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.   

Whale Eyes by James Robinson

 

This memoir about seeing and being seen is like no other book for middle schoolers. James Robinson has strabismus, a condition often mis-labeled as "lazy eye" and it has affected many aspects of his life. In this book he not only tells about his childhood and all the attempts to correct his eyes, but it also visually shows what words on a page look like to him. Readers will be spinning the book, turning it upside down, and experimenting with how words appear to James. It's a compelling story, and a vehicle for talking about disability, inclusion, and empathy. James Robinson is a documentary filmmaker and you'll definitely want to show students his New York Times documentary, I Have a Visual Disability and I Want You to Look Me in the Eye.  Highly recommended!

The Beat I Drum by Dusti Bowling

 

Dusti Bowling's latest novel is solidly #youngteenlit with a 14-year-old protagonist and strong disability representation. Connor has Tourette's Syndrome and is starting 9th grade in a new high school. He holds a lot of resentment for the way his father treated him regarding his Tourette's-related tics. Connor, whose main tic is barking uncontrollably, is understandably nervous about starting in a new high school, but he is pleasantly surprised to find a new friend group and a music teacher who encourages him to choose an instrument that speaks to him. It's a story about the power of music (drumming!), the difficulties of forgiveness, the importance of friendship, dealing with bullying, and experiencing a first romance. And yes, Connor's old friend Aven Green from Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus makes an appearance. Realistic fiction at its best and can be read as a stand-alone novel. Recommended for all middle school libraries. 

Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

Ellie is a middle school girl who dreams of being a chef. Worried about her grandfather's worsening dementia, Ellie and her mom move to be near her grandparents, and Ellie finds herself as the new kid in a wheelchair in a small town school that's not equipped to handle her special needs. She's living in a trailer park on the wrong side of the city, but for the first time in her life she makes some real friends and feels needed by her grandparents. Ellie's cerebral palsy is a defining parameter of her life, but it isn't the the most difficult challenge she faces. She is focused on friendship, family health issues, and winning the annual cooking contest. This book is predictable and definitely not action-packed, but Ellie is a refreshing character and younger readers will enjoy how she overcomes her challenges. Recommended for grades 3-5.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Aven was born with no arms, but that doesn't stop her from eating lunch, buttoning her own jeans, and playing guitar. She's a capable, well-adjusted 13-year-old, but when her parents move to the Arizona desert it throws her for a loop. For the first time in her life, she's the new girl at school and kids stare at her and treat her like she is disabled. She ends up making friend with a boy who has Tourette's Syndrome and together they navigate their challenges and support each other. There's also a bit of a mystery to be solved at the run down theme park her parents are managing, but the main story centers around Aven and her adjustment to new possibilities in her new town. I think kids will love her friend Connor (whose tics include barking at inappropriate times) and gain some empathy by walking in these kids' shoes.