Middle School

Berkeley Unified School District is committed to developing the climate literacy of its students. On November 3, 2021, the BUSD Board of Education passed the BUSD Climate Literacy Resolution, which is dedicated to educating students about the causes of climate change, its potential for harm, actions needed to ensure a livable future, and the intersections of race and environmental justice as a civil rights issue. 


These reading lists, organized by grade level, represent books published recently designed to educate and empower students to be leaders in the climate justice movement.


All of these books are available through Berkeley school libraries or through Berkeley Public Library as a physical and/or digital book. For more information about any of these books, or to check one of them out, ask your school librarian.

The 21: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the U.S. Government Over Climate Changeby Elizabeth Rusch
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2023
All the Feelings Under the Sun: How to Deal With Climate Changeby Leslie Davenport
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2021
Buildings That Breathe: Greening the World's Citiesby Nancy Castaldo
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2023
Cast Away: Poems for Our Timeby Naomi Shihab Nye
Genre: Poetry
Published: 2020
Audiobook available
Climate Warriors: Fourteen Scientists and Fourteen Ways We Can Save Our Planetby Laura Gehl
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2023
Drawn to Change the World : 16 Youth Climate Activists, 16 Artistsby Emma Reynolds
Genre: Collective BiographyFormat: Graphic Novel Collection
Published: 2023
Audiobook available
Girl Warriors: How 25 Young Activists Are Saving the Earthby Rachel Sarah
Genre: Collective Biography
Published: 2021
Globalby Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin
Genre: FictionFormat: Graphic Novel
Published: 2023
How to Change Everything: The Young Human's Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Otherby Naomi Klein
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2021
Imaginary Bordersby Xiuntecatl Martinez
Genre: Essay
Published: 2020
Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid's Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planetby Joan Marie Galat
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2024
Meltdown: Discover Earth's Irreplaceable Glaciers and Learn What You Can Do to Save Themby Anita Sanchez
Genre: NonfictionFormat: Illustrated Nonfiction
Published: 2022



Nowhere Better Than Hereby Sarah Guillory
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Published: 2023
Audiobook available
One Earth: People of Color Protecting Our Planetby Anuradha S. Rao
Genre: Collective Biography
Published: 2020



Save the People! Halting Human Extinctionby Stacy McAnulty
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2022
Saving Earth: Climate Change and the Fight for Our Futureby Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2022
Audiobook available
Taking on the Plastics Crisisby Hannah Testa
Genre: Essay
Published: 2020
This Book Will Save the Planet: A Climate-Justice Primer for Activists and Changemakersby Dany Sigwalt
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2022
Two Degreesby Alan Gratz
Genre: Realistic/Survival Fiction
Published: 2022
Audiobook available

We Didn't Ask For Thisby Adi Alsaid
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Published: 2020
What Poo Can Do: How Animals are Fighting the Climate Crisisby Yolanda Ridge
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2024
Where Have All the Birds Gone?by Rebecca Hirsch
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2022

How do I read these books?

Many of these books are available through Berkeley school libraries as a physical and/or ebook. For more information about any of these books, or to check one of them out, ask your school librarian.

For more information and instructions on accessing ebooks and audiobooks, visit our Digital Books page.

At a time when so many small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, we also encourage folks to support our local bookstores: 

Ashay by the Bay, Bandung Books, Eastwind Books, Marcus Books, Moe’s Books, Mr. Mopps, Books Inc., Pegasus Books and Mrs. Dalloways.