Middle Grade Fiction & Non-Fiction Pairings

Candace Fleming is such an expert at characterization and tight pacing. She’s turned a biography of this famed aviator, which could have been very run-of-the-mill, into a suspenseful thriller that will keep readers turning the pages, even though we already know how it all ends. Starting not at Earhart’s childhood but at her disappearance, Fleming’s narrative flips back and forth between the excruciating hours of her disappearance and the frantic search to find her, to snippets from her childhood, growing up years, eventual fame, and marriage, before all finally meeting up at the end. You think you know the story of Amelia Earhart, but this book writes it in a way that feels fresh and fascinating. Ages 10+

The Amelia Six is the story of six clever girls who are invited to spend a night in Amelia Earhart’s home because of their achievements in STEM (specifically flying and aeronautics). Things are going smoothly until the girls realize that Birdie has been drugged and Amelia Earhart’s famous aviator goggles — which must be retrieved by the Smithsonian the next day(!) — have gone missing. Everyone’s a suspect and suddenly these girls have to band together if they want to get out alive. Featuring a band of six whip-smart, witty girls; a pair of missing aviator goggles; one pet rat; and a cat, among others, this middle-grade story will keep any reader glued to its pages. Ages 9+

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+

Now, this is riveting narrative non-fiction about the girls recruited by the UK to decipher Germany’s messages. I knew so little about this and Bletchley House, and it was such an engaging way to learn more about their work and how ciphers work. Older middle schoolers will want to create their own ciphers and will enjoy the black-and-white photos on nearly every page. Ages 10+

Lawrence has had the odds stacked against him for so long. He and his mom and little sister went from living in Charlotte, NC to finally moving in with his grandma while his father is incarcerated. To make matters worse, Lawrence keeps getting picked on at school and getting into fights which results in his getting expelled. While he’s home, he starts going to the town’s rec center where he learns to play chess. But a boy there keeps trying to get Lawrence to fight. Can he find a way to secure a win for once? Not an Easy Win is a heartwarming, realistic, and satisfying book about poverty, having an incarcerated parent, and finding belonging in chess. Ages 10+

Tani and his family fled Boko Haram’s reign of terror in Nigeria to come to the United States, where they lived in a New York City homeless shelter while waiting to be granted religious asylum. Tani began attending a public elementary school and decided he wanted to join the chess program, but it required a fee. Tani’s mother reached out to the coach, who offered Tani a scholarship–and a year later the young immigrant became a chess champion. Ages 9+

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. Ages 10+

The bombing of Pearl Harbor is an unforgettable part of American history, but you’ve never seen it depicted as Marc Favreau does in this nonfiction title. We revisit that day and its aftermath through the eyes of several people, including a Japanese spy, a relegated American soldier, residents of the island of Hawaii, and members of the military families in the area. It includes real historical photographs and was pieced together from an array of eyewitness accounts. I love how accessible and easy this book is to read. Good for ages 9+

What if you realized that you can’t seem to maintain friendships? When this happens to Eleni in Dear Friends, she decides to embark on a challenge to revisit and revive her top five failed friendships. As life would have it, just as the process starts, her oldest childhood friend and BFF, Sylvie, starts pulling away from her. Can Eleni get to the bottom of things and recover her friendships before the start of middle school? Dear Friends is a highly relatable, summery middle grade book about what it means to be a good friend and maintain strong friendships.

Friendships are tough to navigate, even for adults. The preteen years can be particularly sticky, but we’ve got your back! Packed with fun quizzes, colorful illustrations, and stories about girls just like you, BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends) is the ultimate interactive guidebook to help you learn the ins and outs of friendship. Explore the topics of gossip, bullying, and feeling left out, along with ways to strengthen the friendships that mean the most to you.  

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance follows Maizy and her mother, who return to Last Chance, Minnesota, when Maizy’s grandfather becomes ill. Maizy’s grandparents love her, and Maizy quickly bonds with them and enjoys being at their historic restaurant. One day, she sees pictures of several young Chinese men. When she asks her grandfather about them, he begins to tell her a sprawling story about their family’s history in Last Chance, which is interwoven with love, racism, and community. This past-present narrative is set both in modern times and at the peak of Chinese immigration during the 1800s. Ages 10+

This was my first time reading the Race to the Truth series, and boy, was it good! As someone who rarely enjoys nonfiction, I was shocked that I flew through this history of Chinese immigrants and the development of Chinese-American identity. The author writes accessibly and feeds readers information so expertly, weaving in stories with history and vital lessons for our modern day. This is excellent reading for AAPI month (and always). Ages 10+

This book is all about all about Sammy and Bram, two unlikely friends and wannabe naturalists who discover an ecosystem in the woods in their neighborhood. Armed with binoculars, notebooks, and a camera, these two kids form a close bond and passionately protect their Winghaven. I’m not a huge environmental activist story kinda girl but this is well-written with characters that feel so real and I think it will be such a win for the upper elementary or young middle schooler who loves all things nature and a sweet friendship story. The audiobook is excellent and certainly elevated this story for me.

Every year, monarchs take flight, making one of the greatest migrations in the world. However, for a long time, their destination was unknown within the scientific community. Through the research of scientists in Canada and the United States and the support and efforts of ordinary people as well as Indigenous knowledge in Mexico, that mystery was finally solved. But to do so would involve years of searching across three countries and encounters with feuding scientists, the consequences of colonialism, and life-and-death stakes. Weaving together the untold story of survival, scientific discoveries, and the relationship between humans and butterflies, The Monarch Effect explores how one small insect can have an incredible impact on the entire planet.

Daphne is spending the summer with her alcoholic (now sober) dad in Oakland after a long estrangement. Her mom is away in Prague, shooting a movie, so she has no choice but to leave Daphne with her dad. The last interaction with her dad was when he failed to show up for her at a skating rink, and she broke her arm trying to do something he’d find impressive. Now she’s with him and his skating buddies, including his best friend Gus, Gus’s girlfriend, and her son Arlo who’s a wannabe filmmaker. As time passes, Daphne learns more about her dad and reconnects with him. This is a tender exploration of father-daughter love, the impact of addiction, and a love for skateboarding. Grades 6+

I’m a huge fan of the How It Happened series (I love the Pizza! book), so it was a no-brainer that this one got on my radar too. You’ll find easy-to-read text with real images and illustrations that make this book a browsable book for skateboarding fiends.