Recommended Books on Middle School Relationships

        In this School Library Journal feature, Laura Dooley-Taylor recommends books about tween relationships, in all their drama and complexity: 

• The Science of Friendship by Tanita Davis, grade 3-7 
• Honey and Me by Meira Drazin, grade 5-8 
• Maya Plays the Part by Calyssa Erb, grade 3-7 
• Other Side of Perfect by Melanie Florence and Richard Scrimger, grade 4-8 
• Match Point! by Maddie Gallegos, grade 4-7 
• Table Titans Club by Scott Kurtz, grade 5-8 
• Walkin’ the Dog by Chris Lynch, grade 5-8 
• Blue to the Sky by Sylvia McNicoll, grade 5-7 
• Running in Flip-Flops from the End of the World by Justin Reynolds, grade 3-7 
• Grounded by Aisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, & Jamila Thompkins-Bigelow, grade 5-8 
• Eli Over Easy by Phil Stamper, grade 5-8 
• Free Period by Ali Terese, grade 4-7 
• The Braid Girls by Sherri Winston, grade 3-7 
• Summer At Squee by Andrea Wang, grade 3-7 

 “Break-Ups and Make-Ups: 14 Books That Tackle Tween Friendships” by Laura Dooley-Taylor in School Library Journal, August 2024 (Vol. 70, #8, pp. 48-51)

Please Note: This summary is reprinted with permission from issue #1049 of The Marshall Memo, an excellent resource for educators.