Book Recommendations: Middle School Kids - February 2025
- Spin A Yarn
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Verse novels—love ‘em or leave ‘em, right? Some young readers devour them like a bag of their favorite chips (quick, satisfying, and impossible to put down), while others get tripped up by the poetic flow. But if your middle schoolers are all about that verse life, they’re in for a treat!
This list is packed with gripping, thought-provoking stories that dive into big, meaningful topics—perfect for their growing minds and curious hearts. Get ready to add some lyrical magic to their bookshelves!
Unsinkable Cayenne By Jessica Vitalis
Cayenne’s finally getting a real home after years of roaming with her free-spirited parents (hippie isn’t a bad word… right?). But “normal” life—neighbors, public school, actual friends—turns out to be way harder than expected. Set in the 1980s, against the fascinating backdrop of the Titanic’s retrieval, this verse novel is all about finding confidence, resilience, and your people. It’s a unique, can’t-put-it-down read—even if it doesn’t seem relatable at first! (Heads up: there’s a parent who smokes pot.)
The Trouble with Heroes By Kate Messner
Vandalizing a gravestone? Not Finn’s brightest moment. Now, his punishment? Hiking all 46 Adirondack peaks—yikes! This mostly verse novel is a wild mix of adventure, mystery, and heart, told through poems, posters, texts, recipes, and more. Plus, Finn’s ELA assignment? Writing 20 different types of poems (hello, haiku and villanelle!). It’s clever, packed with emotion, and a sneaky-good way to spark a love for poetry. A+ read!
The Crossover By Kwame Alexander
Basketball, brotherhood, and rhythm-packed verse—this book slams! Twins Josh and JB rule the court, but life throws them a curveball they never expected. Fast-paced, emotional, and totally unputdownable.
The Red Pencil By Andrea Davis Pinkney
Amira dreams of learning to read and write, but when her village in Sudan is attacked, everything changes. With only a red pencil and her determination, she embarks on a journey of survival and hope. A powerful, emotional story about resilience and education.
Inside Out & Back Again By Thanhhà Lại
Based on the author’s own life, this moving novel follows Hà as she flees war-torn Vietnam for the U.S. Told in stunning verse, it captures the struggles and triumphs of adjusting to a new life while holding on to your past.
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