{"id":6348,"date":"2024-08-29T05:00:52","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T09:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/?p=6348"},"modified":"2024-09-03T09:40:01","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T13:40:01","slug":"books-for-middle-schoolers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/books-for-middle-schoolers\/","title":{"rendered":"Fitting In, Sticking Out, and Finding Yourself: 20 Books for Middle Schoolers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou said that you didn\u2019t even know why they had middle school, that there ought to be some government program where, as soon as kids graduated elementary school, they got scooped up and sent to a lab where scientists could put them in a deep freeze until they were old enough for high school. For their own sake.\u201d<\/em> \u2013Trent, from Lost in the Sun<\/em><\/a> by Lisa Graff, quoting his mom two days before he starts sixth grade.<\/p>\n

If this sentiment resonates with your middle schooler, here are 20 books \u2014 ranging from funny to sad to dramatic \u2014 that accurately portray the ups and downs of middle school life, and how to survive it.<\/p>\n

no no 9780823445431 Middle School Bites<\/i> by Steven Banks, illustrated by Mark Fearing <\/p>\n

The day before sixth grade begins, Tom is bitten by a vampire bat. Also, a werewolf. And \u2014 oh yeah \u2014 a zombie. Talk about tough luck! Nothing gets you out of middle school, not even becoming a Vam-Wolf-Zom, so Tom grits his (fanged) teeth and does his best to fit in. A little help from his best friend, Zeke, goes a long way in this zany yet relatable new series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9780525429982 All’s Faire in Middle School<\/i> by Victoria Jamieson <\/p>\n

Imogene has spent the first 11 years of her life at the Renaissance Faire, where her parents work, and she\u2019s also been homeschooled. Now Impy, who dreams of being knighted, is entering the jousting ring of public school, and she has a lot to learn. Suddenly, Impy\u2019s family seems strange, and not everyone is genuine. When she goes against her values to fit in, will she be able to get back to her true, heroic self? <\/p>\n

9781524765163 The 47 People You’ll Meet in Middle School<\/i> by Kristin Mahoney <\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could tell you that the first person I saw on the first day of school was someone I knew. It was not.\u201d So begins Gus\u2019s advice to her younger sister, Lou. And who better to reassure (and forewarn) you about middle school than someone who\u2019s just survived? Funny and authentic, The 47 People You\u2019ll Meet in Middle School<\/i> perfectly captures the growing pains \u2014 and joys \u2014 of stepping out on your own. \t <\/p>\n

9781536212587 Merci Su\u00e1rez Series by Meg Medina <\/p>\n

Follow Merci Su\u00e1rez, a bright young girl who navigates the complexities of middle school with grace and determination. Through the course of the series, Merci faces a range of challenges. From navigating shifting friendships to adapting to changes in her home life. As readers follow her adventures they’ll experience an exploration of the joys and struggles of growing up.<\/p>\n

RELATED: 15 Middle Grade Series So Engrossing Tweens Can\u2019t Put Them Down<\/a><\/p>\n

9780593306871 The Brinkley Yearbooks Series by Sarah Sax <\/p>\n

When Viv live streams an impromptu home haircut right before seventh-grade picture day, she becomes an overnight sensation at her middle school. It\u2019s a dream come true! Or is it? Suddenly everyone wants her opinion and help to create social media-worthy moments. Viv finds herself stretched thin and losing focus of the things that matter most \u2014 her friends. This first book in a relatable graphic novel series (the second book, Tryouts<\/a><\/i>, is out now!) is perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier! <\/p>\n

9780399554384 Lights, Camera, Middle School!<\/i> by Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Matthew Holm <\/p>\n

In the new Babymouse<\/i> series, Tales from the Locker<\/i><\/a>, the sassy mouse we all know and love takes on middle school. What she finds there is an obsession with stuff<\/i> \u2014 labels, the best new gadget, and so on. But Babymouse has her own style, and she embraces it by joining film club and writing a major screenplay. Other books in the series take on cell phones, school plays, and more opportunities for Babymouse to be herself. <\/p>\n

9780593563977 Iveliz Explains It All<\/i> by Andrea Beatriz Arango, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez <\/p>\n

In Iveliz Explains It All<\/i>, young readers see how to navigate mental health while in middle school. Iveliz is eager to settle into her new home after moving from Puerto Rico, make friends, and avoid trouble. But, with all the changes happening in her life, managing her emotions becomes a challenge. Join her on her journey as she discovers that asking for help is something she deserves.<\/p>\n

9781682636060 I’m From Here Too <\/i> by Kashmira Sheth <\/p>\n

This captivating novel in verse chronicles Anoop’s journey as he confronts a difficult period in his life. Striving to reconcile his faith and his role in society, Anoop copes with his grandfather’s illness in India and the challenges he encounters at his American middle school. Battling discrimination and doubt, Anoop grapples with his Sikh identity. The story movingly depicts Anoop’s struggles and the resilience of faith during adversity.<\/p>\n

9780525517528 Middle School’s a Drag, You Better Werk!<\/i> by Greg Howard <\/p>\n

Twelve-year-old Mikey Pruitt has a major entrepreneurial spirit, and he embraces it by starting a talent agency. With the school talent show on the horizon, clients are lining out the door, including eighth-grader Julian Vasquez (drag queen name: Coco Caliente), who shows Mikey that he can come out of the closet and be loud and proud, whenever he\u2019s ready. <\/p>\n

9780525515142 Harbor Me<\/i> by Jacqueline Woodson <\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to pick just one read from Jacqueline Woodson<\/a>\u2019s oeuvre, but Harbor Me<\/i> is a wonderful start for new and soon-to-be middle schoolers. Six students meet weekly in what they dub the ARTT Room (\u201cA Room to Talk\u201d), where they discuss all the things they feel unable to outside: deportation fears, an incarcerated parent, racial microaggressions, and more. A poignant reminder that sometimes our peers can be our best support. <\/p>\n

9781524740559 Tight<\/i> by Torrey Maldonado <\/p>\n

Middle schoolers may find themselves at difficult crossroads with tough decisions to make, especially as old friends grow and change. That\u2019s what Bryan\u2019s going through, as his friend Mike tries to pressure him into ideas that seem foolish and risky to Bryan. Bryan looks to his comic book superheroes to guide him down the right path. <\/p>\n

9780593324301 Huda F Are You?<\/i> by and illustrated by Huda Fahmy <\/p>\n

Fitting in isn’t always easy. When Huda and her family move to a town where she isn’t one of the few Muslims anymore, she realizes she has to do a bit more to find her way. In this funny graphic novel, Huda’s journey shows young readers what it means to get to know yourself.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Bullies Be Gone! 15 Middle Grade Books on Bullying<\/a><\/p>\n

9781984816450 Dress Coded <\/i> by Carrie Firestone <\/p>\n

Molly Frost learns that she can stand up and use her voice when things seem unfair, like when she starts noticing that girls at her school (unlike the boys) are constantly dress coded for their outfits, and some girls more often than others. Molly starts a podcast about the matter that snowballs into a full-on movement. <\/p>\n

9780525554974 Stand Up, Yumi Chung!<\/i> by Jessica Kim <\/p>\n

For anyone who\u2019s ever felt totally misunderstood, Yumi Chung is their gal. At school, everyone teases Yumi for being shy; at home, her parents want her to get good grades in order to get a private school scholarship. But all Yumi wants to do is step up to the mic and deliver the best stand-up set of her life. One summer, Yumi goes for her dreams \u2014 even though it might mean disappointing others. <\/p>\n

9780451479402 Zenobia July<\/i> by Lisa Bunker <\/p>\n

Zenobia July is starting middle school on a fresh new page: she\u2019s moved from Arizona to Maine, she\u2019s living her true gender for the first time, and she\u2019s making new friends in coding club. Zenobia has serious computer skills, so when an anonymous bully starts leaving hateful posts on the school website, Zenobia knows she\u2019s the person to put an end to the hate and help her school heal. <\/p>\n

9780147508584 Lost in the Sun <\/i> by Lisa Graff <\/p>\n

In this powerful story, Trent starts sixth grade in the aftermath of a freak accident that left his classmate dead and left Trent with all kinds of terrible thoughts. Although most readers will not directly experience this type of tragedy, Trent\u2019s concern with how others perceive him, his efforts to find goodness after screwing up, and his struggle to figure out how to act when he feels angry and lost are highly relatable. <\/p>\n

9780142426425 Fish in a Tree <\/i> by Lynda Mullaly Hunt <\/p>\n

Sixth grader Ally struggles with school and is considered “dumb” and a “pest” by most teachers \u2014 until she gets in Mr. Daniels’s class. Her life turns around when this teacher realizes she struggles with dyslexia and brings out the best in her. It\u2019s a moving story about friendships, overcoming adversity, and appreciating the uniqueness in all of us. <\/p>\n

RELATED: Timeless Books for Sixth-Grade Readers<\/a><\/p>\n

9780307980861 Goodbye Stranger <\/i> by Rebecca Stead <\/p>\n

The story centers on three seventh graders, Bridge, Tab and Emily, who are dealing with typical middle school issues \u2014 taking selfies, liking boys, staying friends when your interests start to diverge, divorced parents \u2014 but this story takes it a few layers deeper. It’s about knowing who you are and who you want to be, and dealing with who others think you should be. <\/p>\n

9780142407578 Heat <\/i> by Mike Lupica <\/p>\n

Twelve-year-old Michael throws serious heat when he pitches. He is accused of being older than he is and doesn\u2019t have a birth certificate to prove his age. Newly orphaned since his father passed away, he is living with his 17-year-old brother and is constantly in fear of being sent to foster care or back to his hometown in Cuba. Sports drama mixes with family drama as well as the typical friendship and school issues faced by middle schoolers.<\/p>\n

9780525429678 Roller Girl<\/i> by Victoria Jamieson <\/p>\n

In this Newbery Honor winning graphic novel, best friends, Astrid and Nicole, are used to doing everything together. But the summer before sixth grade, Astrid discovers her love of roller derby while Nicole heads to dance camp. This is a highly relatable story about figuring out your own identify, forming new friendships, and holding on to old friendships that are slipping away. <\/p>\n

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2024.<\/i><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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