Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
by Mildred D. Taylor
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · grades 5–9 · 750L · 288 pages · 1991
Why we'd hand it over
A masterwork of middle-grade literature that treats children as capable of understanding structural racism and moral complexity; Cassie's voice is unforgettable, and the novel rewards rereading as kids mature into its layers.