2021 has been an amazing year for diverse, inclusive, and social justice-themed children’s books. Last week, I shared my favorite picture books of 2021. Today, I’m sharing the best middle grade books of 2021, both chapter books and non-fiction. If you’re new to the phrase “middle grade books,” this simply means books for kids ages 8 – 12. (On this list, I also have books for kids as young as age 6 and as old as age 14.)
Disclosure: For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I received free copies of Partly Cloudy, Juana and Lucas: Muchos Changes, and Art of Protest from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Best middle grade books of 2021: Fantasy
Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Sisters of the Neversea is hands-down my favorite middle grade book of 2021! Cynthia Leitich Smith has taken the story of Peter Pan and flipped it on its head. Stepsisters Wendy and Lily are facing a temporary separation of their family (which threatens to become permanent if their parents keep fighting.) When Peter and Belle show up talking about the magic of Neverland, adventurous Wendy (who is English) takes off, along with their little brother Michael. Level-headed Lily (who is Muscogee Creek) is appalled and sets out to find them. Once on the island, both girls soon become alarmed by Peter’s controlling ways, his disregard for Michael’s safety, his racism and sexism, and his attack on the island’s animals.
There’s still plenty of magic in this beautifully written tale, but it’s clear that Peter is not the hero of the story. That role goes to Lily and Wendy, who are willing to grow up while still embracing wonder and adventure. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12. Muscogee Creek author.)
Related Post: 8 middle grade books about American Indians
The Year I Flew Away by Marie Arnold
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When Gabrielle moves from Haiti to the United States to live with her aunt and uncle, nothing seems to be going right. Her older cousin resents her presence, her over-worked uncle doesn’t want her to cause any trouble, and her classmates make fun of her accent. So when a witch shows up offering her a delicious mango that can make these problems disappear, Gabrielle can’t resist. The witch says that she’ll only have to give up things she won’t miss anyway, and as long as she doesn’t eat the entire mango, she won’t belong to the witch.
Of course, the witch’s promise contains a lie: that Gabrielle won’t miss the parts of her culture and identity that she gives up. Soon she’s fighting to save herself (with the help of a talking rat who thinks he’s a rabbit) and the things that make her uniquely herself. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12. Haitian-American author.)
Loteria by Karla Arenas Valenti
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As 11-year-old Clara helps her mother make Oaxaca City’s best hot chocolate, she has no idea she’s the subject of a Loteria game between Life and Death (who prefers to go by Catrina.) Whoever wins the game will determine whether Clara lives long or fades quickly.
As Life and Catrina play the Loteria cards, Clara is absorbed into saving her younger cousin Estaban. Overwhelmed by grief for his recently deceased mother, Estaban is tricked into traveling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas, where danger awaits at every turn. Clara, who has never considered herself brave or skilled, must summon her courage time after time to protect her cousin. (Recommended for ages 10 – 14. This book has some heavy/sad themes that may be too much for sensitive 8 & 9 year olds. Mexican-American author.)
Best middle grade books of 2021: Contemporary fiction
Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis
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Starting at a new school where you don’t know anyone is hard for any child. But for Madalyn, it also means moving in with Papa Lobo, her kind but odd great uncle, for most of the year. Meanwhile her father finds work in another city and her mother is putting in so many hours at work that there’s not enough time for the heart-to-heart conversations Madalyn wants to have.
As a newcomer and the only Black girl in her class, Madalyn is trying to navigate the waters of middle school friendship. When her new friend Natalie makes assumptions about a boy based on racial stereotypes, Madalyn must decide whether their friendship is worth being honest or not. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12. Black author.)
Playing the Cards You’re Dealt by Varian Johnson
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Because I love Varian Johnson’s book The Parker Inheritance so much, I was a bit worried his new book wouldn’t live up to my expectations. I couldn’t have been more wrong!
10-year-old Anthony has two main goals for 5th grade: making his Dad proud by winning the local spades tournament (a family tradition for the Joplin men) and leaving behind teasing about his height. When Ant’s best friend and spades partner Jamal gets in trouble at school, he has to find a new partner. After Jamal finds out he chose Shirley – a GIRL who tromped them in a recent game – Jamal starts acting like anything but a friend.
Meanwhile, Ant’s father is being erratic and secretive, making his mother tense. As their family starts to unravel, Ant becomes even more fixated on the tournament and how making his father proud could fix things. All along, a loving and humorous narrator is rooting for Ant to make it through these obstacles.
This book is a must read, especially for those who want to help kids challenge traditional (and toxic) ideas about what it means to be a man. (Recommended for ages 9 – 13. Black author.)
Related Post: 19 children’s books that defy gender stereotypes
Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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This collection of stories is written by sixteen Native American children’s and young adult authors, with each story leading to the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan. When I started reading the stories to my 9 year old, at first he told me he felt like all the stories were “about the same thing.” But as characters and details from one story would show up in another, he became hooked.
His favorite story was Tim Tingle’s “Warrior of Forgiveness,” which tells of how a group of Choctaw elders gently correct a Choctaw teen for wronging one of their group. I especially enjoyed Rebecca Roanhorse’s “Rez Dog Rules,” told from the perspective of a dog. When his traveling companion realizes he won’t be able to sell enough t-shirts to help his grandma with house repairs because of a bad vendor location, the dog initiates his own publicity campaign! Whether your family enjoys funny or heartwarming tales, you’ll find both in this remarkable collection. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12. Native American authors.)
Too Small Tola by Atinuke
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Tola may be small, but it’s no indication of her physical and mental strength! She takes after Grandmommy, whose nickname is Mama Mighty. In this delightful chapter book, Atinuke shows children modern day life in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria. The story challenges not only gender stereotypes, but stereotypes about Africa as well!
My kid and I laughed out loud multiple times as Tola and Grandmommy carried home towers of goods from the marketplace. (Of course, they stop often to reward themselves with goodies, the news of which makes Tola’s lazy brother jealous.) Tola later showed her emotional strength when faced with a bully at the apartment’s water pump, inspiring her neighbors to stand with her. This book was a joy to read, and I’m hoping this book won’t be the last we hear of Tola. (Recommended for ages 7 – 10. Nigerian author.)
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood, edited by Kwame Mbalia
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Seventeen outstanding Black male and non-binary authors came together to share stories that celebrate Black boyhood, from ordinary experiences like skateboarding and dealing with first crushes, to ones that involve time travel and superhero battles.
My 9 year old loved the stories in this book, and not just because some of his favorite writers like Lamar Giles and Jerry Craft are among the authors. (When the second story in the book is a series of arguments about which super heroes are best, my kid’s gonna be hooked.) The boys in these stories won’t be boxed in by stereotypes about Black young men. There’s a beautiful emotional depth to each story in the volume.
Many of the stories tackle tough topics like coming out to parents and grieving friends whose lives have been cut short. But even in these stories, it is joy, rather than trauma, that shines through in the end. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12. Black authors.)
Juana and Lucas: Muchos Changes by Juana Medina
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If you’re new to the Juana and Lucas series, it follows a Colombian girl and her dog in their often hilarious daily lives. I giggle my way through the each book. They’re early reader chapter books, although they feel a bit like graphic novels because of the humorous picture diagrams in each chapter. In Muchos Changes, Juana’s Mami has two sorpresas (surprises) she isn’t happy about. The first surprise is that a baby’s on the way. The second is that Mami has signed Juana up for skate camp.
At skate camp, Juana’s fellow campers let her in on all the ways a baby sibling will change things. Juana explains this in a helpful diagram titled “Babies make everything complicado. EVERYTHING!” And things get even more complicado when Mami has to go on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. This book takes on changes that can be scary with a light-hearted, reassuring touch. (Recommended for ages 6 – 9. Colombian-American author.)
Best middle grade books of 2021: Sacred and spiritual
The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by María García Esperón and David Bowles
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This collection of sacred stories spans 17 different indigenous nations and peoples whose homelands stretch across what is today known as North and South America. The stories explore how people have understood their place in their land and the larger universe, and how humans and the divine relate to each other. This is a moving collection that helps readers understand a small portion of indigenous wisdom that was passed down for centuries before European contact. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12. Mexican author.)
Healer of the Water Monster by Brian Young
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Nathan is so determined not to spend the summer with his Dad’s new girlfriend that he decides to stay with his Nali (grandmother) on the Navajo reservation. For a kid who loves playing video games, staying in Nali’s mobile home, which has no electricity or running water, is a big change.
One night, Nathan gets lost in the nearby desert, and discovers a sacred being – a water monster – who is very sick. As Nathan tries to discover the cure for Pond the water monster, his uncovers gifts he did not know he had. At the same time, both he and Nali struggle with how to help Nathan’s Uncle Jet, who has struggled with alcoholism ever since returning from overseas.
There are so many reasons that Healer of the Water Monster is one of the best middle grade books of 2021. Young Nathan is an incredibly relatable character. He shows both a generous nature and a stubborn ability to shut out people who are trying to help him. Young has created a mirror for young Navajo readers, infusing language and Díne culture throughout the entire story (yet in a way that non-Navajo readers can understand if we put in some effort.) Finally, even though there is plenty of heartbreak in this book, it’s also very funny at times. (Recommended for ages 9 – 13. Navajo author.)
Best middle grade books of 2021: Non-fiction
Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution by De Nichols, Diana Dagadita, Molly Mendoza, Olivia Twist, Saddo, and Diego Becas
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I cannot wait to use this powerful, unique book in our homeschooling this winter. “Artivist” (a person who is an activist through art) De Nichols takes young people on a tour of how art has fueled social change. The book, which is of course is filled with art, has the feel of a zine. The history Nichols shares spans the globe, as well as many different art forms: street art, craftivism, performance art, poetry, music and photography.
Many young readers will be drawn to the chapter on climate change, which uses bold portrait painting to introduce youth leaders of the movement.
This book is much more than a guide to protest art history; it’s also filled with practical ideas for young people to try in their own work for social justice. (Recommended for ages 10+. Black author.)
Barefoot Books Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery by Christy Mihaly and Mariona Cabassa
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While I’ve listed this book under non-fiction, it’s actually a blend of accessible, factual information about the planet’s water, along with 8 traditional and sacred stories about water from around the world. From how plants and animals find and use water to the water cycle and how to preserve water and keep it clean, this book is a must have for classrooms and homeschooling families.
But children not only need information about water; they also need to develop a love for its wonders so that they’ll be moved to protect it. That’s where the global stories come into play. Each one passes on knowledge of how a different culture has relied on water, celebrated its centrality to life, or faced challenges in preserving it. (Recommended for ages 7 – 11.)
Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi, and Sonja Cherry-Paul
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I had Stamped (For Kids) on my shelf for several months before I decided to read it to my 9-year-old. Since my job is coaching parents and teachers on talking to kids about race, my kiddo sometimes feels like a bit of a guinea pig.
Turns out I didn’t need to worry about whether this book on the history of racist ideas would hold his interest. Reynolds and Cherry-Paul’s adaptation for kids is so engaging and relatable that on some days my son asked me to read extra chapters.
Because of all the concrete examples from history, my kid now understands what it means to be antiracist, assimilationist, and segregationist. (These are Kendi’s big three concepts from the original Stamped From The Beginning book.) He grasps how even some people who were heroes of the abolitionist and civil rights movements didn’t fully reject racist ideas. Most importantly, the book teaches children that it is possible for us to change our thinking and embrace antiracist ideas, no matter what we’ve been taught in the past. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12. Black authors.)
Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers by Juliet Menéndez
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There’s a problem with a lot of children’s books that profile many leaders in one volume: the writing is dull. Glad I finally got that off my chest!
That’s not the case with Latinitas, which brings each leader’s personality alive with details kids will relate to or find fascinating. For instance, did you know that when 17th century nun Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz found out women couldn’t attend college, she begged her mother to cut off her braids and dress her in boys’ clothes? Menéndez also invents dialogue that will draw readers in. For example, professors ask “who does this señorita think she is?” when Antonia Navarro discovers vital information that European astronomers had missed.
These 40 profiles will introduce young readers to Latina leaders from many different disciplines and countries, from the 1600s right up to the present. (Recommended for ages 8 – 12. Guatemalan-American author.)