NEW Diverse Middle Grade Books

Whether you are stocking your home or classroom shelves, picking an independent or guided reading book, or reading for pleasure, these New Diverse Middle Grade Books will delight and entertain all types of readers.

Comment below with other new titles to help our readers
find new favorites for their bookshelves at home
and in the classroom!

• NEW Diverse Middle Grade Books   •

AMARI AND THE DESPICABLE WONDERS

AMARI AND THE DESPICABLE WONDERS
Written by B. B. Alston
Published by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen

TIGER DAUGHTER

Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, Tiger Daughter is an award-winning novel about finding your voice amidst the pressures of growing up in an immigrant home told from the perspective of a remarkable young Chinese girl.

Wen Zhou is a first-generation daughter of Chinese migrant parents. She has high expectations from her parents to succeed in school, especially her father whose strict rules leave her feeling trapped. She dreams of creating a future for herself more satisfying than the one her parents expect her to lead.

Then she befriends a boy named Henry who is also a first generation immigrant. He is the smartest boy at school despite struggling with his English and understands her in a way nobody has lately. Both of them dream of escaping and together they come up with a plan to take an entrance exam for a selective school far from home.

But when tragedy strikes, it will take all of Wen's resilience and tiger strength to get herself and Henry through the storm that follows.

Tiger Daughter is a coming-of-age novel that will grab hold of you and not let go.

 JADEN POWERS AND THE INHERITANCE MAGIC

In this magical middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Amari and the Night Brothers, a shy boy must step up and become his own hero after his best friend disappears at a magical school.

Jaden and Elijah have been best friends since they were born. They're so close that Jaden doesn't even mind that he's constantly living in talented, high-achieving Elijah's shadow-well, he doesn't mind much.

But then Elijah disappears, leaving behind nothing but a cryptic note asking for Jaden's help. The next day, Jaden is invited to attend Elijah's fancy private boarding school. Only, it turns out it's not a boarding school at all. It's a school for magic! Somehow, before Elijah vanished, he used his note to transfer part of his own magic into Jaden-a feat that is supposed to be impossible.

Determined to find his friend, Jaden agrees to attend the school and learn to control his new powers. But a sinister force is threatening to destroy the whole magical world. And if Jaden doesn't stop it, he'll be the next to disappear.

JADEN POWERS AND HIS INHERITANCE MAGIC 
Written by Jamar J. Perry 
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing

A WHISPER OF CURSES 

In the world between realms, anything can happen . . .

The new Park Row Magic Academy construction is underway, and Kyana is searching for magic activities to fill the school break. When she visits the building for supplies, she's grabbed by an Available spirit! Even though she's able to slip its grasp, something is wrong-she can't stop crying and laughing uncontrollably. Is she cursed?

Then Ashley shares an invitation to a camp for magical learning. Ash thinks that whatever curse is messing with Kyana, Dr. Minzy, a famous teacher there, will know how to fix it.

But once they reach the secret camp site, the magical portal suddenly collapses-they're trapped! Ash is almost sure Availables are involved. With the camp in chaos, Kyana still under the mysterious curse, and Russ broadcasting everything to the MagickNet, Ashley must choose: Say something about what she suspects, or mind her business and trust Dr. Minzy? Are the Availables up to something nefarious, and can Kyana, Ashley, and Russ figure out what's going on and save them all?

In this adventurous sequel to A Taste of Magic, the young city wizards must navigate a mystery in the wilderness, decide how to speak up, and be the heroes they need.

A WHISPER OF CURSES
Written by J. Elle
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing

KAREEM BETWEEN

Seventh grade begins, and Kareem's already fumbled it.

His best friend moved away, he messed up his tryout for the football team, and because of his heritage, he was voluntold to show the new kid–a Syrian refugee with a thick and embarrassing accent–around school. Just when Kareem thinks his middle school life has imploded, the hotshot QB promises to get Kareem another tryout for the squad. There's a catch: to secure that chance, Kareem must do something he knows is wrong.

Then, like a surprise blitz, Kareem's mom returns to Syria to help her family but can't make it back home. If Kareem could throw a penalty flag on the fouls of his school and home life, it would be for unnecessary roughness.

Kareem is stuck between. Between countries. Between friends, between football, between parents–and between right and wrong. It's up to him to step up, find his confidence, and navigate the beauty and hope found somewhere in the middle.

KAREEM BETWEEN
Written by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

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