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It's back-to-school season — my favorite time of year! Your middle schooler may have traded in crayons and alphabet worksheets for lockers and algebra, but finding them age-appropriate and engaging books is still so important. The transition from elementary school to middle school can be tough for many kids, and diving into a relatable read can help.
I selected books that centered around characters who are also walking the halls of a middle school. Even now as a reader, I love finding characters I can identify with and learn from. The characters in these books are realistic, funny, charming, and empathetic. I divided the books roughly by the age/grade of the main character, but all of the books are appropriate for 5th-8th graders.
Sixth Grade Books:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Series)
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Wonder by R. J. Palacio (I recommend this one for adults too!)
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja by Marcus Emerson (Series)
The 6th Grade Nickname Game by Gordon Korman
Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements
Seventh Grade Books:
Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Space Station Seventh Grade by Jerry Spinelli
Amelia's 7th-Grade Notebook by Marissa Moss
I Funny: A Middle School Story by James Patterson (Series)
Eighth Grade Books:
Middle School: the Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson (Series)