Best Children's Orphans & Foster Homes Books of 2025

The Book Thief is a #1 New York Times bestseller, and one of Time Magazine's 100 Best YA Books of All Time. It is set in Nazi Germany in 1939, where Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich, learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. The book is a poignant story about the power of books to nourish the soul even in the darkest of times. The Book Thief is a must-read for both young adults and adults alike, and it is the kind of book that can change lives.

Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story is a Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park's powerful novel that tells the stories of two Sudanese children who overcome mortal dangers to improve their lives and the lives of others. The book is based on the true story of Salva Dut, who went on to found Water for South Sudan. The book interweaves the stories of two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. Despite the hardships, the novel delivers a memorable portrait of two children in Sudan and a stirring contemporary dimension. It is a must-read for children and adults alike.

The Invisible String is a bestselling picture book that has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. It tells the story of twins, Jeremy and Liza, who learn about the unbreakable connection between loved ones through an invisible string made of love. This heartwarming and reassuring story addresses the issue of separation anxiety and teaches children that they are never really alone. The book also delivers a compelling message in today's uncertain times that love is the unending connection that binds us all. The Invisible String is a simple yet imaginative approach to overcoming the fear of loneliness or separation that both children and adults can easily identify with and remember.

For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts.". Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk tells the story of twelve-year-old Crow, an orphan who has always been curious about the world around her. When a mysterious fire appears across the water, Crow begins to question her own history and sets out on a dangerous path of discovery. This moving tale explores themes of identity, belonging, and family, and has been named an acclaimed best book of the year by multiple publications. Overall, Wolk's beautifully crafted and heart-wrenching novel is a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction and the power of the human spirit.

In his fifth year at Hogwart's, Harry faces challenges at every turn, from the dark threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the unreliability of the government of the magical world to the rise of Ron Weasley as the keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Along the way he learns about the strength of his friends, the fierceness of his enemies, and the meaning of sacrifice.

Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues. The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise. A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience. --Daphne Durham

The war against Voldemort is not going well; even the Muggles have been affected. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses. . And yet . . . as with all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Harry receives some extraordinary help in Potions from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. And with Dumbledore's guidance, he seeks out the full, complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort -- and thus finds what may be his only vulnerability.