20 Books to Hand to the 8th Graders in Your Life

When Calvin and his parents move from Chicago to the Levittown suburbs in Pennsylvania, he’s torn between leaving his culture and older brother behind in the black neighborhoods and assimilating into the all-white neighborhood. Meeting and falling for the new black girl in his town doesn’t help as he finds himself caught up in organizing to get more Black teens into his school. But things quickly turn dangerous for him and his friends as loyalties are tested across the board. The Color of the Lie is a propulsive YA coming-of-age historical fiction/thriller that examines racial passing in the 1950s.

Set in the 1940s, this debut historical verse novel delves into the lesser-known history of (prisoner-of-war) German soldiers brought to work in the United States during WWII. Claire’s brother Danny is off fighting the war while she’s working in their family’s Midwestern apple orchard, where her father has hired a bunch of POW soldiers, including one named Karl. Over time, Claire and Karl begin a tentative friendship, even as the presence of enemies in their orchard causes tensions in their community. Told from Karl and Claire’s perspective, this story, the history behind it, and the important themes it highlights will appeal to older middle schoolers ages 11 and up.

This historical mystery combines the literary prowess of author Ruta Sepetys with Steve Sheinkin’s narrative skills as we follow two siblings during WWII in England trying to find their missing mother and help the British army defeat the Nazis. With two teenage protagonists, this one straddles the line between middle grade and YA, although the content is more middle grade than YA. It is gripping, hard to put down, and brilliantly plotted. Hand to fans of fast-paced mysteries, whether or not they love historical fiction. Ages 10+

This powerhouse Western is about a boy who goes with his dad to secure land during the Oklahoma land rush in the 1880s. They run into a veteran who joins their company, and Will has to defend himself from dangers along the way. I learned so much from this moving historical account that helps readers understand that time period while touching on themes like father-son relationships, community, and bravery. Heads up for gun usage (it is a Western, after all). Ages 10+

When Anna Hunt moves from Chicago to Wisconsin for her mother’s new job, she soon realizes that something’s off about her new eighth-grade class. One student, Rachel Riley, who was once popular is now treated as a social pariah. So when their English teacher assigns them an un-essay — which is an exploration of a topic in any other format besides an essay — Anna decides to investigate the question: What happened to Rachel Riley? This is a stellar middle grade mystery about sexual harassment, creativity, and standing up for something. This book truly shines for the author’s creative yet accessible storytelling and characterization. Ages 10+

Rich kid Alice Ogilvie and her new tutor, Iris Adams, are forced to work together when one of Alice’s former besties (who stole her boyfriend) is found murdered with Alice’s ex-boyfriend as the prime suspect. As the two girls collaborate in this funny, cozy mystery, they end up finding a warm friendship with each other — and the shocking culprit. Ages 12+

I was hooked on this propulsive speculative fiction about a girl who can hear the needs of others. Sarriyah is thrown for a loop when her friend, Deja, goes missing just a few years after her best friend, Tess, went missing. This was a wild ride with lots of ups and downs and twists as Sarriyah, her best friend Malcolm, and her new love interest, Jude, try to get to the bottom of the mystery. I really enjoyed the journey of the story, even though I didn’t 100% LOVE the ending. The audiobook narrator is excellent, and this is a great pick for fans of realistic fiction with a touch of the speculative. It also tackles the epidemic of missing Black girls and the relatively less enthusiastic response they receive from the authorities. (Some language) Ages 13+

This chilling mystery about six Muslim teens caught in the wrong place at the wrong time is perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying and Promise Boys. I listened to this audiobook in one sitting. Besides examining harmful Muslim stereotypes, it also delves into racism, the faulty justice system, and the struggles most teens face when trying to form lasting friendships. Highly recommended for ages 13+ (some language). 

Step aside, COVID-19. In Shusterman’s latest offering, a new kind of virus is spreading, one that is lethal in two ways: It either kills its victims or leaves recoverees feeling an usually high level of contentment, no longer willing to engage with capitalism. Three teens’ lives are caught in the balance as the virus upturns their lives in different ways. This book is no Scythe, but it is so intriguing and propulsive like everything Shusterman writes. Ages 12+

I was skeptical (as I am of all superhero stories) of this book, especially because I thought it was more supernatural than sci-fi. But I’m happy to report that I was hooked from the very first chapter of its audiobook. Coal is a foster kid taken in by the boisterous McKay family when his foster parent has a mental breakdown. Not long after, he realizes that his skin has camouflaging abilities, essentially making him invisible. This is more than a superhero origin story with plenty of family humor (for fans of The Vanderbeekers), lots of male friendship banter, musings on the foster care system, and a heartwarming ode to Black history and culture. I can’t wait for book two, and I expect young, hesitant readers to love this if they crack open the first couple of pages. Ages 11+

Set in the year 2460, this dystopian romance follows a memory merchant and the rookie police officer set on her tail in hyper-capitalist Boston. With phenomenal worldbuilding, swoony romance, and plenty to think about in terms of valuing community and presence over capitalism, this is a fantastic pick for your dystopia (and romance) fans ages 13 and up. (Some mild language.)

Jenna Chen is tired of living in her perfect cousin Jessica’s life and when Jessica gets into Havard and Jenna doesn’t, Jenna wishes she could be Jessica. In an insane twist, she wakes up in Jessica’s body. Worse still, Jenna’s body has ceased to exist. As she begins anew in Jessica’s body, Jenna quickly realizes that the grass isn’t greener on the other side, but can she get her life back. This book is chilling, relatable, and thought-provoking. Heads up for infrequent language. Ages 12+

In Give Me a Sign, Lilah is a teen with hearing loss but who isn’t profoundly deaf. So she has always felt caught in the middle — not deaf enough to be part of the Deaf community and not fully hearing to fit in completely there either. But when she becomes a counselor at a summer camp for deaf and blind kids, her experiences (and the boy she falls in love with) change the way the views her disability. Give Me a Sign is a beautiful exploration of Deaf culture with a nostalgic summer camp setting and sweet first love. Ages 12+

Japanese-American, Kimi Nakamura is fashion-loving teen who spends her time designing and sewing bold, creative outfits. The only problem is that her mother — a graphic designer who always wanted to be an artist — expects Kimi to become a “real artist.” To her, Kimi’s designs should remain a “hobby.” Although Kimi has already been accepted to a reputable fine art college, she hasn’t told her mother that she’s dropped out of Advanced Fine Art and hasn’t painted anything all semester. When her mother finds out and is sorely disappointed, Kimi takes advantage of her estranged grandparents’ offer to visit Kyoto. I Love You So Mochi is a delightful, delicious young adult novel, perfect for anyone desperate for a trip to Japan on a page. Ages 11+

Grace is an overachiever because she feels like being smart is all she has. She doesn’t seem too good at social situations and can’t figure out fashion and styling like her friends. So she holds on to book smarts and finds worth in her grades — and in competing with her former best friend, Jonah. Their friendship exploded after his dad’s sudden illness and death. Now, it’s the end of 8th grade, and Jonah’s won the coveted top scholar spot, leaving Grace with no raison d’etre. She decides to compete in a half marathon, for which she finds out Jonah is training, so she has one last chance to beat him. She ends up learning a lot about what really matters in life. Keeping Pace is a swoony middle grade romance about battling perfectionism and overambition and balancing relationships with goals.

In this dystopian romance series, 35 girls vie for the love of a prince in a process called the selection. One of the girls, America, is sure she doesn’t want to be there because she’s reeling from a recent breakup and so she decides to befriend the prince… until her feelings start to change. But a wrench is thrown into their budding relationship when her ex becomes a palace guard. This Hunger Games meets The Bachelor tale is perfect for romance fans who like a side of action and dystopia. No language in this one, but several kissing and makeout scenes — all PG13. Ages 12+

annual camp and spend an entire night exploring together, they make a pack to return every year–but there’s a catch. They can’t contact each other throughout the year until they meet again. Florence has a degenerative eye condition, and Jude’s anxiety and his parents’ divorce aren’t letting him give his best to his art, but together, these two find their place in the world. This swoony, gorgeously written romance is written in dialogue and verse and is absolutely stunning on audio. One of my favorite YA books in 2024! Ages 13+ (some language).

When her mom has to take a sudden trip, 15-year-old Almudena is forced to spend the summer in New York with her Guatemalan father, who barely speaks any English. There, she gets thrown into a community with secrets, tension, humor, love, and Latino culture. This book has such a unique plot, and I loved the father-daughter relationship and the reason behind the brownstone’s existence. The illustrations are beautiful, and this book provides plenty of discourse about cultural identity and parental separation. There is infrequent profanity, so this is good for ages 13+

When Annick’s grandmother falls ill with leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant, it’s the impetus she needs to start digging around to learn more about her grandmother’s history as an adopted Jewish girl in Amsterdam during the Nazi regime. Alternating between timelines, we follow a young woman and resistance fighter in 1930s Germany and her work to protect Jewish children. How do both lives intersect, and will Annick beat the clock to find living family members of her grandmother’s before it’s too late? This poignant, well-researched, text-heavy graphic novel has all the answers. It’s also an artistic masterpiece featuring illustrations juxtaposed on real photographs from the Nazi regime in the Netherlands and extensive backmatter about the real people who inspired the story. An absolute marvel. Ages 13+

The art in this book is phenomenal, and it is also a sweet YA romance featuring Val, a girl who feels like she’s destined for constant heartbreak. I appreciated the plot, but it’s on the longer side and has fantastical elements for which this author is well known. Readers who love romance and a touch of fantasy will adore this one. No sexual content and zero language. It also sensitively tackles several important themes (parental abandonment, identity, and alcoholism). Ages 11+