Realistic Fiction (Authors A - L) - Books for Middle School Readers - Tate Library at Ethical Culture Fieldston School

Acevedo, Elizabeth

The Poet X
In this novel in verse, Afro-Latina Xiomara doesn't feel like she has a voice in her Harlem neighborhood...until she discovers slam poetry. This book won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpre Award. Two other great reads by this author are...
Clap When You Land
In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.
With the Fire on High
A dazzling, realistic fiction, novel in prose about a girl with talent, pride, and a drive to feed the soul that keeps her fire burning bright.

* Benjamin, Ali

The Thing about Jellyfish
In this realistic novel, Suzy is starting middle school when she gets the tragic news about her friend Frannie. Suzy is a thoughtful, scientifically-minded character who learns about herself and the world - as well as a lot about jellyfish - in the course of this National Book Award finalist.

Benway, Robin

Far from the Tree
In this novel, Grace, Maya, and Joaquin find out they have the same birth mother and consider what that means they are to each other. This book thoughtfully explores issues of adoption, foster care, and teen pregnancy.

Craft, Jerry - Graphic Novels

New Kid by Jerry Craft
New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator and Fieldston Alum, Jerry Craft.
Class Act by Jerry Craft
This time, it's Jordan's friend Drew who takes center stage in another laugh-out-loud funny, powerful, and important story about being one of the few kids of color in a prestigious private school.
School Trip by Jerry Craft
In this full-color contemporary graphic novel, the gang from Riverdale Academy Day is heading to Paris, for an international education like you've never seen before...

** Lockhart, E.

We Were Liars
This super twisty and suspenseful novel tells the story of four friends whose friendship turns destructive. See also Lockhart's
Genuine Fraud
...in which the story is told backwards in time!

Andreau, Maria E.

Love in English
In this romantic realistic novel about immigration, cultural identity, and finding your voice, 16-year-old Ana has just moved from Argentina to New Jersey. She loves poetry and language, so it's extra frustrating that she can't speak or understand much English. Ana starts to learn English through two very different boys she meets and finds herself torn between them.

**Garmus, Bonnie

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with--of all things--her mind. True chemistry results. But like science, life is unpredictable.

Green, John

Turtles All the way Down
In this realistic novel, Aza struggles with OCD and anxiety as she navigates friendships and tries to solve the mystery of a missing billionaire. We recommend all of Green's books, including...
Looking for Alaska
An Abundance of Katherines
Paper Towns
The Fault in Our Stars
Green has won several awards, including the Michael L. Printz Award

** Jackson, Tiffany D.

Monday's Not Coming
This suspenseful and surprising mystery is narrated by Claudia, who sometimes feels like she is the only one to notice or care that her best friend, Monday, is missing.

* Lord, Cynthia

Rules
In this realistic novel, Catherine struggles with and grows in her relationship with her younger brother, David, who is on the autism spectrum.

** Alvarex, Julia

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents
This realistic, novel, set in the Dominican Republic and NYC, is about four sisters and is told in their four voices as they grow up in these two different cultures.

Hinton, S.E.

The Outsiders
This classic coming-of-age novel - written by Hinton when she herself was a teenager - tells the story of rival teenage gangs divided by socio-economic class.

** Knowles, John

A Separate Peace
This classic novel, set during WWII at a New England boarding school, explores the intense friendship between Gene and Phineas.

** Lee, Harper

To Kill a Mockingbird
This Pulitzer Prize-winning, complex classic novel is a coming-of-age story set in Alabama in the 1930s. It focuses on issues of racial discrimination and criminal justice at that time and is told through the eyes of Scout, a young girl

Han, Jenny

To All the Boys I've Loved Before series
In this realistic fiction series, Lara Jean writes love letters to the five boys she has loved. She never means for them to be mailed, but when that happens, she needs to figure out what to do next. These books are about friendship and love, as well as family - she is the middle child - and the importance of family traditions like those of her Korean heritage. Check out Han's other series...
The Summer I turned Pretty series

Albertalli, Becky and Silvera, Adam

What If It's Us
In this realistic novel, Arthur and Ben can't tell if their relationship is meant to be or doomed not to. Albertalli is the author of...
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
which become the movie "Love, Simon" and...
Yes No Maybe So
and...
The Upside of Unrequited
Silvera is the author of several novels including...
They Both Die at the End

Khorram, Adib

Darius the Great Is Not Okay
This novel is told from the perspective of Darius Kellner, who calls himself a "Fractional Persian" because he is half Persian on his mother's side. The book takes place partly in Iran, as Darius gets to know his Iranian family, make new friends, and figure out he fits - and wants to fit - into the world. See also the sequel...
Darius the Great Deserves Better

Levithan, David

Every Day series
This realistic fiction series with a speculative twist introduces "A," a person who wakes up each day in a different person's body. Through this character and this highly original premise, Levithan explores issues of identity, gender, friendship, and ethics. Many of Levithan's books have LGBTQ themes. We also recommend other books by Levithan, including...
Boy Meets Boy

Books for Middle School Readers: Realistic Fiction (Authors A - L)

Acevedo, Elizabeth

* Benjamin, Ali

Benway, Robin

Craft, Jerry - Graphic Novels

** Lockhart, E.

Andreau, Maria E.

**Garmus, Bonnie

Green, John

** Jackson, Tiffany D.

* Lord, Cynthia

** Alvarex, Julia

Hinton, S.E.

** Knowles, John

** Lee, Harper

Han, Jenny

Albertalli, Becky and Silvera, Adam

Khorram, Adib

Levithan, David