“Indigo and Ida” addresses the inner fight kids have between trying to do what is right while also trying to be popular and fit in with your friend groups. I highly recommend this book to any kid in 6th, 7th or 8th grade!

“How to Raise a Rhino” by Deb Aronson is the perfect book for teens who love animals, care about the preservation of natural spaces, or love a daring woman determined to live her most authentic life.

There are two main things I love about this book: the history and the inspiration to act!

Architect. Engineer. Artist. Scientist. Designer. Author. What do all of these jobs have in common? They all come up with big ideas and they all rely on a team to “build the dream.”

Do you have a pre-teen/teen who is a reluctant reader? This is the book for him/her. It is action-packed!

My favorite thing about this series is how seamlessly it blends science themes and friendship dilemmas.

Forever Cousins,” by Laurel Goodluck is a story about two cousins, Amanda and Kara. They love spending time together eating toast with chokecherry jam, powwow dancing, and exploring nature.

This book is an absolute MUST for middle schoolers. It is written by a fellow young person and it has pictures for context, both of which really draw kids into the story.

Full disclosure - I love picture book biographies. They are such a great way to broach history with younger children.

The Black Hole Debacle by Keri Claiborne Boyle

So often simplicity is the key to capturing a child’s sense of wonder. Sophie Blackall masters this simple, yet stunningly beautiful synopsis of Earth in her picture book, “If You Come To Earth” (2020). There is so much I love about this book -