For a 17-year-old who just finished
by Peter Brown
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 Gone Crazy in Alabama
Age fit: 9–12 · 780L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade
A rare book that treats Southern Black girlhood and intergenerational identity with humor and dignity—the kind of middle-grade novel that rewires how kids think about family and belonging.
Pick 3 of 3
by Gone Crazy in Alabama
Age fit: 9–12 · 780L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade
A rare book that treats Southern Black girlhood and intergenerational identity with humor and dignity—the kind of middle-grade novel that rewires how kids think about family and belonging.
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