Back to School Books for Middle Grade

Get ready for a new school year with these novels for grades 3-8.

Updated July 6, 2023
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New kid
Craft, Jerry
Paper Book
Winner of the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature!  Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low...
The unteachables
Korman, Gordon
Paper Book
A hilarious new middle grade novel from beloved and bestselling author Gordon Korman about what happens when the worst class of kids in school is paired with the worst teacher--perfect for fans of Ms. Bixby's Last Day. A good choice for summer reading or anytime! The...
The boy at the back of the class
Rauf, Onjali Q.
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD (UK) 2019 WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE (UK) 2019 WINNER OF THE SAKURA MEDAL (JAPAN) 2020 WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S COWBELL AWARD (SWITZERLAND) 2021 WINNER OF THE PRIX JANUSZ KORCZAK PRIZE (FRANCE) 2022
Omar rising
Saeed, Aisha
Paper Book
In this compelling companion to the New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Omar finds a way to change the corrupt system in his new school. Omar, the son of a servant, is thrilled when he gets a scholarship to an elite school. But he's not so thrilled when he finds out that the school weeds out...
Forget me not
Terry, Ellie
Paper Book
A girl tries to hide her quirks at a new school in this middle-grade novel from debut author Ellie Terry. Astronomy-loving Calliope June has Tourette syndrome, so she sometimes makes faces or noises that she doesn't mean to make. When she and her mother move yet again, she...
Finally Seen
Yang, Kelly
Paper Book

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