Finding Diverse Books 2026 | Grades 3-5

Updated January 16, 2026
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Almost sunset
Algarmi, Wahab
Paper Book
In a contemporary middle grade graphic novel debut that Gene Luen Yang calls "funny, endearing, and an intimate look at a Muslim family," Almost Sunset follows a young Muslim American boy during Ramadan as he finds the balance between his family traditions and his secular middle school life....

A young soccer player feels torn between commitments to his teammates and to his family & faith when the Ramadan fast overlaps with soccer season in this engaging, appealing graphic novel.

Also available as an e-book.

Creaky Acres
Brill, Calista
Paper Book
A NATIONAL BESTSELLER! A heartwarming graphic novel about being the new kid in middle school, making new friends, and learning to trust yourself through the power of horseback riding--perfect for fans of Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl. "Readers will fall in love...

Competitive equestrian Nora is initially less than thrilled with her new barn after her family moves to the country, but slowly befriends her quirky fellow riding students as she helps them prepare for their first competition. Its subversion of typical middle grade tropes makes this a great choice for all readers, not just horse-lovers!

Also available as an e-book.

Mixed-up
Garcia, Kami
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia has returned with a middle grade graphic novel about the struggles of a game-loving girl who gets diagnosed with dyslexia and her loving support network that help her along in the journey. Stella knows fifth grade will be...

A deep dive into the experience of getting diagnosed with dyslexia in upper elementary school, giving equal weight to the practical and emotional challenges--including examples of effective interventions. Hand this one to struggling readers and their book-loving peers alike!

Also available as an e-book.

The gate, the girl, and the dragon
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
A New York Times and IndieBound bestseller! A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year! A Kirkus Best Book of the Year! A BCCB Best Book of the Year! From award-winning and bestselling author...

A mischievous young dragon needs the help of a human girl and her friends to return to the spirit world before the gate he inadvertently opened closes for good. Another modern fairy tale steeped in Chinese folklore from the author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Also available as an e-book and a digital audiobook.

Vanya and the wild hunt
Mandanna, Sangu
Paper Book
Eleven-year-old Vanya Vallen can talk to books. But more importantly, the books talk back.When her family is attacked by a monster she believed only existed in legends, Vanya discovers that her parents have been keeping secrets, and that monsters do exist. Soon, she is whisked off to the enchanted...

A British Indian girl with ADHD is swept away to magic school, where she must confront a mystical threat to her family. Steeped in both South Asian and British folklore, this bestseller is a great choice for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.

Also available as an e-book and a digital audiobook.

Outsider kids
Tang, Betty C.
Paper Book
Can one spoiled cousin upend three kids' hard-won happiness? Find out in this hilarious, big-hearted, high stakes companion to the award-winning bestseller Parachute Kids! Perfect for fans of School Trip, A First Time for Everything, The Tryout, and The Squad...

In this sequel to the Parachute Kids graphic novel, the Lins--a trio of undocumented siblings struggling to get by on their own after their parents sent them to the US--deal with a snobby cousin visiting from Taiwan who threatens to disrupt their hard-earned equilibrium.

Also available as an e-book.


Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.