Abbott, Tony.  Firegirl

     Seventh-grader Tom Bender’s life is changed when he befriends Jessica, a girl disfigured by burns, who attends his Catholic school while receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Alexie, Sherman.  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

     Cartoonist Arnold (Junior) leaves his school on the Indian Reservation to attend an all-white school where the only other Native American is the school mascot. (His entertaining cartoons are placed throughout this humorous book.)

Choldenko, Gennifer. If a Tree Falls At Lunch Period

     As the school year begins, Kristen’s best friend has abandoned her and Walk has left his inner-city school and is the only black student at his new school.  This is the funny and honest story of the friendship between two very different people.

Connor, Leslie.  Waiting for Normal

     Addie tries to cope with her mother’s erratic behavior and separation from her beloved stepfather and half-sisters when she and her mother go to live in a small trailer by the railroad tracks on the outskirts of Schenectady, New York.

Craig, Colleen. Afrika

     Kim returns to her mother’s homeland of South Africa during the Truth and Reconciliation hearings about apartheid, a dark time of segregation in the country, and begins to piece together truths about her own family’s past.

Dessen, Sarah.  The Truth About Forever

     After Macy’s dad dies, she pulls inward and tries to continue on with her “perfect” life:  perfect boyfriend, perfect grades, etc.  Macy loosens up and mourns her loss in this funny and poignant story as she begins a funky new job at a catering business.

Hughes, Mark Peter.  Lemonade Mouth

     Five high school freshmen in detention organize a band called Lemonade Mouth to play at a school talent show, and end up competing with a popular rock band.

Lockhart, E. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

     When Frankie’s boyfriend refuses to talk about the all-male secret society that he and his friends belong to, Frankie infiltrates the society in order to enliven their mediocre pranks.

Myers, Walter Dean.  Sunrise over Fallujah

     Robin Perry, from Harlem, goes to Iraq in 2003 as a member of the Civilian Affairs Battalion.  His time there profoundly changes him. 

Moriarty, Jaclyn.  Feeling Sorry for Celia

Funny, funny, funny.  Elizabeth’s life, in note form.  See also Sue Townsend’s The Adrian Mole Diaries for a boy’s take on life.

Perkins, Mitali.  Monsoon Summer

     Read a work by this author who may come visit the middle school next year! Fifteen-year-old Jazz heads off to India for the summer to help set up a clinic, leaving behind her best friend and secret love, Steve.  The monsoon (rainy) season works its magic.

Shusterman, Neal.  Antsy Does Time (sequel to The Schwa was Here)

     Antsy learns about life, death and much more when he “gives” a month of his life to a friend he believes has a terminal illness. 

Sleator, William.   The Oddballs

     An absolutely hilarious and somewhat autobiographical account of the author’s childhood.

Spinelli, Jerry.  Love, Stargirl (sequel to Stargirl)

     Fifteen-year-old Star Girl writes the “world’s longest letter” to Leo, her former boyfriend who dumped her over a year ago.  Written in the format of a diary, this novel is the sequel to Stargirl. 

Woodson, Jacqueline.  If You Come Softly (sequel: Behind You)

High school students Jeremiah and Ellie are considered an unlikely pair by everybody except themselves.  This is a beautiful and sad love story set in Manhattan.