Great New Middle Grade Books!

Told in four voices, this beautiful book shows how four kids living very different lives find points of connection through a single act of kindness. I loved how nuanced each of the characters are, each with their own struggles, unique family situations, and coping mechanisms. I know this book will resonate with all kinds of readers.

This touching novel-in-verse centers around Reha, the only Indian American student in her school. At home, she is surrounded by family and their traditions as well as her parent’s strict expectations. In particular, Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma, although their names are linked—Reha means “star” and Punam means “moon”—but they are a universe apart. Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick, and Reha is determined to make her Amma well again.

When Jenna gets dumped by her boyfriend halfway through seventh grade, she is determined to move forward without boys. She is going to study and work for a coveted newspaper scholarship. But it’s hard to stay cool when so much is going wrong. Her ex is vying for the same scholarship and her best friend is too busy with her own boyfriend, so Jenna starts going to a Broadway-themed diner after school to drown her troubles in milkshakes. There she meets a mysterious boy, who might be more interesting than she first thought!

This is a story about standing up and believing in your truth. When Junie Kim sees racist graffiti at her middle school, she needs to make a decision about whether to ignore it or speak up. Then her history teacher assigns an oral history project, and Junie learns more about her grandparents and their experiences as children living through the Korean War. Through those stories, Junie finds the strength to do what she needs to do at school.

I am a huge fan of Reem Faruqi’s picture book, Lailah’s Lunchbox, so I was very excited to see this book come across my desk. Unsettled is a beautiful novel-in-verse that spans two countries: Pakistan and Georgia. When Nurah’s family moves to Peachtree City from Karachi, she stands out in every way from her brightly colored clothes and accent. But where she most wants to stand out is in the swimming pool, where she wants to win medals like her brother.