Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

James Patterson’s debut middle-grade novel delivers humor, relatable struggles, and lively illustrations by Chris Tebbetts that keep students engaged. Rafe Khatchadorian has a plan to make middle school unforgettable: break every rule in the school’s Code of Conduct. At first, his rebellious game makes him a legend, but soon the consequences catch up with him. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is perfect for sparking conversations about growing up and navigating challenges in and out of school.

The Lost Library

Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

When a mysterious little free library appears in the town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan takes home a pair of old books that change everything. With his best friend Rafe, he uncovers secrets tied to the town’s past—secrets that the adults seem determined to keep hidden. Told through the voices of Evan, a ghost librarian named Al, and a cat named Mortimer, this novel blends mystery, humor, and heart into an unforgettable story for young readers.

When Stars Are Scattered

Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

Based on a true story, this moving graphic novel combines heartbreaking reality with humor and hope, capturing the resilience of childhood in the most difficult of circumstances. Omar and his nonverbal brother Hassan have spent nearly their entire lives in a Kenyan refugee camp, where opportunities are limited. When Omar is given the chance to attend school, he must weigh the promise of a better future against the guilt of leaving his vulnerable brother behind each day. When Stars Are Scattered is an excellent choice for engaging students in conversations about perseverance, family, and global issues.

The Bletchley Riddle

Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

In the summer of 1940, siblings Jakob and Lizzie Novis are pulled into one of the greatest secrets of World War II: the codebreaking mission at Britain’s Bletchley Park. While Jakob works alongside brilliant minds to unravel the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, Lizzie takes on her own investigation into their mother’s disappearance. As danger looms and cryptic clues pile up, the pair must work together to solve a puzzle that could alter everything they know. This gripping historical adventure blends mystery, espionage, and family bonds, making it an engaging choice for classroom libraries and independent reading.

Uglies

Scott Westerfeld

With its fast-paced story and themes of individuality and societal control, Uglies is a standout YA dystopian novel for the classroom. On her sixteenth birthday, Tally will finally get the surgery that will transform her into a flawless “Pretty.” Life as a Pretty promises carefree fun, and Tally can’t wait to join in. But when her friend Shay rejects the operation and disappears, Tally is forced to confront the darker truth behind her society’s obsession with perfection.

The Glass Girl

Kathleen Glasgow

Appropriate for high school readers, The Glass Girl is a raw, compassionate story about addiction, resilience, and the search for healing. Fifteen-year-old Bella feels crushed by the demands of everyone around her, and the only escape she knows is drinking. What begins as a way to numb the pressure soon spirals into blackout nights and a hospital visit that forces her to confront the truth: She needs help. Sent to rehab, Bella faces the painful process of recovery and the challenge of learning who she is without alcohol.

Saints of the Household

Ari Tison

Told through alternating perspectives, vignettes, and poems, Saints of the Household examines brotherhood, survival, and the long road to healing. Bribri American brothers Max and Jay have survived by relying on each other while living under the shadow of their abusive father. But when they step in to protect a classmate and end up violently injuring their school’s star athlete, their lives and dreams are suddenly at risk. With its layered themes and innovative style, this novel offers rich opportunities for classroom discussion and literary analysis.

Everything We Never Had

Randy Ribay

Spanning four generations, this APALA Award-winning novel traces the lives of Filipino American boys as they wrestle with family expectations, cultural identity, and the complicated ties between fathers and sons. From Francisco’s struggles in 1930s California fields to Enzo’s battles with anxiety during the 2020 pandemic, each generation carries forward the weight of the last. Told in multiple perspectives, Everything We Never Had explores themes of belonging, masculinity, and legacy with rare depth.

Monday’s Not Coming

Tiffany D. Jackson

When Claudia’s best friend, Monday, doesn’t show up for school, no one seems to notice—or care. As days turn into weeks, Claudia grows desperate for answers, but Monday’s family won’t tell her the truth. Determined to uncover what really occurred, Claudia finds herself unraveling a disturbing mystery in which silence speaks louder than words. Raw, suspenseful, and deeply emotional, Monday’s Not Coming explores friendship, neglect, and the ways communities fail vulnerable children. It’s a compelling choice for classroom discussion on justice, empathy, and the power of speaking out.

Braiding Sweetgrass

Robin Wall Kimmerer

Blending scientific knowledge with Indigenous wisdom, Robin Wall Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, invites readers to see the natural world as teacher, healer, and guide. In Braiding Sweetgrass, she reflects on the lessons plants and animals offer us while calling for a deeper ecological consciousness rooted in reciprocity with the earth. Both poetic and practical, this celebrated work is an essential text for classrooms exploring environmental literature, Indigenous perspectives, or sustainability.