Wonderful Middle Grade and Teen Books for 7th Graders

Kaylani is spending the summer in Martha’s Vineyard with the Watson family — family friends — after her dad is imprisoned for fraud. But when Kaylani arrives, the Watson grandkids, especially her agemate London, are snooty and unwelcoming. Things get worse when a boy is murdered just two nights after. All eyes are on Cassie because of her history with Chadwick, but it’s not long before Kaylani and her band of new friends uncover the sinister mystery behind Chadwick’s death. I LOVED this book and couldn’t stop reading it once I started. I would totally return to Martha’s Vineyard with Kaylani and her crew. An absolute homerun of a story for kids who love murder mysteries. Ages 10+

Max and his community are reeling from a night out gone wrong. Max and his friends, Joey and Will, went out with two older boys, but Will ended up unconscious and in a coma, and Joey won’t speak to Max anymore. Max also has ADHD and is over six feet tall at 11, which means he stands out in his class. Frustrated that he can’t figure out what happened to Will, Max teams up with an inquisitive classmate, but the truths he unravels aren’t pretty. Can Max get to the bottom of this mystery? A Perfect Mistake is a pitch-perfect middle grade mystery about honesty, peer pressure, and standing up for what’s right. Ages 10+

This is an edgy mystery about four Black kids working to find one missing grandfather and the loot that their ancestor died for a century ago. Think of it The Parker Inheritance meets The Inheritance Games with lots of clues and puzzles that readers can solve as they go. Fast-paced, chock-full of resonant Black history, and full of high-stakes chases, this book is perfect for middle schoolers seeking mysteries with more substance. It does end on a huge cliffhanger, hopefully to be resolved in the next books in the series. Truly a lot of fun. Ages 10+

When Megumi Mizuno is sent to Leland Chase Academy (aka Last Chance Academy), she’s not expecting to make new friends or fall into a scavenger hunt. She’s hurting from the grief of losing her mother and feeling distanced from her workaholic father. But when silver envelopes start arriving at her (and other students’) dorm room, they’re all eager to win the coveted prize. I really enjoyed this story! It’s no murder mystery, but you really connect with the characters, becoming invested in who wins the prize. There are also so many questions about who the hunt’s mastermind is, what secrets other kids are hiding, and whether Meg will make the right decisions about her friendships and stay out of trouble. I’ll be on the lookout for future books in the series as this first one leaves off on a cliffhanger! Ages 9+

Evan Bright has a secret: She’s the illegitimate child of the reigning British monarch. After 17 years of boarding school hopping, she’s forced to spend her last months as a minor with her father in England to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, when a boy who tries to assault her is found dead hours later, it seems like trouble follows her everywhere. Stuck in a country where everyone seems to dislike her and unsure who to trust, Evan must track down the real killer in this royal mystery. Heads up for infrequent mild profanity and sexual harassment. Ages 12+

Kyra’s mother is a sober alcoholic trying to stay on the straight and narrow, and she has a great friendship with Lu, even though she doesn’t have many other friends. But in the 7th grade, everything starts to change. Lu starts to make new friends and splits her time between both friend groups, eventually asking Kyra to join them sometimes. Kyra is also getting bullied for being bigger than most other 13-year-olds. Kyra is a great cook and finds solace in cooking at home and helping her mom with her cleaning jobs, until her mom starts acting strangely, and Kyra begins to suspect that she’s fallen off the sober wagon. How can Kyra stay afloat when her world seems to be crumbling? Kyra, Just for Today is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about living with an alcoholic parent and figuring out life’s ups and downs as a tween. Ages 10+

13-year-old Kass is new to a Catholic private school where she’s on the dive team. She’s left behind her best friend Aleah, with whom she’s struggling to stay in touch, and feels a bit lost in the social circles of her new school, where dive queen Amber reigns supreme. Then Kass meets Miles. Miles is a teen dropout whom Kass encounters dumpster diving outside her school. The two begin a tentative friendship as Miles shares his philosophy about dumpster diving while giving her peeks into the turmoil of his life, his veteran dad, who has PTSD and memory issues, his absentee mother, and their financial dire straits. As Kass’s eyes are opened to the world in a different way, her own life begins to undergo small shifts, until one event changes her and Miles’ relationship forever. I read this is one huge gulp. It’s so poignant and filled with longing. This book will get tweens thinking and talking about right and wrong, family, friendship, sports, ambition, social classes, and the consequences of their actions. I adored it and think it is the perfect upper middle grade book for fans of Morrison’s Up for Air and Choldenko’s The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman. Ages 11+

Incredibly emotive and authentic writing from Saadia Faruqi in this book about a teenage boy whose father is living with schizophrenia. Mo’s mother is serving a UNESCO mission and has left Mo and his dad to move in with Mo’s aunt and her son. Mo quickly bonds with Rayyan, his cousin, and becomes his defender against a bully, Frankie. But as Mo’s father’s episodes worsen, he realizes the need to rely on others, allow his heart to be vulnerable, and find a way to love his father, even though he seems monstrous at times. This book is just phenomenal. I’ve followed Faruqi’s writing over the years, and this is her best work yet. Mo is realistically drawn with a distinct voice. He is angsty and tries so hard to seem tough, but readers will easily see through that tough exterior. The voice reminds me a lot of Jason Reynolds’ Ghost, and the focus on mental illness is much-needed, so honest and utterly moving. Ages 10+

Fern and her mother have been living on The Ranch under the thumb of a charismatic leader named Dr. Ben. One day, Fern’s mom sneaks herself and Fern across the country from NY to CA, where they live in a motel in her mother’s teenage neighborhood. Although it quickly becomes obvious to readers that Fern and her mom have escaped a cult, Fern is confused, misses the stability of living a regimented life, and worries about returning to the unstable lifestyle she and her mother had before The Ranch. As a result, she starts plotting — unbeknownst to her mother — to return to The Ranch. The Wrong Way Home is an unforgettable, propulsive story of a girl learning to trust her inner voice. Ages 10+

In Genesis Begins Again, thirteen-year-old Genesis grapples with intense self-hate worsened by her father’s verbal abuse and her grandmother’s backward ideologies about skin color. Readers first meet Genesis when she brings her “friends” home for the first time. In an embarrassing turn of events, they arrive to meet all her belongings in the street. The landlord has put Genesis’s family out because her gambling, alcoholic father defaulted on the rent, again. Things seem to look up for their family when they move into a posh neighborhood. Genesis makes new friends, joins the school choir, and even gets a helpful math tutor. Yet, her self-hate follows her. Genesis Begins Again is a remarkable middle-grade debut with a strong message about colorism, self-love, and the power of music. Ages 10+

When Sri Lankan 8th grader Ajay discovers that the chocolate bar he was pressured into stealing bears a million-dollar prize, he’s in an ethical dilemma. As he tries to find his way around the problem, Ajay finds himself entangled in a stressful yet often hilarious web of lies between his strict immigrant parents, his precocious little sister, and his best friend, whom he kind of likes, Mindy. No Purchase Necessary is a warmhearted coming-of-age story about figuring out who you want to be and standing up for what’s right. Ages 9+

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+

This YA novel is set in a dystopian world where every part of the earth is living with frigid temperatures except for Snowglobe–akin to The Capitol in The Hunger Games. While residents of all the other settlements work hard to generate resources for Snowglobe, its inhabitants live life under the camera lens, their lives fodder for reality TV and controlled by prestigious directors. When the star of one of the most popular shows dies, another girl outside Snowglobe who resembles her eerily is recruited to take her place, opening a can of worms about the unethical misuse of power in Snowglobe. Snowglobe is a twisty dystopian thriller for fans of The Hunger Games series, expertly combining elements of thriller, dystopian fiction, and a mystery subplot while also exploring themes of privacy, ethics, and reality television. Ages 12+

This dystopian YA book is at once chilling, thought-provoking, and compulsively readable. Set in a world where humans have conquered sickness, death, and all threats to life but now have appointed scythes to manage the population by gleaning humans periodically, this book follows two unwilling teens selected as apprentice scythes and their journey to attaining the position — or will they? Ages 12+

In a world where DNA determines your future, being born a “Natural” means being relegated to the dangerous Outskirts—a life with minimal opportunity.  Lee Urban, born a Natural but adopted into a wealthy Enhanced family, must hide her true identity, especially when she’s accepted into the elite Peking University. Enhanced dives headfirst into a not-so-distant future world where gene editing creates a super-human class—if you can afford it. Ages 12+

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. Ages 10+

Theater nerd Riley Morris is in hot water. Her parents found out that she drove her friend to her concert (without a driver’s permit), and now she’s grounded and forced to work at her father’s game store. During an uncomfortable encounter with her ex, she gets caught up in proving that she’s moved on and claims to be dating her schoolmate and one of her dad’s employees, Nathan. Both teens make a fake dating plan to help them reach their own goals, but along the way, as they support each other’s interests and spend time together, real feelings begin to develop. Dungeons and Drama is a gratifying fake dating romance that blends gaming with theater for young teens. Ages 12+

Lia and Beckett come from rival families in the magic (performance magic, not fantastical) industry, so when her grandmother disappears and asks Lia to compete in a contest with the men in Beckett’s family, the two are forced to come face to face–and soon sparks begin to fly. I love how this book explores a unique subject—magic tricks—and the relationship that develops between Lia and Beckett throughout the story. This is perfect for fans of slow-burn romances, love stories with plenty of family drama, and a serious side of humor. Ages 12+

This adorable follow-up to Miller’s Not If You Break Up with Me First is heavier on the swoon and lighter on the (still present) comedic element and perfect for fans of friends-to-lovers romances and stories about finding home and family through romance. Holden is known for being a certified bad boy — just ask the legion of girls he’s dated for anything from 3 days to two weeks. Sofia is a goody-two-shoes girl who just wants her crush, Mark Chen, to notice her. When Sofia enlists Holden’s help to give her a glow up, the two develop a sweet, healing, and affirming friendship that leads them to finding confidence, community, and the courage to be vulnerable. I ADORED this one! Ages 10+

Ingrid is most comfortable with online interactions, posting on her website, and gaming with her long-distance bestie, whom she met online. When a new kid moves into her neighborhood, and her only in-person friendship crumbles, Ingrid is relieved to add a new friend and maybe a crush to her list of online friends. But things take a romantic and surprising turn as she learns to stand up for herself. This book is warm, cozy, sweet, and romantic. I also love that it’s told partly in text messages and truly captures the upper middle schooler vibe as Ingrid and her friends are 8th graders. Hand to readers ages 10+ who can’t get enough of a good romance.

12-year-old Jolene has a tough life. Her mom is misusing opioids and can barely care for her. She’s mocked at school for wearing too-small clothing and looking haggard. Jolene’s only bright spot is a tween pilot she watches via livestream at the library, “Addie Earhart.” Addie and Jolene gradually form a warm friendship and encourage each other through life’s hardships. But one day during the livestream, Addie crashes her plane. No one but Jolene is watching the stream, and Addie’s mom doesn’t know she even flies planes. It’s up to Jolene to save her, but she’s a kid with no money — and Addie’s is stuck miles away in the Arizona desert. How will Jolene make it work? Across the Desert is a heart-pounding middle grade novel about self-worth, friendships, and the struggle of a parent with addiction. Ages 10+

Jo (aka Josephine, named after Jo March) is still reeling from her parents’ divorce and her father’s decision to leave them for his girlfriend and her family. To prove that she and her mom can handle life without him, Jo and her mom embark on a 100+ mile hike along Lake Superior to the Lutsen Gondola, carrying their backpacks, dehydrated food, tents, and a book (for Jo). As the two weather hilly terrain, minor injuries, wild animals, new friendships, disappointments, and adverse weather, they learn to find their inner strength to move on and to forgive Tim, Jo’s father. Just Keep Walking is a triumphant celebration of adventure, perseverance, and the healing power of the outdoors. Ages 9+

Charlie Thorne is a genius tween recruited by the CIA to help stop a terrorist group from accessing a potentially destructive equation by Albert Einstein. Full of globetrotting, high suspense and spy hijinks, it’s fabulous on audio and great for mature 5th graders and middle schoolers. Ages 9+

The Lockwood brothers are supposed to be able to survive anything. Their dad, a hardcore believer in self-reliance, has stockpiled enough food and water at their isolated Nevada home to last for months. But when they are robbed of all their supplies during a massive blackout while their dad is out of town, John and Stew must walk 96 miles in the stark desert sun to get help. Along the way, they’re forced to question their dad’s insistence on self-reliance and ask just what it is that we owe to our neighbors, our kin, and to ourselves. Ages 10+

Opal is a fourth-generation lookout with a huge secret: She’s terrified of fire. After all, it took her father’s life when she was much younger. Opal wants to move to the nearest town for 7th grade, but her mother and grandmother want her to learn about being a lookout. When her mom is stuck in town during a shopping trip after the trails are washed out and Opal’s grandmother goes missing just as a fire is starting, it’s up to Opal to find her grandmother and fight the flames–and her fear. This verse novel had a bit of a slow start, but the story picks up pace once Opal is out looking for her grandmother and fire-fighting; the action-packed scenes are absolutely riveting. I loved learning about the lives of lookout families and the important work they do in forests. Hand to fans of Alone and Hatchet (which Opal reads in this story) who love the additional thrill of firefighting. Ages 9+

This powerhouse Western is about a boy who accompanies his father to secure land during the Oklahoma Land Rush in the 1880s. They encounter a veteran who joins their company, and Will must defend himself against 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+

Elsbeth Culpepper is a house servant in 1776 Boston when the Patriots start to gain an advantage over the British. Her boss is a British loyalist and flees to Britain, leaving her in his home, even as her own father goes missing. Soon, the Pike family, their rambunctious children, a teen girl in their care, and their mean-spirited housekeeper move into the house. As the Revolutionary War continues, a smallpox epidemic begins to rage, throwing Elsbeth’s life into disarray. This is a very slice-of-life story buoyed by a strong protagonist, a thread of mystery, the hijinks of a large family, and the historical background. I loved that this book is set in the 1700s because there’s a real gap in the market, and I became increasingly invested in Elsbeth as the story progressed. Still, this book is more “coming-of-age in the time of smallpox” than it is a “Revolutionary War story,” and it is over 400 pages, so it is probably best for stronger upper middle school readers with a special fondness for historical fiction. Ages 10+

I LOVED this verse novel told from the perspective of young Lettie, her mother Sylvie, and a teenage teacher, Philomena, about their perilous journey from 1870s Mississippi to Nebraska during the Great Migration. With narrators of varying ages, this suspenseful, at times heartbreaking story has plenty to offer readers between the ages of 9 and 13 and would make a great readaloud for families with older kids.

Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are three kids living in the 1940s, 1990s, and 2015, respectively. They are also all refugees trying to escape their homes in search of a better life. Josef is a Jew fleeing Germany with his family, Isabel is leaving Cuba via boat to Miami, and Mahmoud and his family are fleeing Syria amidst the civil unrest. Their stories will intersect through the years, and this book sheds light on the heartbreaking global refugee crisis and all the ways history continues to repeat itself. Ages 10+

Everyone in her tight-knit Sudanese-American community thinks Samira is a bad girl, and they don’t hesitate to tell her mother. So when Samira is grounded after a particularly upsetting discovery, she turns to a poetry forum to pass the time. There, she meets a charismatic spoken word poet, Horus, who tells her how beautiful she and her poetry are. But there’s more to him than meets the eye. This story is a gripping and gorgeously written cautionary tale for teens and parents alike, exploring the dangers of grooming, the importance of trusting your children, and the power of healthy friendships. I loved every minute of it and will be reading everything this author writes. Heads up for a brief sexual assault scene that is PG-13. Ages 12+

Raj and Iqbal are two best friends, one Hindu and one Muslim, who lived in Singh just before India’s partition. After the country’s independence, Raj and his family are forced to flee, encountering many hardships along the way as they struggle to resettle in Bombay. Raj is not great at math and prefers to be in the kitchen (the place of the women, according to his father), much to his father’s chagrin. But that love for food ends up saving them as his mom starts using food as a source of income. There’s plenty of sibling strife as Raj feels far from his older brother and, at times, jealous of his little sister Maya, who goes missing during the partition. While The Night Diary is more introspective, this book truly digs deep into what really happened to families during this time of grand migration and is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about that time period. It is unflinching, beautifully written, and doesn’t shy away from hard events. Ages 10+

This is an incredible (mostly) verse novel about a boy who vandalizes a gravestone of a 46er Adirondack woman and is tasked with hiking all 46 peaks as reparations. I read this one from start to finish in a single day, and I loved the multiple formats — written in posters, pictures, text messages, letters, recipes, and yes, verse. Finn is angry a lot, and the hike introduces him to people who knew his dad and a slobbering dog, Seymour. This one combines adventure, heart, mystery, suspense, and flashbacks in a beautifully crafted narrative. It’s just really clever, has a strong kid appeal, and is full of emotional depth. Ages 10+

Alone follows 12-year-old Maddie, who gets abandoned by some twist of fate when her entire town is mysteriously evacuated. Left alone with no human in sight, she bonds with a Rottweiler named George, who is one of many abandoned pets. Soon after, they lose power and then water, and Maddie has to fend for herself using a variety of ingenious means and the town resources at her disposal, including an empty library, grocery store, and neighbors’ homes. This is a well-written middle-grade survival novel with a tenacious protagonist and engaging plot. Ages 10+

A First Time for Everything is Dan Santat’s new graphic memoir about his school trip to Europe at the end of middle school. Middle school Dan is shy and socially awkward. He spends most of his time helping his mom, who has Lupus, and gets teased a bit by some girls in his grade. Thankfully, his parents are determined that he see the world, and they support his European trip. As they visit Germany, France, Switzerland, and England, Dan is swept up in many, many firsts, making for a life-changing trip. A First Time for Everything is a stellar, relatable graphic novel about growing up, wading through the awkward tween years, and finding one’s voice. Ages 10+

This book is all about Lucy, a new 7th grader at the Windley School of the Arts (Band Track). She plays the flute and was first chair throughout the past year at her former school, so she’s in for a shock when she meets Tolli, a snobby fellow 7th grader who seems better at flute than she is–and very possessive about her best friend. But Lucy has bigger problems. Her dad is a raging alcoholic, and her parents are always fighting. Lucy feels that if she becomes first chair, things will go back to normal; her parents will be proud of her, and they’ll finally stop fighting. So she focuses desperately on reaching this goal, with some disappointing results. This is an intense look at the impact of parental alcoholism. This story is starkly realistic about the rollercoaster that is addiction recovery and how it can affect the children of the substance abuser. I loved the storytelling and the suspense throughout this PLOTTY graphic novel. I loved seeing Lucy make some questionable choices, her friend group, and the three-dimensional characters dealing with their own personal stuff throughout this book. A solid debut with a very moving Author’s Note at the end. Ages 11+

Galen’s life is turned upside down when his parents split up after his father’s affair is revealed. Struggling to make sense of his new normal with his dad and his new girlfriend and eventually his mom and her new boyfriend (who also has a daughter!), Galen turns to filmmaking to find out how things turned out the way they are. Add to that a former best friend turned meanie and Galen can’t seem to get the hang of real life anymore. This graphic novel feels super realistic and I can easily see so many kids being in Galen’s position. Hand to kids navigating divorce, separation, blended families, and changing friendships. I can see this one engendering a love for filmmaking. Was it my favorite book ever? No, but it’s super readable and moving and my instincts tell me that kids will like it. Good for fans of Starmer’s A Million Views. Ages 9+

This is a semi-autobiographical story of Lia, who moves from Romania to Canada just as she’s getting her first (very painful) period. It seems to be the first in a series about Lia. In Montreal, she struggles initially at her French immersion school. I love the progression as she begins to understand more and more French. This is a great choice if you’re looking for a slice-of-life graphic novel that tackles periods and puberty, features crushes, and explores the struggles and triumphs of immigration. Readers discover that a girl crushes on another girl in this story, but doesn’t reveal it. Ages 9+

Twins Dex and Phoebe Bae are dealing with their father’s death in different ways. Dex pretends that all is well, expending energy in his pranks and taking little seriously, while intense Phoebe channels all her energy in winning ice skating tournaments to make her dad proud. But when Dex is kicked off his hockey team and becomes Phoebe’s ice skating partner after her partner is injured, they both get to see each other in a different light. This book is so funny, sweet, and heartwarming. Yes, grief is lightly sprinkled in there, but there are more jokes, family bonding, and high-action sports moments than anything else. I love that this story is told from both siblings’ perspectives, allowing readers to leave the story feeling like they know each character in and out. Ages 9+

Eighth-grader Leta Laurel is the 400m dash star of her track team. It’s the one place she can count on winning, especially now that her father has left her and her mom and sister and money is so tight they have to eat school lunch. So when a new girl with a reputation for the same race and a last name like “Dash,” Leta is threatened. I LOVED this story. R.L. Toalson just has a way with words and that upper middle grade angsty voice that is relatable and flawed. This story is about sisterhood, sportsmanship, girl power, accepting and valuing the family you do have, and never giving up. It also has one of my favorite grandparent-grandchild relationships I’ve read in a while. I practically inhaled it in one sitting! Ages 9+

When Rory moves to Cincinnati, Ohio, with her dad after her parents’ separation, she meets Abby, a tall fellow basketball lover, and the two become fast friends. Imagine their shock when they find out that their dads can’t stand each other — and not because they coach the city’s rival basketball teams but because of something that happened years ago when THEY were middle schoolers. Bishop takes us through the girls’ lives as they dig into what happened between their dads, telling the story from multiple perspectives: the girls’, their dads’, and a ball-playing nun in their lives. Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up is a fast-paced and compelling book about true friendships, family secrets, forgiveness, and basketball. Ages 9+

It’s 2016, and Kareem is a Syrian-American football fan who really wants to play on his school middle school team but flunks his tryouts. The coach’s son Austin then tells Kareem that he can help him get in with the team if he helps him with his homework and some schoolwork, too. Kareem also generally wants to stay on Austin’s good side and so is afraid to stand up to him when Austin starts bullying a new Syrian immigrant whose family is friends with Kareem’s. Then things go haywire when Kareem’s mother has to go to Syria to get her parents to the US, and Trump’s order bans flights from Syria and some other predominantly Muslim countries. Kareem Between is a powerful coming-of-age story about standing up for what is right. Ages 9+