For a 18-year-old who just finished
by E. B. White
Pick 1 of 3
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Age fit: 9–12 · 740L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade · 2003
A Newbery winner that actually deserves it—funny, heart-wrenching, and wise about what family means, set against a real historical backdrop that grounds the story without overwhelming it.
Pick 2 of 3
by Jennifer L. Holm
Age fit: 10–14 · 760L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · 274 pages · Middle grade · 2006
A quiet masterpiece about belonging and family that captures 1950s Italian-American working-class life with specificity and heart — the kind of book kids reread and remember as adults.
Pick 3 of 3
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Age fit: 8–12 · 740L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade · 1997
A masterwork that treats kids with intelligence about race and history; the family warmth and humor make the tragedy land harder, and that's exactly right.
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