This list of the best middle-grade books with strong female protagonists was one of the toughest to make (and spoiler: it’s far from exhaustive!). I also confirmed that 90% of my reading material is books by women about young girls, because I’ve read all, but about five or so of the books on this list, and those unread are on my TBR (even on my Kindle). Where my reviews on this blog aren’t linked, you’ll find them on my Goodreads.
While I was making this list, I thought deeply about what makes a “strong female protagonist” to me. In choosing these middle-grade books with strong female protagonists, I looked for books with young girls who were:
- Clever
- Memorable
- Spunky (courageous & determined)
- Able to overcome challenges despite being timid or having the odds against them
None of the girls in these books are “perfect,” obviously and they don’t always do lovable things, but they will be scored on your heart by the last page. Even better, they’ll leave you feeling you feeling inspired. You’ll find fierce girls who play sports, are thrilled by science and space, solve mysteries, enjoy music, love hard, are loyal friends, courageous dream chasers, and wonderful daughters.
Let’s get started. Click on the images to go straight to their Amazon page. I’ve marked Kindle Unlimited titles with an asterisk(*), and indicated when a book is part of a series.
Disclaimer: I use affiliate links for Amazon and will make a cent or two if you buy using these links. It’s a great way to support a blog(ger) you love.
Best Middle-Grade Books with Strong Female Protagonists
Merci Suarez Changes Gears
Published: September 11, 2018
Why We Love Merci: She’s smart, funny, and inquisitive!
Merci Suárez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she haamazon no idea just how different. For starters, as strong and thoughtful as Merci is, she has never been completely like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don’t have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci’s school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna’s jealousy. Things aren’t going well at home, either: Merci’s grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately — forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. And Merci is left to her own worries, because no one in her family will tell her what’s going on.
Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers
Published: September 3, 2019
In Strange Birds, four girls form an unlikely friendship that leads to activism. Ofelia Castillo (budding journalist), Aster Douglas (bookish foodie), Cat Garcia (bird aficionado), and Lane DiSanti (artist) are as different as can be. But when the Floras — their local Scout troop — plans to crown its next queen with a hat of feathers, the girls band together to fight for birds.
In addition to their desire to stop the Floras, each of the girls has an individual motive. Aster wants to learn more about her family’s history and perhaps reverse an injustice. Ofelia, on the other hand, is searching for a big story to win a journalism contest. Lane just needs friends. Their antics will push them out of their comfort zones and cause some of them to examine their privilege.
Related: Best Middle-Grade Books About Friendship
Roll With It
Published: October 1, 2019
Twelve-year-old Ellie is a sassy, determined baker. It just so happens that she also has cerebral palsy and has to use a wheelchair. Her dad couldn’t deal with her being ill at birth (and for months after), so he pretty much skipped out on her and her mom who’s been her number one advocate.
When Ellie’s grandfather’s Alzheimer’s takes a turn for the worse, Ellie and her mom move into her grandparents trailer in Oklahoma to help out for six months.
There, Ellie is once again a new kid navigating the struggles than many people with disabilities have to face. Thankfully, as she deals with the changes in her family and finding a place in Oklahoma, she has a couple of new friends and in typical Ellie fashion, keeps rolling with life’s punches.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
Published: January 8, 2019
Why We Love Coyote: She’s sassy, but full of heart.
Five years.
That’s how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, criss-crossing the nation.
It’s also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash.
Coyote hasn’t been home in all that time, but when she learns that the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished―the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box―she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days…without him realizing it.
Along the way, they’ll pick up a strange crew of misfit travelers. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. And then there’s Gladys…
Over the course of thousands of miles, Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all…but that with friends by her side, she just might be able to turn her “once upon a time” into a “happily ever after.”
Related: Best Middle-Grade Books About Death and Grief
Turning Point
Published: September 15, 2020
In Turning Point, we reunite with the Pirates Cove gang (minus a few) — mostly Mila, Mo, Sheeda, and Tai. This book focuses on Monique (Mo) and Rasheeda (Sheeda)’s friendship and how it changes over a summer when both girls are drawn into different pursuits. Mo is off at a ballet intensive with Mila, while Sheeda is stuck at church (with her church “friends”) feeling like she has no life.
At the ballet intensive, Mo comes face to face with her competitive attitude which is fueled by feelings of not “fitting in” with the mostly white, skinny ballet dancers. Even though she makes a couple of friends (who basically lovingly force her to befriend them), she’s insecure at times, afraid to be vulnerable because everything feels so different. On the other hand, Sheeda is desperate for something new. Unfortunately, she falls into a risky situation with Mo’s brother whom she happens to have a crush on.
Will Mo and Sheeda’s friendship survive the summer?
The Amelia Six
Published: June 30, 2020
Why We Love Thea, Millie, Wren, Nathalie, Robin, and Cassie: The best crew to take on an Amelia Earhart mystery.
The Amelia Six is the story of six clever girls who are invited to spend a night in Amelia Earhart’s home because of their achievements in STEM (specifically flying and aeronautics). Although all big-time Earhart fans, each of the girls are different. There’s shy, anxious Amelia (Millie) whose mom left her to go be a pilot. Then there are twins Robin and Wren who run a YouTube channel, Thea who builds things, like the side car she arrives in with her aunt’s motorcycle, Nathalie and her pet rat, and Cassie whose parents work at NASA.
The girls are hosted by Birdie, one of the Ninety-Niners who is the museum’s caretaker. Also in the house are Edna, the housekeeper; Collin, Birdie’s nephew; and Perry, the chef. Things are going smoothly until the girls realize that Birdie has been drugged and Amelia Earhart’s famous aviator goggles — which must be retrieved by the Smithsonian the next day(!) — have gone missing. Everyone’s a suspect and suddenly these girls have to band together if they want to get out alive.
The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle
Published: June 5, 2018
Why We Love Bicycle: She takes on a daunting challenge despite introversion.
Introverted Bicycle has lived most of her life at the Mostly Silent Monastery in Washington, D.C.– and she likes it that way. But when her guardian, Sister Wanda, announces that Bicycle is going to attend a camp where she will learn to make friends, Bicycle says no way. Determined to prove she can make friends on her own, she sets off on her bike for San Francisco to meet her idol, a famous cyclist, certain he will be her first true friend.
Who knew that a ghost would haunt her handlebars and that she would have to contend with bike-hating dogs, a bike-loving horse, bike-crushing pigs, and a mysterious lady dressed in black. Over the uphills and downhills of her journey, Bicycle discovers that friends are not such a bad thing to have after all, and that a dozen cookies really can solve most problems.
The Distance to Home
Published: June 28, 2016
Why We Love Quinnen: She’s grieving, but also trying to play the sport she loves.
The Distance to Home is Jenn Bishop’s debut middle-grade novel. I read and loved her most recent release, Things We Can’t Say about a boy dealing with parental suicide. The Distance to Home focuses on an equally sensitive subject: the death of a sibling. This summer, Quinnen isn’t playing baseball with her team — she decided to quit after her sister, Haley died the summer before. But when her family decides to host a player from a Minor League Baseball team, Quinnen starts to bond with the a couple of the players.
Her family is also reeling from her sister’s death the previous summer and trying to figure out how to be a family of three, instead of four. The book alternates between “last summer” and “this summer,” taking readers back to see Quinnen and Haley’s relationship and what happened to Haley.
Family and Travel
It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel
Published: May 3, 2016
Why We Love Zomorod: She’s laugh-out-loud funny, even through her middle-school trials.
Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is the new kid on the block . . . for the fourth time. California’s Newport Beach is her family’s latest perch, and she’s determined to shuck her brainy loner persona and start afresh with a new Brady Bunch name—Cindy. It’s the late 1970s, and fitting in becomes more difficult as Iran makes U.S. headlines with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages. Even puka shell necklaces, pool parties, and flying fish can’t distract Cindy from the anti-Iran sentiments that creep way too close to home. A poignant yet lighthearted middle grade debut from the author of the best-selling Funny in Farsi.
Caterpillar Summer
Published: April 2, 2019
Why We Love Cat: She’s the best sister — and she knows how to catch a fish, or three.
Cat and her brother Chicken have always had a very special bond–Cat is one of the few people who can keep Chicken happy. When he has a “meltdown” she’s the one who scratches his back and reads his favorite story. She’s the one who knows what Chicken needs. Since their mom has had to work double-hard to keep their family afloat after their father passed away, Cat has been the glue holding her family together.
But even the strongest glue sometimes struggles to hold. When a summer trip doesn’t go according to plan, Cat and Chicken end up spending three weeks with grandparents they never knew. For the first time in years, Cat has the opportunity to be a kid again, and the journey she takes shows that even the most broken or strained relationships can be healed if people take the time to walk in one another’s shoes.
Front Desk
Published: May 29, 2018
Why We Love Mia: She learns how to write in English even though no one seems to think she can — amongst many other things!
Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.
Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.
Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they’ve been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.
Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?
It will take all of Mia’s courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
Published: September 5, 2017
Why We Love Aven: She’s funny, smart, and such a good friend.
Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she’ll have to answer the question over and over again.
Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It’s hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven’s about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms.
The Science of Breakable Things
Published: March 6, 2018
Why We Love Natalie: She’s so clever, and so hopeful.
Eggs are breakable. Hope is not.
When Natalie’s science teacher suggests that she enter an egg drop competition, Natalie thinks that this might be the perfect solution to all of her problems. There’s prize money, and if she and her friends wins, then she can fly her botanist mother to see the miraculous Cobalt Blue Orchids–flowers that survive against impossible odds. Natalie’s mother has been suffering from depression, and Natalie is sure that the flowers’ magic will inspire her mom to love life again. Which means it’s time for Natalie’s friends to step up and show her that talking about a problem is like taking a plant out of a dark cupboard and giving it light. With their help, Natalie begins an uplifting journey to discover the science of hope, love, and miracles.
One Crazy Summer
Published: January 26, 2010
Why We Love Delphine: She’s unafraid to question — and open to learning.
In One Crazy Summer, eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She’s had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California. But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile is nothing like they imagined.
While the girls hope to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, their mother sends them to a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer.
Shouting at the Rain
Published: May 7, 2019
Why We Love Delsie: She’s a sweet girl with a passion for the weather.
In Shouting at the Rain, young Delsie is an “orphan” living with her grandmother in Cape Cod. She’s never known either of her parents and has lived with her grandparents her whole life. Her grammy cleans homes for vacationers and Delsie helps her often. When Delsie’s friend Brandy starts hanging out with a new girl, Tressa, Delsie is worried about losing her friend. Things get even worse as Tressa is repeatedly mean to her while Brandy says nothing or even joins in.
Then Delsie meets Ronan, who’s moved to the Cape to live with his father. Delsie and Ronan become friends, united in their shared interest in the weather, sea life, and having adventures. Delsie still struggles to handle being semi-abandoned by Brandy while uncovering the truth about her mother and understanding the meaning of family.
Related: Best Middle-Grade Grandparent Stories
Lousiana’s Way Home
Published: March 24, 2020
Why We Love Lousiana: Oh dear, she’s sweeter than words, but also oh, so capable.
In this companion to Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana Elefante’s grandmother wakes her up in the middle of the night because “the day of reckoning has arrived.” Although Louisiana has always gone with her granny’s flow, this time, she resists. She doesn’t want to leave her friends and her cat, Archie behind. Still, her grandmother is adamant. What follows is an often-funny, occasionally-heartbreaking, and all-round heartwarming tale.
Louisiana is overall a more interesting character than Raymie was. She’s bursting with personality and has an offbeat sense of humor. I also enjoyed the development of both Louisiana’s and her granny’s character and this sequel didn’t at all seem forced as some can be. As a welcome bonus, the narrator of this audiobook is excellent — her Southern accent is spot-on and makes Louisiana come to life. This is especially useful in the mid-sections of the book which seem to lull a bit.
Louisiana’s Way Home essentially chronicles all of the circumstances Louisiana encounters as she struggles to find her way back to her friends. Their journey is full of many hijinks, from Louisiana having to drive her grandmother’s car to their visit to the dentist, and Louisiana’s brief stint as a funeral singer. This middle-grade novel features strong themes of finding chosen family, friendship, homelessness, and the power of perseverance.
Beverly, Right Here
Published: September 24, 2019
Why We Love Beverly: She learns to trust and depend on others despite a unstable home environment.
It’s the summer of 1979. 14-year-old Beverly Tapinski leaves home and arrives at the Seahorse Court RV community in Florida. She’s grieving the death of her (and the Three Rancheros’ dog, Buddy) and has left her friend Raymie without even saying goodbye. Beverly’s alcoholic mother Rhonda doesn’t care much about what happens to her.
All alone and away from home, Beverly meets an older, eccentric woman named Iola. Iola takes Beverly in and the two begin to build a friendship despite Beverly’s initial resistance. She also gets a job as a busgirl at a fish place, even though she hates fish. Then she meets 16-year-old Elmer who wants to study engineering at Dartmouth.
The Thing About Jellyfish
Published: September 22, 2015
Why We Love Suzy: She loves science and isn’t afraid to search for answers.
After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting–things don’t just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory–even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy’s achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe…and the potential for love and hope right next door.
Short
Published: January 31, 2017
Why We Love Julia: She learns not to let her height hold her back.
Julia is very short for her age, but by the end of the summer run of The Wizard of Oz, she’ll realize how big she is inside, where it counts. She hasn’t ever thought of herself as a performer, but when the wonderful director of Oz casts her as a Munchkin, she begins to see herself in a new way. As Julia becomes friendly with the poised and wise Olive—one of the adults with dwarfism who’ve joined the production’s motley crew of Munchkins—and with her deeply artistic neighbor, Mrs. Chang, Julia’s own sense of self as an artist grows. Soon, she doesn’t want to fade into the background—and it’s a good thing, because her director has more big plans for Julia!
Bubbling over with humor and tenderness, this is an irresistible story of self-discovery and of the role models who forever change us.
The Night Diary
Published: March 6, 2018
Why We Love Nisha: She’s a great writer and storytelling with a lot of heart.
It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders.
Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.
Amal Unbound
Published: May 8, 2018
Why We Love Amal: She shows courage like no other.
Twelve-year-old Amal’s dream of becoming a teacher one day is dashed in an instant when she accidentally insults a member of her Pakistani village’s ruling family. As punishment for her behavior, she is forced to leave her heartbroken family behind and go work at their estate.
Amal is distraught but has faced setbacks before. So she summons her courage and begins navigating the complex rules of life as a servant, with all its attendant jealousies and pecking-order woes. Most troubling, though, is Amal’s increasing awareness of the deadly measures the Khan family will go to in order to stay in control. It’s clear that their hold over her village will never loosen as long as everyone is too afraid to challenge them–so if Amal is to have any chance of ensuring her loved ones’ safety and winning back her freedom, she must find a way to work with the other servants to make it happen.
Out of My Mind
Published: March 9, 2010
Why We Love Melody: She’s clever and spunky and will not be dismissed because she has a disability.
Eleven-year-old Melody is not like most people. She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t write. All because she has cerebral palsy. But she also has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school, but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her teachers, her doctors, her classmates—dismiss her as mentally challenged because she can’t tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.
Related: Middle-Grade Books Featuring a Character With a Physical Disability
Patina
Published: August 29, 2017
Why We Love Patina: She’s quick on her feet and willing to work on her attitude.
Patina is the second book in the Track series by Jason Reynolds. I loved the first book, Ghost and even recommended it in this list of middle-grade books about sports. After Patina’s dad dies and her mom loses both legs to diabetes, she and her sister move in with her uncle and his wife Emily. The girls call Emily “Momly.” The move means that Patina has to go to a posh new private school, leaving behind her best friend, Cotton. Her one bright spot is running track with her friends.
Patina suppresses most of her grief for her dad and mother and focuses on looking after her sister, even if Emily is fully capable. Things start to change at school when her teacher assigns her to a group project with three other girls. Also, at track practice, she’s forced to rely on her team when they begin practicing the relay baton hand-over.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington
Published: January 14, 2020
Why We Love Zoe: She is a talented baker and won’t take no for an answer.
Twelve-year-old Zoe Washington’s summer is off to a rough start. She’s not speaking to one of her best friends, for one. Her other best friend is away at summer camp and the third one has moved away. But things get more complicated when she finds a letter in the mail from her incarcerated birth father. The only problem is that he’s in jail for something “very bad” and Zoe has never met or spoken to him before.
As she starts to write to Marcus, Zoe realizes that things might not be so black and white — not with her friend Trevor, and certainly not with Marcus. While she learns more about Marcus, she also spends part of her summer interning at a pastry shop.
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Related: Books Like… From the Desk of Zoe Washington
Spirit Week Showdown: Magnificent Mya Tibbs, Book 1
Published: January 26, 2016
Why We Love Mya: She’s a loyal friend, even when she’s misunderstood.
The Magnificent Mya Tibbs is one of those books that I’ve recommended several times on the basis of trusted reviewers. It was a pleasure to finally meet Mya Tibbs for myself.
Fourth grader Mya Tibbs is excited for Spirit Week! She has made plans to partner with her best friend Naomi Jackson. Mya’s life seems pretty good with her brother Nugget, his best friend affectionately known as Fish, and her other friends, identical twins Starr and Skye. The one scary part is Mean Connie Tate, who everyone knows is the biggest fourth-grade bully. So, you can imagine Mya’s terror when she’s partnered with Connie and Connie refuses to trade partners. On top of that, Naomi is mad at Mya for not trying harder to trade partners. Even the twins who agree on everything are getting torn apart because Skye wants to stay friends with Mya, while Starr is on Naomi’s side.
But as Mya works with Connie, she realizes that things aren’t as she’s thought. In the meantime, her brother Nugget is befriending a popular boy, Solo, and doing his homework to avoid being called “word nerd Nugget” — at the expense of his friendship with his best friend, Fish. At home, the kids do not want to worry their parents since their dad works super hard at his store and their mom is pregnant with a third child. Both kids learn a lot about themselves and what true friendship really means.
Stef Soto, Taco Queen
Published: January 17, 2017
Why We Love Stef: She has some serious work ethic and she loves her family — and Tia Perla!
Stef Soto is a middle-schooler whose family owns a taco truck, Tia Perla. Like most kids her age would be, Stef finds Tia Perla embarrassing, especially as her once-best-friend Julia won’t stop teasing her about smelling like tacos.
When new food truck regulations threaten her family’s business, Stef realizes just how much Tia Perla means to her. She also learns to be proud of who she is and to appreciate the good friends in her life.
More to the Story
Published: September 3, 2019
Why We Love Jameela: Passionate writer, loving sister, and supportive daughter — all-round star.
Told from Jameela’s perspective, More to the Story is a modern middle-grade novel inspired by the classic novel, Little Women. Four Muslim-American sisters Jameela, Maryam, Bisma, and Aleeza are distraught when their dad has to go abroad for six months for a job.
Thirteen-year-old Jam, as she is fondly called has just become the features editor for her school’s newspaper. She’s determined to impress her dad with her first story. At the same time, a family friend’s nephew, Ali moves from the UK to Atlanta. As Jam and Ali’s friendship blossoms, one of her sisters receives devastating news about her health.
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Related: The Best Muslim Middle-Grade Books
A Thousand Questions
Published: October 6, 2020
Why We Love Mimi and Sakina: Unlikely friends who have each other’s backs.
Maryam (Mimi) has a thousand questions for her dad who left her and her mother when she was younger, but her mom seems to have moved on and won’t talk to her about him. Her mother Samia is an artist and money is often tight for both of them in the city. One summer, Mimi’s mom decides they will take a trip to Pakisan (!) where Mimi’s grandparents live. Imagine how thrilled she is to learn that her dad (globe-trotting journalist) is also currently in Karachi.
Sakina is the daughter of Mimi’s grandparents’ cook. Although she’s Mimi’s age, their lives couldn’t be more different. Sakina works with her dad, doesn’t go to school, and doesn’t speak good English either. She hasn’t told her parents, but she’s studying to pass an English test so she can get a school scholarship for poor children. When both girls meet, they band together to help each other reach their goals: Mimi’s, finding her dad; Sakina’s learning English. The story is told from both girls’ perspectives in alternating chapters.
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Related: An Interview with Author Saadia Faruqi on A Thousand Questions
A Place at the Table
Published: August 11, 2020
Why We Love Sara and Elizabeth: Between them, they can cook, draw, and support their families — while nurturing an unlikely friendship.
In A Place at the Table, Sara’s 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. On top of that, Elizabeth is the only girl at home, her best friend is pulling away from her, and she’s worried about her parents’ relationship seemingly falling apart. Sara and Elizabeth form an unlikely friendship when they discover that both their mothers are studying to pass the American citizenship test.
What Happens Next
Published: May 19, 2020
Why We Love Abby: She’s smart and adores her big sister.
What Happens Next is Claire Swinarski’s debut middle-grade novel. The book follows Abby McCourt, astronomy lover, and her family as they deal with her oldest sister, Blair getting diagnosed with anorexia. As Blair goes off to rehab, leaving a potential ballet career in the lurch, the McCourt’s small town is abuzz with a highly anticipated solar eclipse. Abby is not handling her sister’s absence very well. Especially because she was closest to Blair and doesn’t have the best relationship with her more brash middle-sister, Jade.
At the same time, she stumbles upon a famous astronomer who’s staying at her family’s lodge. He enlists her to assist him in locating a lost telescope. Eager to avoid the pain of her sister’s situation, Abby throws herself into helping Professor Lacamoire. Interestingly, this story is told in alternating timelines, simultaneously showing readers how things went wrong for Blair and how Abby is coping with Blair’s departure and pending return from rehab
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Related: Author Claire Swinarski on What Happens Next, Chasing Dreams, and Sisterhood
Ways to Make Sunshine
Published: April 28, 2020
Why We Love Ryan: FULL of heart and will cook up a storm, while being a great friend and daughter.
In Ways to Make Sunshine, Ryan Hart and her family are moving to a new (old) house because her dad lost his post office job and his new job doesn’t pay as much. Ryan is unhappy about the change for many reasons. She liked their old house, and even though she has her own room in this new house, this house is a smaller bungalow, which means there will be no stairs to play on. She also fears that it will be too small to entertain guests, because Ryan loves to create new recipes — and cook them!
Still, there are small joys. She doesn’t have to change schools and is still close enough to one of her best friends. With the new house, and selling one of their cars, her parents can better deal with their financial struggles. Throughout this slice-of-life book, Ryan learns how to believe in herself, enjoy public speaking, be a bigger person, and love who she is.
The Prettiest
Published: April 14, 2020
Why We Love Eve, Sophie, and Nessie: They know their worth and won’t be relegated to being just a number.
Eve, Sophie, and Nessa are three different girls in Ford middle-school whose lives are changed when their names appear on “The Prettiest” list posted online by someone called “LordTesla.” Sophie is the Queen Bee of middle-school who loves makeup and has a legion of female followers. However, she’s also hiding the fact that she lives on the poorer side of town and mostly shops at thrift stores and Goodwill. Sophie is distraught to be placed at the number two position on the list.
Eve is the bookworm and poetry aficionado who’s started wearing her brother’s sports jerseys to hide her changing body. Her life suddenly changes when she’s thrust into the spotlight as number one and everyone suddenly notices that she has a “body.” Her best friend, Nessa is a theater geek with a melodious voice. Nessa who’s a bigger girl, experiences a slew of emotions — indifference, annoyance, disgust at beauty standards — when she realizes her name didn’t even make the list.
Kat Greene Comes Clean
Published: August 22, 2017
Why We Love Kat: She’ll do all she can to help her mom manage her OCD, even if she’s scared.
Kat Greene lives in New York City with her mom and attends an unconventional middle-school (where no one gets disciplined). Since her parents’ divorce and her mom’s job loss, Kat’s mom has been cleaning and washing her hands a bit too often. Her hands are red and chapped, and she has to wipe down cans at the grocery store before she can buy them — no matter how long it takes.
Kat wants to talk to another adult about her mom’s habits, but is worried she’ll get taken away from her. Her dad has a new wife and son, all of which have a good relationship with Kat and her mom, but her dad is always asking her to move in with them. On top of the home drama, Kat’s best friend Halle has a crush that threatens to topple their friendship, and Kat gets a role in the new Harriet the Spy class play that she’s not crazy about. The last straw is when her mother decides to join Clean Sweep, a cleaning reality TV show. Is it time for Kat to come clean
Gabby Garcia’s Ultimate Playbook: Gabby Garcia, Book 1*
Published: May 9, 2017
Why We Love Gabby: She always has a plan.
If life were a baseball game, all-star pitcher Gabby Garcia would be having her Best. Season. EVER! Until she’s suddenly sent to another school and her winning streak is about to disappear—both on and off the field.
But Gabby never gives up! She has a PLAN to keep her champion status intact, and every step of is written out—PLAY by PLAY. How could it not work?
Related: The Best Middle-Grade Series and Companion Titles
Stand Up, Yumi Chung
Published: March 17, 2020
Why We Love Yumi: She’s funny, but also courageous and empathetic.
On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her “Yu-MEAT” because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she’s reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage.
Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in a time of hardship at the restaurant. One day after class, Yumi stumbles on an opportunity that will change her life: a comedy camp for kids taught by one of her favorite YouTube stars. The only problem is that the instructor and all the students think she’s a girl named Kay Nakamura–and Yumi doesn’t correct them.
As this case of mistaken identity unravels, Yumi must decide to stand up and reveal the truth or risk losing her dreams and disappointing everyone she cares about.
Related: An Interview with Jessica Kim, Author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung
The World Ends in April
Published: September 3, 2019
Why We Love Eleanor: Her heart’s in the right place, even though things get a bit messy.
The World Ends in April is author Stacy McAnulty’s sophomore middle-grade novel. Her strong-willed protagonist Eleanor Dross’s grandfather is a survivalist. He frequently runs “bug out drills” with his grandchildren. However, Eleanor has become less enthused about his drills as she’s gotten older. She’s more interested in spending time with her best (and only) friend — a Black visually-impaired boy named Mack.
But then a renowned scientist begins to spread news of an impending asteroid hit. As a result, Eleanor gets caught up in end-of-the-world propaganda. Along with Mack she starts a survivalist club at school. Of course, they run under the guise of a “nature club.” The club attracts some unexpected members, including Eleanor’s nemesis, Londyn. But as the kids prepare for TEOTWAWKI (the End of the World as We Know It), they learn more about each other and life than they expect.
The Line Tender
Published: April 16, 2019
Why We Love Lucy: Smart, brave wannabe shark lover who copes with grief and loss.
Lucy’s mom, Helen used to be a marine biologist, but died when Lucy was seven. Her dad, a rescue diver copes with the loss by immersing himself in work and leisure diving, so Lucy’s days are spent with her best friend, Fred. Fred is also interested in marine biology and both kids work on a related summer project.
But something happens that summer that changes Lucy’s life forever. She becomes more fascinated with her mother’s shark research and embarks on a mission to learn more about sharks, her mother, and the people in their lives.
The Memory Keeper
Published: October 15, 2019
Why We Love Lulu: Loving granddaughter who’ll do anything to save her grandma’s memory.
Lulu Carter loves her grandma. When her mother became depressed after the death of her little sister and her father’s number one focus was caring for her mother, only Lulu’s grandma looked after her. Even more, Lulu’s grandma, Sue is the only one who knows about Lulu’s HSAM (Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory). This means Lulu remembers her life in impressive detail. For example, she remembers exact dates, days, and what she did or wore on those days. She can also easily playback conversations from random past days, extracting useful information as needed.
Although she also loves her best friend Olivia, Lulu is scared that Olivia will think her weird for having a brain that rarely forgets. But when her grandmother starts forgetting things, getting confused, regressing to a strange (Russian?) accent mid-conversation, Lulu is worried that the only person who sees her could be disappearing forever. She’s convinced that her grandma’s memory losses are due to a traumatic past event. With the help of Olivia and a new friend, Max whose dad gives them horse-riding lessons, Lulu works to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Braced
Published: March 28, 2017
Why We Love Rachel: Superstar soccer player, even with scoliosis.
Braced is Alyson Gerber’s debut middle-grade novel and was at the top of my backlist TBR picks. I enjoyed Gerber’s Focused which tackled ADHD and featured a chess-playing protagonist. In Braced, Rachel Brooks has finally scored a spot as a forward on her soccer team. She just needs one more doctor’s visit to check on her scoliosis — one she hopes will be the last.
Unfortunately, the doctor has bad news for her: the curve has worsened and she’ll have to wear a back brace. Worse still, she needs to be in a back brace for twenty-three hours a day. How will she still play soccer? What will her friends think? And what about Tate, the boy she’s crushing on?
To top things off, her mom (who had scoliosis as a child and is adamant on enforcing Rachel’s treatment) is having a baby soon. It also doesn’t help that her dad’s busy job as a doctor means he’s not home often enough.
Family and Travel
Related: Best Middle-Grade Books for Sports Lovers
All Four Stars
Published: July 10, 2014
Why We Love Gladys: Spunky tween foodie and food critic like no other.
Meet Gladys Gatsby: New York’s toughest restaurant critic. (Just don’t tell anyone that she’s in sixth grade.)
Gladys Gatsby has been cooking gourmet dishes since the age of seven, only her fast-food-loving parents have no idea! Now she’s eleven, and after a crème brûlée accident (just a small fire), Gladys is cut off from the kitchen (and her allowance). She’s devastated but soon finds just the right opportunity to pay her parents back when she’s mistakenly contacted to write a restaurant review for one of the largest newspapers in the world. But in order to meet her deadline and keep her dream job, Gladys must cook her way into the heart of her sixth-grade archenemy and sneak into New York City—all while keeping her identity a secret! Easy as pie, right?
Millicent Min, Girl Genius
Published: October 1, 2003
Why We Love Millicent Min: Girl genius who’s unafraid to confront emotions — and volley ball.
Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn’t know Millicent’s IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. And if Millie can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother’s advice, swear her parents to silence, blackmail Stanford, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend.
What’s it going to take? Sheer genius.
Focused
Published: March 26, 2019
Why We Love Clea: Gets through school despite ADHD — and takes responsibility for her poor choices.
In Alyson Gerber’s sophomore novel, we meet highly motivated Clea. She’s constantly making mental to-do lists, but can’t seem to stay on top of her school work anymore. Her thoughts are always jumping from one thing to another and she finds it hard to focus when she wants to. The only time she can zone out is when she’s playing chess as a member of her school’s chess team.
Clea’s inability to focus starts affecting her grades, which threatens her chess team membership. It also affects her relationships because she finds it harder to control her emotions, blurting out things in the heat of the moment, even after promising she wouldn’t. Other worries in Clea’s life include her little sister who needs to go to speech therapy — Clea worries for her well being and happiness — and her best friend, Red whose family is having issues
Greetings From Witness Protection
Published: October 3, 2017
Why We Love Nicki: The sassiest, most clever girl who’ll do anything for her newfound family — even her annoying new brother.
The marshals are looking for the perfect girl to join a mother, father, and son on the run from the nation’s most notorious criminals. After all, the bad guys are searching for a family with one kid, not two, and adding a streetwise girl who knows a little something about hiding things may be just what the marshals need.
Nicki swears she can keep the Trevor family safe, but to do so she’ll have to dodge hitmen, cyberbullies, and the specter of standardized testing, all while maintaining her marshal-mandated B-minus average. As she barely balances the responsibilities of her new identity, Nicki learns that the biggest threats to her family’s security might not lurk on the road from New York to North Carolina, but rather in her own past.
Up for Air
Published: May 7, 2019
Why We Love Annabelle: Skilled swimmer who doesn’t give up despite learning difficulties.
Annabelle is a fantastic swimmer who happens to have learning difficulties. She’s happy to finally be getting something right when she’s moved up to the high school team in the summer. However, things get a bit complicated when an older boy starts showing her attention and her estranged father seems to want to return to her life.
Genesis Begins Again
Published: January 15, 2019
Why We Love Genesis: Voice of an angel and gorgeous dark skin that she fights to love.
In Genesis Begins Again, thirteen-year-old Genesis grapples with intense self-hate worsened by her father’s verbal abuse and her grandmother’s backward ideologies about skin color. Readers first meet Genesis when she brings her “friends” home for the first time. In an embarrassing turn of events, they arrive to meet all her belongings in the street. The landlord has put Genesis’s family out because her gambling, alcoholic father defaulted on the rent, again.
Things seem to look up for their family when they move into a posh neighborhood. Genesis makes new friends, joins the school choir, and even gets a helpful math tutor. Yet, her self-hate follows her.
[bctt tweet=”In Genesis Begins Again, thirteen-year-old Genesis grapples with intense self-hate worsened by her father’s verbal abuse and her grandmother’s backward ideologies about skin color. ” username=””]
Related: Q & A with Alicia D. Williams, Author of Genesis Begins Again
Takedown
Published: June 19, 2018
Why We Love Mikayla: She wrestles — with boys.
Mikayla is a wrestler; when you grow up in a house full of brothers who wrestle, it’s inevitable. It’s also a way to stay connected to her brothers and her dad. Some people object to having a girl on the team. But that’s not stopping Mikayla. She’s going to work hard, and win.
Lev is determined to make it to the state championships this year. He’s used to training with his two buddies as the Fearsome Threesome; but at the beginning of sixth grade, he’s paired with a new partner–a girl. This better not get in the way of his goal.
Mikayla and Lev push each other to excel, and become friends. But when they face each other, only one of them can win.
Related: Middle-Grade Books with Multiple POVs/Narrators
Where the Watermelons Grow
Published: July 3, 2018
Why We Love Della: She has to care for her little sister — and her mom — because her mom has schizophrenia.
When twelve-year-old Della Kelly finds her mother furiously digging black seeds from a watermelon in the middle of the night and talking to people who aren’t there, Della worries that it’s happening again—that the sickness that put her mama in the hospital four years ago is back. That her mama is going to be hospitalized for months like she was last time.
With her daddy struggling to save the farm and her mama in denial about what’s happening, it’s up to Della to heal her mama for good. And she knows just how she’ll do it: with a jar of the Bee Lady’s magic honey, which has mended the wounds and woes of Maryville, North Carolina, for generations.
But when the Bee Lady says that the solution might have less to do with fixing Mama’s brain and more to do with healing her own heart, Della must learn that love means accepting her mama just as she is.
The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley
Published: February 6, 2018
Why We Love Frances: She loves nature and is not afraid to be herself.
Eleven-year-old Frances is an observer of both nature and people, just like her idol, the anthropologist Margaret Mead. She spends most of her time up on the rocks behind her house in her “rock world,” as Alvin, her kindhearted and well-read school bus driver, calls it. It’s the one place where Frances can truly be herself, and where she doesn’t have to think about her older sister, Christinia, who is growing up and changing in ways that Frances can’t understand.
But when the unimaginable happens, Frances slowly discovers that perhaps the world outside her rugged, hidden paradise isn’t so bad after all, and that maybe–just maybe–she can find connection and camaraderie with the people who have surrounded her all along.
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
Published: May 1, 2018
Why We Love Lucy: Math genius with a heart of gold.
Lucy Callahan’s life was changed forever when she was struck by lightning. She doesn’t remember it, but the zap gave her genius-level math skills, and she’s been homeschooled ever since. Now, at 12 years old, she’s technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test–middle school!
Lucy’s grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that’s not a math textbook!). Lucy’s not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy’s life has already been solved. Unless there’s been a miscalculation?
A celebration of friendship, Stacy McAnulty’s smart and thoughtful middle-grade debut reminds us all to get out of our comfort zones and embrace what makes us different.
The House That Lou Built
Published: June 12, 2018
Why We Love Lou: A real hands-on girl who loves her big Filipino family — and building stuff!
Lou Bulosan-Nelson has the ultimate summer DIY project. She’s going to build her own “tiny house,” 100 square feet all her own. She shares a room with her mom in her grandmother’s house, and longs for a place where she can escape her crazy but lovable extended Filipino family. Lou enjoys her woodshop class and creating projects, and she plans to build the house on land she inherited from her dad, who died before she was born. But then she finds out that the land may not be hers for much longer.
Lou discovers it’s not easy to save her land, or to build a house. But she won’t give up; with the help of friends and relatives, her dream begins to take shape, and she learns the deeper meaning of home and family.
There they are: 50 of the best middle-grade books with strong female protagonists! I love these books and these characters so much and each of them has taught me a thing or two about doing what’s right and standing up for myself.
What about you? What are your favorite middle-grade books with strong female protagonists? I know I’m missing a lot on this list. But also, which of those on this list have you read or would like to read? Let me know!
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Ms. Yingling Reads (@MsYingling) says
Great list of new books! My generation only had Meg Murray (A Wrinkle in Time) and a few others. Most of the girls today are strong characters… in books and out!
Afoma Umesi says
I agree! 🙂
Carol says
So many inspiring girls! 🙌
Monique says
Loved your content Afoma <3 very well-written. A strong female character does not imply strong physically, but rather in other aspects. equality. Check this out The Do's in Developing a Compelling Female Protagonist Hope this will help. Thank you.
Cheers,
Monique