WELCOME BACK!!!
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
A powerful story about kindness, courage, and acceptance.
Ghost (Track Series) by Jason Reynolds
Fast-paced and emotional; great for reluctant readers.
Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
Told from multiple POVs, all about classroom life, growth, and empathy.
New Kid by Jerry Craft (graphic novel)
A relatable story about fitting in and finding your voice.
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Narrated by a brilliant girl with cerebral palsy who’s underestimated by everyone.
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Three stories of kids fleeing danger across different times and places—timely and gripping.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
A survival classic that still hooks middle schoolers.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Dystopian adventure with nonstop action—great for fans of suspense.
Peak by Roland Smith
A teen attempts to become the youngest climber to summit Mt. Everest.
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Post-apocalyptic mystery with accessible writing and great world-building.
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson
Hilarious and illustrated—good for reluctant readers.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
Still wildly popular and highly accessible.
Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell
A female-led series with humor and middle school drama.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Funny, nerdy, and great for Star Wars fans.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Greek mythology meets modern adventure—hook for many reluctant readers.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
A fast-paced magical school adventure with a strong Black female lead.
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Flips fairy tale stereotypes—great for fantasy lovers.
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
A magical preserve, mythical creatures, and nonstop action.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman (for more advanced 8th grade readers)
A thought-provoking dystopian series with high stakes.
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Told in verse—basketball, brotherhood, and growing up.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
A memoir in verse—deeply moving and beautifully written.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (great for mature 8th graders)
A powerful story told during a 60-second elevator ride.
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lai
Historical fiction in verse about a Vietnamese refugee’s experience.
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
Set in a snowed-in inn with quirky guests and hidden stories.
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (for mature 8th graders)
A high school thriller with social media twists.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
A mystery-filled game inside a high-tech library—think “Willy Wonka meets books.”
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
WWII-era Denmark; friendship and courage during Nazi occupation.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Set during the Revolutionary War, told through the eyes of an enslaved girl.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
A story about nonconformity and the cost of standing out.
El Deafo by Cece Bell (graphic memoir)
Growing up with a hearing aid and learning to embrace differences.
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
A Chinese-American girl helps run a motel while navigating school, racism, and dreams.
Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams (for mature readers)
Deals with colorism, self-worth, and family challenges.
MORE. . .
Fiction for Young Adults
Andrews, Jesse. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Abrams/Amulet Books, 2012.
Bray, Libba. The Diviners. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012.
Hartman, Rachel. Seraphina. Random House/Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012.
Kontis, Alethea. Enchanted. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Harcourt Children’s Books, 2012.
Levithan, David. Every Day. Random House/Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2012.
McCormick, Patricia. Never Fall Down. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, 2012.
Quick, Matthew. Boy 21. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012.
Saenz, Benjamin. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Simon & Schuster/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012.
Stiefvater, Maggie. The Raven Boys. Scholastic, 2012.
Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. Disney/Hyperion, 2012.
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers
Fiction
Brooks, Kevin. Johnny Delgado: Private Detective. Stoke Books, 2012, 978-1781121160.
Brown, Jeffrey. Darth Vader and Son. Chronicle Books, 2012, 978-1452106557.
Crawford, Brent. Carter’s Unfocused, One-Track Mind. Hyperion Books, 2012, 978-1423144458.
Damico, Gina. Croak. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Graphia, 2012, 978-0547608327.
Devine, Eric. Tap Out. Running Press Kids, 2012, 978-0762445691.
Doller, Trish. Something Like Normal. Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2012, 978-1599908441.
Fukuda, Andrew. The Hunt. Macmillan/St. Martin's Griffin, 2012, 978-1427222084.
Non-Fiction
Bender, Mike; Chernack, Doug. Awkward Family Pet Photos. Illus., Random House/Three River Press, 2011, 978-0307888129.
Briggs, Amy. Angry Birds Space: A Furious Flight into the Final Frontier. Illus., National Geographic, 2012, 978-1426209925.