11 Relatable Middle Grade Books About Third-Culture Kids

Middle grade books about third-culture kids are becoming more popular, but the third-culture kid experience is far from new. Many kids have had to move from their places of birth to a new country (not as immigrants) but temporary residents, either because of their parents’ jobs or for a period of cultural immersion. These aren’t just summer vacations, but months to years living abroad. It’s quite a niche category.

If you’ve been on the hunt for stories that portray the third-culture kid experience, you’ll enjoy these 11 books. I’ve also added three YA picks that are perfect for an older audience.

Please Note: This list is sponsored by Kaleidoscope, an online community for third-culture kids and their parents. Kaleidoscope understands third-culture kids, helps them use their advantages to become global leaders, and consistently guides them through their journey.

Middle Grade Books About Third-Culture Kids

Here are 11 best middle grade books about third-culture kids (+ some YA):

Glitter Gets Everywhere

Young Kitty and her older sister are transplanted from London to New York City when her dad takes a new job there after her mother’s death. This middle grade book manages to balance the grief of losing a parent with the excitement of moving, the challenges of assimilation and a lot of desserts, courtesy of The Great British Bake Off.

Across the Pond

Calliope’s parents have inherited a castle (yes, a castle!) in Scotland. Callie is happy to move from the US to Scotland for reasons of her own — besides the castle. But when she arrives, she struggles with making friends and adjusting to new surroundings. With a few unlikely friendships and hobbies, however, Scotland soon begins to feel like home.

All You Knead Is Love

Alba’s mom has shipped her off to Barcelona to live with her Abuela. There she finds comfort in learning to make sourdough bread in a neighborhood bakery. But just when Alba begins to settle in, the bakery comes under threat of closure.

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything

Dini loves all things Bollywood, but she is not pleased when her parents announce that they’re moving to India for two whole years! Worse yet, they’re not even moving to Bombay, but to a small town called Swapnagiri where nothing ever happens. But what she finds in Swapnagiri is … a pleasant surprise.

How to Make Friends with the Sea

Pablo is an anxious tween whose divorced mom is always moving. Right now, they live in the Philippines. His dad is not very present and Pablo is a bit lonely as well. When his mother begins to foster a young Filipina girl named Chiqui, Pablo’s world starts to expand.

Somewhere Among

Ema has always lived in both Japan and the US, spending her summers in California. But this summer, her mother is in Japan to be close to her father’s family while she’s pregnant after multiple miscarriages. Adjusting to school in Japan with a prickly grandmother, 9/11, and a sick grandfather, this novel in verse is chock-full of tough emotions and interesting details.

More to the Story

In Hena Khan’s Little Women-inspired middle grade book, the girls’ family friend, Ali is a typical third-culture kid. With Pakistani parents who have moved him from the UK where they live to the US. The kids at school definitely fawn over his accent.

While I Was Away

This non-fiction title is Waka T. Brown’s experience of being sent to live with her grandmother in Japan to improve her Japanese. Waka spends five months in Japan reading and writing kanji and trying to bond with her often distant Obasaama.

Young Adult

A Field Guide to the North American Teenager

Ben Philippe’s debut YA novel follows Norris Kaplan, a French-Canadian teen who moves with his mom to Austin, Texas. At first Norris uses his clever, cynical ways to keep the other kids at a safe emotional distance, but eventually, Texas and his schoolmates begin to grow on him, cultural differences and all.

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna is ready for her senior year in Atlanta where she’s all set up with a job, a best friend, and a crush who may become more. Suddenly, her dad, a popular novelist decides that a year abroad — in France — will do her some good.

Parachutes

Kelly Yang’s first YA offering follows kids whose parents send them off to Asia to study while they remain in the States. As Dani and Claire attend high school in Shanghai, they are thrust into several uncomfortable scenarios that force them to define who they are. Heads up for sexual harassment and rape in this mature YA novel.

There they are: 11 best middle grade books about third-culture kids! In partnership with Kaleidoscope, you can also download a printable of this list via their website here. The printable also includes a Bucket List challenge that encourages creativity and helps kids (third-culture or not) create their own story.