# data[].attributes.headline
Best Middle Grade Books 2021 | SLJ Best Books | School Library Journal

# data[].attributes.subject
Best Middle Grade Books 2021 | SLJ Best Books | School Library Journal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The 2021 list of best middle grade books counts with 26 novels, including unforgettable works by Joseph Bruchac, Jasmine Warga, and Kate DiCamillo.
Middle Grade
Currie, Lindsay. What Lives in the Woods.
Sourcebooks. ISBN 9781728209753.
Gr 4-7 -Amateur sleuth Ginny is disappointed when her summer plans are quashed in favor of her father's monthlong renovation project of a huge, spooky mansion in Michigan. There's plenty of lore about Woodmoor Manor, and when Ginny experiences these terrifying supernatural events for herself, she's plunged into a mystery deeper than she ever imagined. Currie provides thrills and chills in this fast-paced supernatural detective tale.

Day, Christine. The Sea in Winter.
HarperCollins/Heartdrum. ISBN 9780062872043.
Gr 3-7 -Maisie's life has been in a tailspin ever since she tore her ACL and had to stop dancing ballet. But with the support of her family, and through a trip to her mother's Makah community, Maisie works toward rediscovering herself. Day's second novel deftly explores coping with depression, healing, and learning more about one's Indigenous heritage when everything else feels adrift.

DEE, Barbara. Violets Are Blue.
S.&S./Aladdin. ISBN 9781534469181.
Gr 4-8 -Wren is going through some difficult changes: Her father left and started a new family, and she and her mother have moved to a new city. She fills her time watching and trying to recreate the special effects makeup of a popular YouTuber. While Wren navigates tween life, her mother is also increasingly secretive. These mysterious actions elegantly unfold in Dee's well-crafted story, which deftly addresses heavy topics such as parental separation and opioid addiction.

DiCamillo, Kate. The Beatryce Prophecy.
illus. by Sophie Blackall. Candlewick. ISBN 9781536213614.
Gr 3-6 -The prophecy foretold of a girl who would "unseat a king and bring about a great change." With the help of a demon goat and the ability to read and write (skills considered illegal for women in this world), Beatryce is poised to do just that. In an impressively slim 250 pages, this gorgeous epic is primed for read-aloud shares. Powerhouses DiCamillo and Blackall weave a medieval tapestry fit for a queen.

Ewing, Eve L. Maya and the Robot.
illus. by Christine Almeda. Penguin/Kokila. ISBN 9781984814630.
Gr 3-7 -Science-loving Maya is facing challenges at school: Her best friends aren't in her class, and she has the strictest teacher in the fifth grade. Maya soon encounters Ralph, a half-finished robot in her corner store's back room, which she builds into a friend. Ralph makes life easier-until sabotage throws a wrench into things, literally and figuratively. Ewing's heartwarming novel blends STEM, social-emotional learning, and the importance of community.

Giles, Chrystal D. Take Back the Block.
Random. ISBN 9780593175170.
Gr 3-7 -Eleven-year-old Wes Henderson would rather be doing anything else for his birthday than going to a protest. He is ambivalent about the issues his community activist mother holds dear until gentrification causes changes in his own neighborhood of Kensington Oaks, dividing his friend group and the community as a whole. Giles's debut is a timely coming-of-age story of a Black boy grappling with personal growth and enacting change on a micro and macro level.

Lukoff, Kyle. Too Bright to See.
Dial. ISBN 9780593111154.
Gr 4-7 -Living in an old house in Vermont, Bug has always known ghosts. Now, beloved Uncle Roderick may be among them, sending Bug important messages from beyond. Bug also has to deal with the growing distance from best friend Moira, who has decided they both need to shift their focus to boys and makeup, things that Bug just can't relate to. This queer ghost story is a haunting exploration of gender identity and grief that will linger with readers long after the final page.

Mbalia, Kwame, ed. Black Boy Joy:
17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood.
Delacorte. ISBN 9780593379936.
Gr 3-7 -With contributions from authors such as Jerry Craft, Varian Johnson, and Jason Reynolds, this collection features stories that cover a wide range of topics, from starting school to winning a space race to embracing who you are. A glowing testament to the joy of Black boyhood.

Get Print. Get Digital. Get Both!

Libraries are always evolving. Stay ahead. Log In.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Best Middle Grade Books 2021 | SLJ Best Books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The 2021 list of best middle grade books counts with 26 novels, including unforgettable works by Joseph Bruchac, Jasmine Warga, and Kate DiCamillo. Middle Grade Currie, Lindsay. What Lives in the Woods. Sourcebooks. ISBN 9781728209753. Gr 4-7 -Amateur sleuth Ginny is disappointed when her summer plans are quashed in favor of her father's monthlong renovation project of a huge, spooky mansion in Michigan.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
hoopla digital: audiobooks, ebooks, movies, tv and comics.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Borrow and enjoy audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV, magazines, or music everywhere you have a screen-your computer, your phone, your car, even your TV. All you need is a library card. hoopla syncs across all your devices, so you can stream titles immediately or whenever you're in the mood.

# data[].attributes.body
Click the genre to browse.
When you find a book you want to add to your Padlet Book List, hover over the upper corner and select, Copy Post.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The easiest way to create and collaborate in the world

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a page. Put anything on it. Invite your friends. Share with the world.

# data[].attributes.headline
Virginia State Literacy Association - VRC

# data[].attributes.subject
Virginia State Literacy Association - VRC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Virginia State Literacy Association - VRC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I have been trying to share as many of our favorite books as possible in different ways. Here is an overview of all of the lists so far. Picture Book lists can be found at the bottom. Happy reading! Chapter Books: The Best Books for Middle School According to My Students: The Favorite Reads of...