18 Books That Kids Say Have Helped Them Find Their Own Voice
by Kari Ness Riedel
Reading is important for so many reasons. It’s linked to academic success, it builds empathy, it’s fun, it’s relaxing, it teaches us things. One of my favorite reasons to read is that it can help readers find their own voice and better understand their truest selves. This applies to readers of any age but can be especially meaningful to tweens who are starting to come into their own identity, separate from that of their parents.
We asked tween readers (and parents and teachers of tween readers) to share some of the books that have helped them discover their own voice and develop their own view of the world. The genres of books they named ranged from fantasy to history to realistic fiction, but there’s a definite common thread of inspiring characters that are brave, kind, and stay true to themselves even if it’s not the most popular way to be.
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Amil and the After
Available from:Fans of The Night Diary will be happy to return to the story of a family forced to flee to New India after the 1947 Partition that left millions dead and turned former neighbors into enemies. This book beautifully addresses the "after" – what happens after this type of conflict occurs as families try to rebuild their lives, their careers, and their relationships. Amil, along with his sister Nisha, their father, their Dadi, and Kazi, seek a return to normalcy that might have a bit of fun, friendship, and purpose. Amil is portrayed as a kid with clear learning differences (likely dyslexia, ADD) but finds peace and joy in his incredible drawings. There's a sweet friendship story that highlights the importance of taking care of each other no matter what our differences appear to be. Evan 13, shares, “This book is great for people who like stories of uncertainty and family coming together.”
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The School for Invisible Boys
Available from:Sixth grader Hector is bullied at home for liking music over sports and bullied at school by a homophobic kid that he thought was his friend. Luckily, he discovers he can turn invisible and enter a secret world where he can escape the ‘monsters' he faces at school and home. Unluckily, this world is full of terrifying actual monsters who prey on loneliness and fear. Here, he meets Orson, a Black boy who is also invisible, and they must work together with other allies to escape this place before they disappear forever. This surreal story blends horror with heartwarming characters who learn lessons about acceptance, forgiveness, and valuing yourself. Andrew gave it 5 stars, “I liked Hector's character because he is always determined, wants to help, and is really kind. I recommend this book to readers who are into fantasy, adventure, and mystery.”
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Max in the House of Spies
Available from:Fans of spy thrillers and gripping historical fiction with clever characters and unexpected plot twists and turns will love this book. It takes a familiar period – World War II and the rise of Nazi Germany – and provides new perspectives through the experience of Max, a Jewish tween boy who is sent away from his family on the Kindertransport to live with a wealthy Jewish family in England who turn out to be spies. Max is a certified genius who uses his strategic ingenuity to combat bullies (both kids and adults) and help him achieve what he truly wants – to return home to his parents in Berlin.
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Starfish
Available from:11-year-old Ellie lives by “Fat Girls Rules” which are ways to become smaller and not stand out. She’s been teased and bullied about her weight since she was five years old. In this emotionally resonant verse novel, Ellie learns to love herself for the smart, funny, creative, and beautiful person she is. With the help of her father, a new neighbor, a best friend, and her therapist, her journey to find freedom from the opinions of others is inspiring to anyone who has ever felt “less than.” Julia, 12, says it best, “This is my favorite book ever. It is so descriptive and fun and Ellie is so funny and kind. I love how she handles bullies and I think she is an idol of many.”
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The Many Masks of Andy Zhou
Available from:Andy, a Chinese American sixth grader, is a classic “good kid” who tries to please everyone around him. He follows the interests of his best friend Cindy and signs up for a dance class, but shifting friendships, microaggressions, low-key bullying, and feelings of anxiety lead him to think more deeply about what he likes and values. This is a relatable and compelling story that shows the complexities tweens face as they try to find their voice while navigating the ups and downs of middle school.
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Song for a Whale
Available from:Iris is a young tech genius obsessed with whales. As someone born deaf, she feels a special connection to Blue 55, a whale who communicates on a different frequency than the rest of his pod. Like Blue 55, she often feels misunderstood and overlooked. When Iris goes on an adventure with her grandmother to see this whale, chaos and adventure – as well as many lessons about identity, belonging, and the power of connection and communication – ensue. Elizabeth, 12, gives this tenderhearted story five out of five stars and shares, “I loved that it was all about Iris trying to tell the whale he wasn't alone by making him a song.”
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The Secret Language of Birds
Available from:Nina is a quirky, bird-obsessed kid who always feels like a bit of an odd duck at school and even among her four siblings. She decides to go to her Aunt Audrey’s sleepaway summer camp and, at first, struggles with making friends there. But, after she discovers a rare whooping crane in an off-limits area, she learns to trust her fellow campers as they support her obsession to solve the mystery of this bird’s origin. It is a sweet story full of cringy friendship drama, self-discovery, and the importance of authenticity and belonging. I particularly recommend it for kids who love nature and mysteries that are slower-paced with fantastic characters.
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Full Cicada Moon
Available from:Set in 1969, Mimi moves from her diverse city in California to a small town in very white Vermont. She is half-black, half-Japanese, loves science, prefers building to cooking, and dreams of being an astronaut. She does not fit the norms in her new town. When she fights the school’s requirement that all girls take home economics while all boys take shop class, she finds her voice as well as some important allies. This beautifully told novel in verse is, according to Valeria, 12, “very inspirational to all girls to believe you can do anything in life.”
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Counting by 7s
Available from:This is a sad yet inspiring story that celebrates resilience and finding joy after the worst things in life happen. Willow, a 12-year-old genius of mixed race who was adopted by a white family as a baby, has never quite fit in at school. Things get even harder for her when her adoptive parents die in a car crash and she finds herself alone. An unexpected cast of characters save her, including her school counselor, Dell, and a new friend, Mai, and Mai’s Vietnamese family. “This book has changed my life and how I think. Everyone has to read this sometime in their life,” raves Button, 12.
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Felix YZ
Available from:This book is the secret blog of Felix Yz, a 13-year-old boy who is about to have a medical procedure done to separate the friendly and intellectually gifted fourth-dimensional being that became fused inside him after one of his father’s science experiments went terribly wrong. With this fantastical set up, Felix’s blog explores relatable topics from anxiety to bullying to having a crush on a boy. It is the story of being unique and yet still connected to the world. “I loved this book and it meant a lot to me to see so many different representations of LGBTQ in one book,” says Abbie, 12.
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Fish in a Tree
Available from:Sixth grader Ally Nickerson has always dreaded school. She’s been called dumb and a loser by her fellow students and considered a troublemaker by her teachers. She’s great at math and art but she’s never let anyone know her darkest secret: She can’t read. Everything changes when she gets a new teacher, Mr. Daniels, and befriends two other misfits at school, Keisha and Albert. Mr. D realizes that Ally has dyslexia and helps her learn to read and see the value of her creative mind. Her new friends help her realize there’s a lot more to people than first meets the eye. Dahlia, 8, says, “This book is amazing and if you need a little help with reading, this book will give you the little bout of confidence to tell someone.”
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Paper Dragons
Available from:Twelve-year-old orphan Yeung Zhi Ging has always felt like an outsider in her village. Her only chance to escape is to become a Silhouette — an apprentice to the immortals. But being accepted to train as a Silhouette, it turns out, is only the beginning of her troubles. Zhi Ging will need to prove she’s worthy to her teachers, survive her rivals’ attempts to sabotage her, and save the world when an evil spirit threatens to attack. On reader raved, “I loved it! It was like Percy Jackson meets The School for Good and Evil!”
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My Side of the Mountain
Available from:Twelve-year-old Sam runs away from his family and their life in a crowded New York City apartment to live in the woods. This book chronicles his adventures as he learns the skills he needs to survive in the wilderness. Many kids feel empowered by reading survival stories where kids are living on their own with no grown-ups. Winnie, 10, says, “I found this book inspiring … and very educational. I learned so much about how to survive in the wild, I would almost feel comfortable going out into the wild.”
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The Night Diary
Available from:A moving historical fiction book set in 1947 India, the year when British colonialism ended and the old India was separated into two nations — Pakistan and new India. Told from the point of view of 12-year-old Nisha, through letters she is writing to her Muslim mother who died in childbirth, the story relates the experiences of Nisha's multicultural world turning upside down almost overnight. Nisha’s father is Hindi so their family must flee their hometown, which is now part of Pakistan, to the new India. Through this journey, Nisha discovers her own talents and abilities amidst a world that is full of both despair and love. This is historical fiction for middle grade readers at its best!
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Same Sun Here
Available from:Two tweens, Meena, an Indian immigrant girl living in New York City, and River, the son of a Kentucky coal miner, become pen pals and learn that they have a lot more in common than the differences in their backgrounds would indicate. Told through a series of letters that are actually written by two different authors, this book is full of joy, bravery, and compassion. Mrs. Payne, a reading tutor for multiple grade levels, shares, “All my students LOVE it and feel moved to share their own stories after they are finished.”
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Shredderman
Available from:Bubba, a foul-smelling bully, has been the bane of brainy and nerdy Nolan’s existence his whole life. While doing a class assignment, Nolan becomes a reporter under the pseudonym, Shredderman, and uses the power of the pen to take down his sworn enemy. This is a funny and unique spin on the classic bully versus nerd story. Will, 11, shares that he felt less alone in dealing with bullies in his own school after reading this.
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Serafina and the Black Cloak
Available from:Serafina lives with her father in the basement of the fancy Biltmore estate. When the wealthy children of the estate begin disappearing, Serafina and her friend, Braeden Vanderbilt, are compelled to follow the clues and figure out who is taking these children. This book is a mix of history, mystery, and magic with a heroine that is celebrated for being eccentric and brave. Jess, mom of two tweens, shares that they read this book as a family and all loved it. Serafina is “odd but you celebrate her triumphant overcoming.”
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Stargirl
Available from:Stargirl is a true original. When she first shows up at Mica High, everyone loves her. Including Leo, a shy teenager who is more of a follower than a leader. When the popular kids start to turn on Stargirl, Leo wants her to stop being so eccentric to get everyone to like her again. Lessons about the value of being yourself versus being “normal” come through loud and clear in this story of young love. This character inspired Edward, 12. “I love Stargirl. She is a great role model to people because she is friendly and kind but does not care what other people think about her, whether good, or bad.”
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2024.