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.