High/Low Books for Middle School and High School Kids

Hi-lo (high-interest, low readability) books are designed to engage struggling readers by exploring complex, age-appropriate themes at a lower reading level. They typically feature simple sentences, controlled vocabulary, lower page counts, and short chapters.

Updated November 6, 2024
S
Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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All the things we never said /
Rahman, Yasmin
Paper Book
Sixteen-year-old Mehreen is overwhelmed by her anxiety and depression, and she doesn't believe anyone in her life will understand if she tries to talk about it. She's been thinking about suicide for a while when she discovers a website called MementoMori.com. The site matches people with partners...
The collectors :
Paper Book
Winner of the 2024 Michael L. Printz Award A National Bestseller From Michael L. Printz Award winner A.S. King and an all-star team of contributors including Anna-Marie McLemoreand Jason Reynolds, an anthology of stories about remarkable people and their strange and...
Everything, everything /
Yoon, Nicola.
Paper Book
Risk everything . . . for love with this #1 New York Times bestseller.  What if you couldn't touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face . . . or kiss the boy next door? In Everything, Everything<...
Gallows Hill /
Ruby, Lois,
Paper Book
Salem, Massachusetts - 1692 Thomas is marked as an outcast the moment he steps off the ship from England. As a Quaker, he's outnumbered and distrusted by Salem's Puritans. And as an orphan without any useful skills, he has nowhere to live and no way to earn his keep. In...
Outta here /
Beddia, Lea,
Paper Book
Outta Here is the story of a lively and imaginative small-town teen living with a mom whose pain medication has led to addiction, leaving little money for basics--like food. Elise's best friend and her sympathetic teachers offer what help they can, but there's only so...
Poison town /
Campbell, Elyssa
Paper Book
Fourteen-year-old Addie's town is built around a lead and zinc smelter. The company has done an extensive cleanup of its operations, but everything in the town still seems sick; even the crows are having trouble flying. Addie decides to find out if the smelter is still poisoning local...
Superman smashes the Klan
Yang, Gene Luen.
Paper Book
Harvey Award winner for Best Children or Young Adult Book! The year is 1946. Teenagers Roberta and Tommy Lee just moved with their parents from Chinatown to the center of Metropolis, home to the famous hero, Superman. Tommy makes friends quickly, while Roberta pines for home....

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