Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Time to Roll is a spectacular, sequel that finds favorite protagonist Ellie taking on a summer beauty pageant on her own terms. Balancing complex family dynamics, authentic disability representation, and fierce female solidarity, this witty and eye-catching middle-grade novel tackles self-worth with immense heart and humor.
Nat for Nothing, a graphic novel tracking the ups and downs of middle school friend groups. When Natalie struggles to find an after-school club and faces friend drama, she must discover how to move forward.
Dress Coded is a powerful, realistic fiction novel that sparks a middle school revolution. Fed up with unfair, sexist dress code enforcement, eighth-grader Molly Frost launches a podcast that unites her school community against administrative bias.
The Fort is a gripping, realistic fiction novel that follows a middle school “band of brothers” who discover an underground bomb shelter after a major hurricane. What begins as a secret hideout quickly transforms into a vital sanctuary for a friend fleeing an abusive home.
Clean Getaway is a phenomenal, middle-grade road-trip mystery that loops together past and present American race relations. Following eleven-year-old Scoob and his eccentric G’ma through the segregation history of the American South, this layered novel balances historical realities with contemporary suspense.