Books About Suburban Living

The Best Suburban Living Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Ways of Life, featuring 12 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about suburban living? 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.

#1 in Series

#2 in Series

Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Suburban Living

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1970

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

By Judy Blume

A girl navigates friendship and faith, seeking her own spiritual path.

153 pages· 30,233 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 260,218 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Margaret Simon, nearly twelve, has just moved to New Jersey and is eager to fit in with her new friends. As they form a secret club to discuss growing up, Margaret faces a unique challenge: she has no religion. While her friends question her beliefs, Margaret confides in her own special connection with God, sharing her thoughts on family, friends, and her secret crush. Will Margaret find where she truly belongs? This heartfelt journey explores the complexities of adolescence and spirituality, inviting readers to ponder their own paths.

Sale price

$1348

Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2006

Pretty Little Liars

By Sara Shepard · Book #1 in the Pretty Little Liars series

Four girls' secrets are threatened by someone who knows everything. Can they keep their past hidden?

286 pages· 59,122 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 216,447 ratings

$13.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four high school juniors—Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna—harbor dark secrets. Spencer desires her sister's boyfriend, Aria dreams of her teacher, Emily is drawn to a new girl, and Hanna uses deceit to maintain her beauty. But the biggest secret? Their friend Alison's mysterious disappearance. Someone knows all their secrets and is ready to reveal them. As their pasts threaten to unravel, can they keep their lives from falling apart? Dive into a world where no secret stays hidden for long, and trust is a dangerous game.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2011

The Pirates Next Door

By Jonny Duddle · Book #1 in the Jonny Duddle series

Pirates settle in suburbia, leaving unexpected treasures behind.

44 pages· 1,018 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

4.2/5 Goodreads · 976 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In the quiet town of Dull-on-Sea, the arrival of the pirate family, the Jolley-Rogers, stirs up gossip. Young Matilda defies the adults to befriend Jim Lad, the pirate boy. As the pirates sail away, the town discovers buried treasures in their yards, challenging their assumptions. Matilda, though sad to lose her friend, finds her own treasure—a new pen pal. Will the town learn to embrace the unexpected? And what adventures await Matilda and Jim Lad's friendship across the seas?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$2089

Picture Book · Ages 12–18 · 2008

Tales from Outer Suburbia

By Shaun Tan

Discover bizarre tales where everyday life takes an extraordinary twist.

The New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award (2009)

96 pages

4.3/5 Goodreads · 10,187 ratings

$21.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a world where the mundane turns fantastical, an alien exchange student, a mysterious escape room, and a grandfather's wild tales defy reality. Dive into Shaun Tan's captivating stories where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, leaving you questioning the boundaries of imagination.

Sale price

$1899

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2007

On Meadowview Street

By Henry Cole

Transform a plain yard into a vibrant meadow, inspiring a neighborhood's green revolution.

32 pages

4.2/5 Goodreads · 555 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Caroline's new suburban yard is just plain grass until she discovers a wildflower. Her small preserve grows into a vibrant meadow, inspiring neighbors to embrace nature. Can one child's vision transform a community into a haven for wildlife? Discover how a single wildflower sparks a green revolution, creating safe corridors for birds and butterflies. Join Caroline on her journey of empowerment and environmental change, where a simple yard becomes a thriving ecosystem. Will her efforts inspire others to see the beauty in nature's wildness?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1981

Anastasia Again!

By Lois Lowry · Book #2 in the Anastasia Krupnik series

A city girl faces suburban life and unexpected surprises after a family move.

192 pages· 32,618 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 3,514 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Twelve-year-old Anastasia dreads her family's move from the city to the suburbs, fearing a life of monotony and matching furniture. As she navigates her new world, she encounters unexpected challenges and a cute boy next door. Will Anastasia find a way to embrace her new life, or will the suburbs prove to be as dreadful as she imagined? Discover how she balances old fears with new friendships in this charming tale of adaptation and growth.

Sale price

$1139

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2003

Boy Meets Boy

By David Levithan

Paul must win back love in a school where anything is possible.

185 pages

3.8/5 Goodreads · 76,630 ratings

$11.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a high school where cheerleaders ride Harleys and the quarterback is also the homecoming queen, Paul believes he's found true love with Noah. But after a misstep, he faces long odds to win Noah back. With friends drifting and family pressures mounting, Paul must navigate a world where chaos reigns and love is the ultimate prize. Can he defy the odds and reclaim his heart's desire, or will everything fall apart before it comes together? Discover a romantic comedy where love is loud and life is wonderfully unpredictable.

Sale price

$1498

Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2003

The Creek

By Jennifer L. Holm

A town's nightmare returns, and kids must stop him before he strikes again.

232 pages

3.8/5 Goodreads · 341 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Penny and her brother move to a town haunted by Caleb Devlin's dark past. Now he's back, and sinister events unfold. With the police powerless, Penny and her friends must confront the menace themselves. As Caleb targets them, a once peaceful summer turns into a suspenseful battle for survival. Can they uncover the truth before it's too late?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1967

Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth

By E.L. Konigsburg

A lonely girl befriends a witch, leading to magical mischief and unexpected trouble.

Newbery Honor (1968)

128 pages· 23,266 words· Est. 3 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 4,772 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Elizabeth, new in town and feeling isolated, finds an unusual friend in Jennifer, a self-proclaimed witch. As Elizabeth learns spells and concocts flying ointments, a mysterious toad named Hilary Ezra hops into their lives, stirring up unforeseen chaos. Can Elizabeth navigate the challenges of friendship and magic, or will the brewing trouble be too much to handle? Discover the enchanting and unpredictable journey of two girls bound by secrets and spells.

Sale price

$1398

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2008

The City Kid & the Suburb Kid

By Deb Pilutti, Linda Bleck (Illustrator)

Two boys swap lives, discovering the allure and longing of home.

38 pages· 667 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud

4.0/7 Bookroo·3.8/5 Goodreads · 104 ratings

$14.95Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Jack and Adam swap city and suburb lives, each eager for a change. Jack relishes the quiet of the suburbs, while Adam dives into city excitement. Yet, both soon yearn for the comforts they left behind. As they explore new adventures, they learn that home holds a unique charm. Will they find contentment in their own worlds, or will the grass always seem greener elsewhere? This tale of discovery and appreciation unfolds from two perspectives, inviting readers to see life through different eyes.

The Bookroo Book Club