30+ Middle-Grade Books With Multiple Narrators

So Done follows two friends, Metai and Jamila living in a low-income Housing Project. Although inseparable from childhood, things change when Jamila returns from a summer in the suburbs. Both girls have secrets, and Mila appears to be different after her time in the suburbs, throwing herself into dance auditions for their new afterschool program. I LOVED this book. Metai and Mila’s voices are so distinct throughout the story that I could see them easily in my mind’s eye. More importantly, this book tackles relatable friendship struggles experienced even in adult friendships, the importance of stepping up to pursue your goals, and the need to speak up even when you’re afraid. Ages 10+

Best friends Ronny and Jo learn what friendship, community, and kindness mean in this heartwarming, funny story set in the snowy days leading up to the holidays. Jo is a cellist struggling with performance anxiety, while Ronny is reeling from discovering a “final notice” warning among his parents’ stack of bills. Told from alternating perspectives, this story is warm, sweet, and absolutely delightful. Bonus points for ADHD and Latino representation. Ages 9+

Sara has moved from her smaller Islamic school to the larger neighborhood middle school. Unfortunately for her, her Pakistani mother has also started teaching after-school cooking classes (in addition to her catering business) at the school. Many of the kids in the class are rude and make fun of her mother’s dishes while pretending not to understand her accent. But one student, Elizabeth, seems to enjoy learning to cook. Elizabeth’s British mother is dealing with depression after the death of her mother and is struggling to adapt to American culture and her husband’s Jewish customs. Sara and Elizabeth form an unlikely friendship when they discover that both their mothers are studying to pass the American citizenship test. This book has strong themes of food, unlikely friendships, culture, family, handling racism, and standing up for what is right. Ages 9+

Four eighth-grade buddies and a new tag-along (whom they’re reluctant to include) discover a posh underground bunker in the wake of a hurricane in their small town. CJ, Evan, Jason, Mitchell, and Ricky quickly begin to hang out at the fort for different reasons. One of the boys is escaping an abusive step-parent, another is dodging his big brother and his bully of a friend, yet another loves to study there, while one just wants to stop hiding the hideout from his new girlfriend. When things get intense for the boys, their safe space becomes at risk of exposure — but maybe that’s the only way they can stay safe? The Fort is a realistic, suspense-filled, and heartwarming middle grade book about male friendships, history, and domestic violence. Ages 10+

Greer, Joya, and Kiki are three best friends born just after Hurricane Katrina. Now 12 years after the catastrophe, they’re dealing with personal life struggles. Greer feels responsible for an accident that left her sister paralyzed from the waist down and has stopped running track–something she loved dearly before the accident, Kiki is grappling with an absentee father, and Joya is trying to help her financially strained family. Kiki decides that the three girls will sign up for a triathlon to get Greer back into running, but the plan ends up changing all three girls’ lives. This is a warm, stirring, and sparkling middle grade book about female friendships, body image, sports, and self-forgiveness. Ages 9+

The Unteachables are a group of misfits deemed so hopeless (academically and in terms of behavior) that the school has isolated them in a class of their own. Mr. Zachary Kermit started off as an enthusiastic schoolteacher, but after a cheating scandal 25 years ago, he’s exactly the opposite. He’s coasting along, barely investing in his students and waiting for retirement. Until the school assigns him to teach Room 117 — The Unteachables. The kids nickname him Ribbit and as the school year progresses, both the kids and Mr. Kermit learn a lot from each other — and maybe the kids aren’t quite unreachable? This is a funny, endearing middle-grade book full of hijinks and memorable characters.

Dani and Eric have been best friends since Dani moved next door in second grade. They bond over donuts, comic books, and camping on the Cape. But one summer, Eric saves Dani from a fire in his family’s camper. Unfortunately, the accident prevents Dani from doing what she loves the most: playing baseball. It also drives a wedge between the friends as they discover the real reason behind the fire. Can Dani forgive her best friend? This is an insightful, realistic, and touching middle grade book about forgiveness and evolving friendships. 

One summer, Mimi’s mom decides they will take a trip to Pakisan (!) where Mimi’s grandparents live. Imagine how thrilled she is to learn that her dad (a globe-trotting journalist) is also currently in Karachi. Sakina is the daughter of Mimi’s grandparents’ cook. Although she’s Mimi’s age, their lives couldn’t be more different. Sakina works with her dad, doesn’t go to school, and doesn’t speak good English either. She hasn’t told her parents, but she’s studying to pass an English test so she can get a school scholarship for poor children. When both girls meet, they band together to help each other reach their goals: Mimi’s, finding her dad; Sakina’s, learning English. This immersive, heartwarming story is told from both girls’ perspectives in alternating chapters. Ages 9+

SAVE ME A SEAT is the story of two seemingly different boys – one Indian, one American. When Ravi’s family moves to America, he is shocked at how different things are. The things he liked about himself seem to neither impress nor be appreciated by his American classmates and teachers. Joe is a quiet, sensitive American who is regularly bullied by his classmates. The story follows both boys as they find a way to a solid friendship despite their differences. With a major focus on bullying, culture, food and respecting differences, SAVE ME A SEAT is delightful, funny and inspiring. A fantastic middle grade pick for teaching young boys and girls -everyone, really – empathy. Ages 8+

Tweens Allie and Sage are forced together when their families’ plan to swap houses goes awry. Allie is an overlooked British middle child living in the countryside and preparing to be a spy when she grows up. Sage is an only child in sunny California, growing up with parents who seem to be growing apart. She gets more worried when she discovers that only her mom will be coming with her to the English countryside. Both girls realize that they have more in common than they think and decide to help each other — Ally with Sage’s parents and Sage with being Allie’s friend. Reminiscent of the beloved movie, The Holiday, this middle grade book is perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good reading experience with a touch of history, family drama, and characters you can root for. Ages 9+

Eve, Sophie, and Nessa are three different girls in Ford middle-school whose lives are changed when their names appear on “The Prettiest” list posted online by someone called “LordTesla.” The three girls band together in an unlikely friendship to find the person who made the list and make him face the consequences of his actions. This is a powerful look at female objectification and sexual harassment in middle school. Every character in this book is multi-layered and readers get a well-rounded look at the main characters with a multi-POV narration. Ages 10+

Mirror to Mirror is the story of twins Maya and Chaya, who, although opposites are inseparable. Where Maya is quiet and reserved, Chaya is outgoing. Suddenly, Maya starts to pull away from Chaya and the two begin to fight more. Concluding that her sister needs space from her, Chaya starts trying to distinguish herself — getting a pink streak in her hair and dropping music and trying a new art form. But the girls keep butting heads. When matters come to a head, their parents send them off to camp together with the aim of resolving their conflict. This is an immersive middle grade verse novel about sisterhood, friendships, anxiety, and the imperfections in family. Ages 9+

This is a great book that lends itself perfectly to the audio format since it’s written in part as interviews. When a new student arrives at a middle school, she discovers that the class can’t stop talking about a former classmate. As she tries to learn more about him, she and the other kids learn a lot about themselves, the many layers of a person, and how to be kinder to others. This one took a while to get into, but once I did, it was fantastic. Ages 9+

In The Braid Girls, Maggie’s summer is off to a rocky start when her parents announce that she has a half-sister—a daughter her father never knew about until now. Callie’s presence throws off soft-spoken Maggie’s dynamic with her outspoken best friend Daija, even more when Callie joins their hair-braiding business. This is a sweet, relatable middle grade book about sisterhood, entrepreneurship, and finding your voice. This book shines in its realistic portrayal of familial complexities and the ups and downs of friendship.

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+

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. This is a fast-paced and compelling book about true friendships, family secrets, forgiveness, and basketball.

Marco and Isaac have been besties for as long as they can remember, and now they share one pain in common: both their dads aren’t in their lives as they’d like. Isaac’s dad is attentive but currently struggling with alcoholism. Marco’s dad wishes Marco were more athletic, instead of nerdy. At the start of middle school, both boys decide to help each other reach their goals. I loved this look at a warm friendship bond between boys. There’s plenty of basketball, Latin-American family and warmth, and middle school antics, including bullying, comparison, and budding friendships.

The Best Worst Summer follows two sets of kids three decades apart. In the present, Peyton and her family have just moved from Minneapolis to a small town named Lake Springs, leaving behind her best friend and their summer soccer camp tradition. But her summer gains new life when she discovers a box of secrets: a cryptic note to a friend, half of a “best friends” necklace, a playlist and several other items. Meanwhile, in 1989, best friends Jessica and Melissa are planning the best summer ever! They even plan to bury a time capsule. Jessica is an adopted Korean girl — one of the only Asians in her small town — and Melissa’s mom is hiding some deep secrets about their family. When the secret unravels, the girls’ lives are forever changed. That is, until Peyton finds their time capsule in the present and solves the mystery. The story alternates between past and present as we read Melissa and Peyton’s perspectives. Ages 9+

Two kids begin communicating across time via letters when one writes a letter to Einstein in this sweet epistolary, time-travel-ish story. Mason lives in 2023, and Talia lives in 1987. Both kids are Jewish, and Talia is facing some serious antisemitism while Mason is getting bullied at school–although not for being Jewish. Initially spooked by the fact that their letters are somehow reaching each other, the two quickly settle into a warm friendship that becomes a lifeline and helps them get support from the grown-ups in their life. This was super readable, and the font in the ebook is very large. The voice feels true to young middle schoolers, and I can see this appealing to fans of friendship stories and readers who like stories about kids fighting back against bullies. The publisher pegs it as When You Reach Me meets Save Me a Seat, and I couldn’t have said it better! I can picture this being a lovely class readaloud, too–so much to discuss. Ages 9+

Valentina and Oksana are classmates and neighbors living in Pryapta near Chernobyl, Ukraine, when the nuclear explosion occurs. Valentina is Jewish, and Oksana is Ukrainian. Oksana’s father is abusive and dies in the explosion. Her mother isn’t allowed to leave because of her high radiation exposure, so Oksana is forced to leave with Valentina and her mother. Valentina’s mother decides that they will go to Leningrad to stay with her estranged mother. Unfortunately, at the station, they learn that only two tickets are available, and she sends the two young girls to live with her mother. The Blackbird Girls is a riveting work of historical fiction detailing the Chernobyl disaster and the events after in a gripping, accessible way for middle schoolers.

Friends and army brats Frank and Stanley live in Pearl Harbor, where they deal with the usual challenges of bullying and creating comic books. Until December 7th, 1941, when everything changes during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Will the boys survive the attack? How will the war change them and their friendship? Master of middle grade historical fiction, Alan Gratz, explores these in his latest novel. Heroes by Alan Gratz is an action-packed historical account about friendship and what it means to be a hero.

Imani knows she’s adopted and decides that for her bat mitzvah, she wants the gift of getting to know her birth parents, but breaking the news to her loving white Jewish parents isn’t as easy as she expected. When she finds her great-grandmother’s diary documenting her experience of fleeing Luxembourg for New York City during WWII, Imani develops a stronger appreciation for her family. The Length of a String is a moving exploration of adoption and what it means to be Jewish. Ages 9+

What if Nazi Germany won WWII? That’s the chilling question this time-travel thriller explores. Two sets of a friendship trio — one in 2023 and the other in 1944 — discover that they can communicate over a radio device present in both timelines. As the two groups figure out the differences in their timelines while trying to avoid making any changes to history, they discover that they’ve unwittingly made an enormously impactful change with shocking consequences. Westfallen is a chilling exploration of a terrifying alternate reality for fans of high-action time travel fiction. Ages 10+

It’s 2020, and Matthew is sick of being inside with the pandemic raging outside. While reluctantly helping his great-grandmother sort through her belongings, he finds a picture of two girls. As she shares her experience during the Ukrainian famine, the story alternates between three narrators: Matthew, Helena, and Mila. A powerful, unforgettable account of historical events.

After a memorable birthday sleepover with her two best friends, Elise wakes up to realize that time has jumped by six months and her best friends no longer speak to her. With the help of an old friend, she works to figure out what happened and how to undo it. A Split Second is a time travel fantasy with a slightly spooky feel, perfect for kids who like books about magic with a touch of mystery. Ages 9+

Millington of Olivetti fame returns in her sophomore middle grade novel with the story of an old apartment building called The Odenburg. Made of red brick and full of bickering tenants who can’t seem to get along, including a Prue, the girl in 4C who’s navigating a heartbreaking change, Gertrude in 1D dealing with dementia, and the eccentric caretaker, Carl, and his horde of rodents. Outside the building is a boy named Lewis, who might know more than anyone thinks about a recent tragedy. All these characters come together as secrets unfold and hearts unite when it’s announced that The Odeburg will be demolished in one month. With Millington’s trademark wry wit and heart, this story is also partly narrated by the building itself. I enjoyed it, although it took some time to get used to the huge cast of characters–many of whom are very quirky. I can see this reading aloud beautifully if your family enjoyed books like Wishtree and Olivetti. Ages 10+

This story is about Evan, a moody middle schooler whose days consist of trying to figure out why his mom is always grumpy, defending his besties from the school bully, and trying to bond with his artist father. Until he meets a dog, or rather, the dog finds him. Told from the perspectives of Evan and the dog, a clever border collie with a love for running, this soaring, heartwarming adventure about friendship, family, and the healing power of dogs is perfect for fans of Silvey’s The Underdogs of Upson Downs. Ages 9+

Weatherby is a new kid at the Boston School on a sailing scholarship and is immediately thrust into a world she knows nothing about. Old school phone booths, scrambled phone service at school, friends with kids who go to the country club.. and a boy who seems to hate her guts. It is told from two perspectives, Weatherby’s and Jack Hunt’s, a rich kid at the school who is also on the sailing team. When Jack, Weatherby, and their friends Pres, Iris, and Harper are contacted by what they think is the school’s famed secret society, they get sucked into a mission, only to unravel a deep secret about the Hunt family that involves Weatherby. The Liars Society is an intriguing, fast-paced, and tightly-plotted middle-grade mystery for younger middle-school readers who are hungry for some thrilling, suspenseful mysteries but aren’t old enough for traditional YA.

Cadets Regan Fitz and Elliot Mason are two “Glitchers” in an academy for learning how to time travel and stop “Butterflies”—rebels traveling through time to change history—from successfully changing American history. Regan is the daughter of the school principal, and Elliot can’t stand her because he thinks she’s a snob. But when a letter from future Regan with a warning about the future threatens to disrupt his career plans, Elliot must team up with Regan to prevent a future disaster. This is a thrilling, sci-fi time travel romp anchored by two formidable protagonists, their burgeoning unlikely friendship, and the United States’s turbulent history.

Sisters Abby, Emma, and Ollie can’t seem to get it together. After months of squabbling, their parents ship them off to summer camp together to figure out their issues. The girls succeed in ignoring each other most of the time, but a hike gone wrong on their last day forces them to work together against hunger, near-drownings, and bear attacks. The story alternates between the past and the present so readers can see what went wrong with the sisters and watch them make their way back. This is a heartfelt survival middle grade book about sisterhood, tween angst, and identity. Ages 9+

Five different students have yet to complete their community service for a school offense and must explain why (as well as what they did) to their principal. Thus, these five seemingly socially invisible kids each share from their perspectives how they got in trouble — and readers are definitely in for a ride. There’s George, the smart kid who is Latino but can’t speak Spanish; Sara, the loner; Dayara, the tough kid, Miguel, the baseball player; and Nico, the rich kid. The story is told in Spanish and English. This is a powerful, heartwarming graphic novel about immigration, homelessness, racism, and finding your tribe.