As a self-proclaimed book dragon, my ‘best book’ is a title that shifts with each new discovery. Yes, I fall head over heels for books with remarkable ease. As it is, I fall in love easily with a book. I know this is a problem. Nevertheless, middle-grade fiction holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just my chosen genre for writing but also for reading. It takes a particular skill for an author to tailor themes and lessons for that age group. As one who writes in it, let me tell you, it is not easy. But I love doing it!

I’ll link it here if you have not read my previous blog post. I’m drawn to writing for this age group because of the critical role media plays in the self-development and self-esteem of kids. Seeing themselves reflected in stories is vital. After immigrating to the US, I lacked representative literature in my age range, which caused me to feel as if I was the only one experiencing what I was experiencing. When a child sees a fictional character go through something they have gone through, it’s so validating. It helps them feel less ostracized.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to delve into one of these stories. If you have a young family member, read it or gift it to them. Even if the reader does not share the character’s identity, reading about it creates understanding, empathy, and tolerance. I don’t know about you, but I feel these are some things we can all use a little more.

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1. Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring: I’m going to put the book I wrote as number five because I don’t want to seem self-centered 😉 Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring dives into the intricate dynamics of a Dominican blended family who has chosen not to talk about a sensitive subject they collectively experienced. I have found this behavior to be shared in Dominican and some Latine households. De eso no se habla is often said to quiet someone who is broaching a sensitive subject. Here, we find Isla Delgado, our nine-year-old protagonist who had learned from her parents not to talk about complex subjects. She experienced a poor relationship with a previous step-parent, and when faced with meeting and going to live with a new one for six months, she spirals. The themes of empathy and self-discovery are intertwined in this story. The last review I received for Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring came from a parent who read it with their seven-year-old. The reader explained that they had never read anything about a Dominican family but found it very relatable to what other families go through. That is the ultimate compliment for me because I met my goal of humanizing a community that people had not read about.

2. From the Desk of Zoe Washington: OMG, this book is the standard of how an author portrays tough subjects for a young reader. The protagonist, Zoe Washington, writes to her wrongfully incarcerated father and ends up leading an investigation that could set him free. A beautiful story that shows biases people hold for incarcerated folks in a responsible manner. I can’t say enough good things about this book. I LOVED IT.

3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Maybe I am not looking in the right place, but it is a shame that I don’t see this book in more lists. This book depicts the day-to-day life of a kid who lives in the res (reservation) and goes to school outside. By changing the environment of the main character, Sherman Alexie shows the reader the hurdles the MC goes through to adapt their behavior from one environment to another, and for anyone who is from a marginalized community, this switch would be completely relatable. I learned so much from this book!

4. Merci Suárez Can’t Dance: This was my first experience reading a story about a main character who has a lazy eye. If only I would have had this book when I was younger, I would have loved myself more. But better late than never, right? This book also depicted a Latine family and gave me hope that I could craft a book that centers a Latine family with all its messiness and love. Because of this book, I felt encouraged to write Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring.

1. Witchlings: Mi compatriota, Claribel Ortega concocted a magical story where a group of unlikely friends come together when they become misfits in their magical society. When accusations about them erupt, they are forced to investigate and fight for the truth. This book talks about social justice, citizen responsibility, and equitable rights without ever naming those things, and that’s why I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. It has everything I care about in an entertaining and captivating story.

If these titles are new to you, I highly recommend a trip to your local library. Each one is a treasure waiting to be discovered. You will not regret reading them, and as I said, this list is super flexible and ever-growing, so expect a few more of these blog posts to sprout here 🙂

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