Books have a unique ability to show us the lives of others and open our eyes to experiences very different than our own. However, if the images and narratives in children's books portray only the dominate culture, they can serve to sideline diverse voices.
Be sure to offer your children books that speak about the experiences of a variety of cultures, races, economic classes, gender identities, and disabilities. The books on this list offer readers an entry point of discussion the important values of compassion for others, social justice, and the benefits of living in a diverse society.
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Anti-Bias Books for Ages 9 and Up
I considered dividing the following anti-bias middle grade books by category but found there was too much cross-over. As in real life, no person fits neatly into a single identity. Happy reading!
Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr., illustrated by Cin Wibowo and Jes Wibowo
Tony, loves comics and video games but he struggles with fitting in and gets bullied by his peers. When he starts a new school, he wants things to be different and starts a club to connect with others who share his interests. Weaver's graphic novel memoir is full of humor and young readers will recognize their own journey towards self-acceptance mirrored in his.
MORE: Picture books to foster inclusion and an anti-bias attitude
Mascot by Charles Waters & Traci Sorrell
Callie, who is African-American and a Cherokee citizen, is paired with classmate Franklin, who is Black, to work on an assignment that debates the “Pros and Cons of Indigenous Peoples as Mascots.” Callie is deeply disgusted by the school's racist mascot, but Franklin feels differently. The story is told from seven different perspectives, written in verse and free of judgement, allowing readers to consider all points. This would be an excellent book for use in a classroom. Ages 10 and up.
A Duet for Home by Karen Yan Glaser
June, her mother, and younger sister move into a homeless shelter in the Bronx. Tyrell has been living in the same shelter for three years. He loves listening to the neighbor play classical music, and when he learns June has a viola which she is not allowed to play inside the shelter he convinces the neighbor to giver her lessons. Unfortunately, new housing policies are threatening to move families out of Huey House before they are ready, but June and Tyrell are hoping to find a way to stop that. The narrative voice alternates between June and Tyrell.
Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi
Twelve-year-old Pakistani-American, Yusuf, lives in a small town Texas. He's excited about sixth grade and the upcoming robotics competition. However, it's the 20th anniversary of 9/11, racist bullies are leaving notes in his locker, and some in the community are protesting against a local mosque. When Yusuf's teacher assigns the students to write about 9/11, Yusuf turns to his uncle's diary from that time. A thoughtful portrayal of the ways communities deal with prejudice, anger and identity.
The Usual Suspects by Maurice Broaddus
Broaddus' tale of false accusation and the tragic way Black boys are unjustly blamed is an important read. Thelonious, the 7th-grade narrator, and his friend Nehemiah are the pranksters of their class. When a gun is found near the school, the administration is quick to suspect the kids in the Special Education classroom, where Thelonious learns. So, Thelonious and Nehemiah set out to determine the origin of the gun. Thelonious' insightful narration about the way he and his friends are treated by schools and society is poignant and hilarious in turns.
MORE: Middle Grade Books That Foster Empathy
Martin McLean Middle School Queen by Alyssa Zaczek
Seventh grader, Martin McLean, is trying to figure out where he fits in. He loves being on the Mathletes team and he embraces his mixed race, Afro-Cuban and white, identity. He's particularly close with his Tío Billy, who supports Martin's desire to enter a drag queen contest. Now that Martin has found a way to express himself he wants to figure out a way to tell his friends. This is a wonderful, readable story which presents diverse racial, cultural and gender identities in a positive light.
MORE: LGBTQIA Chapter Books that Transcend "Issues"
You Are Here: Connecting Flights, edited by Ellen Oh
This compelling middle grade novel is a collection of interwoven stories detailing the experiences of several Southeast Asian and East Asian American families at a Chicago airport. The stories are written by twelve different authors and explore identity, friendship, and family relationships. Some of the interactions of the characters cause ripple effects throughout the airport, and the protagonists of the stories learn how to speak up for themselves. I found it hard to put down this book, and so will young readers.
MORE: Short Story Anthologies for Ages 8-13
Orange for the Sunsets by Tina Athaide
1972 Uganda is not the typical setting for a children's novel, and yet readers will draw many parallels between the shocking events in which the Ugandan government expelled ethnic Indians from the country and present-day xenophobic tensions and arguments over national borders. The narration, which alternates between two friends–Indian Asha and Ungandan Yesofu–explores the nature of loyalty, nationality and allows the reader to view the country's chaos through two different lenses. Powerful and moving.
MORE: Middle Grade Books About Refugees
Sorry for Your Loss by Joanne Levy
12-year-old Evie's parents run a Jewish funeral home. Some kids might be freaked out by this, but Evie thinks it's fascinating and is looking forward to taking over the family business one day. Then she meets Oren, a boy new to the area whose parents have recently been killed in a car accident. Oren is now living with his uncle and hasn't spoken a word since the accident. Evie has always admired the way her parents nurture their clients in their grieving moments and she is determined to help Oren. The two of them get off to a rocky start but eventually become friends and Oren even helps Evie stand up to her school bullies. Levy's book may deal with grief, but it is not depressing and she masterfully weaves Jewish cultural and funeral traditions into the narrative.
MORE: Middle Grade Books With Jewish Protagonists
Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos
Twelve-year-old, Nova, who is autistic and mostly non-verbal, narrates her own story in this emotionally moving book. Separated from her big sister, Bridget, she now lives with new foster parents. Nova longs for Bridget, but believes in her sister's promise that she will return in time to watch the launch of the Challenger. Beautifully written, with humor and heart, this book will not soon fade from your memory.
MORE: Neurodiversity in Middle Grade Novels
The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
Alberta and her two dads are one of the few Black families living in their coastal California town and they are delighted to learn that the new owners of the B&B across the street are also Black. Alberta quickly befriends fellow 7th-grader Edie, despite their fashion differences. Meanwhile, Alberta's white best friend, Laramie, appears to be drifting towards the mean girl, causing tension in their relationship. When Alberta and Edie set out to solve the mystery lurking between the pages of a stack of journals from the 1950s and 60s they find in the attic, they uncover a secret life. Colbert expertly creates a story about pre-teen girls, friends, school life as well as how racism plays a part in their daily lives. Marvelous.
MORE: Middle Grade Books by Black Authors
To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer
This page-turner is an epistolary novel. Avery and Bett's fathers are sending them to the same summer camp in hopes that they will become friends. The dads are dating and thinking about getting married. At first, Avery and Bett are determined to dislike each other, but instead end up the best of friends. The book deals with the meaning of friendship and family. Avery and Bett discuss their origin stories, so readers hear about blended families, adoption, surrogates and learn that families come in all combinations. I absolutely adored this book and even though it ends with a wedding, its not the one you were expecting!
Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham and Charles Waters
Poems in two voices tell the story of a white girl and a black boy becoming friends at school while working on a class poetry project. The poems (written by a white woman and a black man) dive into topics of race, family life, friendship and school experiences in a very accessible way. The illustrations are a great accompaniment. I really loved this collection and highly recommend it for ages 8 and up.
MORE: Books About Hair
What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado
Stephen is mixed race but he knows the world sees him as Black. He is becoming more and more aware of how his is treated differently than his white best friend, Dan. Stephen increasingly wonders if he should be friends only with black and brown kids. In this short novel, Maldonado reaches out and grabs the reader, drawing them into to Stephen's personal journey which plays out against the background of larger social movements.
The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy
I adored this book about an Indian-American boy, Rahul Kapoor, who is trying to discover what he is best at, and who he wants to be. He decides to try out for Mathletes and finds a welcome home, but struggles with an invitation to the Sadie Hawkins dance. This is an intensely engaging and funny story about a boy dealing with identity, OCD and anxiety. A must read!
Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
After his Ama is deported in a surprise raid, 12-year-old Efrén must look after the household, including his sibling who has a cognitive disability, while his Apa works hard to earn the money needed to bring Ama back to the family. Efrén's secret almost costs him his best friend, a white boy who lives with his grandmother, as well as his academic success. Readers will empathize with the struggles of living with immigration difficulties and the emotional chaos of being forcibly separated from a parent.
MORE: Middle Grade Books With Latino Protagonists
Show Me A Sign by Ann Clare Lezotte
I absolutely loved this historical novel set on Martha's Vineyard in the early 19th century. Lezotte, who is herself deaf, has written a fiercely strong heroine, Mary Lambert, who lives in community where everyone speaks sign language and a quarter of the population is deaf. One day, a young man arrives in the village hoping to research the reason for the high rate of deafness. Mary narrates the story and her observations of the interactions between the English, Black, Irish, and Wampanoag peoples, as well as on racism, prejudice and ableism are perceptive and thought-provoking.
MORE: Middle Grade Books with Protagonists Who Have Medical Challenges
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
This free-verse novel begins in Syria around the start of the Arab Spring. Jude and her pregnant mother decide to emigrate to live with her uncle in America. Her older brother, caught up in the protests against the government, stays behind with their father. In America, Jude meets new friends and discovers an interest in theater. With unflinching honesty and a keen perception, Jude describes the transition from Syria to her experiences adjusting to living in America. A splendid book.
MORE: Middle Grade Books with Muslim Protagonists
This is Just a Test by Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Madelyn Rosenberg
It's the early 1980s and David is prepping for his bar mitzvah. His two grandmothers, one Jewish and one Chinese, are not making things easy for him with their constant bickering over whether David's Jewish or Chinese heritage should take precedence. On top of that, David and his friend are secretly building a fallout shelter, inspired by the movie, The Day After. Kids will love the humor, David's character and the 1980s setting adds an interesting layer without becoming too remote for a contemporary audience.
MORE: Books with Asian and Asian-American Characters
I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
This was a terrific read! Edie lives in a loving family, but she knows her mother doesn't like to talk much about her own ancestry. Her mother, of mixed Native American heritage, was adopted by white parents. One day, Edie discovers a box of letters signed "Edith" and wonders who her mysterious namesake is. The story follows Edie's journey as she learns the truth and reconnects with her Suquamish/Duwamish heritage. I can't recommend this book enough! Be sure to talk with your kids about how important it is to read stories which counteract the harmful stereotypes of American Indians that are too often taught in school.
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