Happy July! We hope that you are all having a great month! We are so excited to recommend these five middle-grade books to read for July. They are all very different but also similar in their own ways. We hope you read these books and enjoy them as much as we enjoyed suggesting them.

BETTY BEFORE X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renee Watson

Betty Before X is the story of Dr. Betty Shabazz before she became a figurehead for the Civil Rights Movement.

THE HARLEM CHARADE by Natasha Tarpley

In this remarkable tale of daring and danger, debut novelist Natasha Tarpley explores the way a community defines itself, the power of art to show the truth, and what it really means to be home.

FOREVER THIS SUMMER by Leslie C. Youngblood

This book is about a young girl who becomes friends with a foster kid and tries to help the foster kid find her real mother. The book talks about their adventure of finding the truth. This is a great book for people who like to read about family, identity, and learning to stand up for what's right.

CAPRICE by Coe Booth

This novel is about finding support from your parents and friends, articulating your truth, and choosing your own path.

BLENDED by Sharon M. Draper

Eleven-year-old Isabella’s blended family is more divided than ever in this “timely but genuine” (Publishers Weekly) story about divorce and racial identity from the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind, Sharon M. Draper.