ABENDANON, Lucille. The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree. Jolly Fish. ISBN 9781631638206.
Gr 5 Up–It’s 1942 in the Dutch East Indies when the Japanese invade. Ten-year-old Emmy and her father are taken to separate prisoner-of-war camps where food is scarce and discerning whom to trust can mean life or death. A gripping novel about resourcefulness, friendship, and forgiveness during World War II.

CHOLDENKO, Gennifer. The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman. Knopf. ISBN 9781524718923.
Gr 5 Up–Eleven-year-old Hank Hooperman and his little sister, Boo, have been left alone at home for several days without knowing where their mother is or if she will return. An outstanding book about the ingenuity and persistence of a big brother in the name of love.

GIDWITZ, Adam. Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II. Dutton. ISBN 9780593112083.
Gr 3-7–A Jewish boy is separated from his parents in Berlin on the brink of WWII, and his only way home is to train as a British spy—with the help of two raucous, fantastical creatures. Gidwitz combines humor, heart, intrigue, and action in this novel that is guaranteed to enthrall readers across genres.

GOW, Robin. Gooseberry. Abrams/Amulet. ISBN 9781419764424.
Gr 5 Up–After a disastrous prior foster placement, nonbinary tween B finally finds safety with a queer couple. Bringing rowdy, reactive dog Gooseberry into the mix shakes things up for the new family. This compelling novel beautifully explores belonging, queerness, neurodivergence, and compassion.

HARDINGE, Frances. Island of Whispers. illus. by Emily Gravett. Abrams. ISBN 9781419774331.
Gr 3 Up–In Merlank, the dead must be ferried to the Island of the Broken Tower to move on. Milo’s father is the Ferryman. When he is killed, young Milo must take over his precise and dangerous job. This modern fairy tale, gorgeously illustrated, teaches the importance of letting go.

HEADEN, Sandra W. Warrior on the Mound. Holiday House. ISBN 9780823453788.
Gr 5 Up–Cato, aspiring to play in the Negro Baseball Leagues, has the odds stacked against him. For one, Jim Crow laws prevent his team from playing on the field built for the white boys. Tackling themes of bullying, segregation, strength, and forgiveness, this is a key read centering sports and American history.

HUNTOON, Caroline. Linus and Etta Could Use a Win. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 9781250897466.
Gr 3-7–Trans boy Linus just wants to start over and blend in at his new school. He befriends cynical goth Etta, but then a bet and a student council bid put the friendship at risk. Readers will root for this charismatic, witty duo to find happiness with themselves and each other.

LAPERA, Anna. Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice. Levine Querido. ISBN 9781646143719.
Gr 5 Up–Mani Semilla feels stuck in her tweenhood with overprotective parents until a discovery about her Guatemalan family’s history of activism inspires her to take a stand at school. Candid discussions of periods, anatomy, accountability, and bodily autonomy set this novel apart as a stellar, pitch-perfect offering.

LAROCCA, Rajani. Sona and the Golden Beasts. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. ISBN 9780063295407.
Gr 4-Up–When Sona rescues a wolf pup with golden ears, she suspects it is related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia. Protecting it means danger, but Sona knows the risks are worthwhile. Expert worldbuilding woven with masterful storytelling make this a worthy fantasy for kids and adults.

LEAHY, Elisa Stone. Mallory in Full Color. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. ISBN 9780063255531.
Gr 4-7–Mallory’s web comic is popular in her online community, but in her efforts to please everyone, she keeps it a secret while balancing competing demands as a daughter, sister, athlete, and friend. This relatable look at her struggles provides a fresh perspective on acceptance and identity.

LEE-YUN, Jenna. The Last Rhee Witch. Disney-Hyperion. ISBN 9781368099073.
Gr 4 Up–When Ronnie, who puts her faith in science and not the supernatural, goes to camp and begins to see a ghostly gwishin, her summer takes a strange and dangerous turn. This perfectly spooky novel, inspired by Korean folklore, expertly deals with changing friendships, cultural struggles, and family secrets.

MARSH, Katherine. Medusa. HarperCollins/Clarion. ISBN 9780063303744.
Gr 4-7–Twelve-year-old Ava gets mad at a classmate, and suddenly he’s frozen solid. She is sent to an academy for the descendants of Greek monsters, where she learns more about her lineage—and the school’s secrets. This rollicking fantasy tackles the familiar theme of mythology with a refreshing feminist twist.

MELLEBY, Nicole. Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine. Algonquin. ISBN 9781643753133.
Gr 4 Up–Summer with Grandma means Winnie stays closeted while her mother focuses on her pregnancy following several miscarriages and bouts of depression. This tender novel takes a much-needed look at young people hiding pieces of themselves to serve others, and the damage that occurs when they can’t be authentically themselves.

MILLINGTON, Allie. Olivetti. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 9781250326935.
Gr 4-7–When Beatrice goes missing, her reticent son Ernest finds an unlikely ally: his mother’s bold, opinionated typewriter. Olivetti has stories to tell, stories that the family needs to grapple with in order to find Ernest’s mother. Full of compassion and heart, this unique book is a feat of storytelling.

MORRISON, Laurie. Keeping Pace. Abrams. ISBN 9781419768750.
Gr 5 Up–Grace is singularly focused on academics, running, and more, until her ambition gets in the way of family, friendships, and romantic interests, requiring her to redefine success. A knockout upper middle grade novel featuring an uber-competitive young teen trying to find her identity apart from “being the best.”

NESS, Patrick. Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody. illus. by Tim Miller. Candlewick/Walker. ISBN 9781536235937.
Gr 4-7–Monitor lizard Zeke is shocked when he gets on the wrong side of a school bully who happens to be a supervillain’s son. Zeke already feels powerless at home, so how can he face down this new threat? This is a truly weird, truly wonderful story about resilience and inner strength.

QUIGLEY, Dawn. Red Bird Danced. HarperCollins/Heartdrum. ISBN 9780063223622.
Gr 4-7–Ojibwe tween Ariel’s relationship to dance hasn’t been the same since her aunt went missing. Meanwhile, her neighbor Tomah uses storytelling to cover up his struggles at school. This middle grade verse debut is a resonant tale of intergenerational connection, the MMIW crisis, and rediscovering oneself through artistic expression.

REINTGEN, Scott. The Last Dragon on Mars. S. & S./Aladdin. ISBN 9781665946513.
Gr 5 Up–Mars is dying, and Lunar knows that the people stuck there are doomed. When he stumbles across a secret military base, he learns two things: there is a dragon on Mars, and the dragon has chosen him. With its engrossing plot, this is a shining example of middle grade sci-fi.

SAFADI, Shifa Saltagi. Kareem Between. Putnam. ISBN 9780593699263.
Gr 4-7–Navigating life as a Syrian American kid has Kareem balancing family, friendship, and football amid the 2016 executive order known as the “Muslim Ban.” This stunning verse novel will resonate with readers as a coming-of-age story of identity, growth, standing up for what’s right, and boyhood.

SALAZAR, Aida. Ultraviolet. Scholastic. ISBN 9781338775655.
Gr 5 Up–Eighth grader Elio is dating for the first time, and now emotions like love, jealousy, heartbreak, and betrayal are showing up in ultraviolet colors. This novel in verse highlights the struggles teens experience when grappling with self-identity and fitting into the mold of others’ expectations.

SCHU, John. Louder Than Hunger. Candlewick. ISBN 9781536229097.
Gr 5 Up–Bullied and lonely, 13-year-old Jake is fighting an anorexia-inducing voice inside his head that sends him to the hospital for a yearlong recovery period. An impactful novel in verse for tweens and teens about self-doubt, social challenges, and eating disorders.

TRACY, Taylor. Murray Out of Water. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. ISBN 9780063326811.
Gr 4-7–When a hurricane forces Murray and her strict family to seek refuge, she finally gets to explore her authentic, gender nonconforming self, though she is homesick for the ocean, which she believes gives her a sense of power. This poignant novel in verse will lead readers on an emotional journey of acceptance.

WARGA, Jasmine. A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall. HarperCollins. ISBN 978006 2956705.
Gr 3-8–When a painting is stolen, Rami starts to see the ghost of the girl in the artwork, Blue, and embarks on a journey to solve the mystery of the theft and discover Blue’s identity. This quirky mystery with impeccably developed characters will delight readers of all ages.

WENDELL, Mindy Nichols. Light and Air. Holiday House. ISBN 9780823454433.
Gr 4 Up–Halle and her mother live in a sanitorium after falling ill with tuberculosis, allowing Halle a break from her angry and distant father. This beautiful story, set in 1935, underscores parental struggles as well as the power of community and the risks worth taking to save the ones we love.

WILLIAMS, Alicia D. Mid-Air. illus. by Danica Novgorodoff. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy. ISBN 9781481465830.
Gr 4-7–A devastating accident takes the life of Isaiah’s best friend, forcing him to confront his relationships with his remaining friends, his family, and with himself. Complemented by watercolor illustrations, this compelling novel in verse is a reminder to always be true to yourself, even during the hardest of times.

WINSTON, Sherry. Shark Teeth. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781547608508.
Gr 5 Up–Kita lives in constant fear that she and her siblings will be sent back to foster care. When things start to truly fall apart, she learns that getting help might be the only way to fix them. A riveting story that masterfully handles heavy topics, this is a must-read.