Read Me in the Middle: Even More Books for 7th and 8th Graders
We've heard over and over from librarians and educators about how difficult it can be to navigate middle grade and teen books to find the ones with the most appeal for 7th and 8th grade students. Maybe you have an advanced reader who has torn through every middle grade book in your library. Or maybe you have a struggling reader who needs something high interest, but at an appropriate reading level.
We've put our heads together and assembled an amazing list of books that you can feel confident handing your 7th and 8th grade readers! Here are our favorites coming out this winter to freshen up your collection.
By Philippa Leathley
What it's about: On her tenth birthday, Meticulous Jones—known to her friends as Metty—receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her ink will reveal something exciting: a tattoo that will symbolize travel, or discovery, or adventure. What appears is a skull, balanced in the palm of a violet glove.
Metty’s fate is to become a murderer.
Why it's perfect for middle schoolers: I know, risky starting this off with an eleven year old protagonist (there's a time skip after she gets her tattoo) but the darker themes, unique world building, and Roal Dahl-esque writing style make this a great choice for middle schoolers.
By Sarah Clawson Willis
Illustrated by Emma Cormarie
What it's about: For twelve-year-old Lucy Carver, music isn’t just a way of life, it’s an escape from homework and home life with her alcoholic father. When Lucy starts seventh grade at Windley School of the Arts, with its high academic standards and even higher artistic expectations, it becomes much harder to keep everything in tune.
Why it's perfect for middle schoolers: Starting 7th grade can be a huge transition, and this book will resonate with the readers who aren't sure how to balance all the new pressures in their life.
By Soman Chainani
What it's about: Hester, Anadil, and Dot are legendary across the Endless Woods as vigilante detectives and protectors of the peace. The famed trio are not only talented witches but also ride-or-die friends who’ve never left a case unsolved.
That is, until the Coven answers a call for help from a mysterious new world—Red Isle, where the Light and Dark Lands are on the brink of all-out war, each blaming the other for a grim spree of deaths. Now the Coven must work together and unmask the killer before Red Isle tears itself apart. Little do they know: The real enemy might be hiding in plain sight . . .
Why it's perfect for middle schoolers: Readers may already be familiar with Chainani's work and ready to take on something with more complex themes, which was his goal in authoring this title.
By Saadia Faruqi
What it's about: Mo is used to his father’s fits of rage. When Abbu's moods shake the house, Mo is safe inside his head, with his cherished folktales: The best way to respond is not to engage. Apparently, his mama knows that too—which is why she took a job on the other side of the world, leaving Mo alone with Abbu.
Why it's perfect for middle schoolers: 13-year old Mo is dealing with some very serious issues and the author doesn't shy away from the real struggles of mental health.
By Ursula K. Le Guin
Adapted and Illustrated by Fred Fordham
What it's about: Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and unleashed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Why it's perfect for middle schoolers: This graphic novel adaptation of a classic teen fantasy is a great introduction to Le Guin's work.
By Catherine Bakewell
What it's about: Ofelia has lived her life dreaming of entering Le Château Enchanté—the mysterious court of the gods-blessed King Léo, where the shadow monsters that roam Ofelia’s home never trespass.
Lope has lived her life as a knight, defending Ofelia and her home from Shadows even as she dreams of escaping with Ofelia by her side.
When the Shadows venture too close, Lope and Ofelia are thrust into a journey that will lead them to the heart of the darkness haunting their home: the dazzling and deceptive Château Enchanté itself.
Why it's perfect for middle schoolers: We've gotten a lot of requests for middle-school appropriate romance and this fits the bill with plenty of fantasy and adventure thrown in.