Heading back to school can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re moving to a new school or hitting a milestone grade. Don’t worry—we have plenty of books to prepare your student for a new chapter!
If You Take a Mouse To School by Laura Numeroff
Laura Numeroff’s well-known If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series branches into the schoolyard with If You Take a Mouse To School. This classic children’s book is the perfect read-aloud choice for elementary school kids!
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Chrysanthemum has always loved her name, but when the other kids make fun of it on her first day of school, she’s not sure how to handle it. With the help of her music teacher, she learns to love herself and her name in the face of adversity. Chrysanthemum is another picture book classic!
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Andrew Clements writes great books for readers in-between chapter books and young readers. Frindle, one of his most popular titles, follows Nicholas Allen, a kid who always has great ideas. When Nick learns about how words are invented , he has another great idea: he’ll invent his own word. Before it’s too late, frindle—Nick’s new word for ‘pen’—has taken over the entire school.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
This Young Readers title has gained intense popularity over the last few years, especially following the release of the movie in 2017. Palacio’s Wonder follows August Pullman—Auggie—as he learns to navigate middle school with a facial deformity that draws lots of attention.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Stargirl is different from anyone else Leo has ever met, and she seems unashamed to be so—but the pressures of high school start to creep in, Leo and Stargirl both have to decide what is most important to them. Fitting in with the crowd? Or being who you are? A coming-of-age story perfect for anyone twelve and up, Stargirl is a novel about learning how to be comfortable in your own skin.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Told through a series of letters from the main character, Charlie, to an unspecified friend, The Perks of Being a Wallflower chronicles what it’s like to experience high school and all of the joy, confusion, and devastation that comes with growing up. This story is beautiful and powerful, but its themes are on the more mature side, so read with caution.
Kate Higginbotham is a writer, reader, and editor from North Alabama. After self-publishing several YA novels, spending time abroad, and graduating from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Kate moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she spends her time elbow-deep in literature of all kinds. She currently writes the “Book List” column alongside freelance editing and other publishing ventures.