A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

Chattana is a city in Thailand where one man controls all the light. The all-powerful governor is worshipped almost like a god and the rich enjoy light and privilege while the poor work in darkness. Pong, a boy born in prison, finds an opportunity to escape, and finds safety with a kind monk. But he soon discovers that he can never have real freedom as long as his prison tattoo marks him as an escapee. Nok, the prison warden's daughter, pursues him, sure in her knowledge that Pong should be brought to justice. But what is justice in a world of inequality? Shouldn't light be available to everyone? This adventurous fantasy has plenty of action and also provides fodder for discussions about justice and equality and how to protest effectively. This gem of a book, which is actually a new take on Les Miserables, is a delight. Recommended for grades 4-6, but older readers may also enjoy it.  

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.  

Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia

 

Imagine spending a whole summer with the father you've never met in a city you've never been to in a community where you don't speak the language. Almudena is 14 going on 15 and that's how she spends her summer. Her white mom leaves her with her Guatemalan dad in New York City. Her father, Xavier, is eager to get to know her, but he doesn't speak English and she doesn't speak Spanish. He is fixing up an old Brownstone building and expects her to demolish walls and put up sheetrock and learn construction skills. At the same time she meets his friends and neighbors and his girlfriend, and finds a vibrant community that she comes to know and want to join. This Printz Award winning graphic novel is a great example of Young Teen Lit. Recommended for middle and high school libraries. 

The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Patricia Forde

 

Everyone on Aria's advanced planet knows that Earth is just a "shadow planet," an experiment in what could go wrong if humans were left to themselves. Now it's time to restart the experiment and eliminate the humans who have destroyed their planet. Aria and her father are sent to Earth to spread a deadly virus. They begin by releasing phase one on a train in Dublin. Aria has been told that because humans have short lifespans they don't bond with each other and therefore they really don't have feelings. So killing them should be a breeze...but when things go wrong and Aria meets some actual earthlings, things become more complicated. The plot is further complicated by Aria's knowledge that she shares some DNA with the humans from Earth. But will that make her susceptible to the virus she is unleashing? It's difficult to find books that really meet the needs to 12-15 year olds, and this gem is a great example of Young Teen Lit. Recommended for all middle school libraries. 

The Shadow Road by K.D. Kirchmeier

 

In a world ravaged by deadly metallic flying dragon-like creatures called "blitz," most people have been killed or are desperately heading toward safety in California. Thomas, a 14-year-old kid on his own, meets up with a semi truck driving woman with a secret. Together they drive east to bring hope to desperate people. Meanwhile, another teen named Cassie lives in a ragtag community whose leader believes that the blitz can be killed. Their intertwined stories are action-packed and full of food for thought about the survival of humanity. Every middle school library should buy this one.