| Three Keys by Kelly YangWelcome to: the Calivista Hotel, California, 1994, where 11-year-old Mia Tang and her Chinese American parents are keeping the hotel running despite money problems and the threat of a new anti-immigrant law.
Why you might like it: Although Mia faces realistically tough situations, she can depend on her family, her friends, and her growing skills as a writer.
Series alert: Fans of Front Desk will be happy to revisit Mia's world, but newcomers can also enjoy this thoughtful, heartfelt sequel. |
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Cosmoe's Wiener Getaway
by Max Brallier
Transformed throughout the course of a bizarre night from an adventure-seeking Earth orphan to a hot dog-slinging space traveler, Cosmoe teams up with new friends for food competitions across the universe before tangling with a troublesome stowaway.
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Mia Mayhem Gets X-Ray Specs
by Kara West
Looking forward to perfecting her x-ray vision so she can see through walls and crack secret codes, Mia Mayhem struggles to adjust to her classmates’ pace in spite of her embarrassingly clunky glasses.
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Fly on the Wall
by Remy Lai
A boy with an overprotective mother who interrogates his friends and forbids him from doing anything independently secretly creates an anonymous gossip cartoon and scrambles to keep his parents from finding out.
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Before the Ever After
by Jacqueline Woodson
The son of an idolized pro-football star begins noticing the contrast between his father’s angry, forgetful behavior and his superhero reputation before adjusting to a new reality involving difficult symptoms stemming from his father’s numerous head injuries. By the National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming.
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One Time
by Sharon Creech
Possessing an artistic spirit that makes her feel different from other children, young Gina bonds with a mysterious neighbor who becomes her classmate in a new school year where she seeks advice from an inspiring teacher on how to channel her imagination to discover her true self.
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Fluffy & Freckles
by Ellen Miles
Spending spring break in a family friend’s Vermont cabin, Charles helps his father foster a stray pup that they rescue from the snowy trail and an undersized newborn lamb that befriends the puppy, creating unexpected work for the Peterson family.
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| Blended by Sharon M. DraperWhat it's about: Even though her divorced parents still love her, 11-year-old piano player Isabella feels torn between her wealthy Black dad and her working-class white mom.
Read it for: a true-to-life character dealing with relatable problems at home and at school.
Why fans of New Kid might like it: The main characters in both books face down racism (in big and small ways) while figuring out who they are apart from how other people see them. |
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| Real Friends by Shannon Hale; illustrated by LeUyen PhamWhat it's about: Before she was a famous author, Shannon Hale was an awkward, imaginative girl looking for one good friend.
What happens: At home, Shannon's scary older sister Wendy bullies her, while at school, Shannon's maybe-best-friend Adrienne begins hanging out with mean popular girls.
Why fans of New Kid might like it: Similar to New Kid, Real Friends (and its sequel, Best Friends) offers crisp, colorful artwork and an honest yet hopeful look at belonging and being yourself. |
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| Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg MedinaStarring: Merci Suárez, who's having a rough year: her friendships are all confusing now that she's in 6th grade, her family responsibilities don't leave time for soccer, and her grandpa, Lolo, is acting strange.
Read it for: Merci's annoying yet awesome family and her confident, funny outlook.
Why fans of New Kid might like it: Both Merci and New Kid's Jordan are made to feel out of place by the privileged kids at their private schools. |
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| A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore RaméeWhat it’s about: Smart, rule-following, Shayla doesn’t like to make waves -- just the thought of trouble makes her itchy. But when her formerly rock-solid friendships crumble and a police shooting prompts her to attend a Black Lives Matter protest, Shay begins to wonder: are some kinds of trouble worth starting?
Why fans of New Kid might like it: Blending humor and seriousness, both books look at how racism impacts an African American 7th-grader's experience of making friends and fitting in.
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| Stargazing by Jen WangWhat it’s about: Although they’re from the same Chinese American community, well-behaved Christine doesn’t have much in common with hot-tempered, artsy Moon. Yet when the girls become neighbors, they soon find themselves sharing secrets and K-pop videos -- until jealousy and upsetting news threaten their newfound friendship.
Art alert: warm colors and expressive illustrations add energy to this graphic novel.
Why fans of New Kid might like it: Both books star authentic characters navigating different cultures and social pressures. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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