Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey

 

Anna-Jane is excited to return to summer camp where she will see her best friend and enjoy being one of the older campers. The summer starts off as usual, but takes a dystopian turn when the camp is cut off from outside communication and no one shows up to pick up their kids. The campers and counselors are on their own, first to survive, and finally to figure out if it is safe to venture outside of the camp to discover what has happened to humanity. Middle school kids love survival stories, and Alone by Megan Freeman has been a big favorite in the last few years. Like Alone, this book is a novel in verse that has a fast-moving plot that will keep readers in suspense right up to the end. The book balances issues of friendship and crushes with the larger issues of how groups of people act in a crisis. This is going to be a big hit in middle school libraries and is highly recommended.    

Tested by Anna Monders

 

Humanity was almost wiped out in the "Great Dying" when a company called GenIn stepped in to make sure that those with the best genetics would survive and help lead the future. Mikayla is one of the genetic elites, and she has prepared her whole life for the test that will get her into the Elite Scholars program. Her score of 94 places her high up in the social hierarchy, above the "Defectives" and the "Expendables." But Mikayla's world is shaken by a genetic test that shows she may not actually be elite, and a family secret that connects her to the defectives and expendables she has spent her life denigrating. This book asks the question, when you know that the society you live in is corrupt and that you've been fed lies your whole life, to what length will you go to make amends and try to change the system? The book centers around Mikayla's friendship with a lower-scoring boy from her past as well as some teenagers who have been caught in the lesser levels of the caste system. Tested is recommended for middle school book collections where science fiction and dystopian books are popular. 

Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Travaldwyn

 

If you like witty banter or musical theatre or or a sweet, awkward rom com, this is the book for you. Patrick is a 16-year-old British boy whose goal is to get people to call him "Patch" and to find a boyfriend in time for prom. In this charming and very funny coming of age story Patch navigates crushes on the new boys in school, broken friendships, and the everyday struggles of being a teenage theatre kid. Although it's billed as a romance, friendships play a major role in the story. It's lighthearted and fun and very chaste (no problems having this in a middle school library). Kids who love Heartstopper will be a natural audience, but readers wanting humor and realistic stories about friendship will also find much to love here. Highly recommended for 7th-10th grade readers. A delightful story!

Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer

 

Ezra Cloud is a Native kid living in the city. He hates it there but his dad is a professor of Ojibwe language with a job in Minneapolis. Ezra would rather be in Canada with his grandparents learning their skills in nature. When Ezra has a run-in with Matt Shroeder, a notoriously troubled bully, Ezra becomes a suspect in a fire that destroys Matt's house and kills his family members. Ezra's family sends him north to work a trapline with his grandfather while the investigation plays out, knowing that an Indian teenager may not get fair treatment from the law. This book grabs your attention from the first page, makes you fall in love with Ezra and his grandparents, then catapults you into an outdoor survival story, then brings you back to the original murder mystery. It's a great story with so much to learn along the way. The audiobook read by the author is excellent, and it will help readers to hear the Ojibwe words spoken. It's a true coming of age story about a young teen finding his culture, learning about his mother, seeing his grandparents as full people, finding first love, facing mortal danger, and reconciling with his father. Beautifully written and insightful and a really great story. Highly recommended for 7th graders on up and also for adults.  

Confessions from the Group Chat by Jodi Meadows

 

Virginia is a popular girl with an enviable friend group, but she hides her love of the library and her crush on social-outcast Greyson from her influential clique. When an argument threatens her friendships, the Queen Bee gets revenge on Virginia by posting their group chats for the whole school to see. Nothing that is posted is untrue, but  Virginia never wanted other people to see her mean comments. Virginia is now a total outcast, with one anonymous texting buddy. How will she manage her crush on Greyson, her unknown online friend, and the hatred of the entire eighth grade? This relatable story, full of text messages, will be an easy sell to middle school readers.   

The Scott Fenwick Diaries by Kristin Nilsen

 Anyone who has ever had a crush on a real live person will see themselves in Millie, a 13-year-old girl who has only experienced love through her celebrity crush, Rory Calhoun (see Worldwide Crush by Kristin Nilsen). This book picks up exactly where the first book left off, with a note passed in social studies class. Could Scott Fenwick with the swoopy hair and beautiful lashes actually have a crush on Millie? She starts a new diary to record all of her fears and feelings and insecurities, as well as her most heartfelt acrostic poems spelling out SCOTT FENWICK. You have to trust me that this book is absolutely hilarious, yet perfectly true to the feelings of a 7th grade girl who thinks everyone else knows all about French kissing. Millie's bulldog Pringle is a big part of this book, as are Millie's friends Shauna, a Filipina girl who feels left behind by Millie's new obsession, and Tibbs, who strategizes to get Millie invited to Hebrew school just to ride in a car with Scott Fenwick. Millie's Sound of Music loving parents and her forthright, funny grandma also play key roles. There is humor on every page, including in Millie's numerous attempts to swear without actually using swear words, but there is also a lot of awkwardness, sweetness, and one tearful moment. Gen X readers, you should absolutely pick up this book. You will find references to Pa Ingalls, Barry Gibb, and Magic 8 Balls, and it will bring you back to a time of life you may have chosen to forget. I cannot recommend this book more for 5th-7th grade readers (and their moms). Don't miss this one! 

Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi

 

Parvin is going into ninth grade and a boyfriend situation has developed over the summer. She is looking forward to entering high school with an improved social status, but everything changes when she is dumped before school even starts. Parvin decides she needs to find a new homecoming date, mostly to prove her worth to her ex. She sets her sights on Matty Fumero, who is probably out of her league, but she has a plan. She will act like a rom com heroine, not like her usual loud, frizzy-haired, band-nerd self. This coming of age story follows Parvin through her freshman year, including Farsi classes with other Iranian Americans and conversations with her relatives in Iran who are affected by the U.S. muslim ban. This gem is genuinely funny and a great #youngteenlit romance. Recommended for grades 7-10.  

XOXO by Axie Oh

 

This sweet romance features Jenny, a Korean American cellist, and Jaewoo, a South Korean K-pop star. Jenny meets Jaewoo at her uncle's karaoke bar, not knowing that he is a celebrity in his home country. When family issues cause Jenny to move to South Korea for a semester of music school (she is an intensely serious cello player), she is shocked to find Jaewoo going to her new school, and also to learn that he is part of the band XOXO and that as a K-pop star he is not allowed to have a girlfriend.  Readers get a taste of life in Seoul, the world of K-pop music, and a swoony romance all in one. Recommended for romance readers grades 8-up. The audiobook was excellent. 

Kat's Greek Summer by Mima Tipper

 

It's the summer before ninth grade and Kat's dream is to excel on the high school cross country team. However, her mom surprises her with a trip to Greece for the whole summer—a place where Kat has never been where she doesn't speak the language. Kat is half Greek, but it is hard to find that side of herself in a strange, hot place where expectations of girls are different and running is not something teenage girls do. On her first day in the remote village where her Grandma lives, Kat notices a handsome Greek boy who lives on a fishing boat. This is the story of how Kat meets Theophilus and starts a relationship with him, all while sneaking out at night and putting herself in some danger, especially from some aggressive local teenage boys. This young teen romance captures the newness, excitement, and even the danger of first love. Young romance readers will love this one. #youngteenlit

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.  

Worldwide Crush by Kristin Nilsen

Texts, song lyrics, letters, and short chapters make this breezy, funny story about a 7th grade girl with a huge celebrity crush an appealing addition to romance books for middle school (and younger middle grade) readers. The story is inspired by Nilsen's girlhood crush on Sean Cassidy and all those strong feelings are there in the story of 7th grade Millie, whose crush on teen superstar Rory Calhoun leads her on a quest for concert tickets and later on a family whale watching vacation to Rory Calhoun's hometown. The ending is utterly perfect and the audiobook read by the author is a delight. In a publishing world where humor is hard to come by, this was a fun read and kids need FUN. Truth be told, Gen X librarians will enjoy it as much as the kids. For more on Sean Cassidy crushes and Gen X culture, check out the Pop Culture Preservation Society podcast that author Kristin Nilsen co-hosts. Recommended for grades 4-7. (It has a couple of humorous uses of swear words but I think this book probably has the most appeal to the younger end of the age range.)  

 

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham

 

Val always loved Valentine's Day until a family secret, a mysterious spirit, and a ripped-up Valentine spoiled the day for her. The spirit tells her that she will never find love, and although she is only 17, she is ready to give up on love altogether. This graphic novel takes Val through a year in her life as she navigates serious revelations about her parents that shake her whole sense of identity as well as a love triangle involving boys who are part of a lion dancing group that performs at Asian festivals around her city. It's hard to describe how charming and fresh this story is...it's beautifully written and illustrated and the captivating storytelling will keep teens and adults reading to the end. A real treasure, and one that will be a hit with middle schoolers as well as older students. Thank you Gene Yang and Leuyen Pham!

Break to You by Neal Shusterman, Debra Young and Michelle Knowlden

 

Adriana and Jon are both incarcerated at a juvenile detention center that keeps boys and girls strictly separate. Adriana has just come for a seven-month sentence and her most precious possession is her diary. When she accidentally leaves it in the facility's library, Jon finds it, reads it, and writes back to her. Thus begins a correspondence and romance between the two teenagers who connect deeply through their writing. Jon has been incarcerated since he was 13 years old, and when he turns 18 he will likely be transferred to the adult justice system. Jon and Adriana hatch a plan to meet and enlist their friends and acquaintances to pull off a heist-like operation to bring them together. However, no one knows who can be trusted and there are no fairy tales in the justice system. The adults running the center are pretty much terrible, and the other teens range from helpful to downright evil. It's a compelling and gritty glimpse into the justice system that will really speak to teens. Recommended for grades 8-up. 

Everyone Wants to Know by Kelly Loy Gilbert

 

Honor Lo is a reality TV star who grew up with her every move being filmed for a show called Lo and Behold featuring her and her four siblings. Her parents are influencers who care mainly about their public image as the perfect family--but this book begins with a bombshell. Honor's father is moving out and their perfect marriage is facing an image crisis. Honor has a lot going on. She is betrayed by her best friends and her mother moves the family to a new town. Honor is desperately trying to keep her siblings together and orchestrate a family reunion that will reunite her parents. Nothing is working until the family gets devastating news about her college-aged sister, which may (or may not) bring the Lo family together again. With all the family drama, Honor has a love interest back home who may just force her out of her highly regulated life and into a relationship of her own making. This book got great reviews, but I had mixed feelings. Things I liked: The world of social media influencers was inherently interesting--the parents' narcissism and the publicists swarming was kind of fascinating. Also the sibling relationships and Honor trying to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders were entirely realistic. Things I didn't like--I found the plot surrounding her sister's tragedy to be entirely unbelievable. It just couldn't have happened. The parents were one-dimensional. I didn't feel a connection to Honor's new boyfriend (and I think I was supposed to be rooting for them). Finally, some briefly mentioned sexual encounters seemed way out of character for Honor and made the book less appropriate for middle school readers for no real reason. All this being said, it is still a compelling book about the world of media influencers and I do recommend it to YA readers who like family drama and relationships. 

Every Day by David Levithan, illustrated by Dion MBD (graphic novel)

 

I have long loved the novel Every Day by David Levithan with its highly unique premise. This graphic novel version brought new life to the story and got me excited about it all over again. The protagonist is A, a teen who wakes up in a different body every day. Because A only inhabits other teens’ bodies, A has no gender and no real identity. But A longs to make connections. In one incarnation, A is in the body of a teenage boy and he skips school with his girlfriend, Rhiannon. They have a lovely day at the beach together, and Rhiannon is shocked at how well her boyfriend (really A in her boyfriend’s body) treats her.  The next day A moves onto another body, but A does not forget Rhiannon. In fact, A has her email address and is able to contact her via an email that A uses in spite of all his different incarnations. A manages to meet up with Rhiannon in various bodies and convinces her of A’s changing identity. It is such an intriguing conundrum—they love each other but how can they ever be together? One major advantage of the graphic novel is seeing A in all of the different bodies—male, female, as well as different races. It is a highly effective way to bring the 2013 novel to new readers. Recommended for 8th-up. 

This Book Won't Burn by Samira Ahmed

 

Noor Khan is reeling from her father's desertion of her family and her mother's sudden move from Chicago to a small town in Illinois. Noor has one semester left of high school, and she intends to lay low and focus on graduating and getting into college. She and her sister find themselves in a conservative community that has very few Black and brown people, and only a handful of Muslim students--so the two new students attract attention at their high school. Noor finds refuge in her school library, only to find out that books are being surreptitiously removed from the shelves. Against her better judgment, Noor decides to fight back against the book censorship that is happening. 

Romantic relationships and book banning and racism all come into play in this excellent YA novel. I will definitely be recommending this to students 8th grade-up. 

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

 

An awkward kid goes on a 3-week school trip to Europe in 1989 in this "embarassingly true" memoir. Dan Santat is an illustrator, so it was natural for him to write up his teenage memories into a graphic novel. In this book, Dan is off on a trip to Paris, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and England. He doesn't have any friends signed up for the trip, and doesn't even want to go, but his parents want him to see the world and he is eager to shed his middle school humiliations and missteps. As he travels from country to country, his friendship with Amy turns into his first romantic relationship, and it is helped and hindered by the other kids on the trip. He also experiences an amount of freedom that kids today would never enjoy--and along with it he has some harrowing adventures. It is rare to find a romance story for middle schoolers that is about kids who are 13 years old. The illustrations beautifully capture the sights of Europe, and the writing is full of humor and compassion for the kid that Dan once was. A wonderful story about first love and so much more that is perfect for middle schoolers (and anyone who ever was that age). 

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. 

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. 

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!