BLOGS > JULY 22, 2024
BY LORIE BARBER
Middle grade readers often go through times of trauma, adversity and change. Lots of change! Kids will often put on that “everything’s fine” face both at home and at school, when in reality, they're coping with losses or struggles that make them feel really alone. To that end, I chose middle grade books and picture books across genres I simply couldn't live without that may help kids feel a little less alone.
I culled through hundreds of books, paying special care to two aspects of reader’s lives.
First, I wanted all students to see themselves in this list. I included books with protagonists of color, such as A Good Kind of Trouble, Count Me In, and A Promise of Change, so all students can see themselves in strong, independent characters who advocate for positive change in their schools and communities. I included books with characters with physical and emotional struggles like The Spinner of Dreams, Kat Greene Comes Clean, and Focused, so kids can see that things aren’t always as bad as they seem right at that moment. I included books with a variety of families, like Smart Cookie, Blended, and The Parker Inheritance, so all students can see that the meaning of family doesn’t just include “mom and dad.” And I chose books in which characters may have suffered tragedies but have come out on the other side stronger. These include Super Jake and the King of Chaos, A Bridge Home, and Missing Mike.
The second aspect of literacy to which I paid special care was the authors of the books I chose. I felt it was important to include a wide variety of authors and illustrators of color, such as The Undefeated, a masterful picture book written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew, a Canadian Indigenous leader and member of the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation. These are both incredible picture books that happen to be written and/or illustrated by Black and Indigenous authors and illustrators. Most importantly, they celebrate the resilience of oppressed groups of people throughout North America. I also chose to include books written by women, so that the boys and girls who read them can understand the capability and talent of female authors throughout the world. Part of my work as an educator is to lift the voices of women and Black and Indigenous people of color in the book industry, because those voices are often less heard than those for which the structure was built.
These books are absolutely beautiful. I’m sure you haven’t heard of some of them, but I’ve read them all, and recommend every single one to middle grade readers to help them feel hope and know that struggle is part of growth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: LORIE BARBER
Lorie’s goal is to facilitate students’ lifelong love of literacy. A voracious reader, she’s a member of #bookexpedition and has blogged for Nerdy Book Club. She's a fifth grade teacher in Illinois.
Author Joseph Koszary on the Changes Made to the International Baccalaureate Extended Essay
May 22, 2025
As someone who’s served as an extended essay coordinator, examiner, and supervisor, I’ve grown deeply familiar with the previous incarnation of the extended essay (EE). Like many of you, years of accumulated experience have made supporting students through the process...
Read more
Celebrate Literacy All Year Long: Host an Online Book eFair!
May 12, 2025
Reading and literacy are essential parts of our lives, and there are numerous events throughout the year dedicated to celebrating and promoting these important skills. Hosting a Follett Book eFair is a fantastic way to engage your school community, share the...
Read more
What Can Comics Do? Tapping Into Empathy and Flexibility
May 7, 2025
When I write the word comics, many images and ideas might spring to mind for the reader. Maybe it is first the action figure or bombastic film that occupies a child’s life that you know, or maybe a stack of...
Read more
High-Interest Books: Maximize Them!
May 1, 2025
As educators we recognize that we have reluctant readers no matter what grade we teach. In our hearts we desperately want those students to enjoy reading and not see it as a daunting task. A reluctant reader is not always...
Read more
5 Ways to Bring Kwame Alexander Bookfest to Your School Library
April 23, 2025
One of my favorite parts of being a librarian is helping our students find and connect to books. This happens in the library, within classrooms, in the lunchroom, at after-school events, and even walking down the hallway. Discovery and connection can...
Read more
Celebrating 100 Years of The Great Gatsby
April 22, 2025
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby recently marked its 100th anniversary on April 10, with festivities held around the globe – from St. Paul, Minnesota, where Fitzgerald was born, to the French Riviera, where he completed his iconic novel. But...
Read more