As You Wish by Nashae Jones

 

This young teen romance with a touch of magic can be summed up with the adage "Be careful what you wish for." Birdie is an 8th grader who longs for a "normal 8th grade experience" which for her means having her first boyfriend. Her best friend Deve would like to be more than friends, but Birdie doesn't see him as boyfriend material. She thinks that Deve should get a girlfriend and she should get a boyfriend and everything will be perfect. When a fight over this issue threatens to end their friendship, and an African trickster god shows up in disguise at their school, Birdie makes a wish that backfires. If you've ever dreamed of having 3 wishes, this book will make you think hard about how exactly to word your wish to get what you want. A fun romance that's perfect for middle school libraries.  

Hands by Torrey Maldonado

Trev is a 12-year-old kid with adult problems. His stepfather, who is in jail for hitting his mother, is scheduled to be released soon. Trev believes it is his job to protect his mom and sisters, and he decides to go to a gym and learn to fight. As you can see from the cover, Trev has two sides--he is both a fighter and an artist--and the theme of this book is Trev choosing how to use his hands. Trev lives in the projects, and even though he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, there is a village around him that advises him and tries to protect him. I love that his book is short (we need more short books!), and the chapters are only a couple of pages long which makes it very appealing to pick up and read in short bursts. I know that lots of kids are going to see themselves in this book, or they are going to gain some empathy from walking in Trev's shoes. I'm not going to spoil things, but the ending was abrupt for me and I think kids are going to wish they had a few more scenes to wrap it up. This is a great choice for upper elementary readers--I recommend it for 4th-6th graders. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Jackpot by Nic Stone

Rico works at the local gas station, looks after her brother, and does her best in her high school classes. There is never enough money in her life. When she sells a winning lottery ticket that goes unclaimed, she develops a plan to track down the winner and possibly share the wealth. She is aided by an unlikely partner. Zan, her opposite in many ways, has plenty of money, but he goes all in to help Rico on her quest. Can two teens from different social classes understand each other? Can Rico let Zan help her out and can Zan win Rico's affection? It's a story about money and class and friendship. All of Nic Stone's books are dynamite. Recommended for all teens 8th grade-up. 

The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

 

Alberta lives with her two dads in a California beachside community. She's a seventh grader and a surfer and doesn't mind much being the only Black girl in her school. However, she is excited to hear that a new girl is moving in on her block. Edie comes from Brooklyn, wears all black, and the two girls hit it off. Finally someone who understands what it's like to be different. Edie and Alberta become fast friends, and bond over the boxes of old journals they find in Edie's older house. But Alberta's BFF, Laramie, is drifting away and hanging out with a mean girl. Can Alberta hang onto her best friend? And can she and Edie find the mysterious journal writer from 60 years ago? This is a solid realistic fiction story that will appeal to lots of middle school students. 

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

 

Amal is a poet and an artist, but at his artsy New York City school he is sometimes seen as angry and disruptive. When he is unjustly accused of beating up a white teenager, the system labels him as a criminal and strips him of his humanity as well as his dreams of college. His heartbreaking story is beautifully told in verse and the details of his life and his part in the incident unfold slowly. Life in the juvenile detention center is brutal at times and the reader wants to scream with the injustice of it all. The authors perfectly capture how the justice system assumes that boys of color or older, more violent, and somehow hardened criminals for exhibiting what would be considered normal behavior by white boys. We see Amal's humanity in his grieving family, his poems, and the art he creates. We also see the system stacked against him in the racist tattoo of a prison guard. This book will find many readers among upper middle school and high school students and I was happy to hear that paperback copies are being made so it can be distributed in juvenile detention centers and prisons. The best books give voice to the voiceless, and that is what this book does. Side note: co-author Yusef Salaam is one of the "Exonerated Five" and while this is not autobiographical, he has lived much of this story. 

Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

 

This Spider-Man story takes place at a Brooklyn high school where 16-year-old Miles is struggling to deal with Mr. Chamberlain, an oppressive teacher pushing Miles to react to his racist rhetoric. I am a fan of Jason Reynolds, but not of Spider-Man lore and I didn't know what to expect from this story. What I found were characters who seem like real teenagers, combined with serious issues of race and how students of color are treated in schools across America, and also good, fun super hero action. Miles is a believable yet unlikely hero, and his parents and their back-stories add depth to the story and make his spider powers make sense. Reynolds masterfully works in the treatment of Black students at the hands of teachers like Chamberlain (literally all named Chamberlain). Once again, Jason Reynolds has proven that he can do no wrong. Recommended for all middle school and high school collections. 

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

 

This book won the National Book Award for 2020, and with good reason. It's a lovely story, full of surprises, featuring middle schools boys from Louisiana. Kingston (known as King) thinks he sees his recently deceased brother in the dragonflies in the nearby bayous of his small town. Before his death, his brother had warned King not to associate with a boy named Sandy because Sandy is gay. King never felt right about abandoning his best friend over the issue, and when Sandy goes missing, King becomes involved in hiding him and protecting him. King is Black and Sandy is white, and that causes division in their southern town. But Sandy being gay results in similar discrimination. This book is a rare find--it's a genuinely lovely, surprising book, that also happens to feature Black and LGBTQ characters. Not only is it much needed, it's an excellent book in its own right. 

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leigh Johnson

 

You Should See Me in a Crown is a sweet romance that is entirely appropriate for middle school students. Liz Lighty, an awkward band girl in need of college funding, is running for prom queen (for the scholarship money) in an Indiana town that won't allow same-sex couples to attend prom. She is also one of few Black girls at her school and often feels stifled by her small-town high school. Liz is out to her friends, but has never had a girlfriend, so it doesn't seem like a big deal until she meets Amanda. The two girls have a strong connection, which is almost spoiled by Liz's hesitance to go public with her feelings. It is rare to find feel-good romances featuring non-white and non-straight characters. If this were a story about white, heterosexual kids it would be in some ways unremarkable--a good, solid romance story--but the addition of diversity on several levels makes it especially valuable for library collections. And what an awesome cover!

Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds with Art by Danica Novgorodoff

Long Way Down is one of the most powerful and popular books written for teens in recent years. The original was spare and poetic, and packed a powerful punch for readers of many abilities and interests. It's the story of Will, 15 years old and devastated over the shooting death of his older brother, Shawn. Will has grown up with "the rules" that say no crying, no snitching, and get revenge. He has never held a gun, but is in an elevator heading out to do what he thinks he has to do to avenge Shawn's death. In the space of one minute in the elevator, Will is met at each floor by a ghost from his past. There are no easy answers or platitudes here, but much to think about and discuss with students. This graphic novel uses soft watercolors temper the harsh topic and splashes of red to accent the violence and desperation inherent in the story. Although the original and the graphic novel tell the same story, they feel different. The graphic novel is well done, and will bring new readers to the story, but the original without the visuals, was a more powerful reading experience for me. In either format, this is essential reading, and recommended for readers in grades 7-up. 

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams

 

Genesis is a 13-year-old girl with a list of things she hates about herself. One of the primary things is the darkness of her skin. The book begins with Genesis and her mother being evicted from their home and moving from their Detroit neighborhood to a rented house in a beautiful suburb. Her father promises that he is getting a promotion and that he an afford the home, but Genesis has learned not to trust him. She has never lived in such a nice area but is wary of settling in. Genesis finds out from her own grandmother that the family didn't want her parents to marry because of the darkness of her father's skin. And now her father denigrates her for that same dark skin she inherited from him. While the book swirls with issues of race and colorism and family dynamics, what makes it shine is how deeply we come to empathize with Genesis. She's a character that readers can really root for as she overcomes obstacles and comes into her own. The audiobook, read by the author, is an outstanding listening experience. Highly recommended for middle school-up. 

Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright

 

This is an outstanding graphic novel for middle schoolers. The story centers around Maureen and Francine, identical friends and best friends. But when they start 6th grade, they are placed in separate classes and friction starts to develop between the girls. Maureen feels isolated and left out as Francine moves away from her. When they run against each other for class president it threatens to tear their bond apart. The art is colorful and fun, the plot is relatable with a few surprises, and the adults in the story, especially the parents, are supportive and understanding of the twins' unique talents. Written by Black author/illustrators and featuring Black middle schoolers, this fills a gap in graphic novel collections and adds another great choice for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Victoria Jamieson. Recommended for grades 3-8. A must-purchase for school libraries!

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Marva and Duke are both 18 years old and eligible to vote for the first time. Marva has been waiting her whole life for this chance, and is determined to also help others vote as well. At the election site she meets Duke, also Black and 18 years old. Duke is told he is not registered in that precinct, so Marva offers to drive Duke to another polling location. Casting a vote turns out to be an all-day ordeal, and the two teenagers get to know a lot about each other during that day. Duke is still reeling from the death of his older brother, who was a strong advocate for racial justice. Marva is dealing with a long-term boyfriend who has decided not to vote and her Instagram-famous cat who is missing. The entire story takes place in one long day (much like The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon). Great characters and an intriguing premise and also a serious look at voter suppression. I predict that my middle school readers will love it. Recommended for grades 7-up.

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

Scoob Lamar has been whisked away on a strange road trip by his beloved G'ma. Scoob, biracial and brown-skinned, is with his white grandma as she drags him through the south with the guidance of her historic Green Book. Scoob learns that travel used to be dangerous and difficult when G'ma and Grandpa made the same trip years ago. Scoob also figures out that his G'ma is cutting off contact with his father and may be committing crimes along the way. The characters are fresh and funny, and the social history will make for great conversations. Nic Stone is making great contributions to YA literature and brings her talent to a younger audience with this middle grade story. Recommended for grades 4-7.

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagen

Powerful, well-written, and inspiring, this story about New York teens at a social justice high school deserves a wide audience. A couple of high school girls start a Women's Rights Club and find that it's too much for even their progressive high school to handle. This book is brimming with poetry and activism, and also deals with racial microaggressions and interracial friendships. This book includes a poem about body image, with every word taken straight from a teen fashion magazine, that I will never forget. Highly recommended for grades 8-up.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Emoni is a teen mother who is raising her daughter while living with her abuela. Emoni works a part-time job, takes care of her daughter, and dreams of being a chef with her own restaurant. She's a patient mother, a devoted granddaughter, and a little bit afraid to dream too much for herself. When a culinary arts class opens up at her school with the opportunity to study cooking in Spain, the reader knows she needs to make the most of the opportunity. Of course, obstacles appear and Emoni does not have smooth sailing. A new boy, Malachi, moves in and takes an interest in her. He is almost too good to be true, but Emoni deserves a good relationship with someone who cares about her. It's a hopeful story, and one that's in high demand at my school right now. Elizabeth Acevedo is definitely an author to watch.