An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio
by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · grades 5–9 · 760L · 165 pages · 1995
Why we'd hand it over
Authentic, lyrical short stories that let kids see themselves or their neighbors with dignity—rare for 1995 middle grade, still uncommon now; vocabulary is lush but context makes it navigable for strong readers.