11 Best Books For 7th-Graders

Seventh grade is tough, man.

Recess is long gone, hormones are raging and awkward phases are everywhere. Luckily, literature exists, and reading provides one of the best escapes from adolescence you can find.

Here are 11 of the best books for 7th-graders. Happy reading!

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: A Novel, $3.99
Francie Nolon is an insightful little girl living in a poor area of Brooklyn in the early 1900s. From her perspective, we see her family struggle. At the same time, she observes a tree outside her window in its attempt to flourish. This American classic is a must-read for everyone — 7th-graders included.

When Friendship Followed Me Home, $9.51
When you combine an actual puppy with young love, magical things can happen. Such is the case with "When Friendship Followed Me Home" — a heartwarming book that 7th-graders and senior citizens alike will absolutely love.

The Way Things Work Now, $24.57
Levers and lasers and WiFi and drones — how do they work? Allow "explainer-in-chief" David Macauley to explain that — and beyond — in this teen-friendly, tech-heavy explanatory book.

Everything, Everything, $7.48
Maddy is, as she puts it, "allergic to the world," and she hasn't left her house for 17 years. However, when a boy named Olly moves in next door, she just knows something big is going to happen. Will they fall in love? Will she take the biggest risk of her life? In "Everything, Everything," we get to see it all unfold.

The Outsiders, $5.99
S.E. Hinton's iconic bestseller resonates with every generation, and Ponyboy's story is as poignant today as it was 50 years ago.

On the Road, $9.78
Anyone who has ever had the slightest bit of wanderlust will appreciate this iconic Jack Kerouac novel. "On the Road" is based on the author's real-life travels across the country and gives an unfiltered perspective into the Beat generation.

"The Hate U Give," $10.75
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter's life is forever changed after she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Her friend was unarmed, and his death draws international media attention and ignites protests all over the country. Starr finds herself in a precarious position, unsure of what to say — or not to say. "The Hate U Give" is an important and insightful read for young people of all backgrounds.

Hunted, $9.86
This fantasy novel is yet another take on the classic "Beauty and the Beast," but it's a beautiful, passionate retelling very capable of holding its own. Meagan Spooner's writing is captivating — don't be surprised if your 7th-grader can't put it down!

"Eleanor & Park," $11.20
Eleanor and Park's young love story will draw you in and drop you hard — but it's a heart wrenching read that will stay with you long after you've finished the book.

A Separate Peace, $6.08
Set at a boys' boarding school in the early 1940s, "A Separate Peace" is a timeless look at friendship, jealousy and betrayal. What happens between unlikely pals Gene and Phineas will spark curiosity and conversation in readers of all ages.

Wonder, $9.75
August Pullman was born with a face that didn't look quite like everyone else's, and it's had an impact on his whole life. In fifth grade, he attends a mainstream school for the first time — "Wonder" tells this story from Auggie's perspective as well as his peers'. This book encourages kindness a real and relatable way that resonates with readers.

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