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All the Stars Denied by Guadalupe García McCall
When resentment surges during the Great Depression in a Texas border town, Estrella, fifteen, organizes a protest against the treatment of tejanos and soon finds herself witih her mother and baby brother in Mexico.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Yadriel, a trans boy, summons the angry spirit of his high school's bad boy, and agrees to help him learn how he died, thereby proving himself a brujo, not a bruja, to his conservative family.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
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.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Lukezilla Beats the Game by Kurtis Scaletta; David Sossella (Illustrator)
A Phoenix First Must Burn by Patrice Caldwell
A collection of sixteen stories of fantasy, science fiction, and magic featuring black and gender non-conforming characters.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Rick by Alex Gino
Although Rick has never thought about his identity much, when he begins middle school, he attends the Rainbow Spectrum Club where he meets kids of all genders and identities, including a girl named Melissa. Rick wants to have his life all figured out like Melissa, so he begins a quest to find his place in the world, even if it means breaking some old friendships.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel by Sheela Chari
Inexplicably, eleven-year-old Mars Patel's friend Aurora goes missing, and the only ones who seem overly concerned about it are Mars and his friends. Soon the group discovers other kids have gone missing around the world, and clues seem to point to eccentric tech billionaire,
Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder
In this graphic novel, Tyler Feder tells her story of her mother's first oncology appointment through the stages of her cancer to the funeral, sitting shiva, and afterward, when she must try to make sense of her life as a motherless daughter.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Framed! by James Ponti
Florian is twelve years old and has just moved to Washington. He’s learning his way around using TOAST, which stands for the Theory of All Small Things. It’s a technique he invented to solve life’s little mysteries such as: where to sit on the on the first day of school, or which Chinese restaurant has the best eggrolls.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger; Rovina Cai (Illustrator)
Elatsoe lives in an alternate contemporary America shaped by the ancestral magics and knowledge of its Indigenous and immigrant groups. She can raise the spirits of dead animals and when her beloved cousin dies, all signs point to a car crash, but his ghost tells her otherwise: He was murdered.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Light Filters in: Poems by Caroline Kaufman; Yelena Bryksenkova (Illustrator)
A collection of poetry centered around themes related to mental health and personal well-being. The author reflects on her own experiences with love, happiness, depression, and hope.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay
When Theo marries Polly and they move their children, Abi, Max, and Louis to a large ivy-covered home in North London, their children begin to wonder about the magic present in the home.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
ZJ's friends Ollie, Darry and Daniel help him cope when his father, a beloved professional football player, suffers severe headaches and memory loss that spell the end of his career.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
“Sweet Pea” DiMarco wasn’t sure what to expect when her parents announced they were getting a divorce. She never could have imagined that they would have the “brilliant” idea of living in nearly identical houses on the same street.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
How to Be a Girl in the World by Caela Carter
Twelve-year-old Lydia, feeling threatened by the attention her changing body is getting from boys and men, finds a way to take control of her own skin.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
No True Believers by Rabiah York Lumbard
High school senior Salma Bakkioui, who has a connective tissue disorder, faces prejudice and hidden danger, especially after being framed for a Muslim terrorist act she did not commit.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
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.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Sara and the Search for Normal by Wesley King
Seventh-grader Sara just wants to be normal, but instead she deals with panic attacks and other issues that make her avoid other people. When she starts group therapy, she meets talkative and outgoing Erin, who doesn't believe in "normal." Sara soon finds herself with an actual friend, but discovers that there's more to Erin than she lets on. In order to help Erin, Sara might have to sacrifice their friendship
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Slay by Brittney Morris
An honors student at Jefferson Academy and one of the only black kids there, seventeen-year-old Keira enjoys playing "Slay," a secret, multiplayer online role-playing game celebrating black culture that she secretly developed, until the two worlds collide after a Kansas City teen is murdered over a dispute in the game. Keira's previously safe space is now labeled racist, exclusionist, and violent. Now she sets out to defend her game while keeping her identity hidden.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick
Thirteen-year-old Frankie is neurodivergent: she can't stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she's easily distracted, and hates changes to her routine. It also means that she doesn't have a lot of friends. When Colette, her one friend, vanishes, Frankie is convinced that she left behind clues that only Frankie can decipher.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Danny Constantino's First (and Maybe Last?) Date by Paul Acampora
When Danny asks his old-friend-turned-Hollywood-movie-star to his school dance, she surprises him . . . by saying yes! Unfortunately, now everyone has something to say about Danny's love life--especially since Natalie is the hometown hero.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman; Oprah Winfrey (Foreword by)
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Taking the stage after the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Gorman captivated the nation and brought hope to viewers around the globe.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
In 2002, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl named Shirin starts over at yet another high school, having dealt with the prejudice and abuse that followed 9/11. She copes with the anti-Islamic animosity by turning to music and break-dancing. She meets Ocean James, who comes from a very different background, but really seems to want to get to know her. But she's had the walls up for so long, she doesn't know if she can really let him in.
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
Mary Lambert has felt safe and accepted on her beloved island of Martha's Vineyard, comforted by the fact that her great-great-grandfather was the first deaf islander and paved the way for many to learn sign language. However, when Mary's brother dies and her family shatters amidst land disputes with the English settlers and Wampanoag people, it paves the way for an opportunistic young scientist to come and study the island's prevalent deafness.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
As Khosrou (whom everyone calls Daniel) stands in front of his Oklahoma middle school classmates, he tries to tell them his story from the jasmine-scented city of Isfahan to the terrifying journey out of Iran steps ahead of the secret police to the refugee camps of Italy.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen
In 1955, biracial Ethan, who was raised in Washington state, is sent to live with his grandparents in Alabama for the summer. Ethan's eyes are opened to blatant racism for the first time, but also to kindness, when a young red-head named Juniper Jones befriends him and they spend the summer exploring the town and having adventures. Their friendship becomes a lifeline for Ethan when the town's ugliness turns deadly.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
High school junior Del Rainey unwittingly joins a Purity Pledge class at church, hoping to get closer to his long-term crush, Kiera.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
Raised in isolation, Tarisai yearns for the closeness she could have as one of the Crown Prince's Council of 11, but her mother, The Lady, has magically compelled Tarisai to kill the Crown Prince.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott; Loveis Wise (Illustrator, Cover Design by)
A collection of forty illustrated poems celebrating the vulnerability and strength of black women and girls.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Supergifted by Gordon Korman
Donovan Curtis has never been what anyone would call “gifted.” But his genius friend Noah Youkilis is actually supergifted, with one of the highest IQs around. After years at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, all Noah dreams of is the opportunity to fail if he wants to. And he’s landed in the perfect place to do it—Donovan’s school.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac
In 1932, twelve-year-old Cal must stop being a hobo with his father and go to a Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, where he begins learning about his history and heritage as a Creek Indian.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
Marva Sheridan is excited to vote in her first election; Duke Crenshaw just wants to get voting over so that he can get to his band's first paying gig. When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she's determined to see his vote counted. They cut school, rush from precinct to precinct, and wait in endless lines just to get Duke registered to vote. Over the course of one day, the two strangers find they have more in common than just a passion for democracy.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz
After learning of her family's illegal immigrant status, Jasmine realizes that college may be impossible and that deportation is a real threat, uncertainties she endures as she falls for the son of a congressman who opposes an immigration reform bill.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Warriors: the Broken Code #4: Darkness Within by Erin Hunter
Exiled after a battle that left all five Clans devastated, ThunderClan’s loyal deputy, Squirrelflight, must bring to light an earth-shattering truth: the identity of the cat ruling ThunderClan while wearing Bramblestar’s face.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Into the Clouds by Tod Olson
A nail-biting tale of survival and brotherhood atop one of the deadliest mountains on Earth.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Can You See Me? by Libby Scott; Rebecca Westcott
Eleven-year-old Tally really wants to fit in at her new school, which means somehow hiding her autism, hypersensitivity to touch, and true self, and trying to act "normal". But Tally begins to wonder--what is "normal" anyway?
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Flamer by Mike Curato (Illustrator)
During the summer before high school, Aiden Navarro spends time at Boy Scout camp learning how to deal with bullies, changing friendships, and his new feelings for Elias.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened by Emily Blejwas
The unexpected death of his father leaves Justin, 12, and his family facing financial hardship and the unchartered territory of grief. While his older brother and mother work long hours, Justin tries to make sense of what happened to his father and not to stand out at school. With the help of friends and a research paper that forces him to look into the town's history, he works his way towards reconciling the past with the present.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Revenge of the Red Club by Kim Harrington
When middle school journalist Riley Dunne learns that an important and beloved club is being shut down, she uses the power of the pen to instigate much-needed social change.
Say Yes Summer by Lindsey Roth Culli
Before heading off to college in the fall, Rachel Walls decides to give in to the universe for the summer and say yes to everything, bringing her friendship, new experiences, and, if she lets her guard down, love.
A Song below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
Bethany C. Morrow's A Song Below Water is the story for today's readers -- a captivating modern fantasy about black mermaids, friendship, and self-discovery set against the challenges of today's racism and sexism.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
What If a Fish by Anika Fajardo
Even since before Papa died, half-Colombian Eddie Aguado has never truly felt Colombian, but now with only his Colombian Papa's third-place fishing trophy to remember him by, he feels even more displaced from his heritage. A chance comes to leave Minnesota and spend the summer in Colombia when his older half brother invites him to an adventure.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
One Last Shot by John David Anderson
Malcolm does not enjoy sports and feels that he does not live up to his father's expectations because of his lack of interest. When he decides to start playing miniature golf, Malcolm discovers a sport that he enjoys, but soon his dad is signing him up for lessons and tournaments. When tension between his parents reaches the breaking point, Malcolm is not sure of anything in his life.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
What if you could bring your best friend back to life—but only for a short time? Jamal’s best friend, Q, doesn’t know that he died, and that he’s about to die . . . again.
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EMS | WMS | Sora
Last Pick: Born to Run by Jason Walz
Four years after extraterrestrials kidnapped everyone on Earth they deemed to be worthy--leaving behind the unintelligent, the old, and disabled--young Sam has found herself to be a pawn in an alien civil war. She and her new friend, Mia, however, think they have found a way to resist their captors and keep their humanity. Meanwhile on Earth, Sam's twin, Wyatt, has launched a resistance army, a ragtag group of the elderly, old, young, and disabled--and Wyatt has a plan to bring the aliens down.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
After his father's death, Isaiah feels that he is now the man of the house and it is his responsibility to take care of his Mama and little sister. When things get really tough at home, Isaiah depends on the stories in his daddy's journal in order to find his way out of the darkness.
Read in:
EMS | WMS | Sora
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.
Rick by
Although Rick has never thought about his identity much, when he begins middle school, he attends the Rainbow Spectrum Club where he meets kids of all genders and identities, including a girl named Melissa. Rick wants to have his life all figured out like Melissa, so he begins a quest to find his place in the world, even if it means breaking some old friendships.
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel by
Inexplicably, eleven-year-old Mars Patel's friend Aurora goes missing, and the only ones who seem overly concerned about it are Mars and his friends. Soon the group discovers other kids have gone missing around the world, and clues seem to point to eccentric tech billionaire,
Framed! by
Florian is twelve years old and has just moved to Washington. He’s learning his way around using TOAST, which stands for the Theory of All Small Things. It’s a technique he invented to solve life’s little mysteries such as: where to sit on the on the first day of school, or which Chinese restaurant has the best eggrolls.
Elatsoe by
Elatsoe lives in an alternate contemporary America shaped by the ancestral magics and knowledge of its Indigenous and immigrant groups. She can raise the spirits of dead animals and when her beloved cousin dies, all signs point to a car crash, but his ghost tells her otherwise: He was murdered.
Sara and the Search for Normal by
Seventh-grader Sara just wants to be normal, but instead she deals with panic attacks and other issues that make her avoid other people. When she starts group therapy, she meets talkative and outgoing Erin, who doesn't believe in "normal." Sara soon finds herself with an actual friend, but discovers that there's more to Erin than she lets on. In order to help Erin, Sara might have to sacrifice their friendship
Slay by
An honors student at Jefferson Academy and one of the only black kids there, seventeen-year-old Keira enjoys playing "Slay," a secret, multiplayer online role-playing game celebrating black culture that she secretly developed, until the two worlds collide after a Kansas City teen is murdered over a dispute in the game. Keira's previously safe space is now labeled racist, exclusionist, and violent. Now she sets out to defend her game while keeping her identity hidden.
Tornado Brain by
Thirteen-year-old Frankie is neurodivergent: she can't stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she's easily distracted, and hates changes to her routine. It also means that she doesn't have a lot of friends. When Colette, her one friend, vanishes, Frankie is convinced that she left behind clues that only Frankie can decipher.
Danny Constantino's First (and Maybe Last?) Date by
When Danny asks his old-friend-turned-Hollywood-movie-star to his school dance, she surprises him . . . by saying yes! Unfortunately, now everyone has something to say about Danny's love life--especially since Natalie is the hometown hero.
The Hill We Climb by
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Taking the stage after the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Gorman captivated the nation and brought hope to viewers around the globe.
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by
In 2002, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl named Shirin starts over at yet another high school, having dealt with the prejudice and abuse that followed 9/11. She copes with the anti-Islamic animosity by turning to music and break-dancing. She meets Ocean James, who comes from a very different background, but really seems to want to get to know her. But she's had the walls up for so long, she doesn't know if she can really let him in.
Show Me a Sign by
Mary Lambert has felt safe and accepted on her beloved island of Martha's Vineyard, comforted by the fact that her great-great-grandfather was the first deaf islander and paved the way for many to learn sign language. However, when Mary's brother dies and her family shatters amidst land disputes with the English settlers and Wampanoag people, it paves the way for an opportunistic young scientist to come and study the island's prevalent deafness.
Everything Sad Is Untrue by
As Khosrou (whom everyone calls Daniel) stands in front of his Oklahoma middle school classmates, he tries to tell them his story from the jasmine-scented city of Isfahan to the terrifying journey out of Iran steps ahead of the secret police to the refugee camps of Italy.
The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by
In 1955, biracial Ethan, who was raised in Washington state, is sent to live with his grandparents in Alabama for the summer. Ethan's eyes are opened to blatant racism for the first time, but also to kindness, when a young red-head named Juniper Jones befriends him and they spend the summer exploring the town and having adventures. Their friendship becomes a lifeline for Ethan when the town's ugliness turns deadly.
Supergifted by
Donovan Curtis has never been what anyone would call “gifted.” But his genius friend Noah Youkilis is actually supergifted, with one of the highest IQs around. After years at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, all Noah dreams of is the opportunity to fail if he wants to. And he’s landed in the perfect place to do it—Donovan’s school.
The Voting Booth by
Marva Sheridan is excited to vote in her first election; Duke Crenshaw just wants to get voting over so that he can get to his band's first paying gig. When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she's determined to see his vote counted. They cut school, rush from precinct to precinct, and wait in endless lines just to get Duke registered to vote. Over the course of one day, the two strangers find they have more in common than just a passion for democracy.
Something in Between by
After learning of her family's illegal immigrant status, Jasmine realizes that college may be impossible and that deportation is a real threat, uncertainties she endures as she falls for the son of a congressman who opposes an immigration reform bill.
Warriors: the Broken Code #4: Darkness Within by
Exiled after a battle that left all five Clans devastated, ThunderClan’s loyal deputy, Squirrelflight, must bring to light an earth-shattering truth: the identity of the cat ruling ThunderClan while wearing Bramblestar’s face.
House of Salt and Sorrows by
Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.
Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened by
The unexpected death of his father leaves Justin, 12, and his family facing financial hardship and the unchartered territory of grief. While his older brother and mother work long hours, Justin tries to make sense of what happened to his father and not to stand out at school. With the help of friends and a research paper that forces him to look into the town's history, he works his way towards reconciling the past with the present.
What If a Fish by
Even since before Papa died, half-Colombian Eddie Aguado has never truly felt Colombian, but now with only his Colombian Papa's third-place fishing trophy to remember him by, he feels even more displaced from his heritage. A chance comes to leave Minnesota and spend the summer in Colombia when his older half brother invites him to an adventure.
One Last Shot by
Malcolm does not enjoy sports and feels that he does not live up to his father's expectations because of his lack of interest. When he decides to start playing miniature golf, Malcolm discovers a sport that he enjoys, but soon his dad is signing him up for lessons and tournaments. When tension between his parents reaches the breaking point, Malcolm is not sure of anything in his life.
Last Pick: Born to Run by
Four years after extraterrestrials kidnapped everyone on Earth they deemed to be worthy--leaving behind the unintelligent, the old, and disabled--young Sam has found herself to be a pawn in an alien civil war. She and her new friend, Mia, however, think they have found a way to resist their captors and keep their humanity. Meanwhile on Earth, Sam's twin, Wyatt, has launched a resistance army, a ragtag group of the elderly, old, young, and disabled--and Wyatt has a plan to bring the aliens down.
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by
After his father's death, Isaiah feels that he is now the man of the house and it is his responsibility to take care of his Mama and little sister. When things get really tough at home, Isaiah depends on the stories in his daddy's journal in order to find his way out of the darkness.
