Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan

Karina Ahmed, a high school junior, follows all of her parents rules. They expect her to get good grades, go to medical school, and not to ever go on a date. When her high school English teacher asks her to tutor another student, she knows that tutoring notorious bad boy Ace Clyde will not be approved by her father. However, her parents go to Bangladesh for 30 days, leaving Karina with her more understanding grandmother. When Ace tells people that he and Karina are dating, she has 30 days to figure out how to react. This enjoyable romance gives a glimpse into the difficulties faced by first generation American students who find themselves caught between what their parents want and what they want. I loved learning about Bangladeshi culture and especially loved the relationship between Karina and her grandmother. Recommended for grades 8-up. 

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

This is a sweet story about a Mars rover named Resilience. Res is created by NASA scientists and develops human-like thoughts and emotions. The story begins at NASA where Res develops strong feelings for the humans who are programming him. One of those humans, Rania, has a young daughter who is fascinated with Res and writes letters to Res that are scattered throughout the book. Res does successfully get to Mars along with a helpful drone, and their challenge there is to find something that will make NASA want to retrieve them and bring them back to Earth. It's an entertaining and insightful story about space and artificial intelligence with some surprisingly poignant moments. Recommended for kids who liked The Wild Robot. At first glance it seems to be an elementary book, but I think middle schoolers will find a lot to enjoy here. 
 

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

 

Middle schoolers are loving this fantasy book about a girl in search of her missing brother. Quentin has disappeared, but leaves little sister Amari with a mysterious invitation to a summer program at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari eagerly joins the summer program, but discovers that she possesses extreme magical powers that make her an outcast at the summer program. With the help of her roommate Elsie and another magical student who reaches out to her, Amari trains and studies to be a Junior Agent. In the meantime she is investigating her brother's disappearance at every opportunity. There are talking elevators, eccentric teachers, and lots of twists and turns. It's a fun fantasy that's accessible to a wide range of readers and Amari is a relatable character who overcomes adversity due to her race as well as her magical status. Highly recommended to readers of all ages. 

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

 

Stevie Bell is a modern-day girl who loves true crime. She goes to Ellingham Academy, a private school in the mountains of Vermont specifically so she can try to solve a crime that happened there in the 1930s. The founder, a man fond of games and puzzles, founded the school to bring together brilliant students, but his own wife and daughter were kidnapped and the crime was never solved. Stevie arrives at school hoping to investigate the long-ago crime, and becomes friends with some interesting students--an actor, an inventor, a writer, an artist. But when the past comes back to haunt them and tragedy strikes one of her new friends, Stevie has a new murder to solve. If you like solving crimes and if you're willing to read the whole trilogy (spoiler--you don't get all the answers without reading all three books), try this mystery. Recommended for grades 7-12. 

Spin by Lamar Giles

 

Spin is a murder mystery. The victim is Paris Secor, also known as DJ ParSec. She's a high school student on the verge of making it big in the music industry when her body is discovered by two teenagers. Kya is her former best friend and Fuse is her former social media manager. Kya and Fuse can't stand each other, but when they are both kidnapped and threatened, they decide to team up to try to solve the mystery before one of them is the next murder victim. There are passionate fans willing to kill for DJ ParSec, as well as a former manager, a new manager, and an ex boyfriend. The police are getting nowhere and don't even seem to care anymore, so Kya and Fuse are on their own in a dangerous world. It took me a while to fully immerse myself in the characters and their relationships, but once I was in I was hooked. Lamar Giles is a talented writer and I recommend this mystery to 8th-12th graders with an interest in music and/or mysteries. 

Into the Clouds: The Race to Climb the World's Most Dangerous Mountain by Tod Olson

 

I don't know why, but I am a sucker for a mountain climbing saga. This is the absolutely riveting true story of three separate expeditions taken by Americans in an attempt to be the first to reach the summit of K2. I learned that the mountains of the Himalaya are the highest on earth by far. In fact, the tallest mountain anywhere else on earth (found in South America) would not even be in the top 200 mountains in the Himalayan Range. And K2 is the second highest of them all--but it is actually much more remote and difficult to climb than the more famous Mount Everest. The first journey takes place in 1938. Charlie Houston, a medical student from the United States, and a team of men journey to K2 to scout out a base camp and to work their way up the mountain. They don't reach the summit. The next year Fritz Wiessner leads a team of less experienced climbers to follow in Charlie Houston's footsteps. It's a dramatic mission, but Wiessner is not much of a team player and things go badly. Finally, in 1953, after World War II ends, Charlie Houston tries again. His philosophy is to work as a team and leave no man behind. The conditions on the mountain are brutal and at a high altitude decision-making is impaired. All three expeditions challenge the climbers to the depths of their beings. The questions always seems to be whether it is better to reach the summit at all costs or to bring home all the climbers alive. If you like real life drama, survival, and a well-told story, pick this book up and give it a try. It's unforgettable. I recommend this book for all readers grades 7-adult. 

Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino

 

Sam and TJ are nonbinary kids with positive role models and strong friendships to help them navigate the world. When their history teacher announces a contest to propose the subject of the next statue in their home of Staten Island, New York, Sam and TJ discover a little-known photographer who lived for years with a female partner in Staten Island. Sam and TJ do research with the help of friends and neighbors, and discover that Alice Austen was successful, joyful, and fully lived her life with a partner and many friends. Their presentation is flawless, but will their history teacher choose their entry to be nominated for the top prize? This is a story about role models and found family and how love and support can make kids blossom. This book will teach kids about pronouns and gender issues, and will also make nonbinary kids feel seen and supported. And it's also a fun story about a historical figure that most people have never studied. 

Born Behind Bars by Padma Ventrankama

 

As the title suggests, Kabir is a child who was born in jail. His mother, who committed no crime, has raised him entirely within the tiny prison in Chennai, India. At the age of 9 he is released into the city, where he has no relatives or connections. Kabir fights off some unsavory characters, but ultimately pairs up with a street-smart girl, Rani, who helps him find his paternal grandparents who don't even know he exists. The issues of caste and religion and poverty are addressed and readers will learn a lot from Kabir's experiences. It's an engaging story that will inspire empathy and a bigger world view. Recommended for readers 3rd-7th grade. 

The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon

 

The Season of Styx Malone is a summer story in which two brothers meet a super-cool teenager and spend their summer dreaming big dreams and pushing limits. Caleb, the younger brother, has a fear of being ordinary, and meeting Styx Malone catapults his life into the realm of the extraordinary. Styx, who seems to have it all together, is a foster child who has been bounced around. Styx introduces the idea of the Elevator Trade, and the boys set off to make a series of trades that will turn a sack of fireworks into a moped. Along the way we fall in love with Styx and get a good look at family life for Caleb, Bobby Gene, and their loving but protective parents. Of course, Styx's life is far from ideal, and Caleb's highly protective family has its advantages that the brothers can't see. It's funny and sweet and adventurous. An all-around treasure! Recommended for 4th-7th grade readers. 

Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee

 

In this story, Mila is a seventh grader who is receiving unwanted attention from a group of boys. The boys' behavior confuses her, because it feels wrong to her but never crosses into something that rises to the level of something she would define as harassment. She experiences rubbing against her, unwanted hugs, knowing that she is the target of a "game" in which her reactions score points for the boys. Teachers and a school counselor don't understand the severity, and to be fair, neither does Mila. The author keeps the harassment at a low enough level to cause confusion and disagreement among Mila's friends about what is going on. Mila is a relatable character and all of the secondary characters are handled with nuance. While the book is somewhat predictable and comes to a neatly-wrapped up conclusion, I know that many middle schoolers will want to read this and talk about the issues. It will very likely open up conversations and help students speak up and advocate for themselves. Recommended for 5th-7th graders. I predict that girls will want to read this book, but it's boys who might benefit most from walking in Mila's shoes. 

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

 

After nearly drowning (or maybe actually drowning), Cass has a new best friend (Jacob, who is a ghost) and she has the ability to pull aside the Veil and step into the world of the dead. Although she knows it's dangerous, she just can't stop going between worlds. She doesn't tell her parents, who are experts in the supernatural, and when they take her to Edinburgh, Scotland, she is overwhelmed with ghosts who make even greater demands on her. Cass must figure out what her purpose is and how her best friend Jacob is involved. It's a vivid introduction to Edinburgh and some of its gruesome history. This creepy story is a solid choice for 6th and 7th graders. It's the first in a series, with the next two books taking place in Paris and New Orleans. 

Out of My Heart by Sharon Draper

 

This follow-up to Sharon Draper's beloved Out of My Mind follows Melody, a brilliant young girl with cerebral palsy. In the first book, Melody gets technology that allows her to speak, and everyone around her realizes her potential and life changes for her in many ways. One year later, Melody is feeling frustrated by her constrained life and she researches summer camps that cater to kids like her. This sweet story is her week at a camp where she uses a zipline, rides a horse, and learns to swim. On top of it all, she makes new friends and develops her first crush. This book is exactly what it should be and is going to be loved by all the students who already are invested in Melody's story. This is a fine example of how books can build empathy. Recommended for readers in grades 4-8. 

Black Brother Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Trey and Donte are twin brothers, but to the world Trey looks white and Donte looks Black. They attend the same high-end private school but routinely get treated differently based on their skin color.  When Donte's run-in with a bully gets him unjustly in trouble with the law, his mom the lawyer vows to fight back. But Donte finds a way to take on the bully at his own sport--competitive fencing--by training with a former olympic contender. This story centers around fencing, but it's also a story of brothers, friendship, and family. Middle school readers are enjoying both the story and the chance to talk about racism and unfairness. This book will build empathy and understanding and better readers. Don't miss Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes--also a solid middle school favorite. 

Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

This award-winning nonfiction book covers the frantic efforts to build the atom bomb as well as the spying and treason that occurred as Soviet spies tried to get the bomb for themselves. This is history I never learned in school, and I was absolutely engrossed in multiple aspects of the story. Of course, we learn about Robert Oppenheimer and how he and other American scientists were recruited and send to Los Alamos, New Mexico. But we also learn about Norwegian resistance fighters trained in Britain to sabotage a facility in Norway that Germany had taken over.  The Norwegian fighters parachuted into frozen Norway, used cross country skis to travel hundreds of miles, snuck down into a gorge and back up the other side to break in and sabotage a "hard water" production facility that ultimately kept Germans from developing the bomb first.  We also hear how various Russian sympathizers ultimately became spies and turned over exact instructions on how to build an atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Sheinkin does not shy away from the moral issues related to the bomb. Readers sense the desperation to keep the bomb out of German hands. But we also feel the horror of what was created and how it continues to have the potential to destroy the earth and humanity. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to adults and anyone who is a history buff. I suspect that it will be appreciated by smart teenagers with a strong interest in history, but it may be too much for the average kid as it's a complicated story. Nevertheless, it's an outstanding work of nonfiction by a masterful writer. 
 

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (Graphic Novel)

 

This new graphic novel brings a heartbreaking, gutwrenching novel to a new audience. Lina, a Lithuanian teenager, is abruptly taken by Soviet soldiers from her home along with her mother and brother. The year is 1941 and Stalin's troops are systematically moving people to villages in Siberia where they are forced to do hard labor and given minimal shelter and food. This chronicle of Lina's family's struggles is fictional, but based on real stories from survivors of these atrocities. Lina is an artist and finds ways to use her art to send messages to her father who she believes is imprisoned by the Russians. The captives react in a range of ways--some are generous, some are cruel, some give up, some collude with the enemy. I was deeply affected by the original novel, and this new graphic novel reminded me of how important this story is. Both are highly recommended for grades 7-up. This is definitely a young adult book that adults can and should read. 

Slay by Brittney Morris

 

Kiera is an honor student by day and a game developer by night. No one knows that she developed the multiplayer card-based online gaming world called Slay--not even her sister or her parents or her boyfriend Malcolm. Slay is a safe space for Black gamers from around the world, and is based on Black culture, cameraderie, and excellence. Kiera is proud of the world she has developed along with a virtual partner in Paris, and is devastated to hear that a Black teen is murdered over a dispute relating to the game. Now Slay is in the news and it's only a matter of time untli the game's developers are publically outed and potentially even sued. All the while, Kiera deals with a white best friend who doesn't always understand her difficulties, a Black boyfriend who becomes controlling and insular, and a sister who she has never been close with. Slay spoke to me on multiple levels--the story is riveting and enjoyable on its own. But what makes it really special is the honest discussion of race and privilege, and the many ways that Black young people express their culture. This book will build empathy among non-Black readers, and will also be enjoyed as a good story. Recommended to 8th graders-up due to some mature content. 

The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

 

In a bit of a reverse Little Mermaid story, Morgan, a 15-year-old girl living on an island, longs to grow up and get off the island and find a place where she can let her true self be known. But when a girl named Keltie appears mysteriously from the sea, she begins her journey of self-discovery without leaving home. Morgan has good friends, but hasn't let them in on her secret world, but worlds are going to collide and Morgan will have to take a chance and show her true self. It's colorful and inviting and will appeal to many graphic novel fans. This sweet romance is a hot item in my middle school library, where LGBTQ+ love stories are in high demand. It's a fantasy and a romance and a gentle graphic novel that will appeal to kids of many ages. Highly recommended for middle school library collections. 

96 Miles by J.L. Esplin

 

If you like suspense and survival and a scary glimpse of the future, this is the book for you. John and Stew are brothers whose dad has left town for a few days. When the power goes out and doesn't come back on, they are forced to make a 96 mile journey to a place where they hope they can find help. The boys have a little bit of food and water, but not enough to survive long in the desert sun. The journey along with another pair of siblings that is on the road and desperate for food and water. After being robbed twice the children know that strange adults are not going to help them--they are the enemy. This is a gripping survival story with some twists and turns to surprise you at the end. Recommended for middle schoolers who like adventure/survival books. Fans of Dry by Neal Shusterman and Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer should pick this book up next. 

Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive by Laura Hillenbrand

This World War II survival story was on my list to read for a long time. I never did make it through the original adult version, but this young adult adaptation was just what I needed. Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner, became an Air Force bombardier in World War II. His long, harrowing survival story began with being shot down over the Pacific Ocean. He and some companions survived the plane crash, only to be on a raft with no water and aggressive sharks attacking. After surviving this unbelievable struggle, he is captured by Japanese soldiers and endures still more suffering. Zamperini is an incredible person who withstood unbelievable difficulties. His sense of humor, resilience, and attitude save his life and make this an unforgettable read. Recommended for middle schoolers who enjoy action, survival, and learning about World War II. 

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

 

Zoe Washington gets a surprise on her twelfth birthday—a letter from Marcus, the father she has never met who is in prison. She writes back to him (without her mother's knowledge) and finds out he seems like a good guy who may actually be innocent of the crime that put him behind bars. But what can a 12-year-old aspiring chef do to exonerate a criminal? This feel-good novel has some mystery and action, but mostly it's the heartfelt story of a girl learning how to make things right in her world without getting in trouble with her parents. This is the first novel from Janae Marks--can't wait to read her next book, A Soft Place to Land. Recommended for 6th and 7th graders. 

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Sophisticated middle school readers have been telling me I should read this book for years and I finally read it for an 8th grade book club. I admit that fantasy books with maps in them are not my top reading preference, but I appreciate outstanding books in all genres, so I knew I would probably like it based on the kids who recommended it. I had to think hard and force myself to get through the first few chapters of the book (who are these people and what in the world is jurda parem?). As with many elaborate fantasies, it has its own vocabulary and geography and you have to get accustomed to the world that is being built. All this to say, once I was engaged with the characters (six young people, all part of an elaborate criminal endeavor), I could not stop thinking about this book. The world-building and the intricacies of the heist are amazing, but what makes me attached to a book is always the characters. Bardugo gives us complex teens dealing with heavy issues in a world of magic and brothels and dark criminals and the suppression and manipulation of whole groups of people. Recommended for 8th grade-up. 

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo

A girl is found sleeping with a goat at a monastery in an ancient medieval kingdom. The girl is Beatryce, and she has lost her memory. She is found by Brother Edik, and when they discover that she is wanted by the king, they must find a way to save this remarkable girl. Fans of Kate DiCamillo will treasure this book in which every word is carefully chosen and the protagonist overcomes some almost overwhelming trauma. Kate DiCamillo has an almost magical way of communicating a central message through her books. I heard a snippet of her on a Minnesota Public Radio show (listen here at 12:00 in) and she put it this way–Bad things will happen to you and you will be okay. That's what a book can do. Recommended for younger middle grade readers, but also for kids and adults of all ages because it's just a beautiful story with beautiful writing.