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By Cathy Carr and Lost Kites and Other Treasures
Twelve-year-old Franny Petroski never lets anyone know how often she thinks of the charismatic, troubled mom who left her years ago—any more than she talks about the unaccountable things Mom did while she was still in the picture. Life with Nana is safe and secure, and Franny’s innovative art projects fill in any lonesome times. But when Nana has an accident and Franny’s estranged uncle comes home to help out for a while, some long-guarded family secrets come to light. Franny has to use all of her courage, as well as all of her creativity, to come to terms with the discoveries she makes about her mother—and herself.
As a huge fan of art and a photographer myself, finding these best middle grade books about art, crafting and photography made me squeal. Many of the middle grade books about art are art-related mysteries, but I’m happy that several have popped up recently that are just about the joy of making art and face painting/special effects makeup. We definitely could do with more books with tween photography enthusiasts, but I’m pleased to have at least two favorites on this list. Finally, more crafty protagonists and crafting-centered stories would be welcome — there are a couple on this list with that theme.
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Best Middle Grade Books About Art, Crafting and Photography
Here are 20 of the best middle grade books about art, crafting, and photography:
Many Points of Me
Published: January 12, 2021
Georgia’s father was a renowned fine artist in New York before he died. It’s been two years since then, and her mom seems to be absorbed in managing his estate and trying to keep the family afloat financially. Of her father’s works, he left the final painting series uncompleted at this death, because of his illness. When Georgia finds what she thinks is a sketch of that painting, she goes on a hunt for proof that the painting (which is of her) was really the last one in the series — hoping to confirm her father’s love for her in this way. Many Points of Me is a cleverly written, poignant middle-grade book about grieving a (famous) parent.
Lost Kites and Other Treasures
Published: February 6, 2024
Franny Petroski loves collecting and repurposing materials, even though her stoic Nana isn’t a fan. Nana also won’t talk about her daughter, Franny’s mother, Mia, who left Franny when she was a baby. Franny aches for more novelty, something outside their safe but now boring routines. When Nana fractures her tibia in a fall, their life changes rapidly, resulting in Franny’s uncle Gabe moving in with them and unearthing some of Nana’s tightly held family secrets. Franny’s voice is bright and relatable as she pieces together the secrets of her small family. Carr does a phenomenal job with the perfect balance of introspection, dialogue, and narration that some books lack.
Framed
Published: August 23, 2016
Florian is twelve years old and has just moved to Washington. He’s learning his way around using TOAST, which stands for the Theory of All Small Things. It’s a technique he invented to solve life’s little mysteries such as: where to sit on the on the first day of school, or which Chinese restaurant has the best eggrolls.But when he teaches it to his new friend Margaret, they uncover a mystery that isn’t little. In fact, it’s HUGE, and it involves the National Gallery, the FBI, and a notorious crime syndicate known as EEL. Can Florian decipher the clues and finish his homework in time to help the FBI solve the case?
Drawing Deena
Published: February 6, 2024
Deena is an anxious artist with two best friends, Lucia and Nisha. She’s also close to her cousin Parisa who loves social media, makeup, and being famous. Deena doesn’t know it yet, but the knot in her stomach and nausea she feels every morning is thanks to anxiety. One of the main sources of her anxiety is her parents’ bickering about financial issues. When Deena has an idea to promote her mom’s business on social media and help them earn more, she hopes it will reduce her parents’ bickering. But her social media use comes with its unique issues, even as Deena realizes she needs more support for her anxiety. This is an inspiring, feel-good story about a young artist surmounting creative challenges and managing anxiety.
Alterations
Published: January 30, 2024
It’s June 1994, and Kevin Lee is having a rough go at life. His parents are recently divorced and his dad is essentially absent from their lives. They live with their mom in the apartment above her alterations shop. His mom is always busy and rarely present for the kids because she’s trying to keep up with work as a single parent. Kevin’s main escape is his imagination and his comics, which he loves to read and draw. After a stinky incident with a centuries-old egg, his Popo makes him for lunch, and everyone at school starts teasing him and calling him egg boy, much to his dismay. Determined to change his image at their school field trip to Thrill Planet, he sneaks onto the most dangerous ride in the park with surprising results. This is a funny, albeit slow, graphic novel about being Chinese Canadian in the 1990s, taking charge of one’s identity and reputation, and the power of imagination.
Stick with Me
Published: November 3, 2020
Izzy and Wren, two very different 12-year-olds, are unwittingly brought together at just the right time in their lives. Izzy, a sweet, creative artist with a love for stickers, lives in Boston with her parents and older brother Nate. Wren, on the other hand, is a determined figure skater whose little sister, Hannah, has epilepsy. Wren is understandably upset when her parents mention that instead of spending her winter break practicing, they’ll be moving into a home several hours away to be closer to the hospital where Hannah will have brain surgery for epilepsy. As Wren stays in Izzy’s room for the week (Izzy and her family move into their basement apartment), she has to deal with her emotions about her parents and sister while attending theater camp with Izzy and her classmates. Izzy and Wren begin a tentative friendship, but a misunderstanding threatens to ruin their connection. This is a heartwarming middle-grade book about finding friendship in unexpected places.
Doodles from the Boogie Down
Published: April 25, 2023
Steph is finishing eighth grade in a Catholic middle school, and she and her friends are applying to high school. Steph is not great at Math or Science and prefers art instead, so she’s thrilled when her art teacher encourages her to apply to LaGuardia, an arts high school. Unfortunately, her strict Dominican mom doesn’t think art is a profitable career pursuit, so Steph’s plan is to only tell her mom about plans when she’s gotten in. On top of that she’s struggling with understanding one of her friends who seems to like a group of girls who bully Steph. Can Steph find her way? This is a sweet, fun, semi-autobiographical graphic novel about choosing your path and life in NYC.
A Place at the Table
Published: August 11, 2020
Sara has moved from her smaller Islamic school to the larger neighborhood middle school. Unfortunately for her, her Pakistani mother has also started teaching after-school cooking classes (in addition to her catering business) at the school. Sara is forced to attend those since her mother won’t let her stay home alone — despite the fact that she’s in sixth grade. Many of the kids in the class are rude and make fun of her mother’s dishes while pretending not to understand her accent. But one student, Elizabeth seems to enjoy learning to cook. Elizabeth’s British mother is dealing with depression after the death of her mother and is struggling to adapt to American culture and her husband’s Jewish customs. Sara and Elizabeth form an unlikely friendship when they discover that both their mothers are studying to pass the American citizenship test. This is a strong collaborative effort with more than just a stunning cover.
It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li
Published: February 28, 2023
Pearl Li loves boba, her amigurumi (crocheted dolls), and Boba Time owned by Auntie (not her biological aunt) Cha who encourages her to keep crocheting. She’s eager to spend the summer crocheting more dolls and hanging out with her two best friends, Priya and Cindy. Pearl’s summer gets off to a rocky start when she finds out that Boba Time is struggling financially and Auntie Cha is considering selling if she can’t make ends meet. She decides that she will sell her amigurumi creations to raise the money Boba Time needs. But running a business is more complicated than expected — especially when you’re doing it behind your parents’ backs. Can Pearl make it work? It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li! is a sweet, heartwarming middle grade novel about crafting, entrepreneurship, friendship, and navigating parental expectations.
Any Day with You
Published: May 5, 2020
California girl, Kaia and her besties are immersed in the world of movie making and Kaia especially loves special effects make up. As the group works on making their first film, inspired by elements of Kaia’s Filipino culture, she’s also struggling to accept her grandfather’s decision to move back to the Philippines. This is an atmospheric, fun middle grade book about the grandparent bond and a love for the arts.
How to Win a Slime War
Published: September 14, 2021
Alex Manalo and his father have moved from Silicon Valley to Sacramento where his dad is taking over his Lolo and Lola’s grocery store. His grandparents have retired, and his dad is tired of Silicon Valley living and wants to revamp the family’s Filipino Market. At school, Alex is quickly befriended by Logan, a boy who thinks Alex should sell the lime he makes. Unfortunately, a girl named Meadow has a monopoly over the school’s slime market and is not pleased about Alex joining. So they decide to have a contest to determine the champion, once and for all. Can Alex juggle sliming, figuring out soccer, making new friends, and helping his dad keep their family traditions alive at Manalo Market? This is a fun, heartwarming story about identity, family, Filipino culture, soccer, and entrepreneurship.
Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai
Published: August 3, 2021
Jenna and Keiko have remained BFFs after their fall out with Audrey. But Jenna is having a hard time with several life issues. For one, she and her boyfriend have just broken up (but she’s still stuck in the same school newspaper as he is), and now her parents are divorcing. Jenna is coping by keeping her feelings shut in and brooding a lot — until she begins to write an investigative piece for the school newspaper contest. She also starts hanging out at a cute Broadway-themed Diner where she meets a schoolmate, Rin Watanabe (who likes art) with whom she argues a lot but begins a tentative friendship. Can Jenna find time for all the things in her life while addressing her hurt feelings and opening up to those who love her? This is a compulsively-readable middle grade release, perfect for fans of upper middle grade stories.
Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd
Published: March 5, 2024
This fun SHORT series opener (yay for short MG) is immediately reminiscent of friendship group books like The Babysitters Club. Gigi and her two friends, Zeina and Caroline, decide to start a tutoring club in the library to help them save up some cash for an art summer camp. Gigi’s parents think being an artist is not a promising career option and would rather she focus on math and the sciences, so she neglects to tell them about the club and her plan. The girls add wannabe goth Emma to their team, and business begins. They must navigate business planning, crushes, tricky clients, and worried parents to keep their business (and their friendship) afloat. The vibes were so sweet in this one, and kids who love entrepreneurial stories, books by Debbi Michiko Florence, and friendship-based realistic fiction will love it.
Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field
Published: March 2, 2021
Peter, or Petey, as he’s affectionately called by his sister Charlotte aka L.B is obsessed with dinosaurs. He wants to be a paleontologist when he’s older and is constantly digging in the sandpit at his grandparents’ (Haji and Hammy) house. L.B. is a gifted child and is the typical, precocious annoying little sister. But she obviously loves Peter. In the summer, the family takes a trip to Drumheller for a dinosaur expedition, which ends up being a bust for Peter. To cap it off, Hammy is forgetful and seems dazed from time to time. Then he discovers that his parents are planning to send Hammy to a care facility. Can Peter fix the situation? Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field is a sweet, adventurous middle grade novel set in Canada.
Art Club
Published: February 6, 2024
Dale loves drawing comics and playing video games, but everyone in his life seems to think the arts are a waste of his time. To show them the value of art, Dale decides to start an afterschool art club, but with funding issues, the club is at risk of being closed by school authorities. Can Dale make things work? This new graphic novel is a buoyant celebration of the arts and the community it can foster. Dale is a fun character that many boys and art lovers will relate to, so even though this book takes a while to get going plot-wise, I think kids will hang on for the ride.
Worth a Thousand Words
Published: August 14, 2018
I loved this middle grade novel exploring guilt, friendship, and family issues! Very complex characters and interesting dialogue in this one. Highly recommend!
Squad Goals (Hearts & Crafts #1)
Published: March 1, 2022
Squad Goals (Hearts & Crafts #1) is the first in a new middle grade series about Mackenzie Miller, a new seventh-grader who calls herself a “maker.” Mackenzie loves projects especially when they involve crafting artsy things or planning things. After her parents’ divorce and her father’s remarriage, it’s just Kenzie and her mom and Kenzie wants her mom to find a boyfriend. Last year, her BFFs also dumped her and Kenzie is convinced she can try to win them back this year while working hard to make new friends. In the spirit of making, she quickly finds herself embroiled in a fundraiser to help get some of the Band kids in her school (she’s also in Band) new instruments. But can Mackenzie balance it all? Squad Goals (Hearts & Crafts #1) is a relatable, enjoyable middle grade book about crafting, friendships, and letting others help you.
Hope Springs
Published: August 10, 2021
Jubilee and her Nan are always moving, on the search for their perfect place, and this time Jubilee has her heart set on Hope Springs, Texas. The small town is where her crafting heroine Arletta Paisely is from, and Jubilee is sure that if it’s good enough for Arletta, Hope Springs will immediately feel like home for them, too — because she’s honestly tired of moving and saying (or not saying) goodbyes. However, when the pair arrive the small town, things don’t get go as planned. Jubilee is quickly befriended by a girl, Abby, who likes to fish. She even finds a part time job in a craft store in town, and then her Momma tries to get back into her life. But then a mega-chain superstore threatens the town’s small businesses. To top it all off, just when Jubilee is settling in and working on a town festival to boost small businesses, Nan starts to get that relocation itch again. Can Jubilee make Hope Springs her home? Hope Springs is a charming middle grade debut novel about finding home in unexpected places and fighting hard to show up for those we love.
Breathing Underwater
Published: March 30, 2021
Thirteen-year-old Olivia is excited about going on a road trip back to California with her sister and their uncle and aunt. Their family moved to Tennessee from California three years ago, and the girls had buried a time capsule before their move. Olivia’s big sister Ruth is now 16 and clinically depressed. She has good and bad days and is on medication to manage her depression. Olivia feels responsible for Ruth’s happiness and has a plan to recover their time capsule, while doing a photo project during their trip to remind Ruth of good times and make her just a little happier. But she soon finds out that with mental illness, it’s not always so simple. Breathing Underwater is a beautifully written, moving middle grade novel about sisterhood, art, and loving a sibling with a mental illness.
Violets Are Blue
Published: October 12, 2021
12-year-old Wren lives with her mom after her parents’ divorce. Her dad has moved to New York City and married his lover (with whom he was unfaithful to her mother) who is now expecting twins. Wren is also a special effects makeup aficionado. Caught up in a new school, navigating new friendships, and balancing her relationships with her parents — whose relationship with each other is strained — Wren notices her mom has begun behaving strangely. Violets Are Blue is an engaging middle grade book with a relatable, creative protagonist dealing parental substance abuse.
Join our Patreon community to get the printable version of this list! You’ll also get access to other kid lit resources, like our seasonal guides and educator interviews, to inspire you.
There they are: 20 of the best middle grade books about art, crafting, and photography. How many of these have you read? Any favorites? Which ones did I miss?
Nicole Grabner says
Girl this list has flooded my #TBR pile – so many awesome recommendations! Thank you!
Afoma Umesi says
Haha, I’m glad!
Susan says
The Frame-Up was a good book, though I’m not sure kids will find it without a recommendation from someone.
Nicole Bennett says
So many books here I want to read now! 🙂 2 older faves of mine are: Masterpiece by Elise Broach– a charming mystery about a beetle who’s an artist and his unlikely friendship with a boy in NYC, and Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett– a mystery surrounding a Vermeer masterpiece full of puzzles.