The ongoing opioid crisis affects people of all ages--including children whose parents are struggling with addiction. This novel in verse by Newbery Honor-winning author features a middle school girl sent to live with her aunt after an attempt to get her parents help sends them to rehab. The verse format is accessible for reluctant readers and the stray puppy Laura trains to be a therapy dog is a big draw for animal lovers. Income Inequality
The ongoing opioid crisis affects people of all ages--including children whose parents are struggling with addiction. This novel in verse by Newbery Honor-winning author features a middle school girl sent to live with her aunt after an attempt to get her parents help sends them to rehab. The verse format is accessible for reluctant readers and the stray puppy Laura trains to be a therapy dog is a big draw for animal lovers.
Income Inequality
Another novel in verse, this one starring a girl with cystic fibrosis who overcomes her anxiety about sharing her writing when she helps an injured dolphin stranded in her backyard creek. Lots of shy and self-conscious tweens will relate to Penny's struggle to find her voice amidst the social dynamics and pressures of middle school. Disability
Another novel in verse, this one starring a girl with cystic fibrosis who overcomes her anxiety about sharing her writing when she helps an injured dolphin stranded in her backyard creek. Lots of shy and self-conscious tweens will relate to Penny's struggle to find her voice amidst the social dynamics and pressures of middle school.
Disability
The author of the popular Aru Shah series has a new book focusing on Filipino folklore! The Rick Riordan Presents books are always a big hit with young teen readers. (Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, selects books that would appeal to his readers and feature world mythology by authors from the cultures they're writing about. He writes a short intro and uses his brand to promote them, but the content is totally generated by the authors themselves.) Race & Ethnicity | Asian & Pacific Islander
The author of the popular Aru Shah series has a new book focusing on Filipino folklore! The Rick Riordan Presents books are always a big hit with young teen readers. (Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, selects books that would appeal to his readers and feature world mythology by authors from the cultures they're writing about. He writes a short intro and uses his brand to promote them, but the content is totally generated by the authors themselves.)
Race & Ethnicity | Asian & Pacific Islander
Set in Seattle, this story takes place in a single day--Indigenous Peoples' Day--and one girl's feelings of both isolation and belonging throughout. I really like the way it balances big picture ideas of heritage and identity with everyday concerns like asking your crush to the big dance. As Walt Whitman might have said: Middle schoolers are vast; they contain multitudes! Race & Ethnicity | Indigenous
Set in Seattle, this story takes place in a single day--Indigenous Peoples' Day--and one girl's feelings of both isolation and belonging throughout. I really like the way it balances big picture ideas of heritage and identity with everyday concerns like asking your crush to the big dance. As Walt Whitman might have said: Middle schoolers are vast; they contain multitudes!
Race & Ethnicity | Indigenous
True story, my dad used to "punish" my sister and I for fighting by making us sit on the couch holding hands for five minutes. It always ended in a massive fit of the giggles. This graphic novel from prolific children's author Saadia Faruqi uses the same tactic on the squabbling twins in this story, forcing them to spend a week at the beach together. Only instead of having the giggles, they get to rescue a sea turtle! Religion | Muslim
True story, my dad used to "punish" my sister and I for fighting by making us sit on the couch holding hands for five minutes. It always ended in a massive fit of the giggles. This graphic novel from prolific children's author Saadia Faruqi uses the same tactic on the squabbling twins in this story, forcing them to spend a week at the beach together. Only instead of having the giggles, they get to rescue a sea turtle!
Religion | Muslim
When do high expectations cross the line? Lots of our kids from all backgrounds are under a lot of pressure to do well in school, whether it's coming from parents or from within themselves. This novel from Australian author Rebecca Lim takes a look at the way this dynamic plays out in a Chinese immigrant community. Citizenship Status
When do high expectations cross the line? Lots of our kids from all backgrounds are under a lot of pressure to do well in school, whether it's coming from parents or from within themselves. This novel from Australian author Rebecca Lim takes a look at the way this dynamic plays out in a Chinese immigrant community.
Citizenship Status
The most popular girl in Shaindy's class lures her into assisting with a series of increasingly nasty pranks at their Orthodox Jewish girls' school on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. When they're caught and Shaindy is blamed, she uses the approaching Yom Kippur to figure out how to make amends. A great choice for fans of Mean Girls and Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller. Religion | Jewish
The most popular girl in Shaindy's class lures her into assisting with a series of increasingly nasty pranks at their Orthodox Jewish girls' school on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. When they're caught and Shaindy is blamed, she uses the approaching Yom Kippur to figure out how to make amends. A great choice for fans of Mean Girls and Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller.
Religion | Jewish
An absolutely true family road trip graphic novel about the time Pedro's family drove to Mexico to bring his grandpa--a Mexican Revolutionary War veteran with a library of epic stories--back to the US to live with them. Hand this one to fans of graphic novel memoirs like Sisters and Chunky. Also available in Spanish! Language | Spanish
An absolutely true family road trip graphic novel about the time Pedro's family drove to Mexico to bring his grandpa--a Mexican Revolutionary War veteran with a library of epic stories--back to the US to live with them. Hand this one to fans of graphic novel memoirs like Sisters and Chunky. Also available in Spanish!
Language | Spanish
Groundhog Day, except eight grader Vivian keeps reliving the worst first day of school over and over again. Raised by two dads and developing crushes on both boys and girls, Vivian reflects several aspects of the LGBTQ+ experience for middle school readers. Gender Identity & Sexuality
Groundhog Day, except eight grader Vivian keeps reliving the worst first day of school over and over again. Raised by two dads and developing crushes on both boys and girls, Vivian reflects several aspects of the LGBTQ+ experience for middle school readers.
Gender Identity & Sexuality
