A Sitting in St. James
A lyrical and culturally rich exploration of identity that rewards readers who appreciate nuanced character studies over high-stakes plot.
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Penny from Heaven
by Jennifer L. Holm
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · 760L · 2006
A quiet masterpiece about belonging and family that captures 1950s Italian-American working-class life with specificity and heart — the kind of book kids reread and remember as adults.
Our Eddie
by Sulamith Ish-kishor
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 720L · 1992
A quiet, unsentimental portrait of immigrant childhood that lets kids understand a different era through concrete detail—Eddie's voice is distinct and earned, and the ending resists easy sentiment.
Bright Shadow
by Joyce Carol Thomas
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 780L · 1983
A luminous, unflinching story about difference and belonging—Thomas's lyrical prose and Auri's quiet dignity make this a memorable introduction to how communities can choose love, and how a girl learns her own worth.