Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
If you're looking for books for older kids and teenagers, take a look at these booklists for grades 4-12 organized by topic and representing a wide range of cultures and perspectives.
For more ideas, visit our sister site, AdLit.org and take a look at our large selection of titles representing cultural diversity:
Featured Booklists
Booklists by Topic
Bilingual Books
Award-Winning Books
Comics and Graphic Novels
Tough Topics
Adoption & Teens
Between Two Worlds: Stories for Teens
- Across Cultures in YA: Hispanic Heritage
- Across Cultures: Asian Pacific American Heritage (YA and Middle Grades)
- American Indian Youth Today
- Front Desk Series by Kelly Yang
- Going "Home": Stories for Middle Grades and Young Adults
- Inspired by Classics: Diverse Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
- Puerto Rican Stories: Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
- Strong Girls: Asian Pacific American Heritage (Grades 6-8)
Biography & Memoir
Growing Up
- Autobiography and Memoir for Young Adults: Hispanic Heritage
- College Stories for YA: Hispanic Heritage
- Coming of Age: American Indian Heritage
- Coming of Age: Big Changes
- Coming of Age: Important Choices
- Coming of Age: New Responsibilities
- Courageous Girls: Books for Middle Grades
- Digging Deeper: Books About Social Issues for Middle Grades
- Growing Up Along the Border: Stories for Middle Grades and Young Adults
- Growing Up in the Barrio: Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
- Love Stories for Young Adults: Hispanic Heritage
- Quinceañera Stories
- Summer Stories for Middles Grades and Young Adults: Hispanic Heritage
Biography
ELLs & Immigrants
- Immigrant Stories: Books for Middle Grades
- Immigrant Stories: Books for Young Adults
- Immigration Stories: Crossing the Border
- Migrant Farmworkers: Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
- Refugee Stories from Africa
- Refugee Stories from Asia
- Refugee Stories from Europe
- Refugee Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan
- Refugees: Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
- Stories About Unaccompanied Children and Youth
- Syrian Stories: Books for Children and Teens
- Undocumented: Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
History / Historical Fiction
- Historical Fiction for Middle Grades and Young Adults: American Indian Heritage
- Historical Fiction for Middle Grades and Young Adults: Hispanic Heritage
- History and Historical Fiction: Asian Pacific American Heritage (Grades 7-12)
- Japanese-American Incarceration During World War II: Books for Kids and Young Adults
- Native Residential Schools: Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
Poetry & Short Stories
Science Fiction & Mystery
- Chills and Thrills: Spooky Stories for Teens
- Fantasy for Middle Grades and Young Adults: Hispanic Heritage
- Fantasy Series for Middle Grades and YA: Asian Pacific Heritage
- Magic, Fantasy, and Science Fiction: Diverse Books for Middle Grades and YA
- Mystery and Detective Stories for Middle and High School
- Science Fiction and Supernatural: American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage
Sports Books for Teens
Who Am I?
- Family Stories for Middle Grades and Young Adults: Hispanic Heritage
- Friends and Frenemies for Middle Grades and Young Adults: Hispanic Heritage
- Identity: Who Am I?
- Journeys in YA: Hispanic Heritage
- LGBTQIA+ Stories: Asian Pacific Heritage
- My Name: Books for Middle Grades and Young Adults
- School Tales for Middle Grades