For a 7-year-old who just finished
by Tui T. Sutherland
Pick 1 of 3
by Kwame Mbalia
Age fit: 8–12 · 780L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade · 2019
A genuinely moving adventure that teaches Black history through myth and folklore rather than lecture; Tristan's arc is believable and the supporting cast of tricksters and ancestors is unforgettable.
Pick 2 of 3
by Ingrid Law
Age fit: 9–12 · 780L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · Middle grade · 2009
A genuinely imaginative family-magic novel where the magic is actually a metaphor for discovering who you are at thirteen — tender, funny, and worth the rereads.
Pick 3 of 3
by James A. Levine
Age fit: 8–12 · 720L (~4th grade) · Right at their current reading level · 287 pages · Middle grade · 2014
A genuinely moving survival story told from a dog's point of view—Levine's sensory prose makes the street-dog experience immediate and poignant without being manipulative, and kids emerge with real empathy for urban animal homelessness.
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