Brass Robots Are Awesome: 5 Great Steampunk Novels for Kids

The Nine Pound Hammer (The Clockwork Dark Series #1), by John Claude Bemis
The first in Bemis’ fantastic The Clockwork Dark Series, The Nine Pound Hammer literally puts the “steam” in steampunk. Set in the southern United States, it tells the story of Ray, a young twelve-year old orphan who joins a group of sideshow performers to survive. The group travels by steam-powered train from town to town, entertaining crowds along the way. But Ray soon realizes that all is not what it seems. Bemis does a stellar job of combining steampunk with American folklore into a story that is as compelling as it is unusual. For young readers, The Nine Pound Hammer is a thrilling introduction to steampunk, with magical monstrous machines, a lurking evil known simply as the “Gog,” and one very brave little boy.

Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times, by Emma Trevayne and Glenn Thomas
Set firmly in steampunk fantasy territory, Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times is about ten-year-old Jack Foster and his journey into a hidden world filled with mechanical wonders. Trevayne and Thomas populate Jack’s world with fairies made of metal and clockwork dragons, all set against a backdrop of 19th century London. Unfortunately, this fantastical version of London is ruled over by a shadowy power known simply as the Lady. The Lady rules over London with an iron fist and seems to have everything anyone could ever want. Except the Lady has decided that she needs a new son and she’s chosen Jack…

The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick
What do you get when you combine magic, automatons, and a mystery waiting to be solved? Author Brian Selznick’s engaging and touching steampunk fantasy The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Set in a world where magical secrets abound, it follows the adventures of the young, orphaned Hugo. Poor poor Hugo has little time for mysteries, magical or otherwise—ever since his father passed away, he has been under the thumb of his domineering uncle, forced to maintain clocks at the local train station. Hugo’s only real connection to his beloved father is the strange and incomplete automaton he left behind, and he becomes convinced that if he can find some way to repair it, he can escape the clutches of his uncle. Selznick is an imaginative writer and The Invention of Hugo Cabret rivals Harry Potter in its immersive world filled with enchantments. The sheer breadth and scope of Hugo’s universe is only re-enforced by the beautifully drawn illustrations interspersed throughout the novel.
And, for mature tweens and younger teens:

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne
It may surprise readers that Jules Verne’s science-fiction classic Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a perfect example of kid-friendly steampunk. But if you think about it, the beloved classic fits wonderfully. Set in 1866, Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is narrated by Professor Aronnax, a French marine biologist asked by the United States government to join an expedition tasking with investigating an enigmatic sea creature terrorizing the seas. The expedition soon discovers that the monster is really…wait for it…a giant high-tech submarine! Professor Aronnax  is invited aboard the behemoth vessel captained by the mysterious Captain Nemo and begins an adventure filled with fantastical creatures, danger, and adventure that will delight young readers.

Girl Genius Omnibus Volume One: Agatha Awakens, by Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio
Girl Genius Omnibus Volume One: Agatha Awakens is charmingly unusual. Part web-comic and part graphic novel, Agatha Awakens is illustrated in a vibrant cartoon style guaranteed to engage young readers. Agatha Awakens is the first book in author duo Phil and Kaja Fogli’s Hugo Award-winning steampunk series Girl Genius, which introduces readers to the mythical world of Agatha Clay. Agatha dreams of becoming a famous scientist but her inability to concentrate has frustrated all of her chances at achieving her goal. A series of ever amazing circumstances leads Agatha to Airship City—a place mixed with wonders of all kinds, from an imperial cat to giant airships powered by steam.
Are you excited to introduce your young readers to steampunk?