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The Truth As Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor
Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade and can barely read or write. Fifteen months ago, Mason's best friend, Benny, was found dead in the Buttle family orchard and as the investigation drags on, Mason can't understand why the police won't believe his story about what happened. When Mason and his new friend Calvin make an underground club space in order to escape the neighborhood bullies, Mason finds himself in even more trouble and becomes desperate to figure out what happened to Calvin and Benny.
Call Number: 310L
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate; Patricia Castelao (Illustrator)
A scrappy dog named Bob and his best friends, Ivan the gorilla and Ruby the elephant, undertake a dangerous journey to seek Bob's long-lost sister, but a storm is approaching and time is running out.
Call Number: 570L
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Mia Tang and her immigrant parents are not exactly living the American dream since moving here from China--they live in the Calivista Motel, and Mia must tend to its guests. Her parents, meanwhile, have been hiding illegal immigrants in the motel's empty rooms, risking the wrath of the owner, Mr. Yao. On the personal life front, Mia wants to become a writer, but her mother is being very discouraging because she is better at math and English is not her first language. No matter what, however, Mia vows to follow her dreams.
Call Number: 640L
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya
Emilia Torres thought her life would return to normal when Dad returned from deployment, but instead she finds it unraveling. Dad shuts himself off from Emilia and her mom and abuela, spending his time working on his classic car. One day, though, Dad invites her in to help him work, and begins teaching Emilia how to weld. Unfortunately, at the same time, one of her classmates, her best friend Gus, finds himself in the middle of a community-rupturing conflict.
Call Number: 680L
No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen
Almost-thirteen-year-old Felix Knutsson finds himself and his mom, Astrid, living in a van due to his mom's inability to hold down a job. He cannot tell anyone, not even his best friends, unless he wants to be taken away from his mom and put in foster care. The only hope is for Felix to get on a junior edition of his favorite game show, "Who What Where When," and hope that his love for trivia can see them through.
Call Number: Z / 620L
Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee
A group of male classmates begin inappropriately touching seventh-grader Mila, and while some argue that they are merely flirting, others encourage her to report them for bullying. Hesitant to lay her burdens on her overworked mother, Mila begins taking karate lessons and learns to stand up for herself.
Call Number: 630L
Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui
After years of attending Islamic school, twelve-year-old Nimra Sharif begins classes at a public middle school. She quickly discovers that it's not what she thought it would be, and worse yet, her best friend Jenna has distanced herself from Nimra. Nimra decides that to fit in and draw Jenna back, she will join the school's boy band, Barakah Beats, even though Nimra was taught that music isn't allowed in Islam. She decides to participate as long as it takes to win Jenna back, then she will quit before her parents find out. However, as time goes on, Nimra enjoys being in the band. When the band enters a talent show to benefit refugees, Nimra's plan goes awry. Now Nimra will have to decide whether to disappoint the band or herself.
Call Number: 650L
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
When her stepfather Alex proposes that he adopt her, twelve-year-old Addie is happy about the prospect, but lingering unanswered questions about her biological father leave her feeling surprisingly unsure.
Call Number: 660L
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Seventh-grader Jerome is mistakenly shot by a white police officer, and as a ghost, observes the turmoil in his community as a result of his death. He then meets the ghost of Emmett Till who helps Jerome understand how systemic racism led to his death, but also understand how far the effects of his death really go by introducing him to the grieving daughter of the police officer who struggles with her father's actions.
Call Number: Z / 310L
Wink by Rob Harrell
Seventh-grader Ross Maloy tries to navigate middle school after he's diagnosed with eye cancer. His radiation technician, Frank, helps him discover music as an outlet, and teaches him to play guitar. As one of Ross's close friends abandons him, he sees another side to a school bully who has ties to Frank.
Call Number: 580L
Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein
Seventh-grader Will Levine isn't having a stellar year: his biology teacher is forcing him to return all of the turtles he's collected from the marsh behind the school, he's being bullied for his small chin, and his rabbi has assigned him to visit a terminally ill boy, RJ, as part of his bar mitzvah community service project.
Call Number: 640L
Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai (Illustrator)
Tired of being babied by his mother, sister, and grandmother, Henry Khoo is proving his independence in two ways: First, he's the author of an anonymous gossip cartoon about the kids at school. Second, he's taking a plane trip to see his father in Singapore by himself--even though his mother canceled the annual family trip.
Call Number: 680L
New from Here by Kelly Yang
Eleven-year-old Knox Wei-Evans lives in Hong Kong with his parents, two siblings, and the family dog. When a strange virus shuts down the city of Wuhan, China, the family decides that Knox, his siblings, and his mother should move to California to escape the coming onslaught of restrictions while his father stays behind.
Call Number: 630L
A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée
All twelve-year-old Shayla wants to do is follow the rules, but when she starts seventh grade, the rules have changed. Her two best friends seem to be going their own ways and some people at school are saying that she's not black enough. After a ruling in a controversial court case involving the shooting of a black man by a white police officer, Shayla decides to join the Black Lives Matter movement and begins passing out black armbands at school. As the unrest in both Los Angeles and her school spreads, Shayla must figure out if some things are worth breaking the rules.
Call Number: 720L
Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes
Garvey's father always hoped his son would be athletic, but Garvey is anything but. He'd much rather stick his nose in a science fiction book or stare at the stars than run or catch a football. Overweight and lonely, Garvey finds an unlikely refuge in the school choir, where he excels as their newest soloist. While finding his place in the world, Garvey might even find a new way of connecting with his father.
Call Number: T / 620L
Where I Belong by Marcia Argueta Mickelson
Corpus Christi, Texas teenager Millie Vargas devotes her days to attending school and caring for her younger siblings. She devotes her dreams, however, to attending a prestigious college away from home, knowing that in reality, she should stay close to help out her family
Call Number: 740L
Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli
Will Tuppence's life has always been ruled by science and common sense but in ninth grade, shaken up by the discovery that protons decay, he begins to see the entire world differently and gains new perspective on his relationships with his little sister and two closest friends.
Call Number: 490L
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Eleven-year-old autistic Addie is struggling with a new school year and a teacher who isn't sympathetic to her needs and often dismisses her. When she learns in school about witches persecuted in her Scottish village, Addie is sympathetic to what happened to them, realizing they were probably as different as she is.
Call Number: 580L
The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly
Abandoned by their father and living in poverty with their heartless stepmother in Louisiana, two sisters from the Philippines, twelve-year-old Sol and six-year-old Ming, learn the true meaning of family.
Call Number: 640L
The House That Lou Built by Mae Respicio
Longing for an escape from her extended Filipino family, Lou plans to build a tiny house on land she inherited from her father, but difficulties quickly arise.
Call Number: 660L
It Wasn't Me by Dana Alison Levy
Seventh-grader Theo's artwork is vandalized with gay slurs in the student gallery, and all five bystanders claim innocence. Ms. Lewiston, Theo's favorite teacher, brings the six children in over school vacation to engage in a "Justice Circle" to find the culprit. What they find, however, is that each student has a unique story, and that despite their differences, they can all be friends.
Call Number: 740L
Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj
Karina once did not like Chris, the boy next door, very much, until her Indian American grandfather began tutoring Chris and the three begin spending time together. Then a stranger assaults and injures her grandfather, motivated by racism. Karina took pictures the whole time and her social media posts go viral, giving her and Chris internet fame. Now they both have to decide how to use that fame to speak out and make a difference.
Call Number: 680L
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
In Pakistan, Amal holds onto her dream of being a teacher even after becoming an indentured servant to pay off her family's debt to the wealthy and corrupt Khan family.
Call Number: 600L
For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington
Eleven-year-old Makeda June Kirkland struggles to find her place in her new school after her family moves from Maryland to New Mexico. Makeda, who is of African American decent and has been adopted into an all white family, finds herself wondering how life might be different if she were part of a family that looks like her. In the midst of it all, she must deal with her mother's recent mental health diagnosis and mood swings that come with her being bipolar.
Call Number: 500L
The Best at It by Maulik Pancholy
Twelve-year-old Rahul Kapoor heads into seventh grade armed with advice his grandfather gave him--to find a thing he's good at and become the best at it. But Rahul struggles with his identity, including his confusing attraction to classmate Justin Emery. Rahul joins the Mathletes but it doesn't go as planned, and when Jenny asks him to a dance, Rahul spirals into depression and anxiety. With the help of his best friend Chelsea, Rahul confronts who he actually is.
Call Number: 620L
The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma shares with us an unflinching peek into the reality millions of homeless children live every day but also infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers and stay with them long after turning the final page."--Aisha Saeed, author of the New York Times Bestselling Amal UnboundFour determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut.Life is harsh in Chennai's teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom. Nancy Paulsen Books.
Call Number: 680L
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
On her birthday, twelve-year-old aspiring baker Zoe Washington receives a letter from her biological father, who is in prison for murder, telling her he is actually innocent. Determined to discover the truth, Zoe tries to investigate herself, perform well in her baking internship, and achieve her dream of auditioning for the Food Network's Kids Bake Challenge.
Call Number: 660L
Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
When his mother is deported to Mexico, seventh grader Efrén is the only one who can cross the border to bring his mother home.
Call Number: 710L
The Line Tender by Kate Allen
Years after her marine biologist mother suddenly died, now twelve-year-old Lucy Everhart also loses a friend who might have been more than just a friend, and who also helped her as an amateur scientist. Lucy decides to take up her mother's research into sharks as a way to connect and grieve after the two losses. She joins a small, eclectic group to follow the great white sharks that her mother loved so much.
Call Number: 710L
Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai (Illustrator)
Knowing very little English, eleven-year-old Jingwen feels like an alien when his family immigrates to Australia, but copes with loneliness and the loss of his father by baking elaborate cakes.
Call Number: 720L
The Truth As Told by Mason Buttle by
Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade and can barely read or write. Fifteen months ago, Mason's best friend, Benny, was found dead in the Buttle family orchard and as the investigation drags on, Mason can't understand why the police won't believe his story about what happened. When Mason and his new friend Calvin make an underground club space in order to escape the neighborhood bullies, Mason finds himself in even more trouble and becomes desperate to figure out what happened to Calvin and Benny.
Front Desk by
Mia Tang and her immigrant parents are not exactly living the American dream since moving here from China--they live in the Calivista Motel, and Mia must tend to its guests. Her parents, meanwhile, have been hiding illegal immigrants in the motel's empty rooms, risking the wrath of the owner, Mr. Yao. On the personal life front, Mia wants to become a writer, but her mother is being very discouraging because she is better at math and English is not her first language. No matter what, however, Mia vows to follow her dreams.
Each Tiny Spark by
Emilia Torres thought her life would return to normal when Dad returned from deployment, but instead she finds it unraveling. Dad shuts himself off from Emilia and her mom and abuela, spending his time working on his classic car. One day, though, Dad invites her in to help him work, and begins teaching Emilia how to weld. Unfortunately, at the same time, one of her classmates, her best friend Gus, finds himself in the middle of a community-rupturing conflict.
No Fixed Address by
Almost-thirteen-year-old Felix Knutsson finds himself and his mom, Astrid, living in a van due to his mom's inability to hold down a job. He cannot tell anyone, not even his best friends, unless he wants to be taken away from his mom and put in foster care. The only hope is for Felix to get on a junior edition of his favorite game show, "Who What Where When," and hope that his love for trivia can see them through.
Maybe He Just Likes You by
A group of male classmates begin inappropriately touching seventh-grader Mila, and while some argue that they are merely flirting, others encourage her to report them for bullying. Hesitant to lay her burdens on her overworked mother, Mila begins taking karate lessons and learns to stand up for herself.
Barakah Beats by
After years of attending Islamic school, twelve-year-old Nimra Sharif begins classes at a public middle school. She quickly discovers that it's not what she thought it would be, and worse yet, her best friend Jenna has distanced herself from Nimra. Nimra decides that to fit in and draw Jenna back, she will join the school's boy band, Barakah Beats, even though Nimra was taught that music isn't allowed in Islam. She decides to participate as long as it takes to win Jenna back, then she will quit before her parents find out. However, as time goes on, Nimra enjoys being in the band. When the band enters a talent show to benefit refugees, Nimra's plan goes awry. Now Nimra will have to decide whether to disappoint the band or herself.
Ghost Boys by
Seventh-grader Jerome is mistakenly shot by a white police officer, and as a ghost, observes the turmoil in his community as a result of his death. He then meets the ghost of Emmett Till who helps Jerome understand how systemic racism led to his death, but also understand how far the effects of his death really go by introducing him to the grieving daughter of the police officer who struggles with her father's actions.
Wink by
Seventh-grader Ross Maloy tries to navigate middle school after he's diagnosed with eye cancer. His radiation technician, Frank, helps him discover music as an outlet, and teaches him to play guitar. As one of Ross's close friends abandons him, he sees another side to a school bully who has ties to Frank.
Turtle Boy by
Seventh-grader Will Levine isn't having a stellar year: his biology teacher is forcing him to return all of the turtles he's collected from the marsh behind the school, he's being bullied for his small chin, and his rabbi has assigned him to visit a terminally ill boy, RJ, as part of his bar mitzvah community service project.
Fly on the Wall by
Tired of being babied by his mother, sister, and grandmother, Henry Khoo is proving his independence in two ways: First, he's the author of an anonymous gossip cartoon about the kids at school. Second, he's taking a plane trip to see his father in Singapore by himself--even though his mother canceled the annual family trip.
New from Here by
Eleven-year-old Knox Wei-Evans lives in Hong Kong with his parents, two siblings, and the family dog. When a strange virus shuts down the city of Wuhan, China, the family decides that Knox, his siblings, and his mother should move to California to escape the coming onslaught of restrictions while his father stays behind.
A Good Kind of Trouble by
All twelve-year-old Shayla wants to do is follow the rules, but when she starts seventh grade, the rules have changed. Her two best friends seem to be going their own ways and some people at school are saying that she's not black enough. After a ruling in a controversial court case involving the shooting of a black man by a white police officer, Shayla decides to join the Black Lives Matter movement and begins passing out black armbands at school. As the unrest in both Los Angeles and her school spreads, Shayla must figure out if some things are worth breaking the rules.
Garvey's Choice by
Garvey's father always hoped his son would be athletic, but Garvey is anything but. He'd much rather stick his nose in a science fiction book or stare at the stars than run or catch a football. Overweight and lonely, Garvey finds an unlikely refuge in the school choir, where he excels as their newest soloist. While finding his place in the world, Garvey might even find a new way of connecting with his father.
Where I Belong by
Corpus Christi, Texas teenager Millie Vargas devotes her days to attending school and caring for her younger siblings. She devotes her dreams, however, to attending a prestigious college away from home, knowing that in reality, she should stay close to help out her family
Smiles to Go by
Will Tuppence's life has always been ruled by science and common sense but in ninth grade, shaken up by the discovery that protons decay, he begins to see the entire world differently and gains new perspective on his relationships with his little sister and two closest friends.
A Kind of Spark by
Eleven-year-old autistic Addie is struggling with a new school year and a teacher who isn't sympathetic to her needs and often dismisses her. When she learns in school about witches persecuted in her Scottish village, Addie is sympathetic to what happened to them, realizing they were probably as different as she is.
It Wasn't Me by
Seventh-grader Theo's artwork is vandalized with gay slurs in the student gallery, and all five bystanders claim innocence. Ms. Lewiston, Theo's favorite teacher, brings the six children in over school vacation to engage in a "Justice Circle" to find the culprit. What they find, however, is that each student has a unique story, and that despite their differences, they can all be friends.
Count Me In by
Karina once did not like Chris, the boy next door, very much, until her Indian American grandfather began tutoring Chris and the three begin spending time together. Then a stranger assaults and injures her grandfather, motivated by racism. Karina took pictures the whole time and her social media posts go viral, giving her and Chris internet fame. Now they both have to decide how to use that fame to speak out and make a difference.
For Black Girls Like Me by
Eleven-year-old Makeda June Kirkland struggles to find her place in her new school after her family moves from Maryland to New Mexico. Makeda, who is of African American decent and has been adopted into an all white family, finds herself wondering how life might be different if she were part of a family that looks like her. In the midst of it all, she must deal with her mother's recent mental health diagnosis and mood swings that come with her being bipolar.
The Best at It by
Twelve-year-old Rahul Kapoor heads into seventh grade armed with advice his grandfather gave him--to find a thing he's good at and become the best at it. But Rahul struggles with his identity, including his confusing attraction to classmate Justin Emery. Rahul joins the Mathletes but it doesn't go as planned, and when Jenny asks him to a dance, Rahul spirals into depression and anxiety. With the help of his best friend Chelsea, Rahul confronts who he actually is.
The Bridge Home by
"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma shares with us an unflinching peek into the reality millions of homeless children live every day but also infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers and stay with them long after turning the final page."--Aisha Saeed, author of the New York Times Bestselling Amal UnboundFour determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut.Life is harsh in Chennai's teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom. Nancy Paulsen Books.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by
On her birthday, twelve-year-old aspiring baker Zoe Washington receives a letter from her biological father, who is in prison for murder, telling her he is actually innocent. Determined to discover the truth, Zoe tries to investigate herself, perform well in her baking internship, and achieve her dream of auditioning for the Food Network's Kids Bake Challenge.
The Line Tender by
Years after her marine biologist mother suddenly died, now twelve-year-old Lucy Everhart also loses a friend who might have been more than just a friend, and who also helped her as an amateur scientist. Lucy decides to take up her mother's research into sharks as a way to connect and grieve after the two losses. She joins a small, eclectic group to follow the great white sharks that her mother loved so much.
