Lisbeth Kaiser
Who Was Shirley Chisholm?
A solid, accessible entry point for kids to understand how one person can challenge the political status quo without getting bogged down in complex policy details.
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All picks after this →Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
by Kirsten Anderson
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 720L · 2021
A solid, accessible entry point for kids interested in modern politics and representation, though the 'Who Was' format can feel a bit dry compared to narrative nonfiction.
Money-Hungry
by Sharon G. Flake
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 750L · 2003
A sharp, unflinching look at a kid building a school-supply monopoly and discovering that hustle culture and friendship don't automatically go together—Flake writes dialect-forward and doesn't soften the girl's ambition or the mess she makes.
Joey Pigza Loses Control
by Jack Gantos
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 650L · 2002
The best middle-grade book about ADHD from the inside—funny, unflinching about medication and shame, and honest that there's no cure, only managed momentum.