Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Anna’s new at her Madison, Wisconsin middle school.  She’s a little young for eighth grade and still trying to figure out how the middle school social hierarchy works, so when she notices that a girl named Rachel Riley is shunned by all her classmates, she’s curious to find out why.  Digging deeper into the mystery, Anna discovers that Rachel was one of the popular girls until the end of seventh grade, when a mysterious fire disrupted the end-of-the-year dance and awards ceremony.  A devoted podcast fan, Anna decides to make a podcast to answer the question, what happened to Rachel Riley?  In addition to her own narration, the story is told through texts, emails, letters, interviews, and news reports, which slowly reveal to Anna a tale of bullying and sexual harassment that has been ignored by teachers and administrators and laughed off by students.  As Anna uncovers the truth, she learns the importance of using her own voice to speak up in defense of truth and justice.  352 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  It’s not often that I wish I were still running middle school book clubs, but it happened as I read this perfect middle school story.  The format and the mystery elements make it a quick and engaging read, and the story raises important questions about sexual harassment and how it affects both boys and girls.

Cons:  The large cast of characters and story format left me feeling like I didn’t really get to know several of the secondary characters.

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Summary:  Boomi is reeling from the death of her father from Covid.  Remote school is isolating, her best friend seems distant, and the final blow comes when she fails an audition at her ballet school.  She receives an old boombox of her father’s under somewhat mysterious conditions, and when she tries to play the mixtape inside, she’s transported back to 1986 England.  There she meets her 12-year-old father, Jeevan, as well as his mysterious older sister, and a younger version of her grandmother, Paati, who lives with Boomi’s family in the present and suffers from dementia.  As Boomi travels back and forth between the present and the past, she learns about the racism that plagues her dad and his family, forcing Asian people to be silent and invisible in their mostly white community.  By helping them speak up, Boomi learns to accept what has happened in her life and to embrace her love of dancing, even if her body is not the size and shape her ballet teacher is looking for.  Working together, Boomi and Jeevan manage to heal the rifts within their families and change their lives for the better.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  I wasn’t expecting the time travel twist, which allowed Boomi to get closure around her father’s death and to witness the racism that shaped both her parents’ early years.  Shanthi Sekaran deftly handles so many difficult topics including not only racism, but body image, grief, and the pandemic.

Cons:  I was actually in London in 1987, which doesn’t feel as much like ancient history as this book makes it seem.

Published by Levine Querido

Summary:  Frederick Douglass “Doug” Zezzmer is a 12-year-old genius inventor who goes to a middle school for gifted kids in Denver.  When the principal, Dr. Yee, announces a team STEAM competition, most of the kids are less than thrilled.  Doug is determined to win so he can show his dad (who’s just moved back after being absent for most of Doug’s life) that inventing, not sports, is his thing.  His best friend Huey, who suffers from stage fright, proves to be a liability in creating a five-person team, and they end up with a bunch of misfits.  As the competition goes on, though, the group goes from five quirky kids who don’t relate to each other to being a team who supports and cheers for each other.  The final results prove that winning doesn’t always mean finishing first and help Doug to stand up to his dad and show him who he really is.  320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  The humor, middle school setting, and chapters told in different characters’ points of view reminded me of Gordon Korman’s books and should make this book an easy sell to upper elementary and middle school readers.

Cons:  I didn’t entirely understand why the title of this book is Control Freaks.

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Mo is reeling following the death of Nan, the grandmother who has raised her, and the refusal of her uncle to adopt her.  She’s placed in the foster care system, which she describes to Nan in a series of letters.  Several mishaps get her removed from her first placement, and she moves in with a wealthy couple who plan to adopt her.  Although the situation seems ideal in many ways, it gradually becomes evident that the couple isn’t ready for such a big move.  Mo feels rejected again and seeks solace with Joe, the doorman in her building that she’s befriended, and his wife.  Throughout the story, Mo learns to cook and, with her best friend, launches a website to collect family recipes with the hope of finding a recipe that will connect her with Nan.  The final resolution of Mo’s story doesn’t come as a particular surprise but is nonetheless extremely satisfying.  224 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Kids in foster care don’t often appear in middle grade fiction, and Mo is a likable narrator whose story shows the heartache of trying to find a family.  The letter-writing format of the story gives it an immediacy and keeps the action moving along.

Cons:  Mo’s experience with the New York City foster care system seemed a lot rosier than I’m guessing most kids have, and there were only occasional mentions of the privilege of being a white girl offering hints of this.

Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Ruby’s had a tough year in seventh grade: one friend moved away, another drifted away, and her beloved grandfather died.  When Ruby’s caught sneaking out of school at lunchtime, she’s sent to her grandmother’s house every weekday during the summer.  Nai-Nai spends her days at the senior center, where Ruby is forced to tag along.  To her surprise, she finds a community there with the other old ladies and Liam, a classmate who also comes with his grandmother.  As the summer goes on, Ruby slowly comes to terms with her grief over her grandfather, her changing friendships, and, most heartbreakingly, her grandmother’s signs of early dementia.  As Ruby and Liam try, and fail, to save a beloved neighborhood bakery, Ruby learns that changes are inevitable, but that having a community of family and friends can help to navigate them.  304 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  A beautifully written story of grief, loss, and community.  Ruby struggles realistically with her emotions and with making choices that aren’t always great, but she also learns to make amends without compromising who she is.  I’d love to see this book win some awards.

Cons:  Until the very end, Ruby’s parents come across as pretty selfish and constantly exasperated with a daughter who is truly struggling.

Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Will is passionate about his soccer team and enjoys an easy camaraderie with his teammates, despite his somewhat introverted nature.  Stomach issues and fatigue lead to a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and being sidelined from soccer.  With more free time, Will starts hanging out with Griffin, a boy who’s been picked on by Will’s other friends for asking one of the boys, Will’s best friend Henry, to the school dance.  As he comes to terms with his chronic disease, the ways it impacts his life, and questions about his own sexuality, Will learns to ask for help when he needs it and to speak up when he sees injustice or bullying.  304 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This is one of the best middle grade books I’ve read this year.  It’s based on the author’s own experiences with Crohn’s and questioning his sexuality, and Will’s voice is pitch perfect.  I’m happy to see so many boy protagonists in the middle-grade world this year.

Cons:  Getting Crohn’s disease in middle school seems like the worst.