Diverse Voices (Middle Grade)
This study guide collection celebrates diverse voices with books appropriate for middle-grade readers that explore overcoming adversity related to racial intolerance, financial hardship, physical disabilities, neurodivergence, and more.
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family, Art, Disability, Community, Sexual Identity
Tags Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ+, Coming of Age, Grief & Death, Social Class, African American Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Race & Racism
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Fear, Grief, Memory, Love, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Plants, Trust & Doubt, Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Romance, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, LGBTQ+, Depression & Suicide, Mental Illness, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Psychology, Trauma & Abuse
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Friendship, Education, Coming of Age, Family
Tags Poverty, Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Arts & Culture
The Tequila Worm, published in 2005 by Random House, (first edition) is a middle grade novel about a young Mexican American girl, Sofia, who comes from a family of storytellers. The tales Sofia hears strengthen her ties to her family and their traditions in the Texas barrio where they live. Though poor, the family does not struggle, finding riches in the practice of making Easter cascarones, (colored eggs) celebrating Dia de los Muertos, (Day of... Read The Tequila Worm Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Guilt, Grief, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Nostalgia, Regret, Hope, Art, Music, Literature, Order & Chaos, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Community, Environment, Animals, Food, Place
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Urban Development, Special Occasions, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1999
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Fear, Hate & Anger, Equality, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies
Tags Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, US History, Trauma & Abuse, Race & Racism, Bullying, Black Lives Matter, Education
Through My Eyes is the autobiography of Ruby Bridges. In 1960, Bridges became the first African American child to integrate an elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana following a court mandate for the state to desegregate its public school system. Louisiana trailed segregation effort in neighboring states, such as the nine Black high school students known as the “Little Rock Nine” who integrated a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.Bridges’s autobiography, published in... Read Through My Eyes Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Grief, Race, Community, Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, Relationships, Grief & Death, Diversity, American Literature, 9/11, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, World History
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Friendship, Coming of Age, Race, Guilt, Fear, Power & Greed, Grief, Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Children`s Literature, History: African , Race & Racism, African American Literature, Action & Adventure
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Politics & Government, Race, Friendship, Self Discovery, Justice, Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Arts & Culture, World History
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family, Friendship, Siblings, Daughters & Sons, Mothers, Childhood & Youth, Love, Food, Equality, Fathers, Perseverance, Conflict, Grandparents
Tags Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1926
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Friendship, Joy, Order & Chaos, Appearance & Reality, Place, Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Fantasy, Animals, Food, Relationships, Science & Nature