Under the London Sky by Anna Woltz

 

Imagine your city being bombed for months and spending every night huddled in a crowded subway station, sleeping among strangers and not knowing if your home would be gone when you emerged in the morning. That was the reality for Londoners during the World War II Blitz and this is the story of Ella, a 14 years old girl, and three other teenagers living through the Blitz. Ella has a limp caused by polio and often feels left behind and ignored, but her new friend Quinn does not seem to notice Ella's physical limitations. Quinn is a wealthy girl, recently escaped from her family's fine estate, and eager to help with the war effort and find her brother, Sebastian, who may or may not be a traitor. The girls meet a 26-year-old boy named Jack who makes money off of the hardships of others and the stories of these four young people intertwine in wartime London. There is hardship and romance and tragedy and reconciliation in this historical book that's perfect for young teens. Recommended for 7th and 8th graders and for all middle school library collections.   

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram

 

One homophobic slur is what it takes to change the lives of two ninth grade boys. One of the boys is Dayton who takes a dare and shouts a slur in his school auditorium during an author visit. He does not understand why his friends and classmates distance themselves from him and the hateful word. After all, he doesn't hate anyone, it was just one word and one ill-advised dare. Farshid is the other boy in this story, and ever since that word was shouted, he feels it hanging over him in the hallways of his school as he grapples with his own identity and what it might mean to reveal the truth to his classmates and to his Iranian family. The school year unfolds in alternating viewpoints. This outstanding book is compelling and thought-provoking and perfect for 8th-9th graders who are ready to grapple with serious issues. It deserves to be read and talked about and will be great for empathy building. Highly recommended for middle and high school collections. 

Beasts by Ingvild Bjerkeland

 

It is so hard to find horror books for middle schoolers and young teens. This one really grabs you with its short chapters and chilling plot. Abdi is a 13-year-old on the run from beasts who have wreaked havoc on the known world. He's in charge of his younger sister after the death of their mother, and they are on a quest to get to their father who they believe is on an island. Everyone is hiding, desperate to survive, and no one trusts anyone. Can Abdi keep his sister alive and get to safety? This book won awards in Europe and crossed over to the US in 2025. I love the hairy cover but have found that middle schoolers aren't picking it up, so booktalk this title and emphasize the horror and suspense. Highly recommended for middle school collections.