Book Lists

Season of Shift: 5 MG Books About Coping With Winter Upheaval

By on December 26, 2025   /   Book Lists, Fiction   /   Leave a comment
The book cover of "The 12 Dares of Christa" features colorful, small gift boxes with bows scattered on a white background. The tone is playful and festive.

Growing up, my parents always made this time of year special with festive lights, delicious food, and beloved family rituals. As an adult, I always enjoyed recreating that joy with my own family during the winter.  Unfortunately, life isn’t always predictable and this year I find myself navigating divorce with a 10-year old in the mix. While researching potential books to offer my child some literary comfort, I noticed how few middle-grade novels address kids coping with major life changes during this season (*hint* *hint* fellow writers). I did, however, uncover five incredible stories that feature a diverse cast of children (and parents) learning to cope, adapt, and find joy through uncertainty during the winter months.

Why it Matters: Children experiencing big life changes need stories that validate their emotions, offer strategies for resilience, and normalize the messy mix of grief and growth that often accompanies these changes, especially during the winter holidays. Reading these novels can help kids feel seen and provide gentle guidance for navigating change this time of year.

Go Deeper: For readers and those supporting them who want middle grade novels that tackle the tough-stuff during the winter/holiday months, these five books are sure to fit the bill. 

Read Time: 4 minutes

Cover of "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day. A girl in a red coat and pink hat stands facing a wintery, snow-covered landscape with trees. Calm, introspective mood.

“The Sea in Winter” by Christine Day (2021)

Maisie, a talented Native girl and former dancer, faces a life-changing injury that forces her to give up her dream. Over the course of winter, she grapples with grief, identity, and belonging while reconnecting with her heritage and community.

Perfect for: Readers navigating setbacks or major life changes.

Colorful illustrated book cover of "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" shows lively brownstone buildings amidst a vibrant city skyline.

“The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street” by Karina Yan Glaser (2017)

The multiracial Vanderbeeker kids face the possible loss of their beloved brownstone just before the holidays. Together, they hatch creative plans to save their home and keep their family intact.

Perfect for: Readers who crave chaotic family adventures and lessons about teamwork and perseverance.

Book cover for "Dreidels on the Brain" by Joel ben Izzy. A person in a tuxedo and top hat with dreidels orbiting their hat, an orange obscures their face, against a cloud-dotted blue sky. The tone is whimsical and playful.

“Dreidels on the Brain” by Joel ben Izzy (2016)

Joel, the only Jewish kid at school, struggles with family pressures and isolation. During Hanukkah, he navigates challenges at home and school, learning hope, resilience, and the power of connection.

Perfect for: Readers feeling “different” during holiday celebrations.

Two smiling children stand hand in hand outside snow-covered houses. A cat sits in a window, and a menorah is visible in another. Text reads "Let it Glow."

“Let It Glow” by Marissa Meyer & Joanne Levy (2024)

Twins Aviva and Holly, separated at birth, discover each other just before the holidays. They swap households to experience each family’s celebrations, uncovering identity, belonging, and the meaning of family.

Perfect for: Readers exploring identity, belonging, and blended family dynamics.

The book cover of "The 12 Dares of Christa" features colorful, small gift boxes with bows scattered on a white background. The tone is playful and festive.

“The 12 Dares of Christa” by Marissa Burt (2017)

Christa’s parents are separating just before Christmas, threatening her “perfect” holiday. Her father sends twelve holiday dares for her to complete during her trip to Europe, helping her find joy, connection, and resilience despite the upheaval.

Perfect for: Readers coping with family change, divorce, or disrupted holiday traditions.

In Closing: 

If you know a reader who is facing a tough winter, these books may offer the comfort and clarity they need to navigate their season of change. Because sometimes the right story is all the coziness we need.

Until next time, remember: 💔+ 📚 = ❤️‍🩹

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Blasts From the Past: Diverse Historical Fiction

By on November 19, 2025   /   Book Lists, Fiction  

As a kid, I loved reading historical fiction. In my day, most of these stories centered on Europe and a war. I felt transported to other times and places, and was introduced to characters my age confronting challenges of survival. I enjoyed connecting with kids from the past who, with their friends and families, bravely faced difficulties.

Now, we have more novels told by historically underrepresented voices that offer perspectives on a wide variety of events. Rudine Sims Bishop described how books can be mirrors to a readers life, or can build empathy through windows where readers can view lives of others, or may provide sliding doors where readers can step into another world and immerse themselves in a new reality.

Here, I offer six wonderfully written, diverse titles that serve as a portal to another time.

A Sea of Lemon Trees

A Sea Of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila, Macmillan, 2025, 273 pp.

This novel in verse is inspired by the true story of Robert Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident where one child’s courage to stand up for what is right and the determination of the Mexican community will transport readers to the challenges confronted by Robert in 1931 San Diego. Young Roberto was chosen to speak up about the horribly unfair conditions in the separate school for Mexican immigrants. This is the uplifting story of how his activism brought great changes to the “Americanization” efforts.

 

 

 

 

Zarina Divided

Zarina Divided by Reem Faruqi, Harper Collins, 225, 326 pp.

Zarina’s idyllic life in 1947 Poona, India is abruptly ended when her Muslim family moves to Pakistan during the Great Partition. Lyrical verse paints a realistic picture of Zarina’s hardships, including acts of violence and racism, as she journeys by train and boat to a new home. Just as Zarina begins to settle into her new life, she makes a big mistake. Her family agrees to let her go to boarding school, where a whole new set of challenges confront her. This novel brings a fresh perspective to the religious divide of a country.

 

 

 

Nine Moons

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glasser, Harper Collins, 2025, 420 pp.

 

Han Yu and Luli Lee live 1200 years apart, yet they both share a goal: they go to great risks to save their families. In 731 a plague threatens Chang An, China, and Han Yu must trek across the Silk Road to fulfill a promise and find a cure. In 1931, New York’s Chinatown, Luli starts up her own bun business to bring her family’s restaurant back from the brink of foreclosure. Big themes and small details – like buns and birds – connect these two stories. The ties that bind Han Yu and Luli across centuries are an unforgettable surprise.

 

Seabird

Seabird by Michelle Kadarusman, Pajama Press, 2025, 199 pp.

Twelve-year-old Katina brings nineteenth century Indonesia (also known as the Dutch East Indies) to life through her letters to her best friend and her passion for learning. Inspired by the real-life Javanese noble turned activist, Raden Adjeng Kartini, this novel depicts how girls were given little freedom. Noble-born Kartini was confined to her house at twelve until she was to be married. Educated, Kartini turned to her best friend, Letsy, who had returned to Holland for help. Through her skills as a writer, Kartini speaks out, and like a seabird, gets free of her cage, and becomes a celebrated advocate for education.

 

 

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

How To Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares, Random House, 2025, 223 pp.

Readers get a visual and personal view of Castro’s Revolution in Cuba in this emotionally gripping graphic novel. Based on the experiences of the author’s father, readers see the uncertainty and fears Carlos faced as a child while his family was being threatened for owning land. Major events in Castro’s path to power are explained in a straightforward manner. Miyares does an excellent job describing the differing opinions of Castro that the Cubans held.

 

 

 

Will's Race For Home

Will’s Race For Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Little Brown, 2025, 196pp.

This is a Western like no other. It’s 1889, and Will has persuaded his father to allow him to accompany him on the treacherous trek from Texas to Oklahoma. It’s been several decades since the Emancipation Proclamation, yet his father still does not have the right to own land – unless he takes advantage of the Oklahoma Land Rush. The journey is difficult not only because of the difficult terrain, but also because of the racism, poverty, and violence Will and his father experience along the way. Belle the mule, and frequent illustrations add charm to the story.

 

 

 

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The Scientific Method is Dead! (Sort Of) – Emphasizing the Science and Engineering Practices With Middle Grade Books

By on September 22, 2025   /   Articles, For Teachers, From the Classroom, Nonfiction  

Raise your hand if you grew up learning the scientific method. Me too. In fact, for thousands of years, all the way back to Aristotle in Ancient Greece (and possibly earlier), the scientific method has been the way science is done. And it still is. Sort of.

When the Next Generation Science Standards were released in 2013, it was immediately apparent that they are very different than previous standards. The NGSS are written in three dimensions that work together to help students make sense of the world: the Disciplinary Core Ideas, the Crosscutting Concepts, and the Science and Engineering Practices.

What are the Science and Engineering Practices?

In this post, I’m going to address the Science and Engineering Practices because they describe the actions we want our students to be engaging in. In other words, what we want our students to be able to do. Take a look at a comparison between the scientific method and the practices. What similarities do you notice? What differences do you see?

A table comparing the science and engineering practices with the scientific method

One of the main reasons for the shift away from the scientific method is its representation of science as a series of sequential steps to be completed in order. But science isn’t sequential. It is messy, as shown in this fantastic video by the California Academy of Sciences. (It really is worth the six-minute time investment.)

According to the NGSS Appendix for the Science and Engineering Practices:

The Framework uses the term “practices,” rather than “science processes” or “inquiry” skills for a specific reason: “We use the term “practices” instead of a term such as “skills” to emphasize that engaging in scientific investigation requires not only skill but also knowledge that is specific to each practice. (NRC Framework, 2012, p. 30)”

Now that you have a bit of background on the practices, let’s take a look at how you can emphasize them using middle grade nonfiction.

DISCLAIMER! We want our students to be doing the science and engineering practices, not just reading about them. The following suggestions are in addition to time spent engaging in the practices through a high-quality curriculum during dedicated science time.

Emphasizing the Science and Engineering Practices With Middle Grade Books

Below are a few examples to spark ideas about how you can bring more scientific thinking into your ELA instruction by focusing on the science and engineering practices.

Who Gives a Poop?: Surprising Science From One End to the Other by Heather Montgomery

This is the #1 book for exploring the #2 process! Heather takes readers along on a feces field trip. From dissecting possums to trains full of sewage, Heather models for students how asking questions and conducting investigations can lead to amazing (and gross!) discoveries.

 

The Doomsday Detectives: How Walter and Luis Alvarez Solved the Mystery of Dinosaur Extinction by Cindy Jenson-Elliott

This book chronicles the father-son team that solved one of the greatest mysteries of all time: How did the dinosaurs die? This book gives readers a front row seat to the science behind the discovery. All of the science and engineering practices are modeled, yet I love to emphasize how they analyzed data, engaged in argument from evidence, used mathematics and computational thinking, and communicated information.

 

Where Are the Aliens? The Search for Life Beyond Earth by Stacy McAnulty

This book explores the scientific thinking behind the search for alien life. Readers have a front row seat to the calculations that help scientists think about the potential existence of extra-terrestrial life. How scientists use mathematics is on full display!

 

One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them by Loree Griffin Burns

Loree’s opening perfectly describes this book: “This is a story about unusual caterpillars, curious people, and fascinating conversations.” It zooms in on a specific discovery involving pine processionary caterpillars and is perfect for spotlighting the practices of asking questions and conducting investigations.

As your students engage with the texts, you can ask them questions about the practices in three ways:

  1. Ask students to identify how a particular practice is represented.
    • Give an example from the book where Heather is conducting an investigation.
  2. Ask students to identify a practice of their choosing.
    • What practices do you notice in this book? Support your answer with examples from the text.
  3. Ask students a specific question about a particular practice.
    • How do Walter and Luis use data as evidence to explain phenomena?

Bottom line: The more we can model the practices for our students, the better they will understand and internalize them. After all, the practices, require practice!

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