I’ve been very vocal about children needing literary mirrors and windows. I’ve also consistently shared that the books featuring Black people can’t all be mired in tragedy and trial. Black joy, friendship, family, adventure, fantasy, mystery, everyday life, and FUN should also show up in our children’s books! Chapter Books: Black Girls Just Being Kids is one of my most popular booklists, but my girls have progressed from early chapter books into middle grade fiction, so I wanted to share an updated list of some of my favorite middle grade books featuring Black girls living life.

Unlike my list of early elementary books, some of these girls do share their thoughts on being Black or biracial, which is natural, but these books are not about being Black. The character development allows the girls to explore other aspects of who they are and what they experience in regular everyday life. And that’s what I want my kids to see.

A bit of housekeeping before you dig into the booklist…

• I only refer to my girls in this post, but that’s not because these books can’t be enjoyed by boys. It’s simply because my kids who read at this level happen to be girls. I fully expect my sons to read some of these books when they get older because I want them to absorb stories of smart, capable girls and how they experience life. Also, I’ll be posting a booklist featuring middle grade fiction starring boys later this summer. We’ve been reading and listening to several via audiobook, and I’m really happy with them.

• I think these middle grade books featuring Black girls living life are best for the intended age range of about 9-12 years old* (I think 13-year-olds would enjoy many of these too!). Even if your younger kids can read them, the protagonists are within that age range and the storylines and experiences are best aligned with that group. My oldest daughter reads at a higher level in her school books, but socially, these plots are more her speed for free reads vs. young adult books, and it may be the same with your child. In addition, there are scenarios that show up in some of these books (i.e. divorce, illness, death, poverty, imprisonment, etc.) that younger children may not be ready to confront. Just want you to keep that in mind while considering these for your family.

• These are not old classics and they don’t read as such. If your family doesn’t typically read contemporary books these middle grade books featuring Black girls may take some getting used to on your part, but I’m sure that your kids will eat them right up!

• It’s not an exact science, but the order of the books is not arbitrary. I tried to list the sections in order of plot complexity, reading level, target age, and content maturity in some cases. There’s no particular order within the groups, but the groups themselves are ordered. So the last four books on the page are the ones that I would reserve for the oldest end of the target age range due to content considerations because the storylines address more mature topics than the earlier books.

• Every family is different. I may be more permissive with my older kiddos than you, so I highly recommend that you pre-read.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases of these middle grade books featuring Black girls using these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

• Ways to Make Sunshine and Ways to Grow Love by Renee Watson – Our homeschool book club read Ways to Make Sunshine this year (Read about it here!), and my younger daughter was happy to hear that the next Ryan Hart story was out. I appreciate that these books highlight real life without getting into anything heavy duty. They are lighter reads and sweet options for navigating friendships and exploring family life.
• President of the Whole Fifth Grade and President of the Whole Sixth Grade by Sherri Winston – Given that my daughters are going into fifth and sixth grade in the fall, you better believe that these will be waiting for them on the first day of lessons. They’ll be so excited! My oldest has read the first book but neither of them have read the 6th grade book yet. I like that the characters are dealing with completely age-appropriate issues and nothing more. These are just fun reads to kick back and relax with.
• The Sweetest Sound by Sherri Winston – Written by the same author as the books above, this is one that my daughter picked out at a used book sale. I watched her pick up the book and put it in our basket without even reading the description, so clearly she just loved the cover art, and I’m okay with that. That is the case with many of these books, and I welcome the idea that their presence on our shelves is about much more than just the story. My children can literally see themselves in the book. Once she eventually got around to reading it instead of just staring at the cover, she loved it! Again, there is no controversy or need for deep discussions while reading this book, yet there are important ideas about finding your voice and being true to yourself.

• Zoe in Wonderland by Brenda Woods – The picture on the cover says it all! This is a cute story about a girl who feels invisible and lost between her popular older sister and smart younger brother. She spends most of her time taking care of the plants at her family’s greenhouse, known as Wonderland, which makes for a unique setting for the book. 11-year-old Zoe has loving parents and a best friend who is facing tough times (his mom is diagnosed with cancer), and there’s a bit of adventure thrown in to keep the storyline moving. This one was a winner in my house!
• Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg – This is one of my favorite books on this list. Written entirely in verse, this beautiful book tells the thoughts and struggles of a Haitian girl living in dire poverty. There are tragic situations in the book, but her family’s deep love for one another carries them through. It’s hard to describe, but essentially, the sad parts made us feel tenderness towards the characters, but we didn’t walk away feeling sorry for them. It’s easy to see that though they were financially poor, they were rich in spirit. This one languished in our book basket for months with my girls never choosing it, so I started it as a read aloud, and they didn’t want me to stop reading. We ended up doing this as a book club book as well.
• Like Magic by Elaine Vickers – This book is about three 10-year-olds who form a friendship without ever actually meeting in person. I like it because the friendships cross racial lines without that ever being a big part of the plot. It’s subtle, but I think this book sends a message that we all have so much in common and authentic cross-racial relationships can thrive. Cover art to the rescue again, by the way!
• Mango Delight and Summer in the City by Fracaswell Hyman – We haven’t read the sequel yet, but in the first book, 12-year-old Mango struggles to fit in with the popular middle school girls because she doesn’t have a cell phone. My daughters haven’t experienced this because very few of their friends have phones but they could still relate to the desire. Mango ends up being betrayed by her best friend, but in the end, she came out on top while maintaining her integrity, and that’s what I like most about this book. I also appreciate that my daughters could witness the relational aggression and bullying that sometimes occurs within groups, so they can better understand how to stand tall should they ever encounter it.

• The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste – This is the first book in the Jumbies Trilogy, a unique series based on a blend of Caribbean and West African mythology and fairy tales. Along with themes of heroism and unconditional love, there are some scenes that may be scary for younger children or even older kids who aren’t into intense fantasy or tales of good vs. evil. I think my older daughter might enjoy these books if she gave them a try, but she said that these just aren’t her thing, and I can respect that. My other daughter, however, is all about it!
• My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi – This book is not like anything else I’ve seen. It’s realistic fiction set in Harlem in the 1980’s so there is lively imagery related to breakdancing, rap battles, and more, but the book is also unexpectedly infused with science fiction. With the lines between reality and science fiction blurred, it may be hard for some kids to completely follow. In fact, some people might think that this book is just flat out weird, but I think it’s full of imagination and stretches kids to think beyond the typical. I also like that it presents a girl who just doesn’t seem to fit in and how she shows up in the world.
• Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston – This was hands down a runaway winner for both of my girls. A fantasy book centered around a Black girl is a rare find in middle grade fiction, and my girls ate this one up. They breezed through 400+ pages and immediately started talking about how desperately they wanted the author to write a sequel. This book is being made into a movie, and I’m certain that we’ll hit the theater for that one.
• Twins by Varian Johnson – This is a graphic novel about twins who have to navigate middle school while also figuring out the changing dynamics of their relationship. One sister craves the familiarity of how things have always been while the other desperately wants to experience more independence. This read has more character development than expected at first glance. Note: There is a page where the mom gets upset (at someone mistreating the girls) and it shows that she used a swear word but does not show the actual word. It looks like this: “S%#&%!!!” My younger daughter didn’t know what that meant, lol, but my older one did, so just a heads up. Neither of my girls finished this book which is odd because they enjoy graphic novels, but I still included it here because I heard from two separate friends that their girls loved this one.
• Patina by Jason Reynolds – This is book #2 in Reynolds’ four book Track series. It’s probably ideal to read them in order, but each book really does stand alone well so this one can be read first. It’s totally up to your child’s preference. Patty’s father dies and she and her sister have to live with their aunt and uncle when their mom loses her legs due to diabetes. These themes make it more of a mature, but in no way inappropriate, book. I appreciate how Reynolds builds Patty’s character as she deals with middle school insecurities and realistic family issues.

• Something to Say by Lisa Moore Ramee – I have not read this book, but I have it in my girls’ book basket for this year. The author’s other book, A Good Kind of Trouble, deals with Black Lives Matters among other themes, but this particular book is focused on friendship, finding your voice, and fighting for what you believe in. I’ve read a ton of reviews on it, and I think my girls are really going to like it.
• From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks – This books blends the sweetness of a girl who loves baking and trying new recipes with realities found within our criminal justice system. It addresses racial injustice head-on which makes it seem like it wouldn’t fit in with my goal of finding books that show other sides of the Black experience, but I love the duality of Zoe’s life. She has struggles AND she wants to be a baker. Her father is in prison AND her stepfather adores her. Her mother is loving and supportive AND she doesn’t want to hear what Zoe has to say about her dad. All of that is so real, and the tension that exists between all of this is why I placed it on the bottom row with the more mature books.
• Blended by Sharon M. Draper – The main character of this book is biracial and much of the plot explores her experience of going back and forth between her divorced parents. Her dad is Black and her mom is white, and that dynamic is a major theme throughout the story. There is also an instance of misplaced police aggression. I’m glad that we waited on this one because I didn’t feel the need to hover as my daughter enjoyed the book. She was ready for it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve previously written about other books by this author: Stella by Starlight and The Clubhouse Mysteries. They’ve all been great!
• Life of a Firefly by Sandra Brown-Lindstedt – My daughters both enjoyed this book. They liked following along as the main character, Sandy, learns new lessons and finds renewed hope in each chapter. Sandy is likeable and realistic (especially her stubbornness), but their favorite character is Glory because she’s different but still finds a way to confidently shine. The book highlights the value of authentic friendship and the power of kindness, and the relationship portrayed between the two sisters is a sweet one. I saw on the Amazon reviews that someone said that there was no bad language in this book, but that’s not true. There are at least two instances of the word “s**t” in this book along with a crude discussion.
• So Done by Paula Chase – This is one of the last books on the list because it touches upon an array of sensitive issues including socioeconomic disparity, addiction, and molestation. These are things that I’m ready to explore further with my oldest, and books like these help me frame those conversations. I consider this a gateway title into the next “level” of books for her, so this will be one that my oldest reads towards the end of next school year as she rolls into the teen years.

And that’s all, folks! I hope you find some gems here that might appeal to your family, and I’d love to get your ideas for other middle grade books featuring Black girls living life in the comments if you have any to add. I have another booklist with more middle grade girl books, along with a list of boy middle grade books, coming out next month, so be on the lookout!

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