Young YA Books for Older Middle Schoolers

It’s just an ordinary September 24th, and teens Sydney and Marcus have what is probably the cutest meet-cute at a Dunkin’s. They both skip school to spend the day together, and everything seems great until they part ways abruptly in the evening and wake up on September 24… again. Throughout the book, they repeatedly meet on the same day over 20 times, until they can figure out why it’s happening, how to break the cycle, and whether they even want to break it. It’s You Every Time is a sweet, cleverly crafted Groundhog Day romance starring two teens trying to outrun life’s challenges. This moving time loop romance explores grief, destiny, family, and facing the trials of today to enjoy the hope of tomorrow. Ages 12+

Ramona is a shy 16-year-old who loves cosplay. After she leaves a picture of her cosplay character with a poem in her crush’s locker, the two start communicating via email. In class, though, she can’t seem to work up the courage to talk to that same crush, Caleb. But when Caleb suddenly starts working at the same restaurant she does, the two form a friendship that forces Ramona to re-evaluate their internet relationship. NerdCrush is a sweet young YA romance about finding the courage to be oneself, especially on the journey toward finding true love. This younger teenage romance is perfect for older middle schoolers and younger teens. Ages 12+

This is a very sweet young adult romance that feels written FOR TEENS! I loved the message of putting yourself out there instead of living in your head. I also liked that while we’re in Darren’s head, we learn enough about his love interest that she’s not just a manic pixie dream girl. There are lovely teen-parent relationships, male friendships, humor, and main characters who attend church without it feeling preachy. It’s really fun and perfect for younger teens ages 12+ with nearly no language! Plus, bonus points for a male lead narrator in a romance.

Sophie is looking forward to getting time away from her parents for the holidays. But she’s especially happy because she’s looking forward to spending time with her boyfriend, Griffin. So she’s thrown for a loop when she overhears Griffin discussing his desire to break up with her — and then, of course, she breaks up with him. Sophie’s large family wants her to enjoy the holidays, and decide they will set her up on a date every day for the last 10 days of the year. Ten family members get to choose a different date — location and person for each day. In the midst of all the chaos, Sophie begins to rediscover her connection with Charlie’s friend, Wes. This is an entertaining young adult novel, perfect for lovers of Hallmark movies or anyone looking for a festive, fluffy read. Ages 11+

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 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 their lives under the camera lens, their lives serving as fodder for reality TV and being 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. 1-2 instances of mild language. Ages 12+

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 thought-provoking themes about valuing community and presence over capitalism, this is a fantastic choice for fans of dystopian fiction and romance, suitable for readers aged 13 and up. (Infrequent mild language.)

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+

I loved following Katniss, Peeta, and Gale through all three books in this series. It’s set in a dystopian world ruled by The Capitol. Each year, The Hunger Games are held where one raffle-drawn contestant from each of the surrounding poorer districts competes (fights through life-threatening challenges) to win a prize. The only problem is: losing means death. Book one kicks off with 16-year-old Katniss volunteering to take her little sister’s place in the Games. I was HOOKED on this book and the other two in the series when I read it. Ages 12+

I adored this gorgeously written YA novel in verse about a high school sophomore named Esme who gets accepted into the Elite dance group with her best friend Mia. Esme’s family is also facing some challenges, and they are struggling financially. But most pressing to Esme is the physical and emotional weight of her large bust and the obstacle it poses to dancing. Not to mention the leering she receives from uncouth men. To top it all off, Esme gets harassed by a man during an outing. This book does amazing things with the verse format and is one of those rare times when a verse novel actually reads to me like poetry, not just fractured prose. I loved the gentle romance between Esme and Todd and the friendship and sisterhood she forms with her dance team. Hand to fans of Turning Point and Take It from the Top. Ages 12+

This is an exciting and heartwarming story about Blade, the son of a rockstar, who receives shattering family news that leads him to take a life-changing trip. The audiobook is lovely and even features singing. I’d recommend this classic for teens ages 13 and up who love verse novels. And yes, even though this is 463 pages long, it’s a sparse-paged verse novel. I liked this one, and because I didn’t read the blurb, I was shocked to see that parts of it were actually set in Ghana! If you get the chance to do audio, take it — there’s REAL MUSIC.

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+

Five private school teen boys go target shooting, and one of them ends up dead, shot by his own gun — with the fingerprints of all four friends on the gun. All the boys claim they don’t know what happened. The story is told from two perspectives: that of the unknown killer and that of a schoolmate in the new public school the boys attend. Kate also happened to be regularly texting the boy who was killed and works at the DA’s office, where she’s helping the DA with his investigation since he has very poor eyesight. As things progress, it seems nothing is as it seems, both with Kate and with the boys in question, and Kate gets more involved as the stakes get higher in finding the killer. This Is Our Story is a gripping mystery for fans of McManus’s One of Us Is Lying that tackles pressing contemporary issues. Told from two riveting perspectives, this story features everything many tweens and teens want from a mystery-thriller, including fast-paced storytelling, a persistent sense of danger, and characters to root for all the way. Ages 12+

When two sisters camp in the woods for their class sleepover and only one comes out alive with no memory of what happened to her sister, all eyes are on her. It doesn’t help that her friends are suddenly acting weird toward her, and no one seems trustworthy. As law enforcement investigates and the surviving sister digs through her memories for the truth, the reveal is shocking. Silent Sister is a twisty, suspenseful young adult mystery for fans of stories with an unreliable narrator. Ages 12+

This young adult thriller for fans of McManus’s One of Us is Lying follows four Native teenagers under suspicion for the murder of a classmate. It integrates the Missing Indigenous Women issue with other challenges of Native Americans, one of the teens is half Native, and another one is raising his sister because his drug-addicted father has abandoned them. I loved seeing the way this mystery came together, and the reveal was definitely worth waiting for. Ages 12+

One girl in a wealthy, dysfunctional family finds herself the target of a sinister murder plot in this young YA mystery about family secrets, chess, and belonging. Ruby Vossen and her cousin Sterling used to be thick as thieves until their mothers died in a car accident, and their fathers’ feud stopped them from talking to each other. Now with both fathers remarried, the two girls are drawn together by a suspicious robbery of their grandmother. When strange things start happening on their property, it’s up to Ruby to figure out why and what their stepsiblings have to do with it. This is a twisty, psychological thriller with side characters that could be better developed, but that will appeal to older middle schoolers and young teens looking for addictive mysteries free of profanity and sexual content. Ages 11+

After popular teen DJ, Paris Secord is murdered, two of her friends (who are not on speaking terms) come under public suspicion. Both girls are forced to band together against a group of darkly fanatic supporters, uncooperative police staff, and other hindrances to their efforts. This novel is captivating, and I finished the 10-hour audiobook in two days. It addresses the use of social media, music fandom, and police response to Black homicide. No language at all — good for kids ages 13 and up.

Aiden has always relied on his popular, football-star brother, Brandon, to smooth the edges of a neurotypical world for him. But when Aiden gets in a fight that leads to Brandon getting arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer, their family gets thrown into a media frenzy, and suddenly, Aiden is watching his brother’s achievements go down the drain. Even though he’s always had fewer expectations because of his autism, can Aiden step up now to help Brandon? This gut-punch of a novel about brotherhood, racism, and autism is perfect for fans of The Hate U Give. Infrequent strong language. Ages 13+

Jia, Everett, and Ariel are high school besties whose summer plans could not be any more different. Jia is a Chinese-American helping out at her family’s restaurant in Chinatown while looking after her little sister and grandmother. Everett is a Vietnamese-American off to theater camp in Ohio, while Ariel, the genius Korean-American, is in pre-college, grieving the death of her older sister months before. As the summer progresses, all three girls will need their friendship to anchor them through the waves of grief, first loves, and standing up for themselves. I LOVED the depiction of friendship in this book and the way the author brings cities and characters to life. If you loved The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and can’t get enough of emotional, fast-paced YA stories — this book is for you! Nearly no language and no sexual content. Ages 12+

This book about a Black girl from a poor neighborhood attending a prestigious private school on scholarship was my introduction to Renee Watson’s writing. It’s a truly powerful look at racism, community, and the power of art. Good for ages 12+

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? In I Am Not Jessica Chen, Liang explores the idea that the grass is perhaps not greener on the other side in a chilling, relatable, and accessible teen voice. Ages 13+

Gary Vo is a Vietnamese-American soon-to-be junior high schooler. Gary and his friend Preston have been at the bottom of the social totem pole forever, and Preston is determined that this is the summer they rise up the ranks. So when they’re approached by two popular classmates with an offer to join their group, the boys are all ears! The task is to steal a bracelet from Gloria Buenrostro (a popular, but mysterious A+ student) so the boys can add it to their collections of tokens from “the hottest girls” in school. Easy enough, no? That is until Gary Vo befriends Gloria and realizes that there’s more to her than meets the eye. Gloria Buenrostro Is Not My Girlfriend is a richly layered, relatable teen novel about what it means to be a man and how to be a good friend. Ages 12+

Perla Perez is a 16-year-old high school senior who has been rejected from the college of her (and her parents’) dreams. With her back against the wall and under the immense pressure from her immigrant parents to succeed, she forges an acceptance letter and thus begins months of lying and elaborate schemes to get into the dorms, going through all the motions of a real student. She hopes to re-apply in the next session and get in so her parents never know she was rejected. But will her plans go up in flames? This is a fast-paced, compulsively readable young adult novel about the pressures of college admission. Readers who enjoyed books like Admission and younger teens will like this no-romance YA. Ages 12+

Chloe Chang lives a boring life in Oklahoma — with her busy single mom and her two best friends — where she loves watching K-dramas. But when her best friends gift her a 23-and-me test kit for her birthday, things take a dramatic turn. She finds out that her father was a son of the Noh family, a prestigious family in Seoul, South Korea and before she knows it, she’s off to meet them for the first time. Unfortunately, she’s thrust into a web of lies as she realizes that the family might have ulterior motives for reaching out to her. Ages 12+

In this powerful, inspiring narrative about his high school’s basketball team, graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang turns his pen to nonfiction. Yang, who is a high school teacher, becomes inspired by the meteoric, potentially historic run of the men’s varsity basketball team. When he decides to interview them, he realizes that each player, as well as the team’s history itself, has a fascinating personal story that might even be bigger than just one basketball season. Ages 12+

Almost American Girl is Robin Ha’s graphic memoir detailing her move from South Korea to Huntsville, Alabama. Robin is 14 when she and her mother leave for one of their regular visits to the US. Except, this time it’s not Hawaii or any other vacation hotspot — it’s Alabama. When they arrive in Huntsville, Robin realizes that her mother is there to visit a man she has been corresponding with. Robin is in for a shocker as her mom announces that she’s marrying this man, and she and Robin are staying put in America. Her whole life changes forever, as she struggles to assimilate, while handling the ups and downs in her mother’s relationship. This is a moving exploration of the joys and misfortunes of immigrant life — especially for a teen. Ages 10+

Best friends Agnes and Daisy have the best summer planned until Agnes’s mother announces that they’re moving. Agnes is crushed but finds relief in re-enacting a list of favorite activities from their childhood as documented in a scrapbook. Unfortunately, her plan meets a hitch when Daisy meets and falls in love with Noah and is now torn between spending time with her first love and spending the last 8 weeks of summer with Agnes. I LOVED this story. I was super invested in these girls’ friendship and found myself sympathizing with both of them as they went through pivotal moments. This is a lovely graphic novel for older middle schoolers and high schoolers about friendship, adjusting to changes, and navigating first love. The illustrations are gorgeous! 2-3 instances of strong language. Ages 13+

The Sommerland theme park restored Tabitha Laurie’s faith in love after her parents divorced when she was six. Now a high school junior, she’s getting the chance to work at the park, hoping to get to play a princess, even though she doesn’t seem to fit the mold on the outside. From navigating challenging auditions and unexpected roles to finding love, her life is about to change this summer. This graphic novel is gorgeously illustrated, and the story is sweet, bringing this fictional theme park to life. There’s a heartwarming romance subplot and an important nod to body image, without being didactic at all. I loved this one and am happy for a YA graphic novel that middle schoolers can enjoy. Perfect for fans of theme parks and happily-ever-afters. Ages 11+

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. This is a propulsive YA coming-of-age historical fiction/thriller that examines racial passing in the 1950s. Ages 12+

Leo, Elsa, and Max are three friends in 1930s Vienna, Austria when Hitler’s reign begins to spread through Europe. Elsa’s family flees to Prague, Leo’s family remains in Austria, and Max and his Nazi-supporting father move to Munich. Told from all three perspectives, we follow the three teens in this heartwrenching story as they navigate these turbulent times and attempt to find a way back to each other. Ages 12+

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 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 with 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+

Pip and Cecelia, the daughters of drunks and constantly arguing orange grove farmers in 1960s Florida, have always had each other. But when the carnival comes to town and 15-year-old Pip’s sister falls for the womanizing sword thrower, their already precarious lives are thrown off balance. This sisterhood story is gripping and keeps readers hooked with a persistent, unsettling feeling, beautiful writing, and a unique setting. It has immense crossover appeal and is perfect for fans of historical fiction with substance who aren’t afraid of a darker tone. Heads up for references to teenage sex and pregnancy. Ages 14+