Middle Grade Gets Real – 25 Titles About Tough Topics

There are arguments that kids shouldn’t read about tough topics – topics that include death, adoption/foster care, childhood illness, substance abuse, disability and more. But, how do kids learn about these topics if they don’t see them in their daily life? Or, how do kids feel less alone if they are dealing with these issues at home? Middle grades authors, for the most part, are very careful when dealing with tough topics when writing for their audience. Not, that they sugar coat these issues, but they provide a close look at a tough topic at an age-appropriate level.

I love these types of books because it allows kids to really open up, ask questions and discuss topics that are often seen as taboo. But, how are kids supposed to learn? We’ve used at least a few of these titles during our middle school book discussion and the kids are always very insightful and full of questions that they feel comfortable enough to ask. Many students share their own experiences or discuss what they might do if they were in a certain situation. This open communication fills my heart and makes me so happy to hear because I truly believe that books and discussion can truly help educate young people about tough topics and how to react or what they can do when something happens in their own life.

#MGGetsReal is a collaboration of authors reaching out to kids about tough topics. And although the blog doesn’t look like much is happening, Kerry O’Malley Cerra, middle grade author, has an absolutely amazing list of titles on her website about all different types of tough topics.

Take a look at some of these amazing titles below and search for more online or by asking your local librarian. There are many more titles that I could have included and the only reason I didn’t was to make a prettier graphic, so what other titles would you offer for this booklist?

Middle Grade Gets Real – 25 Titles About Tough Topics

1. George by Alex Gino
2. The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
3. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
4. Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
5. Booked by Kwame Alexander
6. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
7. Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar
8. Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart
9. See You At Harry’s by Jo Knowles
10. Gertie’s Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley
11. Ruby On the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin
12. One for the Murphys by Linda Mullaly Hunt
13. Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand
14. The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner
15. Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
16. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer & Matthew Holm
17. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
18. Lost In the Sun by Lisa Graff
19. Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin
20. The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
21. The Girl In the Well Is Me by Karen Rivers
22. Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
23. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
24. All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
25. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

Learn more about bibliotherapy and check out my list of YA titles about tough topics!