For a 17-year-old who just finished
by Kate DiCamillo
Pick 1 of 3
by Tae Keller
Age fit: 8–12 · 750L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade · 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.
Pick 2 of 3
by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño
Age fit: 10–14 · 750L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade · 1965
A historically grounded, moving portrait of an actual apprentice to Velázquez—teaches art history, identity, and kindness through a real relationship, not didacticism; the sparse, honest prose asks kids to sit with complexity.
Pick 3 of 3
by Sharon Creech
Age fit: 10–14 · 730L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade · 2008
A quiet masterpiece about grief and belonging—lyrical without being precious, and the nested story structure rewards active reading in ways that change how kids think about empathy.
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