diamond Lil

By Doreen Cronin, Kevin Cornell (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the J. J. Tully Mysteries series

A retired dog detective must solve a mystery involving strange chickens and a suspicious new neighbor.

144 pages· 8,717 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 803 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Retired search-and-rescue dog J.J. Tully craves peace, but odd behavior from Moosh and her chicks, plus a sneaky possum, disrupts his plans. The arrival of Diamond Lil, a glamorous new dog next door, raises more questions. Can J.J. unravel the mystery and restore order to the coop? With clues to sniff out and secrets to uncover, J.J. must use his detective skills to save the day. Dive into a world of adventure and intrigue where nothing is as it seems, and every bark could be the key to solving the puzzle.

Sale price

$1710

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2011

Temple Alley Summer

By Sachiko Kashiwaba, Avery Fischer Udagawa (Translator), Miho Satake (Illustrator)

A boy encounters a mysterious girl linked to a temple's secret of life and death.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award (2022)

240 pages· 52,245 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 2,070 ratings

$18.00Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Kazu's world turns upside down when he spots a girl in a white kimono sneaking out of his house. The next day, she appears in his classroom, and everyone insists she's always been there. As Kazu investigates Kimyo Temple, he uncovers a legend about reviving the dead. With his enigmatic classmate Akari, they must unravel the temple's secrets and protect its power. An unfinished story from Akari's past might hold the key to her existence, but can they solve the mystery before adults thwart their quest for truth?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2008

The Juvie Three

By Gordon Korman

Three teenage boys from different backgrounds navigate a new life in a halfway house after being released from juvenile detention.

256 pages· 50,867 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

3.9 Goodreads · 3,435 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Gecko, Terence, and Arjay are juvenile delinquents given a fresh start at a halfway house. When their mentor, Healy, loses his memory after an accident, the boys face a dilemma. To avoid returning to detention, they concoct a daring plan to keep the house running without him. But with every move, the risk of discovery looms. Can they maintain the facade, or will their past catch up with them, ending their chance at redemption?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 12–+ · 2012

Discovering Wes Moore

By Wes Moore

Two fatherless boys from one neighborhood share a name but not a fate.

176 pages· 36,173 words· Est. 4 hour read

3.9 Goodreads · 1,202 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Wes Moore grew up without a father in Baltimore and became a Rhodes Scholar, Army veteran and governor. Another boy with the same name, from the same neighborhood, is serving a life sentence for murder. After the author wrote to the other Wes Moore, letters and visits turned into a friendship, and he asks which choices and circumstances set their lives apart. A young readers' version of The Other Wes Moore.

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 · 1,993 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.

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