Because of the Rabbit
By Cynthia Lord
MFIC LORD

Emma has been ​homeschooled her whole life, but is about to start fifth grade in a public school. The day before school, she finds a pet rabbit out in the wild with her dad, so they bring it home with them to stay the night. Emma sees it as good luck for school, but on the first day of school she is paired with a boy named Jack for a project. Jack is hyperactive and doesn't fit in with the rest of the kids, so Emma's worried he'll make her stand out. Find out if she’s able to make friends in this simple but heartfelt story.  You can also head to Cynthia Lord’s website to learn about the author and see cute pictures of her pets.  

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Other Words for Home
By Jasmine Warga
MFIC WARGA

Jude is forced to flee her home in Syria when violence overtakes the country. She has to start over living with relatives in the United States while missing her father and brother, who stayed behind. While Jude learned English by watching American movies, she was not completely prepared for school in the United States. Written in beautiful free verse, this book allows the reader to see through life through the eyes of a recent immigrant. For more background information about Syria and the Syrian Civil War, head to Britannica School. 

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The First Rule of Punk 
By Celia Pérez
MFIC PEREZ

When María Luisa O'Neill-Morales (who really prefers to be called Malú) moves with her mother to Chicago, she has to start 7th grade in a middle school full of kids who speak Spanish. Even though Malú is Hispanic, she doesn’t speak the language well and her first day doesn’t go quite as planned. After violating the dress code with her punk rock attire and making enemies of the most popular girl in school, only time will tell if she will be able to survive middle school and living with her overbearing mother.  Malú makes her own ‘Zines to help her cope with life. Click here for instructions to make your own zine. 

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The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locker Hero
By Rachel Renée Russell
MFIC RUSSELL

If you liked the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, this book is for you. The Misadventures of Max Crumbly is written by the creator of the Dork Diaries series, Rachel Renée Russell. The main character Max is the new kid at South Ridge Middle School. Max loves comic book heroes and wishes he could be like them, but he has trouble even dealing with the school bully! Will he ever get to save the day?
If you like Locker Hero, you should also check out the second book in the series: Middle School Mayhem and the new third book, Masters of Mischief. 

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All’s Faire in Middle School
By Victoria Jamieson
MGRAPHIC JAMIESON

If you’re a fan of Raina Telgemeier, you’re going to love this one! Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she's eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she'll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind—she'll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it's not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don't) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family's unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment. Impy has always thought of herself as a heroic knight, but when she does something really mean in order to fit in, she begins to wonder whether she might be more of a dragon after all. (from Amazon.com)
If you like this one, don’t forget to check out Roller Girl by the same author. It is a Newbery Honor award winner. 

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