5 Must-Read Books for "Plugged-In" Kids

Today's children are growing up in a world quite different from the one we experienced.

Nearly everywhere we turn, there's something digital flashing in our faces. Whether it's a mobile device, a tablet, or an iPad, a computer, a touchscreen, or an appliance, we are deep in the heart of the digital age.

So how do parents capitalize on the digital obsession when it comes to finding meaningful and exciting reads for their children?  What books will really catch the eye of older "plugged-in" kids, kids who may have lost their love of reading in lieu of texts and gaming devices?

The good news is that there are a number of different routes to take and books that will most definitely be of interest to their children.

Check out these five must-read books for older "plugged-in" kids:


The Mayflower Project by Katherine A. Applegate (grades 4-8)
•    Jobs and his family deal with the emotions of the world ending as they know it -- and being one of the few selected to survive.
•    Bonus: This is a series!


H.I.V.E, Higher Institute for Villainous Education by Mark Waldon (grades 6-8)
•    A 13-year-old genius is taken to a school that trains criminal masterminds.
•    Bonus: There's a sequel.


Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (grades 9-12)
•    Ender is taken from his home and enrolled in Battle School, in a futuristic world where he must defeat his own feelings of isolation, fear, and loneliness.
•    Bonus: There are several other books featuring Ender!


The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams  (grades 9-12)
•    Two buddies travel through space after Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic highway.
•    Bonus: this is a series!


Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (grades 9-12)
•    This classic focuses on a futuristic world where social stability is of upmost importance.

Try these non-fiction books that will be sure to catch their interest:


The History of the Internet by Josepha Sherman (grades 5-7)


You Have Mail: True Stories of Cyberspies by Matthew Newman (grades 9-12)


Virtual Reality by Holly Cefrey (grades 9-12)


Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal (grades 6-8)

This is just a start, and hopefully there's something here that your child will totally dig.

What are your recommendations for books for older, plugged-in kids? We'd love to hear them!

Share your thoughts on the Scholastic Parents Facebook page, or find Amy on Twitter, @teachmama, and let's continue the conversation!


Read all posts by Amy Mascott.