Realistic Fiction for Teens
Stories about school, sports, growing up, and life. MS = books for middle school readers. (Updated November 2023)
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Brighter Than the Sun
Soledad lives in Mexico but works in California, making money to support her mother’s restaurant, even though her mother has died. An old friend helps her out, but how long can she continue to struggle before things change?
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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When It All Syncs up
Aisha leaves her ballet company when the pressure and the racism become too much, joining her best friend’s art school. But racism appears there too, and she must find her own way to good mental health.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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A Year to the Day
It’s been 365 days since Leo’s older sister Nina was killed in a drunk driving collision, but Leo can’t remember anything, even though he was in the car too. Why won’t Nina’s boyfriend tell him what happened?
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Year the Maps Changed
Fred tries to adapt to her new family situation after her mom dies and her stepdad brings home his new girlfriend and her son, but when a group of refugees arrives in town, everyone will have to adapt, and no one will find it easy. MS
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Warrior Girl Unearthed
Perry’s job at the tribal museum reveals that the museum curators have been using legal loopholes to retain the remains of her tribal ancestors, leading her to plan to take the remains back.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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When We Had Summer
After meeting on vacation, Carly, Daniella, Lainie, and Penny bonded tightly and always considered themselves to be summer sisters. When Carly dies suddenly though, the other three struggle to keep their friendship alive without her.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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All Alone With You
After a mental health crisis, Eloise decides she is a loner, but if she wants to get into her college of choice, she must volunteer in the community and meet other people, but her new coworker Austin is far too sunny to be real.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Where You See Yourself
Effie plans to study multimedia at college, but she has to be sure it is accessible to her and her wheelchair. Her mom has always advocated for her, but now she must learn how to speak for herself.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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We Deserve Monuments
Avery and her parents move to rural Georgia to take care of her dying grandmother, but the tension between her mother and grandmother might break the family. With two new friends, Avery learns the racist history of the town may have a lot to do with their family history.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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This Town Is on Fire
Naomi and Kylie have been best friends forever, but their friendship is tested when Kylie calls the cops on some Black teen boys, and Naomi must reckon not only with Kylie’s behavior, but that of her whole racist family.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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