For a reader who just finished
after Catching Kindness by Kara Mitchell · ages 8–12
Middle grade · grades 3–7 · 650L
A gentle, effective tool for discussing social dynamics and the tangible impact of kindness in a school setting.
Same style
by Dustin Thao
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · grades 3–7 · 720L · 2025
A straightforward, honest story about unlikely friendship and neurodivergent representation that doesn't sentimentalize—the dog brings kids together, but they have to do the actual work of understanding each other.
by Susan Kirby
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · grades 5–9 · 720L · 1992
A solid, character-driven story about the gap between appearance and reality in friendship—earnest without being preachy, and the protagonist's growth feels earned.
by Nora Dåsnes
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · grades 3–7 · 720L · 2023
A gentle but unflinching look at how kids fracture friendships through carelessness and social pressure, with a protagonist who actually earns her redemption.
Stretch them up
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · grades 3–7 · 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.
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · grades 5–9 · 820L
Pennypacker writes a protagonist who is disabled without apology or inspiration-porn—the lions matter as much as the girl, and both demand respect.
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · grades 5–9 · 760L · 2010
A genuinely serious middle-grade book about the Myanmar–Thailand border crisis that trusts kids to hold complexity without patronizing them; the dual narrative is a structural masterstroke.
Complementing on kindness
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · grades 5–9 · 820L · 2009
A Newbery winner that actually deserves it—Paterson writes sibling resentment and reconciliation with such honesty that kids recognize their own families, and the 1941 Chesapeake setting carries real historical weight without preaching.
by Richard Peck
Chapter book · ages 10–14 · grades 5–9 · 780L · 2009
A Depression-era gem that feels lived-in and funny—Grandma Dowdy is one of children's literature's most memorable adults, and the year-long structure lets Richard Peck build genuine affection for rural Illinois.
by Tae Keller
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · grades 3–7 · 750L · 2020
A rare middle-grade book that treats grief and cultural identity with real weight—the magic is a metaphor, not an escape, and Lily's growth is earned, not gifted.
We'd skip — for now
by DC Pierson
A step up — ages 12–15 · grades 7–10
Skip it if your child has unmedicated ADHD and finds books about hyperactive protagonists overstimulating — Darren's racing mind might feel too familiar in a difficult way.