2024 SLJ Best Books - Middle GradeLike this list

17 items

• Best Books 2024 | School Library Journal

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  The curation of this list is evidence of the gigantic community working together, no questions asked, to campaign for literacy and an educated republic, by inviting young readers into the pages of a book. We’d love to know what you think of our 193…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree

  Abendanon, Lucille

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  "It’s 1942 in the Dutch East Indies when the Japanese invade. Ten-year-old Emmy and her father are taken to separate prisoner-ofwar camps where food is scarce and discerning whom to trust can mean life or death. A gripping novel about…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman

  Choldenko, Gennifer, 1957-

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  "Eleven-year-old Hank Hooperman and his little sister, Boo, have been left alone at home for several days without knowing where their mother is or if she will return. An outstanding book about the ingenuity and persistence of a big brother in the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Max in the House of Spies

  a Tale of World War II

  Gidwitz, Adam

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  Also available as a downloadable audiobook ."A Jewish boy is separated from his parents in Berlin on the brink of WWII, and his only way home is to train as a British spy—with the help of two raucous, fantastical creatures. Gidwitz combines humor,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Gooseberry

  Gow, Robin

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  Also available as an eBook. "After a disastrous prior foster placement, nonbinary tween B finally finds safety with a queer couple. Bringing rowdy, reactive dog Gooseberry into the mix shakes things up for the new family. This compelling novel…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Island of Whispers

  Hardinge, Frances, 1973-

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  "In Merlank, the dead must be ferried to the Island of the Broken Tower to move on. Milo’s father is the Ferryman. When he is killed, young Milo must take over his precise and dangerous job. This modern fairy tale, gorgeously illustrated, teaches…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine

  Melleby, Nicole

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  "Summer with Grandma means Winnie stays closeted while her mother focuses on her pregnancy following several miscarriages and bouts of depression. This tender novel takes a much-needed look at young people hiding pieces of themselves to serve…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Olivetti

  Millington, Allie

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  Also available as an eBook. "When Beatrice goes missing, her reticent son Ernest finds an unlikely ally: his mother’s bold, opinionated typewriter. Olivetti has stories to tell, stories that the family needs to grapple with in order to find…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody

  Ness, Patrick, 1971-

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  Also available as an eBook and dowloadable audiobook. "Monitor lizard Zeke is shocked when he gets on the wrong side of a school bully who happens to be a supervillain’s son. Zeke already feels powerless at home, so how can he face down this new…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Last Dragon on Mars

  Reintgen, Scott

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  "Mars is dying, and Lunar knows that the people stuck there are doomed. When he stumbles across a secret military base, he learns two things: there is a dragon on Mars, and the dragon has chosen him. With its engrossing plot, this is a shining…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ultraviolet

  Salazar, Aida

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  "Eighth grader Elio is dating for the first time, and now emotions like love, jealousy, heartbreak, and betrayal are showing up in ultraviolet colors. This novel in verse highlights the struggles teens experience when grappling with…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Kareem Between

  Safadi, Shifa Saltagi

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  Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook. "Navigating life as a Syrian American kid has Kareem balancing family, friendship, and football amid the 2016 executive order known as the “Muslim Ban.” This stunning verse novel will resonate…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Louder Than Hunger

  Schu, John, 1981-

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  "Bullied and lonely, 13-year-old Jake is fighting an anorexia-inducing voice inside his head that sends him to the hospital for a yearlong recovery period. An impactful novel in verse for tweens and teens about self-doubt, social challenges, and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall

  Warga, Jasmine

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  "When a painting is stolen, Rami starts to see the ghost of the girl in the artwork, Blue, and embarks on a journey to solve the mystery of the theft and discover Blue’s identity. This quirky mystery with impeccably developed characters will delight…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Light and Air

  Wendell, Mindy Nichols

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  Also available as an eBook. "Halle and her mother live in a sanitorium after falling ill with tuberculosis, allowing Halle a break from her angry and distant father. This beautiful story, set in 1935, underscores parental struggles as well as the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mid-air

  Williams, Alicia, 1970-

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  Also available as an eBook and downloadable audiobook. "A devastating accident takes the life of Isaiah’s best friend, forcing him to confront his relationships with his remaining friends, his family, and with himself. Complemented by watercolor…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Shark Teeth

  Winston, Sherri

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  Also available as a downloadable audiobook. "Kita lives in constant fear that she and her siblings will be sent back to foster care. When things start to truly fall apart, she learns that getting help might be the only way to fix them. A riveting…Read moreRead more of this annotation