Julie Abery
Sakamoto's Swim Club
A fast-paced, funny middle-grade novel that handles cultural identity with lightness rather than heaviness, making it a great entry point for reluctant readers.
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A Long Way from Chicago
by Richard Peck
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · 730L
A beautifully constructed episodic novel that uses humor and warmth to teach Depression-era history and the particular resourcefulness of rural American women—the kind of book that makes kids actually want to know more about their grandparents' lives.
How to Write Really Badly
by Anne Fine
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 720L
A genuinely clever premise (kid tries to write badly, accidentally learns to write well) that keeps the humor sharp without slowing down; rewarding for kids who feel self-conscious about writing.
The Darling Devils
by Alexandra Moody
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 720L · 2026
A zippy, mischief-driven romp that reads like early Junie B. Jones meets The Baby-Sitters Club for slightly older kids — fun energy, quick pacing, zero pretension.