Nineteen-year-old Jakob and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles, and now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II — Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. 

Alternating between the voices of Jakob and Lizzie, the chapters are short, and the pace of the book is quick. The result is an adventure story with action and excitement! Consider pairing this novel with the nonfiction book, The Enigma Girls, also included on this book list.

Tags: WWII, spies, military intelligence, siblings

When Germany becomes too dangerous for Jewish citizens at the start of WWII, Max’s parents put him on the Kindertransport to England. But Max doesn’t want to go to London — he doesn’t speak English, and has never left Berlin. Determined to find his way home, and accompanied by two magical spirits, Max hatches a plan to return to Berlin by convincing the British to make him a spy! Masterfully told, this is a thrilling and even funny book at times. This could be a good companion novel to When We Flew Away, which is also recommended on this list.

Tags: WWII, Kindertransport, spies, espionage, Jewish people, magic, fantasy

When the boys from an all-Black baseball team are caught “trespassing” on a Whites-only field, the resulting racial outrage burns like a wildfire through the community. There’s only one way to settle this conflict without violence: on the baseball field. Compellingly told in authentic first person voice, this is a story about racial segregation, social injustice, having a dream, and ultimately about the power of dialogue and friendship. Not to be missed! It will pull you in from the very first page.

Tags: sports, baseball, civil rights, race relations, Little League

In May of 1940, Anne Frank is a young girl not quite eleven with all the ordinary problems of a little sister. But Amsterdam is about to be invaded by Nazis, and everything is about to change. This fictionalized account of Anne deftly recreates her life with all its wit, mischief, and uncertainties before she went into hiding. It also reminds us of how important it is to remember and honor all that was lost. This could be a good companion novel to Max in the House of Spies, which is also recommended on this list, or Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl.

Tags: WWII, Jewish people, Anne Frank, sisters, Holocaust

It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own. So when Will and his father hear about an upcoming land rush, they set out on a journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to the place where land is free. But the journey isn’t easy — the terrain is rough, the bandits are brutal, and every interaction carries a heavy undercurrent of danger. Written in haunting, sparse prose, Rhodes deftly captures a unique ­aspect of this historical event, with a perspective that is ­often under-represented in historical ­fiction. 

Tags: Westward Expansion, fathers & sons, land rush, racism, African Americans

Told over the course of one anxiety-inducing day, middle-schooler Andrew Yeager has to find a way to make it through picture day without “popping” into his very worst nightmare: a full-blown, public panic attack. With a little help from friends and the adults in his life, Andrew draws on advice from his therapist, and tries to maintain a sense of humor in an effort to deal with the pitfalls that threaten to derail him. Poignant, laugh-out-loud funny, and drawing on the author’s personal experience with anxiety and OCD, this book is a good choice for students who want to know more, or want to know that they are not alone. 

Tags:  anxiety, OCD, mental health, humor, empathy

Hank Hooperman is used to babysitting his little sister, Boo, but when his mom doesn’t come home after a week, Hank has to make some choices in order to provide for them both. Will his decisions reveal secrets that lead to social workers and foster care, or will Hank find a way to hold the family together? Both heart-wrenching and hopeful, Hank learns you can love someone even if you can’t rely on them, and learns about the transformative power of second chances.

Tags:  siblings, family problems, secrets, resilience, courage

Not excited about moving away from the warm beaches in Florida to snowy winters in Wisconsin, Aliyah looks for ways to fit in at her new Islamic school by taking her talents to the basketball court. The team has never had a winning season, but things start to look up when a new coach shows them that teamwork is more important than the score. Based on true events of an all-hijab wearing high school basketball team, this graphic novel overflows with humor and heart as the girls make a run for the championship!

Tags:  sports, basketball, teamwork, hijab, family, friendship

“It was a very fine day, until something tried to eat him.” The day Christopher rescues a baby griffin from a hidden lake is the day he learns about a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures have thrived for thousands of years. It’s also the day he meets Mal — a girl on the run in desperate need of his help. Together, Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and the creatures are dying. The closer they get to the dark truth, the clearer it becomes: no one can fix this. If the islands are to be saved, Christopher and Mal will have to do it themselves. 

Fast-paced and full of wonder, this title would make a great read-aloud! This is also the first book in a series that will leave kids itching for the second.

Tags: mythical animals, magic, quests, adventure

Lola and her beloved brother, Alex, live in Mexico City in a house built around a towering tree with beautiful blooms, and mythical creatures in the garden. Lola has always considered such magic an ordinary part of life. When her brother and the tree get sick at the same time, Lola follows the garden creatures into a secret, hidden world — a world she is sure holds the key to healing Alex. To save him, though, Lola must use all her wits and face her deepest fears. Heart-wrenching and beautifully written, the author weaves a beautiful take of loss and letting go.

Tags: magical realism, Mexico, siblings, grief, trauma, love