Books can provide support and affirmation for kids going through something difficult, or introduce them to complex topics like identity and sexuality in an age-appropriate way. So to help these thoughtful books find the readers that need them, here's a round-up of great middle grade books that deal with tough topics in an encouraging and hopeful way.
For more recommendations, visit one of our shops and talk to our lovely booksellers, or explore more curated collections here.
For kids struggling to fit in at a new school
The Paperbark Tree Committee
Karys McEwen
Twelve-year-old Art and his younger brother Hilary are great friends, best friends. When they move to Melbourne from a small town in Queensland things seem to be easy for Hilary, who is still in primary school, but Art struggles to fit in, and he's become a target for school bully Jack.
His dad is too busy to give him much attention, but Art has his stepmum, Sally, who is always ready to listen. And there's the paperbark tree. Art and Hilary climb into its branches and hold a secret meeting whenever they need to sort things out. The only problem is Art's not sure he still wants to be part of the paperbark tree committee. He's getting older and he thinks maybe he needs to solve his problems on his own.
For kids struggling with the changes of puberty
Pizza Face
Rex Ogle
On the first day of seventh grade, Rex encounters a bump in the road – a big angry pimple right in the centre of his forehead. And this is only the beginning of his problems. What follows is a frustrating battle with stubborn acne, body odour, and other embarrassments of puberty.
Still struggling with a home life edging on the poverty line, Rex can't afford to buy the acne medication or deodorant he needs, and bullies are noticing Rex's awkward transformation. On top of it all, things have gotten weird with his friends, making Rex feel like he can't do or say anything right. So far, seventh grade stinks!
For kids dealing with a big move
Brightest Wild
Tania Crampton-Larking
When eleven-year-old Alex moves to Adelaide from London after her mother gets engaged to a man across the globe, Alex must negotiate a new country, a new school, and (most difficult of all) a new stepbrother, the prickly teenaged Koen.
What sustains Alex in this strange new world is the wonder of the natural world around her, particularly a magnificent tree that comes to represent magic, resilience and strength.
Alex discovers the mystery of the bush, the true impact of climate change and a passion to fight for what is right.
For kids struggling to balance culture, community and school
Almost Sunset
Wahab Algarmi
It's almost sunset, and Hassan has been dreaming about eating since the sun rose this morning. He's facing a hectic month of homework, gaming and soccer, all while fasting every day for the holy month of Ramadan. Not eating until sundown intensifies Hassan's already stretched days – his teachers and friends barely understand Ramadan and its traditions, and it's especially tough keeping up with soccer practice, as the team's first game looms in a few weeks.
At the same time, Ramadan brings Hassan's family and community closer together, from waking up at 4am every morning to feasting and attending mosque in the evenings. Throughout this epic month, while the secular world flows on a different path, Ramadan becomes a steadying force in Hassan's life while illuminating surprises about his family, his faith – soccer too! – and most importantly, Hassan's own path ahead.
For kids grappling with disability
How to Roller-Skate with One Leg
Ella Dove
When Maya finds a list she made before losing her leg, she decides she's still going to do everything on it – even though her former bestie has ditched her for the cool kids.
Before she turns 13, she's going to …
- Get her ears double-pierced
- Learn how to roller-skate
- Stay up all night at a sleepover
- Go viral
- Have the best birthday party ever
- Make her ex-best friend Sophie realise what she's missing!!!
This funny and uplifting story by journalist and amputee Ella Dove is a celebration of friendship, family and overcoming adversity.
For kids discovering their sexuality
Turning Twelve
Kathryn Ormsbee & Molly Brooks
Katie can't wait to turn twelve – pool parties! babysitting! friends! But sometimes it feels like there's so much new stuff she can barely keep up. First Job? (Yes!) Unfair dress codes? (No way!) Make up (Okay?!) Shaving? (Uh...!)
Maybe growing up isn't as much fun as she had expected. But one thing does seem right – her new friend, Grace. Could Katie have a crush on another girl? Katie knows not everyone around her will approve … which is kind of scary. She might not be ready to tell anyone yet, and that's fine … but can Katie stay true to herself and embrace the person she's growing up to be?
For kids concerned about climate change
Spirit of the Crocodile
Aaron Fa'Aoso & Michelle Scott Tucker, with Lyn White
Twelve-year-old Ezra is an ordinary boy who lives on Saibai, an extraordinary Australian island. He loves a laugh, he loves his family, and – almost more than anything – he loves a dare.
But when one of his dares goes wrong, Ezra realises he needs to make some decisions about helping out and measuring up. He learns that there's more than one way to look at, well, nearly everything.
And as ever-increasing climate disasters threaten Saibai, Ezra and his best mate Mason must draw on their resilience and courage to help the community survive a massive out-of-season storm.
For kids struggling with anxiety
Popcorn
Rob Harrell
Andrew's just trying to get through school photo day with one aim: a photo of him which his mum will like. But today of all days, the world seems out to get him. There's a bully, the science experiment gone wrong, scary news about his grandmother, and someone else's juice snot (don't ask).
Andrew struggles with anxiety, and the little kernel of worry in his stomach is getting hotter and hotter … Can he make it through the day without popping?
For kids dealing with complicated friendships
Thunderhead
Sophie Beer
Meet Thunderhead: awkward, music-obsessed and a magnet for bad luck. Their favourite things in life are listening to records and hanging out with their best (and only) friend Moonflower.
But Thunderhead has a big secret. And when Moonflower moves schools, they're faced with the reality of surviving the wilderness of high school alone. Make new friends? NOTHANKYOUVERYMUCH.
As two big life events approach, Thunderhead posts playlists and heartfelt diary entries as an outlet to try to make sense of their changing world, to try to calm the storm brewing in their brain and to try to find the courage to unfurl their heart.
For kids who are grieving
The Jammer
Nova Weetman
Fred has moved around her whole life, one small town after another. She never minded starting over because she always had her mum, her dad and her love of roller derby. On the track she was Fred or Dead, the star jammer, a gun at smashing through a line of bodies and scoring for her team. But now Fred’s life has fallen apart, and she can’t imagine putting her skates on again.
After road tripping to Melbourne with her dad, Fred meets a bunch of people who think they know what’s best for her. And although she tries to avoid it, roller derby has a way of barging back into her life. A true jammer could push through anything, but Fred doesn’t know who she is anymore. What do you do when the thing that could save you is what hurts the most?
For kids who want to stand up for what's right
Attack of the Black Rectangles
Amy Sarig King
When Mac first opens his classroom copy of Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic and finds some words blacked out, he thinks it must be a mistake. But then when he and his friends discover what the missing words are, he's outraged. Someone in his school is trying to prevent kids from reading the full story. But who?
Even though his unreliable dad tells him to not get so emotional about a book (or anything else), Mac has been raised by his mom and grandad to call out things that are wrong. He and his friends head to the principal's office to protest the censorship … but she doesn't take them seriously. So many adults want Mac to keep his words to himself. Mac's about to see the power of letting them out.
For kids figuring out their identity
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou
Jack Cheng
Andy Zhou is used to being what people need him to be: the good kid for his parents and, now, his grandparents in from Shanghai, or the helpful sidekick for his best friend Cindy's plans and schemes. So when Cindy decides they should try out for Movement on the first day of sixth grade, how can Andy say no? But between feeling out of place with the dancers after school, being hassled by his new science partner Jameel in class, and sensing tension between his dad and grandfather at home, Andy feels all kinds of weird.
Then over anime, Hi-Chews and art, things start to shift between Andy and Jameel, opening up new doors – and new problems. Because no matter how much Andy cares about his friends and family, it's hard not to feel pulled between all the ways he's meant to be, all the different faces he wears, and harder still to figure out if any of these masks is the real him.
