For a 8-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 Jerry Spinelli
Age fit: 8–12 · 800L (~5th grade) · A stretch — meant to be slowly chewed on · 184 pages · Middle grade · 1990
A Newbery winner that actually deserves it—Spinelli builds a folkloric character and uses him to surgically examine segregation, homelessness, and belonging without preaching.
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