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Notes: bullying, medical differences handled gently. Publisher age band and details support MG use.

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Ages: 8–12
Themes: empathy, friendship, bullying, difference
Great for: any gender; students curious about fairness/kindness; SEL circles
Strengths/Interests: perspective-taking, journal/letter formats

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Wonder is a 2012 children's novel by R. J. Palacio about 10-year-old August "Auggie" Pullman, who was born with significant facial differences and enters a mainstream middle school for the first time. The story explores themes of kindness, empathy, and acceptance as Auggie navigates school and his friendships through the perspectives of himself, his sister, and his classmates.

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Notes: Newbery Medal winner—useful for award studies.

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Ages: 9–13
Themes: brotherhood, sports, grief; verse narrative
Great for: hoop fans of any gender; reluctant readers (short lines, white space)
Strengths/Interests: rhythm, performance reading, wordplay; strong male emotional literacy modeling

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Kwame Alexander's The Crossover is a Newbery Medal-winning novel-in-verse that tells the story of 12-year-old twin brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, gifted basketball players. Through their passion for the game, the book explores themes of brotherhood, family, love, and loss as the twins navigate their father's declining health, JB's relationship with his girlfriend, and ultimately, their father's death. The story uses basketball as an extended metaphor for life's rules and challenges, highlighting themes of communication, resilience, and the complexities of growing up.

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Notes: Classroom-safe discussion of bias and wage exploitation

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Ages: 9–12
Themes: immigration, economic hardship, justice, found community
Great for: newcomers/immigrant families; student activists; writers’ club kids
Strengths/Interests: episodic chapters; authentic voice; entry to realistic series

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Front Desk by Kelly Yang follows 10-year-old Mia Tang, a Chinese immigrant whose family manages a rundown motel in Southern California after immigrating from China. Based on the author's own experiences, the story details Mia's struggles with poverty, prejudice, and managing the motel while secretly helping other immigrants. Through her resilience and writing, Mia builds community, fights injustice, and dreams of a better future for her family.

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Notes: Newbery Honor; accessible entry to discussing accommodations.

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4) El Deafo — Cece Bell (graphic memoir)

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4) El Deafo — Cece Bell (graphic memoir)

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Ages: 8–12
Themes: disability pride, belonging, friendship
Great for: deaf/HoH students and peers; graphic-novel fans
Strengths/Interests: visual literacy; memoir; humor

Annotation

El Deafo is Cece Bell's graphic memoir recounting her experiences with childhood deafness, beginning at age four after contracting meningitis. Through illustrations, Bell details her struggles to fit in at a hearing school, her reliance on the Phonic Ear hearing aid, and her eventual transformation into "El Deafo," a superhero who embraces her unique abilities to find true friendship and a place for herself.

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Notes: 2017 Newbery Medal—pairs well with folklore units.

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5) The Girl Who Drank the Moon — Kelly Barnhill

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5) The Girl Who Drank the Moon — Kelly Barnhill

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Ages: 10–13
Themes: fantasy, power, family, truth vs. fear
Great for: fantasy lovers; readers who enjoy lyrical prose and strong girls/nonbinary leads
Strengths/Interests: symbolism; Socratic seminars on truth/power

Annotation

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a fantasy novel by Kelly Barnhill about Luna, a young girl raised by a witch named Xan, who accidentally feeds her a magical moonbeam as a baby. Luna develops powerful magic, and Xan secretly binds it, fearing its uncontrolled power. The story follows Luna's journey to understand and control her abilities, uncover the truth about the corrupt town elders who orchestrate the annual baby sacrifice, and ultimately protect her loved ones.

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Notes: First graphic novel to win the Newbery (2020).

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Ages: 10–14
Themes: code-switching, microaggressions, art & identity
Great for: any gender; kids navigating new schools; art/visual diary fans
Strengths/Interests: humor + serious topics; multimodal projects

Annotation

New Kid by Jerry Craft follows Jordan Banks, a talented cartoonist, as he navigates his first year at Riverdale Academy, a mostly white, exclusive private school. Torn between his beloved Washington Heights neighborhood and his new school, Jordan faces microaggressions and challenges with his identity and place in the world. He struggles to fit in, trying to balance his relationships with old friends and new ones, while also confronting racial assumptions and finding his own path.

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Notes: National Book Award finalist; timely with author’s return to the series.

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Ages: 10–14
Themes: sports grit, trauma, found team/family
Great for: track/PE kids; reluctant readers; students processing hard pasts
Strengths/Interests: fast pace; series continuity (Patina, Sunny, Lu)

Annotation

"Ghost" (also known as "Track #1") by Jason Reynolds tells the story of Castle "Ghost" Cranshaw, a seventh-grader struggling with a traumatic past and anger issues stemming from his alcoholic father shooting at him and his mother. After discovering an elite track team and challenging its fastest sprinter to a race, he's recruited by Coach Brody but faces challenges staying out of trouble at school and dealing with his own uncontrolled emotions.

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Notes: Newbery/Printz Honors; sensitive topic handled poetically.

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8) Long Way Down — Jason Reynolds (verse)

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8) Long Way Down — Jason Reynolds (verse)

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Ages: 13–17
Themes: grief, cycles of violence, choices
Great for: poetry lovers; students who benefit from short, powerful texts
Strengths/Interests: elevator-ride structure; dramatic reading/performance

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Long Way Down is a novel-in-verse by Jason Reynolds about 15-year-old Will Holloman, who sets out to avenge his brother Shawn's murder by following the neighborhood's "Rules," which include taking revenge. On his way down in the elevator to confront the suspected killer, Will encounters the ghosts of family and friends who were all victims of gun violence, forcing him to confront the devastating cycle of violence and make a pivotal, life-altering decision.

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Notes: 2014 National Book Award for YP Literature.

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9) Brown Girl Dreaming — Jacqueline Woodson (verse memoir)

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9) Brown Girl Dreaming — Jacqueline Woodson (verse memoir)

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Ages: 11–15
Themes: identity, family history, Civil Rights era, finding a voice
Great for: writers’ workshop; memoir/poetry units; any gender
Strengths/Interests: mentor text for free-verse; oral-history projects

Annotation

Brown Girl Dreaming is a memoir in verse by Jacqueline Woodson, chronicling her childhood in the 1960s and 70s as an African American girl growing up in the North and South of the U.S. Through poetic verses, Woodson explores themes of identity, family, race, and resilience against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, documenting her journey from South Carolina's segregation and the rigid customs of her Jehovah's Witness faith to life in New York City.

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Notes: Only book to win both the Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals.

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Ages: 12–16
Themes: grief, truth, storytelling as healing
Great for: students experiencing loss; art/storytelling enthusiasts
Strengths/Interests: illustrated prose; film/stage adaptation comparisons

Annotation

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is about thirteen-year-old Conor O'Malley, who must cope with his mother's terminal illness, a recurring nightmare, school bullies, and a cold grandmother. One night, a monstrous yew tree appears at his window, not to harm him, but to tell him three stories. In exchange for these stories, Conor must then tell the monster his own fourth story—the truth about his recurring nightmare.