School Library Journal (SLJ) is a magazine and website for school librarians and public librarians who work with young people. They're the largest reviewer of children's and young adult books.
Students attending Middle School are around ages 11 to 13.
"Maya discovers her Halmunee, who has dementia, can use food to travel through memories. Maya uses this gift to learn more about her past and her Korean heritage but uncovers many secrets and realizes nothing is what she knew. A charming…
"Hamra has a lot of anger, from the way the pandemic has affected her family to her sadness over her grandmother’s illness. When she foolishly takes from the jungle, a weretiger begins haunting her dreams. This beautiful, poignant fantasy…
"Simon and his family move to a small town after a horrific tragedy, but things like PTSD and the press refuse to be made part of the past. This realistic fiction title is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, with strong, supportive…
"Henna lives with her papas on Earth’s End, where she spends her days gardening and learning. When Papa Niall gets sick, Henna must do the unthinkable: leave Earth’s End to find the only cure, an extinct plant. A moving story about love,…
"It is Indigenous People’s Day, and Wesley has written a poem to mark the occasion. This important story sheds light on contemporary Native American life and discusses discrimination and Wesley’s struggles with family, social, and identity…
"Will excels at soccer, until he is diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and must take a break. He learns he loves video games, but what will his friends think of him connecting with Griffin? Friendships, shifting beliefs, sexual identity, and…
"Kemi loves probability, but when she learns an asteroid has an 84.7 percent chance of crashing into Earth in four days, she is determined to create a family time capsule. With a heartrending surprise twist, Everett masterfully, and…
"After losing his best friend, Noah tries to find and befriend the local cryptid, Mothman. In the process, he finds himself a group of supportive new friends. This beautiful look at gender identity, neurodiversity, strength, and friendship…
"Because of COVID-19, Matthew is isolated with his mother and great-grandmother. He uncovers a riveting story of his great-grandmother’s past, a family secret hidden since the great Ukrainian famine in the 1930s. This historical fiction…
"Azari is an asylum seeker in Ireland who tries to find a balance among the instability of her new home, making friends, xenophobic schoolmates, and freedom in her ability to run for pleasure. This is a compassionate and unique look at the…
"Leeva’s mother says people are for fame; her father says they’re for money. But surely there’s more, thinks Leeva, who braves leaving her yard to discover the wonders of the world past the hedge. This Roald Dahl–esque novel is…
"Iris wants change when her father dies of AIDS, so she joins his partner at one of the ACT UP protests demanding help for AIDS victims. This heartrending novel showcases the fear, ignorance, prejudice, and anger surrounding the AIDS…
"Ellie has always been fine getting by as an unremarkable girl. Then a magical earthquake imbues her with powers, and she finds herself thrust into the strangest of spotlights. This sweet novel uses a superpower plot to explore eminently…
"Monkey escapes being murdered by monks only to find himself indebted to Samir, the Seller of Dreams, and traveling down the 11th-century Silk Road trying to find freedom. This masterly tale is packed with legends, high jinks, and humor…
"New girl Anna knows something has happened to Rachel, the formerly popular girl who is now an outcast. This burning question leads Anna down a road of deep research and opens up dark secrets about sexual harassment at her school. A…
"Nic’s father has always been reluctant to teach her how to use her Gift. But when some shocking truths come to light, Nic must hunt down a mysterious, powerful magical object to clear her father’s name. This fresh fantasy is impossible to…
"When world-traveling Daisy’s mother goes missing, it is up to Daisy to save her. Daisy discovers a magical world filled with “botanists” (plant magicians), and realizes there is so much more to herself than she ever imagined. A…
"When Lina’s family immigrated to the United States from China, Lina stayed behind with her grandmother. Now it’s Lina’s turn to join her family, but she’s shocked to discover how hard her new life is. This novel deftly deals with big,…
"Calista can speak to ghosts, but a family curse means she loses the ability on her 13th birthday. When a vengeful spirit begins abducting children, Calista must defeat it to save her sister and break the curse. An eerie and emotional…
