Lisbeth Kaiser
Who Was Jackie Robinson?
A solid, accessible entry point for kids to understand the specific weight of breaking the color barrier without getting bogged down in dense political theory.
Read this next
All picks after this →
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.
Homesick: My Own Story
by Jean Fritz
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 760L
A genuinely moving memoir that treats a child's emotional complexity with respect—Jean Fritz models self-awareness and honest confusion in a way that validates kids caught between cultures or identities.
Who Was Catherine the Great?
by Pamela Pollack
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 650L · 2021
A solid, accessible entry point for kids interested in strong female leaders, though the 'Who Was' series format can feel a bit dry compared to narrative nonfiction.