Sometime it is just tough to be a kid…
Every kid has tough times, but some children have extra, real-life problems to deal with on top of the everyday stuff. Whether it be a disability or homelessness, the challenges can be real and feel overwhelming. Here are some of our recommendations for middle grade readers who are looking for a read to provide empathy or to provide insight and understanding. All the books look at the difficult topics in an age-appropriate and sensitive way. Also, the books are relatively contemporary in their settings–no fantasy or science fiction here. Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio is non-fiction, but the other titles are all fiction.
Click on the book covers below to go to full review with content analysis and ratings.
The Problem: Being overweight
The Book: Losing It by Erin Fry
The Problem: Extraordinary high intelligence leading to difficulties in social interactions. (And if that wasn’t enough, death of parents.)
The Book: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
The Problem: Homelessness
The Book: How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor
The Problem: Stuttering 
The Book: Paperboy by Vince Vawter
The Problem: Cerebral Palsy
The Book: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
The Problem: Asperger Syndrome (& school shooting)
The Book: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
The Problem: Physical deformity
The Book: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The Problem: Polio
The Book: Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret
The Problem: Hurricane Katrina/Natural Disasters
The Book: Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick
