Summer 2023 Recommended Reading: Middle School

Updated May 14, 2024
M
Milton Academy/Cox Library
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Becoming Muhammad Ali : a novel
Patterson, James
Two heavy-hitters in children's literature deliver a critically acclaimed, bestselling biographical novel of cultural icon Muhammad Ali.  ★ "This utterly delightful story about Ali's childhood is a smash hit."--School Library Journal...
Recommended for Grade 7
Camp Famous
Blecher, Jennifer
"Camp Famous expertly blends the joys of summer camp with the struggles of not fitting in. It's a fun and uplifting read!"--Janae Marks, author of From the Desk of Zoe Washington "Like the best camp friends, this heartfelt story will stay with you for a long time."--Stacy McAnulty, author...
Recommended for Grade 6
The door of no return
Alexander, Kwame
From the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winning author Kwame Alexander, comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family. In his village in Upper...
Recommended for Grade 7
Good different
Kuyatt, Meg Eden,
Recommended for grade 7
Linked
Korman, Gordon
An unforgettable novel from the New York Times bestselling Gordon Korman. Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it's woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika. Nobody can believe it. How could such a symbol of hate end...
Recommended for Grade 6
A long walk to water : a novel
Park, Linda Sue.
Cherished by millions of readers, this #1 New York Times bestselling novel is a powerful tale of perseverance and hope. Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park interweaves the stories of two Sudanese children who overcome mortal dangers to improve their lives and the lives of others. A Long Walk...
Recommended for Grade 6
The magical imperfect
Baron, Chris
"Highly recommended... Perfect for readers of Wonder and Erin Entrada Kelly's Hello, Universe."-- Booklist magazine, starred review Etan has stopped speaking since his mother left. His father and grandfather don't know how to...
Recommended for Grade 7
Odder
Applegate, Katherine
Now a #1 New York Times bestseller! A touching and lyrical tale about a remarkable sea otter, from Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate, author of Wishtree. Meet Odder, the Queen of Play: Nobody has her moves. She doesn't just swim to...
Recommended for Grade 7
One last shot : based on a true story of wartime heroism
Wilson, Kip
"This is not just a story of the violence of fascism, but of the burning joy of freedom, and the exhilaration of shaping, with sweat and blood, a better world."** From critically acclaimed author Kip Wilson comes this gripping coming of age historical fiction novel in verse about Gerda...
Recommended for Grade 7
Prairie lotus
Park, Linda Sue
Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered novel about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father's shop, and making at least one friend. Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian...
Recommended for Grade 6
The reader : sea of ink and gold
Chee, Traci
Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin's been taken...
Recommended for Grade 8
Reckless, glorious, girl
Hagan, Ellen
The co-author of Watch Us Rise pens a novel in verse about all the good and bad that comes with middle school, growing up girl, and the strength of family that gets you through it. Beatrice Miller may have a granny's name (her granny's, to be more specific), but she...
Recommended for Grade 7
Rez dogs
Bruchac, Joseph
Renowned author Joseph Bruchac tells a powerful story of a girl who learns more about her Penacook heritage while sheltering in place with her grandparents during the coronavirus pandemic. Malian loves spending time with her grandparents at their home on a Wabanaki reservation...
Recommended for grade 7
A slip of a girl
Giff, Patricia Reilly
A heart-wrenching novel in verse about a poor girl surviving the Irish Land Wars, by a two-time Newbery Honor-winning author. For Anna, the family farm has always been home... But now, things are changing. Anna's mother has died, and her older siblings have emigrated...
Recommended for Grade 7
A thousand steps into night
Chee, Traci
Longlisted for the National Book Award From bestselling and award-winning author Traci Chee comes a fantasy perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli. When a girl who's never longed for adventure is hit with a curse that begins to transform her into a demon, she embarks on a quest to...
Recommended for Grade 8
Unplugged
Korman, Gordon
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unteachables, Gordon Korman, comes a hilarious middle grade novel about a group of kids forced to "unplug" at a wellness camp--where they instead find intrigue, adventure, and a whole lot of chaos. Perfect for fans of Korman's...
Recommended for Grade 6
We belong
Everman, Cookie Hiponia
An extraordinarily beautiful novel-in-verse, this important debut weaves a dramatic immigrant story together with Pilipino mythology to create something wholly new. Stella and Luna know that their mama, Elsie, came from the Philippines when she was a child, but they don't know...
Recommended for Grade 7

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