Summer Reading for NCCS Middle School Students 2025

Eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could turn back time to mend her friendship with Francie after a terrible fight, so when Lou befriends Cece she is eager to prove herself, but as she uncovers the truth about Cece's family, she grapples with what being a good friend means. Grades 4-6

Witty typewriter Olivetti and twelve-year-old introvert Ernest embark on a mission to find Ernest's missing mother that takes them across San Francisco. Grades 4-6

Tess Medina is dealing with the loss of her beloved father, a new school, and the troubling fact that the thing she enjoys most in life, baking, seems to be making her increasingly ill--something she is trying to hide from everybody. Grades 4-7

Follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother's disappearance. Grades 5-8

Eighth-grader Ingrid runs a popular blog anonymously and has online personal more popular than she is, but when a wrong-number text message offers her a chance at connection, Ingrid opens herself to the opportunity to make a real live friend. Grades 5-8

Jack isn't happy about Coach's decision to pair him with star athlete Jay Perkins to prep him for the cross-country team. He and Jay have a history-Jay bullied Joseph, and Jack fought back. And besides, Jay doesn't want to hang out with a dumb eighth grader. As Jack begins to get the hang of running and starts to see Jay as almost a friend, the adoption hits a snag. Another couple intends to adopt Jupiter. As blood relatives, their claim is powerful. The adults in charge feel they know what's best for Jupiter, and Jack is powerless to change their decision. Jupiter's future hangs in the balance, and as he faces his own destiny, Jack will learn what love and loyalty can do. Grades 6-9

Determined to regain her sense of accomplishment after losing her top-class ranking to Jonah, Grace decides to compete against him in a Labor Day half-marathon, but as they train together, she learns valuable lessons about what truly matters. Grades 5-8

A contemporary middle grade novel full of spunk and activist heart. Manuela Mani Semilla wants two things: To get her period, and to thwart her mom's plan of taking her to Guatemala, a place that has always been more of a mystery than an answer. Mani can't imagine leaving behind Las Nerdas, her band of misfit friends, for the summer. But after she finds letters written between her mother and her disappeared-journalist aunt, Mani's idea of what it means to be a woman takes flight. Reading the letters reveals both the beauty of Guatemala and its history of violence against women, and slowly transforms Mani from quiet bystander into budding activist. Grades 6-8

Quagmire Tiarello prides himself on not needing anything from anybody. Sure, his mom is skipping work again and showing signs of going into one of her full-out spins, but it's nothing he can't handle. He's used to her up-and-down moods, even if this time it feels a little different. Then his mom disappears, and Quag must find shelter with an uncle he didn't know he had. Should he come clean about his mother's mental health challenges? Or can he use his carefully honed skills to bluff long enough to find his mom and get home? Readers will root for Quag as he finds himself rethinking his world and learning to accept help from the people who love him. Grades 5-8

The Trojan War is ancient history. The gods of Olympus are silent and have not appeared to mortals for generations. In the city-state of Sparta, young Gorgo's mother gives a warning with her dying breath: the Persians are coming. The princess Gorgo, weaned on her nurse's stories of gods and shapeshifters, never forgets her mother's last words. When at last the drums of war begin to sound, she is swept up in a dangerous game of politics, treachery, and vengeance. With the blood of Herakles and Zeus himself running through her veins and the awakening of a dormant supernatural power, Gorgo, now queen of Sparta, must help lead her city-state against a mighty empire. Grades 5-8

After the death of his best friend and the only other trans boy at school, Noah starts writing letters expressing his feelings to the humanoid creature Mothman and risks everything when he treks into the woods to prove Mothman's existence. Grade 5-8

No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale's thing is fencing. She's the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was--until the accident. After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it's much harder than before. Her body doesn't move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can't accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn't the only thing holding her back. If she can't leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to? Grades 5-8

Thirteen-year-old Isaiah grapples with the loss of his best friend as he strives to fit into a world that expects him to toughen up, which leads him on a exploration of identity and vulnerability. (In Verse) Grades 4-8

Six eighth graders in Washington, DC, navigate through the conflict and division sparked by a school assignment focused on their town's Native American mascot. Grades 5-8

When twelve-year-old Freya discovers that her town's historical hero had problematic views towards women, she advocates to replace his statue with a lesser-known suffragette. Grades 4-8

When twelve-year-old Summer visits her family on a reservation in Alberta, Canada, she begins experiencing vivid dreams of running away from a residential school like the one her grandfather attended as a child and learns about unmarked children's graves, prompting her to seek answers about her community's painful past. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 790)

A stubborn young girl named Fiona stumbles upon an abandoned house full of stray cats, just as it is threatened by a demolition team, a leadership crisis, and two potentially malicious parakeets. Can Fiona save the house and all its inhabitants? Grades 5-7

Tacoma Jones loves working at her family's roadside diner, the Brake Fast, pouring coffee and serving eggs and muffins to truckers all day long. But tonight, she is finally going to break out her collection of cookbooks and prepare the best dinner the state of Washington has ever seen. But her excitement is dampened when she learns that today is one of Dad's bad days, when his depression makes it hard for him to get out of bed. Tacoma knows she can't fix her dad's depression. But what she can do is steal back his prized photograph of his second-best day from her nemesis, the nasty Crocodile Kyle--while also planning a dinner that is sure to brighten up his bad day. She just might need an accomplice or two to pull off the heist. . . .Grades 5-7

After 7th grader Amber Price's secretive older brother rescues her from a devastating house fire, the community's response proves that kindness is as complicated as family. Grades 5-8

In the midst of adjusting to a new class, eighth-grader Anoop finds his patka drawing unwarranted attention, leading him to contemplate faith, identity, and his role in the world, especially as his grandfather approaches the end of life in India and attacks on American Sikhs intensify. Grades 4-7

Seventh-grader Hercules Beal has to figure out how to fulfill his teacher's assignment of performing the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life, and discovers important things about friendship, community, and himself along the way. Grade 4-7

Eleven-year-old Kate lives with her grandmother, who runs a junk shop in a big old house on the outskirts of town. It sometimes feels sad to be in the business of collecting other people's leftover stuff, but Kate knows sad. She's a bit lonely, and she doesn't remember her mother, who left long ago. Still, Kate dreams that one day her mother will return, and when she does, she'll need money. So Kate sets out to make some, just in case. At first she wants to offer psychiatric advice, like Lucy in the Peanuts cartoon. Gran squashes that idea: "You are not a psychiatrist. You'll just get sued." But what about a philosopher, who Gran says is just someone who thinks deeply about important things. "I do that all the time," Kate says, and soon she opens up a Philosophy Booth to provide answers to life's big and small questions for $2 a pop. But who can answer Kate's questions? Where does her grandmother go in her truck at night? And why won't she talk about Kate's mother? These are hard questions to answer, and Kate gets help from two kids who come into her life. Myndeelee, who moves into the house behind Gran's, and Brandon, who Gran seems to hate, though Kate can't figure out why. Grades 5-8

Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly five foot ten in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height―including Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something―maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw more attention to her lanky frame.

A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it―until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too―which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all. Grades 4-7

Seventh grader Wendy Toledo knows that black holes and immigration police have one thing in common: they can both make things disappear without a trace. When her family moves to a new all-American neighborhood, Wendy knows the plan: keep her head down, build a telescope that will win the science fair, and stay on her family's safe orbit. But that's easier said than done when there's a woman hiding out from ICE agents in the church across the alley, and making Wendy's parents very nervous. As bullying at school threatens Wendy's friendships and her hopes for the science fair, and her family's secrets start to unravel, Wendy finds herself caught in the middle of far too many gravitational pulls. When someone she loves is detained by ICE, Wendy must find the courage to set her own orbit, and maybe shift the paths of everyone around her. Grades 4-7

A big-hearted coming-of-age debut about a tiger, a Russian, a model airplane, unexplainable disaster, and a bewildered twelve-year-old boy just trying to find his place in the world.

It's 1981 in Texarkana, Texas, and Noah Ellis is trying hard to remember. Still reeling from the loss of his father in a suspicious tragedy, Noah is in a tragedy of his own-one that results in another inexplicable death, this time leaving Noah to suffer from severe amnesia.

After that day, everything changes. Noah becomes an unwitting star in a highly publicized trial. Girls start to notice him, and kids who once bullied him now allow him to run with their pack--at a cost. Standing as always in his big brother's shadow, Noah also has a little sister he must look out for. But Noah's still stuck on that day and the accident he can't remember. As town secrets come to light and summer draws to a close, Noah must find a way to salvage all that he's lost, and to learn what is truly precious. Grades 6-9

"Wesley's hopeful plans for Indigenous Peoples' Day (and asking her crush to the dance) go all wrong-until she finds herself surrounded by the love of her Indigenous family and community at the intertribal powwow. Grades 4-7

Eleven-year-old Ava's mom is about to have twins, and the pregnancy isn't going well. All Ava wants to do is stay by her mother's side, but instead, she is sent away to stay with her grandparents. Normally, spending time at the lake with Nonna and Nonno is wonderful. But everything is different now. While her mom's hospital visits are getting serious back home, Ava grapples with anxiety. As summer storms rock the island, electricity goes out at the cabin, and an annoyingly cheerful boy named Cody seems determined to pop up everywhere she goes. Ava can't be distracted from the feeling that something terrible, something irrevocable, is going to happen to her mom while she is gone. When a bird dies in front of her, Ava is sure it is a sign that she is cursed--the last thing she, or her family, needs. But if a curse has been placed on her, there must a way to break it. So Ava makes a deal: If she can take care of two orphaned bird eggs, she will have paid off her debt, and her family will be all right. With everyone she loves on the line, Ava will do everything in her power to make sure that her mom, her twin baby brothers, her birds, and even Cody all come through the summer safely.. Grades 4-6

For anyone who loves a dog--and anyone who loves a laugh, comes this sensitive (and silly!) story about growing up and mending fences. An enduring message of friends, community, and the joy of pets.

Ask anyone who has a dog and they’ll tell you that their dog is the best. Really, truly, the best dog in the world. Theirs is the best dog that ever lived, ever, ever, in the history of the known universe. Four sixth graders and their dogs navigate a weekend filled with surprises, challenges, and life-changing experiences at a city dog park. Grades 3-6 (Lexile: 760)

In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is a story of a girl's journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands. Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life-and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all. Grades 5-8.

Evan doesn't seem to fit in at school or at home. He goes out of his way to avoid attention. He sits at the back of the bus, keeps his head down in class, and keeps to himself. But when a burr-covered border collie--a survivor with a gut instinct about the Boy--starts following him around and joining him on his runs, Evan's simple duck-and-dodge existence becomes a lot more complicated . . . a lot more like life. Evolving from wary companions to steadfast friends, Evan and the dog run fast and far together, thwart an abusive dog breeder and the school bully, and find the courage to stand up for themselves and to open up to those who matter most. Narrated in alternating viewpoints, this relatable contemporary novel with classic coming-of-age themes has all the hope, pathos, and emotional complexity that mark Pete Hautman's books for middle-grade readers--and is a deeply satisfying read for animal lovers. Grades 4-7

Twelve-year-old Natalia's dream of becoming a synchronized swimmer is in jeopardy when her parents decide they are against a sport that emphasizes looks, but Nat is determined to change their minds. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 590)

"Three girls start a hair-braiding business at their summer camp to make money, while competing against a rival business that threatens their plans. Grade 4-7

When twelve-year-old Summer visits her family on a reservation in Alberta, Canada, she begins experiencing vivid dreams of running away from a residential school like the one her grandfather attended as a child and learns about unmarked children's graves, prompting her to seek answers about her community's painful past. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 790)

Eighth-grader Ingrid runs a popular blog anonymously and has online personal more popular than she is, but when a wrong-number text message offers her a chance at connection, Ingrid opens herself to the opportunity to make a real live friend. Grades 5-8

Benjamin Banneker STEM Academy is the top middle school in Denver. Let's just say the kids are . . . competitive. When Principal Yee announces the start of an epic Team Competition for the school, Frederick Douglass Zezzmer knows that trophy's got his name on it. That'll show his sports-obsessed Dad that he's worthy, right? Only problem is, it's a TEAM competition ... and Doug isn't so great working in a team environment (except with his best friend Huey, of course). A clever send-up of school - and a genuine portrait of a kid and family - that kids across the country will see themselves and find joy and connection in. Grade 4-6

The present is the last place James wants to be. Since his parents have separated, he's been living two different lives and neither of them add up to the great one he used to have. He thinks about his Top Six memories and wonders if he can go back. During National Science Week, James meets the enigmatic Yan, a girl who looks at the world with x-ray eyes, and discovers that time travel might be possible after all. The two budding scientists' quest to restore James's lost past brings them into contact with retro Australian Women's Weekly birthday cakes, old Commodore computers, chaotic rideshare vehicles of the future, and spacemen.mBut as they get closer to their goal, James is forced to consider that his favorite moments from his personal history may not be as perfect as he remembers them. Grade 4-6

Cruzita must save her family's failing panaderia by winning a mariachi band contest--the only problem is she hates mariachi and cannot speak Spanish. Grades 4-7

When aspiring artist Deena's anxiety reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help, and that, with the right support, she can create something truly beautiful. Grades 4-7

When a boy with a terrible secret moves to town there is a sudden increase in dust storms, and asthmatic Avalyn theorizes the storms are linked to his emotions and tries to help as she struggles to breathe. Grades 4-7

Trey knows the drill: His dad gets him into a school full of kids with rich parents. Trey makes friends, and his dad makes connections. Soon, there's the con, where Trey's dad suckers the other parents into investing in one of his schemes. Once the money's in the bank, Trey, his sister, and their dad are on the run... until they set up somewhere else and start again. Trey believes his father when he says no one's getting hurt. After all, these parents have money to spare. But Trey's starting to get tired of running... and lying... and never having a friend for longer than a few months. But how do you get your family to stop lying when your lives depend on it? Grades 4-8

Ten-year-old Lina wants to create a viral video to help her mom's business, but as she navigates the world of likes and views with her two best friends, Lina must find the courage to stay true to her authentic self. Grades 4-7

Once upon a time, Millie, Nora, and Bea were best friends who loved slumber parties, exploring their Manhattan neighborhood, and making fortune tellers with their Magic Markers. Now, in the summer before seventh grade, they haven't spoken in over a year--thanks to a big fight, the pandemic shutting down their school, and each girl moving away for different reasons. The girls routinely check each other's social media, but none of them can muster the courage to reach out, even if they might want to. Then their long-ago paper fortune tellers start popping up in the most unexpected places. The fortunes carry some eerily accurate wisdom for each girl: Your future is hidden in your past. Hold on to the memories. Go back to where you started. Could this be the push the girls need to reconnect and reunite? Grades 4-7

Twelve-year-old nonbinary B forms a connection with an anxious stray dog, Gooseberry, prompting them to pursue their dream of becoming a dog trainer while navigating the complexities of trust and building a family in their newest foster home. Grade 4-6

What would you do if you were about to lose your best friend forever? Grace is eleven years old. She's curious and precocious, stubborn and determined, creative and eccentric. She dreams of becoming many things when she grows up, including a magician called Grace the Amazing!

Grace may be little, but she has big emotions and a million burning questions that demand answers. Her only friend is her art teacher, Pamela. When Grace discovers that Pamela is dying, the fragile certainties that existed in Graces world threaten to slip away. She embarks on a journey to find a cure for Pamela using miraculous magic and while doing so she asks the big questions about life, love, friendship, and death. Some of the answers she uncovers will surprise both Grace and readers. Covering issues of family, friendship, finding yourself, mental health, love, loss, animals, brilliant teachers who can change your life, and everything in between. A story that GLOWS and endearing, its filled with fun, laughter, tears, and totally relatable childhood moments that will forever find a place in your heart. Grades 4-7

Tess Medina is dealing with the loss of her beloved father, a new school, and the troubling fact that the thing she enjoys most in life, baking, seems to be making her increasingly ill--something she is trying to hide from everybody. Grades 4-7

Thirteen-year-old Cuban American Gonzalo joins his estranged grandfather on road trip to promote his grandfather's fantasy book series. Grades 4-6

After 7th grader Amber Price's secretive older brother rescues her from a devastating house fire, the community's response proves that kindness is as complicated as family. Grades 5-8

In the midst of adjusting to a new class, eighth-grader Anoop finds his patka drawing unwarranted attention, leading him to contemplate faith, identity, and his role in the world, especially as his grandfather approaches the end of life in India and attacks on American Sikhs intensify. Grades 4-7

Jack isn't happy about Coach's decision to pair him with star athlete Jay Perkins to prep him for the cross-country team. He and Jay have a history-Jay bullied Joseph, and Jack fought back. And besides, Jay doesn't want to hang out with a dumb eighth grader. As Jack begins to get the hang of running and starts to see Jay as almost a friend, the adoption hits a snag. Another couple intends to adopt Jupiter. As blood relatives, their claim is powerful. The adults in charge feel they know what's best for Jupiter, and Jack is powerless to change their decision. Jupiter's future hangs in the balance, and as he faces his own destiny, Jack will learn what love and loyalty can do. Grades 6-9

From failed football tryouts to helping the new Syrian refugee student, seventh-grader Kareem attempts to navigate the social complexities of seventh grade, which are further complicated when his mother is unable to return home from Syria due to an executive order. Grades 5-8 (In Verse).

Seventh-grader Hercules Beal has to figure out how to fulfill his teacher's assignment of performing the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life, and discovers important things about friendship, community, and himself along the way. Grade 4-7

From the author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! comes a funny and utterly charming novel about friends-how to make them, how to let go of them, and how to be your own BFF. Grades 4-7 (Lexile: 720)

Six eighth graders in Washington, DC, navigate through the conflict and division sparked by a school assignment focused on their town's Native American mascot. Grades 5-8

Ajay has lived his life dutifully following the rules set by his Tamil parents. Rule #3: Straight As only. Rule #5: There is no such thing as a no-homework day. Rule #10: Never watch scary movies. However, moving to a new school gives Ajay a new rule to follow: Get on seventh-grade all-star Jacob Underson's good side. When Jacob asks him to steal a Mercury bar from Scary Al's convenience store, Ajay feels this is his chance to finally 'get cool' and stop eating alone. But Jacob rejects the stolen chocolate bar, leaving Ajay to unwrap it and discover that it contains Mercury's Twenty-fifth Anniversary Grand Prize: one million dollars. Grades 5-7

Norah Day lives in temporary accommodation, relies on food banks for dinner, and doesn't have a mum. But she's happy enough with her dad and a mini zoo of rescued wildlife to care for. Adam Sinclair lives with his parents in a nice house with a private tutor and everything he could ever want. But his life isn't perfect far from it. He's stuck at home recovering from cancer with an overprotective mum and no friends. When a nest of baby birds brings them together as an animal rescue team, Adam and Norah discover they're not so different after all. Can they solve the mystery of Norah's missing mother together? And can their teamwork save their zoo of rescued animals from the rising flood? Grades 5-7

When troubled twelve-year-old Alex is assigned to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living facility, he forms a unique bond with a Holocaust survivor and learns lessons that change the trajectory of his life. Grades 5-7

An unforgettable and deeply personal story of the ghosts that surround us—and the ones we carry inside.

The house seemed to sit apart from the others on Katydid Street, silent and alone, like it didn’t fit among them. For Violet Hart—whose family is about to move into the house on Katydid Street—very little felt like it fit anymore. Like their old home, suddenly too small since her mother remarried and the new baby arrived. Or Violet’s group of friends, which, since they started middle school, isn’t enough for Violet’s best friend, Paige. Everything seemed to be changing at once. But sometimes, Violet tells herself, change is okay. That is, until Violet sees her new room. The attic bedroom in their new house is shadowy, creaky, and wrapped in old yellow wallpaper covered with a faded tangle of twisting vines and sickly flowers. And then, after moving in, Violet falls ill—and does not get better. As days turn into weeks without any improvement, her family growing more confused and her friends wondering if she’s really sick at all, she finds herself spending more time alone in the room with the yellow wallpaper, the shadows moving in the corners, wrapping themselves around her at night. And soon, Violet starts to suspect that she might not be alone in the room at all. Grades 4-6

A hilarious story about a boy who is homeschooled in his grandmother's retirement community...until he is forced to go to public school. Dexter Foreman is twelve going on eighty. He has lived at The Pines retirement village with his grandmother since he was six years old, and as a result he gets along better with senior citizens than kids his own age. He's homeschooled by the residents up until the day the county's truancy officer shows up and announces that Dex has to go to a "real" school, to the local middle school. At school, Dex sticks out like a sore thumb. He dresses like a grandpa (and can be just as cranky). His taste in movies and music is decades out of date. Only a few students--like Gianna Greco, a reporter at the school's newspaper--find him intriguing. For most, he is either a weirdo or a target. Dexter would do anything to return to his old life at The Pines. But when his wish finally seems to be coming true, his old and new worlds collide in a way that surprises everyone--Dexter most of all. Grades 4-7

The Odenburgh, an old apartment building made of brick and blunt opinions, is the last of its kind in a swiftly changing neighborhood. After years of putting up with people and their many problems, the Odenburgh knows there’s no point in getting attached. They all just leave eventually. A truth that comes all too soon when the building is sold and slated for demolition, giving tenants a month to move out. No one is more troubled by the news than eleven-year-old Prue, who refuses to leave her family’s apartment. Not when it was the last place she lived with her sister Lina, before she lost Lina forever. When Prue launches a plan to save their home, the Odenburgh joins in―flickering lights, jamming elevators, triggering fire alarms―all to try and bring a building full of bickering residents together. In the process, Prue meets Lewis, an eccentric boy who lives across the street―and the only one who can help her discover the missing elements of her sister’s story.

Heartfelt and bursting with a community of unique characters, Once For Yes is a testament to the endurance of love and the people we carry with us, wherever we go. Grades 3-6

To Queenie, home is Peachy, the little peach-walled house she's lived in forever, all art deco and flaky paint. Always a provider of solace. But when she and her mom have to move out, suddenly one temporary move follows another, from a retirement village to a flood-prone old camper van to a shared home, sometimes with just her father's guitar under her arm and some budding lyrics in her head. Along the way, the change-resistant Queenie discovers that home isn't a place at all--it's making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, letting yourself be uncomfortable, and finding the courage to share your song with the world. Grades 5-8

When biracial seventh-grader Wyatt gets upset, mysterious smoke forms around him, but as his plans to make the baseball team and fit in at school fall apart, he must confront the roots of his unusual stress reaction. Grades 5-9

When twelve-year-old former best friends Maddie and Chloe arrive at camp and discover they are cabin mates, they must decide if they want to continue staying mad at each other or give their friendship another go. Grade 6-8

A heartwarming tale about a girl who discovers a pair of endangered birds about to lay eggs in the marshes of her summer camp...and the secret plan she hatches to help them. Grades 4-7

Skye Nickson’s world changed forever when her dad went on the run with her brother, Finn. It’s been four years without Finn’s jokes, four years without her father’s old soul music, and four years of Skye filling in as Rent-a-Finn on his MIA birthdays for their mom. Finn’s birthday is always difficult, but at least Skye has her best friends, Reece and Jax, to lean on, even if Reece has started acting too cool for them.

But this year is different because after Finn’s birthday, they get a call that he’s finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls and losing his new expensive gifts, and he doesn’t seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets.

As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely? And if everyone else has changed, does it mean that Skye has to change too? Grades 4-7

A girl's tumultuous journey to keep her family together, even when she's falling apart. Grades 4-7

Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly five foot ten in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height―including Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something―maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw more attention to her lanky frame.

A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it―until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too―which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all. Grades 4-7

Forced to take Physical Education Equivalency, aka "Slugfest," in summer school so he can maintain his star spot on the JV football team, Yash recruits his fellow PE rejects to train with him and pass this course, an endeavor that turns into a summer he'll never forget. Grades 4-7

The unforgettable tale of a girl, her maybe-criminal mom, her babysitting business, and her pet pineapple. Grades 4-7

Seventh grader Wendy Toledo knows that black holes and immigration police have one thing in common: they can both make things disappear without a trace. When her family moves to a new all-American neighborhood, Wendy knows the plan: keep her head down, build a telescope that will win the science fair, and stay on her family's safe orbit. But that's easier said than done when there's a woman hiding out from ICE agents in the church across the alley, and making Wendy's parents very nervous. As bullying at school threatens Wendy's friendships and her hopes for the science fair, and her family's secrets start to unravel, Wendy finds herself caught in the middle of far too many gravitational pulls. When someone she loves is detained by ICE, Wendy must find the courage to set her own orbit, and maybe shift the paths of everyone around her. Grades 4-7

When eleven-year-old Hank's mother does not come home after a week, he and his toddler sister, Boo, seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact, even though it means social workers, a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he has been trying to keep secret. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 560)

Ethan Fairmont and his friends attempt intergalactic communication and discover danger lurking close to home. Grades 4-6 (Lexile: 620)

Doran's mom, Isa, taught her to be bold and challenge the rules if they don't seem fair. People are more important than rules. But she never taught Dorani how to do it all without her. So, when Isa dies on the way to speak with the principal about Dori's latest revolution, Dori loses her voice. Her grief and guilt become the loudest parts of her. Moving from vibrant Miami to quiet, middle-of-nowhere Wyoming with her aunt feels like the punishment she deserves. Grades 5-8

Afraid her sister (and maybe even herself) could lose sight of their Vietnamese identity, twelve-year-old Bom writes a poetic memoir to help them both remember--a love letter in verse to sisterhood and the places we leave behind. Grade 4-7 (In Verse)

Twelve-year-old Lyla sets out to write the perfect fantasy novel in her creative writing class, but discovers some unexpected twists and turns, both on and off the page. Includes twenty-five ways to overcome writer's block. Grades 4-7

In this conclusion to the series, the Vanderbeekers are looking forward to the wedding of two of their favorite people. But when one of the siblings receives a dire diagnosis, instead of preparing for a celebration, the family is suddenly spending their time at the hospital. And soon they are helping a critically ill friend, even as they struggle with how their own lives have turned upside down. Grades 4-7

A dog walking venture helps thirteen-year-old Louis, who would rather kick back than stand out, learn how to be a friend. Grades 5-8

A moving middle grade story by Anica Mrose Rissi that will appeal to readers who loved The Thing about Jellyfish and Hello, Universe, about the enduring bond between twins: Anders, who has recently died, and Lily, who has to balance her grief and confusion with a brother who isn't quite gone--and how to navigate a world that is moving forward without him. Grades 5-7

In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is a story of a girl's journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands. Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life-and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all. Grades 5-8.

Poverty-stricken Joseph bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him. Grade 4-7

Twelve-year-old Boomi accidentally travels back in time to 1986 Thumpton-on-Soar, England, where she meets her late father as a child, changing her life forever. Grades 5-7

Cruzita must save her family's failing panaderia by winning a mariachi band contest--the only problem is she hates mariachi and cannot speak Spanish. Grades 4-7

Fifth grader Benny wants to focus on not flunking out of fifth grade, but he must also cope with his complicated home life with newly divorced parents, a mother who moves away, and a father with terminal lung cancer. Grades 5-8

The last few months have been pretty tough for Eli. He moved to New York City and left his small town in Minnesota with his extended family and everyone he knows. He hasn't made any new friends. And his mom died unexpectedly, shattering his whole world. He misses Mom more and more every day, but Dad refuses to talk about her, leaving Eli alone in his grief. Then Eli finds a stash of instructional cooking videos his mom made, revealing her dream of being a celebrity chef. With the help of the cute new neighbor boy, Mathias, Eli decides to follow his mother's recipes using her videos can re-create his mom's special dishes, then maybe a part of her can stay with him forever. But what happens when the videos run out? Grades 5-8

Following her survival of a shooting during her hometown's Kickoff to Summer, thirteen-year-old Stevie grapples with PTSD but finds comfort through the stories of resilience shared by friends and strangers. Grades 5-8

When twelve-year-old Elwood develops the ability to see ghosts, he sets out on a journey with two friends to find his brother Noah's apparition. Grades 4-6

What would you do if you were about to lose your best friend forever? Grace is eleven years old. She's curious and precocious, stubborn and determined, creative and eccentric. She dreams of becoming many things when she grows up, including a magician called Grace the Amazing!

Grace may be little, but she has big emotions and a million burning questions that demand answers. Her only friend is her art teacher, Pamela. When Grace discovers that Pamela is dying, the fragile certainties that existed in Graces world threaten to slip away. She embarks on a journey to find a cure for Pamela using miraculous magic and while doing so she asks the big questions about life, love, friendship, and death. Some of the answers she uncovers will surprise both Grace and readers. Covering issues of family, friendship, finding yourself, mental health, love, loss, animals, brilliant teachers who can change your life, and everything in between. A story that GLOWS and endearing, its filled with fun, laughter, tears, and totally relatable childhood moments that will forever find a place in your heart. Grades 4-7

Thirteen-year-old Cuban American Gonzalo joins his estranged grandfather on road trip to promote his grandfather's fantasy book series. Grades 4-6

Twelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul deals with change, grief, friendship, and growing up in a community facing a housing crisis. Grades 3-6

Jack isn't happy about Coach's decision to pair him with star athlete Jay Perkins to prep him for the cross-country team. He and Jay have a history-Jay bullied Joseph, and Jack fought back. And besides, Jay doesn't want to hang out with a dumb eighth grader. As Jack begins to get the hang of running and starts to see Jay as almost a friend, the adoption hits a snag. Another couple intends to adopt Jupiter. As blood relatives, their claim is powerful. The adults in charge feel they know what's best for Jupiter, and Jack is powerless to change their decision. Jupiter's future hangs in the balance, and as he faces his own destiny, Jack will learn what love and loyalty can do. Grades 6-9

Thirteen-year-old Isaiah grapples with the loss of his best friend as he strives to fit into a world that expects him to toughen up, which leads him on a exploration of identity and vulnerability. (In Verse) Grades 4-8

The Odenburgh, an old apartment building made of brick and blunt opinions, is the last of its kind in a swiftly changing neighborhood. After years of putting up with people and their many problems, the Odenburgh knows there’s no point in getting attached. They all just leave eventually. A truth that comes all too soon when the building is sold and slated for demolition, giving tenants a month to move out. No one is more troubled by the news than eleven-year-old Prue, who refuses to leave her family’s apartment. Not when it was the last place she lived with her sister Lina, before she lost Lina forever. When Prue launches a plan to save their home, the Odenburgh joins in―flickering lights, jamming elevators, triggering fire alarms―all to try and bring a building full of bickering residents together. In the process, Prue meets Lewis, an eccentric boy who lives across the street―and the only one who can help her discover the missing elements of her sister’s story.

Heartfelt and bursting with a community of unique characters, Once For Yes is a testament to the endurance of love and the people we carry with us, wherever we go. Grades 3-6

A heart-rending novel-in-verse about a girl beginning to learn it is possible to go on even after a great loss. Eleven-year-old April must come to terms with the sudden death of her best friend, Zee. Grades 5-8. In Verse

To Queenie, home is Peachy, the little peach-walled house she's lived in forever, all art deco and flaky paint. Always a provider of solace. But when she and her mom have to move out, suddenly one temporary move follows another, from a retirement village to a flood-prone old camper van to a shared home, sometimes with just her father's guitar under her arm and some budding lyrics in her head. Along the way, the change-resistant Queenie discovers that home isn't a place at all--it's making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, letting yourself be uncomfortable, and finding the courage to share your song with the world. Grades 5-8

Seventh grader Wendy Toledo knows that black holes and immigration police have one thing in common: they can both make things disappear without a trace. When her family moves to a new all-American neighborhood, Wendy knows the plan: keep her head down, build a telescope that will win the science fair, and stay on her family's safe orbit. But that's easier said than done when there's a woman hiding out from ICE agents in the church across the alley, and making Wendy's parents very nervous. As bullying at school threatens Wendy's friendships and her hopes for the science fair, and her family's secrets start to unravel, Wendy finds herself caught in the middle of far too many gravitational pulls. When someone she loves is detained by ICE, Wendy must find the courage to set her own orbit, and maybe shift the paths of everyone around her. Grades 4-7

Doran's mom, Isa, taught her to be bold and challenge the rules if they don't seem fair. People are more important than rules. But she never taught Dorani how to do it all without her. So, when Isa dies on the way to speak with the principal about Dori's latest revolution, Dori loses her voice. Her grief and guilt become the loudest parts of her. Moving from vibrant Miami to quiet, middle-of-nowhere Wyoming with her aunt feels like the punishment she deserves. Grades 5-8

A moving middle grade story by Anica Mrose Rissi that will appeal to readers who loved The Thing about Jellyfish and Hello, Universe, about the enduring bond between twins: Anders, who has recently died, and Lily, who has to balance her grief and confusion with a brother who isn't quite gone--and how to navigate a world that is moving forward without him. Grades 5-7

After 7th grader Amber Price's secretive older brother rescues her from a devastating house fire, the community's response proves that kindness is as complicated as family. Grades 5-8

Spanning over five hundred years, a novel telling the stories of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family, many of them forced to leave their country and start a new life. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 830)

Making friends in a new city, and new country, is hard for twelve-year-old Filipina-American Isabel, but joining the gardening and cooking club at school helps her find her way. Grades 3-6 In Verse

After a rocky first year, Anna's family have settled into life in California. Their small restaurant is even turning a profit. Then her parents make a shattering discovery: their visas have expired. Grade 4-7. In Verse

Ajay has lived his life dutifully following the rules set by his Tamil parents. Rule #3: Straight As only. Rule #5: There is no such thing as a no-homework day. Rule #10: Never watch scary movies. However, moving to a new school gives Ajay a new rule to follow: Get on seventh-grade all-star Jacob Underson's good side. When Jacob asks him to steal a Mercury bar from Scary Al's convenience store, Ajay feels this is his chance to finally 'get cool' and stop eating alone. But Jacob rejects the stolen chocolate bar, leaving Ajay to unwrap it and discover that it contains Mercury's Twenty-fifth Anniversary Grand Prize: one million dollars. Grades 5-7

A collection of twelve stories about the residents of the Entrada apartment building and how their lives are linked as multigenerational immigrant families. Grades 3-7

Afraid her sister (and maybe even herself) could lose sight of their Vietnamese identity, twelve-year-old Bom writes a poetic memoir to help them both remember--a love letter in verse to sisterhood and the places we leave behind. Grade 4-7 (In Verse)

Fifth grader Benny wants to focus on not flunking out of fifth grade, but he must also cope with his complicated home life with newly divorced parents, a mother who moves away, and a father with terminal lung cancer. Grades 5-8

When aspiring artist Deena's anxiety reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help, and that, with the right support, she can create something truly beautiful. Grades 4-7

What would you do if you were about to lose your best friend forever? Grace is eleven years old. She's curious and precocious, stubborn and determined, creative and eccentric. She dreams of becoming many things when she grows up, including a magician called Grace the Amazing!

Grace may be little, but she has big emotions and a million burning questions that demand answers. Her only friend is her art teacher, Pamela. When Grace discovers that Pamela is dying, the fragile certainties that existed in Graces world threaten to slip away. She embarks on a journey to find a cure for Pamela using miraculous magic and while doing so she asks the big questions about life, love, friendship, and death. Some of the answers she uncovers will surprise both Grace and readers. Covering issues of family, friendship, finding yourself, mental health, love, loss, animals, brilliant teachers who can change your life, and everything in between. A story that GLOWS and endearing, its filled with fun, laughter, tears, and totally relatable childhood moments that will forever find a place in your heart. Grades 4-7

Making friends in a new city, and new country, is hard for twelve-year-old Filipina-American Isabel, but joining the gardening and cooking club at school helps her find her way. Grades 3-6 In Verse

Thirteen-year-old Isaiah grapples with the loss of his best friend as he strives to fit into a world that expects him to toughen up, which leads him on a exploration of identity and vulnerability. (In Verse) Grades 4-8

Recently diagnosed with depression, fifth-grader Pearl struggles with self-care and self-love amidst a sea of changes. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 610). In Verse

A heart-rending novel-in-verse about a girl beginning to learn it is possible to go on even after a great loss. Eleven-year-old April must come to terms with the sudden death of her best friend, Zee. Grades 5-8. In Verse

Eleven-year-old Kate lives with her grandmother, who runs a junk shop in a big old house on the outskirts of town. It sometimes feels sad to be in the business of collecting other people's leftover stuff, but Kate knows sad. She's a bit lonely, and she doesn't remember her mother, who left long ago. Still, Kate dreams that one day her mother will return, and when she does, she'll need money. So Kate sets out to make some, just in case. At first she wants to offer psychiatric advice, like Lucy in the Peanuts cartoon. Gran squashes that idea: "You are not a psychiatrist. You'll just get sued." But what about a philosopher, who Gran says is just someone who thinks deeply about important things. "I do that all the time," Kate says, and soon she opens up a Philosophy Booth to provide answers to life's big and small questions for $2 a pop. But who can answer Kate's questions? Where does her grandmother go in her truck at night? And why won't she talk about Kate's mother? These are hard questions to answer, and Kate gets help from two kids who come into her life. Myndeelee, who moves into the house behind Gran's, and Brandon, who Gran seems to hate, though Kate can't figure out why. Grades 5-8

Skye Nickson’s world changed forever when her dad went on the run with her brother, Finn. It’s been four years without Finn’s jokes, four years without her father’s old soul music, and four years of Skye filling in as Rent-a-Finn on his MIA birthdays for their mom. Finn’s birthday is always difficult, but at least Skye has her best friends, Reece and Jax, to lean on, even if Reece has started acting too cool for them.

But this year is different because after Finn’s birthday, they get a call that he’s finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls and losing his new expensive gifts, and he doesn’t seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets.

As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely? And if everyone else has changed, does it mean that Skye has to change too? Grades 4-7

Portico Reeves--or Stuntboy, the greatest superhero people have never heard of--tries to manage his frets and navigate his new normal with divorced parents, bullies in his building, and a newfound friend. Grades 3-5

Twelve-year-old Lyla sets out to write the perfect fantasy novel in her creative writing class, but discovers some unexpected twists and turns, both on and off the page. Includes twenty-five ways to overcome writer's block. Grades 4-7

"Wesley's hopeful plans for Indigenous Peoples' Day (and asking her crush to the dance) go all wrong-until she finds herself surrounded by the love of her Indigenous family and community at the intertribal powwow. Grades 4-7

Eleven-year-old Ava's mom is about to have twins, and the pregnancy isn't going well. All Ava wants to do is stay by her mother's side, but instead, she is sent away to stay with her grandparents. Normally, spending time at the lake with Nonna and Nonno is wonderful. But everything is different now. While her mom's hospital visits are getting serious back home, Ava grapples with anxiety. As summer storms rock the island, electricity goes out at the cabin, and an annoyingly cheerful boy named Cody seems determined to pop up everywhere she goes. Ava can't be distracted from the feeling that something terrible, something irrevocable, is going to happen to her mom while she is gone. When a bird dies in front of her, Ava is sure it is a sign that she is cursed--the last thing she, or her family, needs. But if a curse has been placed on her, there must a way to break it. So Ava makes a deal: If she can take care of two orphaned bird eggs, she will have paid off her debt, and her family will be all right. With everyone she loves on the line, Ava will do everything in her power to make sure that her mom, her twin baby brothers, her birds, and even Cody all come through the summer safely.. Grades 4-6

When a boy with a terrible secret moves to town there is a sudden increase in dust storms, and asthmatic Avalyn theorizes the storms are linked to his emotions and tries to help as she struggles to breathe. Grades 4-7

When twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets a mysterious boy from the future, his life is changed forever. This novel explores themes of family, friendship, trust, and forgiveness. Grades 5-7

Norah Day lives in temporary accommodation, relies on food banks for dinner, and doesn't have a mum. But she's happy enough with her dad and a mini zoo of rescued wildlife to care for. Adam Sinclair lives with his parents in a nice house with a private tutor and everything he could ever want. But his life isn't perfect far from it. He's stuck at home recovering from cancer with an overprotective mum and no friends. When a nest of baby birds brings them together as an animal rescue team, Adam and Norah discover they're not so different after all. Can they solve the mystery of Norah's missing mother together? And can their teamwork save their zoo of rescued animals from the rising flood? Grades 5-7

A girl's tumultuous journey to keep her family together, even when she's falling apart. Grades 4-7

Seventh grader Wendy Toledo knows that black holes and immigration police have one thing in common: they can both make things disappear without a trace. When her family moves to a new all-American neighborhood, Wendy knows the plan: keep her head down, build a telescope that will win the science fair, and stay on her family's safe orbit. But that's easier said than done when there's a woman hiding out from ICE agents in the church across the alley, and making Wendy's parents very nervous. As bullying at school threatens Wendy's friendships and her hopes for the science fair, and her family's secrets start to unravel, Wendy finds herself caught in the middle of far too many gravitational pulls. When someone she loves is detained by ICE, Wendy must find the courage to set her own orbit, and maybe shift the paths of everyone around her. Grades 4-7

A dog walking venture helps thirteen-year-old Louis, who would rather kick back than stand out, learn how to be a friend. Grades 5-8

The year is 1915 and the world is at war. Marta and her father are passengers on the Lusitania, desperately trying to get back home to Germany. While aboard, they must keep their identities hidden or risk being mistaken for enemy spies. Then the Lusitania is attacked by a German submarine. They just make it off the sinking ship, but her father is discovered and detained. Marta suddenly finds herself alone in enemy land. Grades 4-7 (Lexile: 750)

In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is a story of a girl's journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands. Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life-and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all. Grades 5-8.

Poverty-stricken Joseph bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him. Grade 4-7

Twelve-year-old Tully's attempt to swim across Lake Tahoe after a heartbreaking loss and become the youngest person to complete the famous "Godfather swim" takes a dangerous turn, forcing her to choose between safety and a win that could change everything Grades 5-7 In Verse

In the midst of adjusting to a new class, eighth-grader Anoop finds his patka drawing unwarranted attention, leading him to contemplate faith, identity, and his role in the world, especially as his grandfather approaches the end of life in India and attacks on American Sikhs intensify. Grades 4-7

Making friends in a new city, and new country, is hard for twelve-year-old Filipina-American Isabel, but joining the gardening and cooking club at school helps her find her way. Grades 3-6 In Verse

No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale's thing is fencing. She's the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was--until the accident. After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it's much harder than before. Her body doesn't move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can't accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn't the only thing holding her back. If she can't leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to? Grades 5-8

From failed football tryouts to helping the new Syrian refugee student, seventh-grader Kareem attempts to navigate the social complexities of seventh grade, which are further complicated when his mother is unable to return home from Syria due to an executive order. Grades 5-8 (In Verse).

After a rocky first year, Anna's family have settled into life in California. Their small restaurant is even turning a profit. Then her parents make a shattering discovery: their visas have expired. Grade 4-7. In Verse

Six eighth graders in Washington, DC, navigate through the conflict and division sparked by a school assignment focused on their town's Native American mascot. Grades 5-8

Thirteen-year-old Isaiah grapples with the loss of his best friend as he strives to fit into a world that expects him to toughen up, which leads him on a exploration of identity and vulnerability. (In Verse) Grades 4-8

Recently diagnosed with depression, fifth-grader Pearl struggles with self-care and self-love amidst a sea of changes. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 610). In Verse

A heart-rending novel-in-verse about a girl beginning to learn it is possible to go on even after a great loss. Eleven-year-old April must come to terms with the sudden death of her best friend, Zee. Grades 5-8 In Verse

Afraid her sister (and maybe even herself) could lose sight of their Vietnamese identity, twelve-year-old Bom writes a poetic memoir to help them both remember--a love letter in verse to sisterhood and the places we leave behind. Grade 4-7 (In Verse)

For anyone who loves a dog--and anyone who loves a laugh, comes this sensitive (and silly!) story about growing up and mending fences. An enduring message of friends, community, and the joy of pets.

Ask anyone who has a dog and they’ll tell you that their dog is the best. Really, truly, the best dog in the world. Theirs is the best dog that ever lived, ever, ever, in the history of the known universe. Four sixth graders and their dogs navigate a weekend filled with surprises, challenges, and life-changing experiences at a city dog park. Grades 3-6 (Lexile: 760)

Magnolia “Maggie” Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight . . . if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she’s been dying to go to for three whole summers.

But on the last day of school, her parents break the news: Maggie isn’t going to Camp Rising Star. She’s being shipped off to fat camp—and not just any fat camp. She’s going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be-patented Scarlet Diet.

When Maggie arrives at camp, things are . . . weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood—at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost.

Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad . . . until campers start going missing and other suspicious things begin happening—especially after dark. The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place. . . .Grade 3-7

A Jewish seventh grade boy is caught between the worlds of his divorced parents--with an orthodox mother and secular father, Jake must concoct a web of lies to go to a summer camp with his friends. Grader 4-7

Seventh-grader Hercules Beal has to figure out how to fulfill his teacher's assignment of performing the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life, and discovers important things about friendship, community, and himself along the way. Grade 4-7

A hilarious story about a boy who is homeschooled in his grandmother's retirement community...until he is forced to go to public school. Dexter Foreman is twelve going on eighty. He has lived at The Pines retirement village with his grandmother since he was six years old, and as a result he gets along better with senior citizens than kids his own age. He's homeschooled by the residents up until the day the county's truancy officer shows up and announces that Dex has to go to a "real" school, to the local middle school. At school, Dex sticks out like a sore thumb. He dresses like a grandpa (and can be just as cranky). His taste in movies and music is decades out of date. Only a few students--like Gianna Greco, a reporter at the school's newspaper--find him intriguing. For most, he is either a weirdo or a target. Dexter would do anything to return to his old life at The Pines. But when his wish finally seems to be coming true, his old and new worlds collide in a way that surprises everyone--Dexter most of all. Grades 4-7

Quagmire Tiarello prides himself on not needing anything from anybody. Sure, his mom is skipping work again and showing signs of going into one of her full-out spins, but it's nothing he can't handle. He's used to her up-and-down moods, even if this time it feels a little different. Then his mom disappears, and Quag must find shelter with an uncle he didn't know he had. Should he come clean about his mother's mental health challenges? Or can he use his carefully honed skills to bluff long enough to find his mom and get home? Readers will root for Quag as he finds himself rethinking his world and learning to accept help from the people who love him. Grades 5-8

Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly five foot ten in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height―including Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something―maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw more attention to her lanky frame.

A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it―until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too―which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all. Grades 4-7

Portico Reeves--or Stuntboy, the greatest superhero people have never heard of--tries to manage his frets and navigate his new normal with divorced parents, bullies in his building, and a newfound friend. Grades 3-5

Seventh grader Noah tries to avoid the worst day ever and help his future self win his eighth grade class election using time travel. Grades 4-7

Magnolia “Maggie” Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight . . . if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she’s been dying to go to for three whole summers.

But on the last day of school, her parents break the news: Maggie isn’t going to Camp Rising Star. She’s being shipped off to fat camp—and not just any fat camp. She’s going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be-patented Scarlet Diet.

When Maggie arrives at camp, things are . . . weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood—at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost.

Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad . . . until campers start going missing and other suspicious things begin happening—especially after dark. The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place. . . .Grade 3-7

Seventh-grader Sadie is being literally haunted by loneliness in the form of a vengeful ghost, until a new friendship upends her life and thretens the ghost's hold over her. Grades 5-8

Thirteen-year-old twin paranormal investigators Gabby and Trent face a terrifying challenge when a seance goes wrong and their mother disappears in a haunted theater, forcing them to confront a powerful demon and live up to their grandparents' ghost-hunting legacy. Grades 5-8

Eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could turn back time to mend her friendship with Francie after a terrible fight, so when Lou befriends Cece she is eager to prove herself, but as she uncovers the truth about Cece's family, she grapples with what being a good friend means. Grades 4-6

Witty typewriter Olivetti and twelve-year-old introvert Ernest embark on a mission to find Ernest's missing mother that takes them across San Francisco. Grade 4-6

The unforgettable tale of a girl, her maybe-criminal mom, her babysitting business, and her pet pineapple. Grades 4-7

Twelve-year-old Sylvia Doe keeps running away from foster homes to return to the mountains of North Carolina, until a 100-year flood, a strange boy, and a cave that is a portal to other times and places, bring her back where she truly belongs. Grades 4-7

Twelve-year-old Boomi accidentally travels back in time to 1986 Thumpton-on-Soar, England, where she meets her late father as a child, changing her life forever. Grades 5-7

When twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets a mysterious boy from the future, his life is changed forever. This novel explores themes of family, friendship, trust, and forgiveness. Grades 5-7

Determined to save her brother from the Darkness that plagues their home, ten-year-old Lola follows mythical chaneques into a secret world where she seeks help from the queen. Grades 4-7 (Lexile: 710)

Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive.

Although Owen recovers, Ava's parents whisk her off to her mother's alma mater, the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice. There, Ava and her brother, Jax, discover that the Olympian gods founded the Accademia to teach the descendants of mythological monsters how to control their emotions and their powers and become functioning, well-adjusted members of society.

But not everything at the Accademia is as it seems. After her friend Fia is almost expelled for challenging a teacher, Ava realizes the school is hiding a dangerous secret. To uncover the truth, Ava and her new friends embark on an adventure that could change the way they view history, mythology--and themselves--forever...or end their lives. Grades 4-7

Seventh grader Noah tries to avoid the worst day ever and help his future self win his eighth grade class election using time travel. Grades 4-7

Twelve-year-old Evie Mei Huang never did like helping in her mom's tailor shop. She hated helping to mend fraying clothes, how the measuring tape got all twisted up, and how pushy her mother's clients were. Most of all, she hates that her mother is dead and isn't here to help anymore. But when the universe sends a life preserver, Evie knows to grab it. So yes, it's weird when a talking monkey shows up and tells her that her plainspoken, hardworking tailor mother was actually the head of a Guild of magical weavers who can change the fate of a person with only a spool of thread. Very weird. But he also comes bearing news that her mother is trapped in Diyu, the Chinese underworld, and that only Evie can get her back. No pressure. The important thing is that Evie's mom isn't dead. And if she's got this one shot to bring her back and save her family, she's got to take it, Grades 4-7

A preteen android based on a popular TV character grapples with new friendships, insecurities, and learning how to embrace her individuality. Grades 4-7

Eighth-grader Ingrid runs a popular blog anonymously and has online personal more popular than she is, but when a wrong-number text message offers her a chance at connection, Ingrid opens herself to the opportunity to make a real live friend. Grades 5-8

Twelve-year-old Ainy is looking forward to working at her mother's clothing store for the summer--and someday soon wearing a hijab--but when certain boys harass her, and the boy she has a crush on does not step in, she turns to her older sister for help. Grades 4-7

Magnolia “Maggie” Hagen is determined to be in the spotlight . . . if she can just get over her stage fright. This summer, though, she has big plans to finally attend Camp Rising Star, the famous performing arts camp she’s been dying to go to for three whole summers.

But on the last day of school, her parents break the news: Maggie isn’t going to Camp Rising Star. She’s being shipped off to fat camp—and not just any fat camp. She’s going to Camp Sylvania, run by world-famous wellness influencer Sylvia Sylvania, who is known for her soon-to-be-patented Scarlet Diet.

When Maggie arrives at camp, things are . . . weird. There are the humiliating weigh-ins and grueling workouts, as expected. But the campers are also encouraged to donate blood—at their age! The cafeteria serves only red foods and the oddly specific rules change every day. There are even rumors of a camp ghost.

Despite these horrors, Maggie makes friends and starts to actually enjoy herself. There are even tryouts for a camp production of The Music Man! This place might not be so bad . . . until campers start going missing and other suspicious things begin happening—especially after dark. The camp ghost might be the least scary thing about this place. . . .Grade 3-7

No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale's thing is fencing. She's the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was--until the accident. After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it's much harder than before. Her body doesn't move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can't accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn't the only thing holding her back. If she can't leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to? Grades 5-8

As twelve-year-old aspiring taekwondo champion Modesty "Mo" Seto faces off against her nemesis in a movie audition, she uncovers a mysterious book and embarks on an adventure to rescue her missing father and discover hidden martial art secrets. Grades 4-7

When troubled twelve-year-old Alex is assigned to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living facility, he forms a unique bond with a Holocaust survivor and learns lessons that change the trajectory of his life. Grades 5-7

A nonbinary middle-schooler must choose between pretending to be the girl everyone expects them to be and forging their own path forward. Grades 5-8

Quagmire Tiarello prides himself on not needing anything from anybody. Sure, his mom is skipping work again and showing signs of going into one of her full-out spins, but it's nothing he can't handle. He's used to her up-and-down moods, even if this time it feels a little different. Then his mom disappears, and Quag must find shelter with an uncle he didn't know he had. Should he come clean about his mother's mental health challenges? Or can he use his carefully honed skills to bluff long enough to find his mom and get home? Readers will root for Quag as he finds himself rethinking his world and learning to accept help from the people who love him. Grades 5-8

To Queenie, home is Peachy, the little peach-walled house she's lived in forever, all art deco and flaky paint. Always a provider of solace. But when she and her mom have to move out, suddenly one temporary move follows another, from a retirement village to a flood-prone old camper van to a shared home, sometimes with just her father's guitar under her arm and some budding lyrics in her head. Along the way, the change-resistant Queenie discovers that home isn't a place at all--it's making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, letting yourself be uncomfortable, and finding the courage to share your song with the world. Grades 5-8

A heartwarming tale about a girl who discovers a pair of endangered birds about to lay eggs in the marshes of her summer camp...and the secret plan she hatches to help them. Grades 4-7

Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly five foot ten in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height―including Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something―maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw more attention to her lanky frame.

A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it―until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too―which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all. Grades 4-7

Almost a year after settling down in Oregon, Coyote embarks on a cross-country road trip with her dad to scatter her mom's ashes, but the journey takes an unexpected turn when she realizes the secret to the chosen resting place lies in a lost book. Grades 4-8

When a boy with a terrible secret moves to town there is a sudden increase in dust storms, and asthmatic Avalyn theorizes the storms are linked to his emotions and tries to help as she struggles to breathe. Grades 4-7

The last few months have been pretty tough for Eli. He moved to New York City and left his small town in Minnesota with his extended family and everyone he knows. He hasn't made any new friends. And his mom died unexpectedly, shattering his whole world. He misses Mom more and more every day, but Dad refuses to talk about her, leaving Eli alone in his grief. Then Eli finds a stash of instructional cooking videos his mom made, revealing her dream of being a celebrity chef. With the help of the cute new neighbor boy, Mathias, Eli decides to follow his mother's recipes using her videos can re-create his mom's special dishes, then maybe a part of her can stay with him forever. But what happens when the videos run out? Grades 5-8

As twelve-year-old aspiring taekwondo champion Modesty "Mo" Seto faces off against her nemesis in a movie audition, she uncovers a mysterious book and embarks on an adventure to rescue her missing father and discover hidden martial art secrets. Grades 4-7

From the author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! comes a funny and utterly charming novel about friends-how to make them, how to let go of them, and how to be your own BFF. Grades 4-7 (Lexile: 720)

Six eighth graders in Washington, DC, navigate through the conflict and division sparked by a school assignment focused on their town's Native American mascot. Grades 5-8

Thirteen-year-old Isaiah grapples with the loss of his best friend as he strives to fit into a world that expects him to toughen up, which leads him on a exploration of identity and vulnerability. (In Verse) Grades 4-8

A nonbinary middle-schooler must choose between pretending to be the girl everyone expects them to be and forging their own path forward. Grades 5-8

Quagmire Tiarello prides himself on not needing anything from anybody. Sure, his mom is skipping work again and showing signs of going into one of her full-out spins, but it's nothing he can't handle. He's used to her up-and-down moods, even if this time it feels a little different. Then his mom disappears, and Quag must find shelter with an uncle he didn't know he had. Should he come clean about his mother's mental health challenges? Or can he use his carefully honed skills to bluff long enough to find his mom and get home? Readers will root for Quag as he finds himself rethinking his world and learning to accept help from the people who love him. Grades 5-8

To Queenie, home is Peachy, the little peach-walled house she's lived in forever, all art deco and flaky paint. Always a provider of solace. But when she and her mom have to move out, suddenly one temporary move follows another, from a retirement village to a flood-prone old camper van to a shared home, sometimes with just her father's guitar under her arm and some budding lyrics in her head. Along the way, the change-resistant Queenie discovers that home isn't a place at all--it's making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, letting yourself be uncomfortable, and finding the courage to share your song with the world. Grades 5-8

When twelve-year-old Freya discovers that her town's historical hero had problematic views towards women, she advocates to replace his statue with a lesser-known suffragette. Grades 4-8

When twelve-year-old Summer visits her family on a reservation in Alberta, Canada, she begins experiencing vivid dreams of running away from a residential school like the one her grandfather attended as a child and learns about unmarked children's graves, prompting her to seek answers about her community's painful past. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 790)

When a boy with a terrible secret moves to town there is a sudden increase in dust storms, and asthmatic Avalyn theorizes the storms are linked to his emotions and tries to help as she struggles to breathe. Grades 4-7

Following her survival of a shooting during her hometown's Kickoff to Summer, thirteen-year-old Stevie grapples with PTSD but finds comfort through the stories of resilience shared by friends and strangers. Grades 5-8

Twelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul deals with change, grief, friendship, and growing up in a community facing a housing crisis. Grades 3-6

Six eighth graders in Washington, DC, navigate through the conflict and division sparked by a school assignment focused on their town's Native American mascot. Grades 5-8

Norah Day lives in temporary accommodation, relies on food banks for dinner, and doesn't have a mum. But she's happy enough with her dad and a mini zoo of rescued wildlife to care for. Adam Sinclair lives with his parents in a nice house with a private tutor and everything he could ever want. But his life isn't perfect far from it. He's stuck at home recovering from cancer with an overprotective mum and no friends. When a nest of baby birds brings them together as an animal rescue team, Adam and Norah discover they're not so different after all. Can they solve the mystery of Norah's missing mother together? And can their teamwork save their zoo of rescued animals from the rising flood? Grades 5-7

A dog walking venture helps thirteen-year-old Louis, who would rather kick back than stand out, learn how to be a friend. Grades 5-8

When biracial seventh-grader Wyatt gets upset, mysterious smoke forms around him, but as his plans to make the baseball team and fit in at school fall apart, he must confront the roots of his unusual stress reaction. Grades 5-9

Once upon a time, Millie, Nora, and Bea were best friends who loved slumber parties, exploring their Manhattan neighborhood, and making fortune tellers with their Magic Markers. Now, in the summer before seventh grade, they haven't spoken in over a year--thanks to a big fight, the pandemic shutting down their school, and each girl moving away for different reasons. The girls routinely check each other's social media, but none of them can muster the courage to reach out, even if they might want to. Then their long-ago paper fortune tellers start popping up in the most unexpected places. The fortunes carry some eerily accurate wisdom for each girl: Your future is hidden in your past. Hold on to the memories. Go back to where you started. Could this be the push the girls need to reconnect and reunite? Grades 4-7

Jack isn't happy about Coach's decision to pair him with star athlete Jay Perkins to prep him for the cross-country team. He and Jay have a history-Jay bullied Joseph, and Jack fought back. And besides, Jay doesn't want to hang out with a dumb eighth grader. As Jack begins to get the hang of running and starts to see Jay as almost a friend, the adoption hits a snag. Another couple intends to adopt Jupiter. As blood relatives, their claim is powerful. The adults in charge feel they know what's best for Jupiter, and Jack is powerless to change their decision. Jupiter's future hangs in the balance, and as he faces his own destiny, Jack will learn what love and loyalty can do. Grades 6-9

When eleven-year-old Hank's mother does not come home after a week, he and his toddler sister, Boo, seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact, even though it means social workers, a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he has been trying to keep secret. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 560)

A heartwarming tale about a girl who discovers a pair of endangered birds about to lay eggs in the marshes of her summer camp...and the secret plan she hatches to help them. Grades 4-7

Twelve-year-old Sylvia Doe keeps running away from foster homes to return to the mountains of North Carolina, until a 100-year flood, a strange boy, and a cave that is a portal to other times and places, bring her back where she truly belongs. Grades 4-7