Middle School and Teen Books
Rules - Cynthia Lord
Catherine has a younger brother with autism and she helps him by teaching him rules to better interact with others. While going with him to his weekly occupational therapy session, she meets Jason and learns what it means to be friends and how to accept people for who they are.
Wonder - R.J. Palacio
Auggie has a Craniofacial Anomaly and hasn't ever been to school. Now, he's starting 5th grade and is heading to school for the first time. This story is told by multiple characters and deals with bullying, empathy, compassion, and acceptance.
Fish in a Tree - Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ally has dyslexia and has hidden her inability to read from her teachers by being silly and distracting. When she gets a new teacher, Mr. Daniels , he realizes what she is hiding. Mr. Daniels helps to realize her potential and helps her gain confidence.
Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish - Pablo Cartaya
Marcus is big for an 8th grader. He uses his size to protect other kids and his younger brother who has Downs Syndrome, from bullies. When Marcus gets in trouble for punching a bully, his mom takes him and his brother on a trip to Puerto Rico to learn more about the place where he is from, and maybe find the dad that left years ago.
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus - Dusti Bowling
Aven Green was born without arms, but this has never stopped her from trying to do everything on her own. When her family moves from Kansas to Arizona to manage a run down western theme park called Stagecoach Pass, Aven has to start over at a new school. She meets a new friend Conner who has Tourette's Syndrome and together they solve the mystery of Stagecoach Pass.
Out of My Mind - Sharon Draper
Melody has Cerebral Palsy. She can't talk, walk or take care of herself. She is very smart and she can remember everything but no one knows because she can't tell them. But she is determined to be heard.
El Deafo - Cece Bell
A graphic novel based on the author's life as a young girl dealing with being deaf and using a sonic ear and hearing aides. She moves from an all deaf school to a regular school and has to make new friends.
Forget Me Not - Ellie Terry
Written from both Calliope and Jinsong's point-of-views, this is the story of an 8th grade girl with tourette's syndrome who moves around with her mother a lot and an 8th grade boy who struggles to find the balance between his old friends who tease Calliope for her tics and being friends with this new and awesome friend he thinks he might like as more than a friend.
Where The Watermelons Grow - Cindy Baldwin
12 year old Della live and works her family farm with her Dad, Mom and baby sister. When Della's mom starts to get sick again, Della does everything she can think of to help cure her mother's schizophrenia. When nothing seems to work, Della has to learn how to love and accept her mom.
The Goldfish Boy - Lisa Thompson
For the last few weeks Matthew has watched the neighborhood from his bedroom window. His severe obsessive-compulsive disorder had made him feel unable to interact with the world outside. But when his neighbor's small grandson is kidnapped, Matthew might be the only person who can piece together what happened, if only he could leave his room.
Turtles All The Way Down - John Green
16 year old Aza and her best friend Daisy are intrigued by the sudden disappearance of billionaire Russell Pickett, but are even more intrigued by the $100,00 reward for information about his disappearance. Aza knows his son Davis from summer camp and wants to help him and his brother, but when her own thoughts spiral out of her control, can Aza help Davis, help Daisy and help herself?