Fiction
43. The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman.
In 1986 Ukraine two girls become unlikely friends after experiencing the fallout from the horrifying Chernobyl crisis. Call Number: J Blank.A
You can listen to the ebook here and the e-audiobook on Overdrive here.
44. Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk.
Everyone blames Ellie for her father’s accident but this city girl turned mountain expert is determined to find a cure for his coma. A Depression-era tale of fortitude punctuated with scintillating descriptions and writing. Call Number: J Wolk.L
You can check out the Playaway of this book here.
You can check out the audiobook on CD of this book here.
You can check out the ebook here and the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
45. Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros.
Fifth grader Efrén’s life turns upside down after he discovers his beloved mother has been deported. This powerful, fast-paced novel shows a boy struggling to keep his family together. Call Number: J Cisne.E
You can check out the Playaway of this book here.
You can check out the ebook on Hoopla here.
You can check out the ebook here or the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
46. Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
Sisters Della and Suki have always stuck together, even when they had to live with their mom’s terrible boyfriend. Now he’s headed to jail but Suki’s still not okay. A tough and gripping story of abuse and hope. Call Number: J Bradl.K
You can check out the Playaway of this book here.
You can read the ebook here or the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
47. Fly On the Wall by Remy Lai.
Henry Khoo’s family treats him like a baby, so he does the only natural thing in response: he buys a ticket and hops a plane to Shanghai! A hilarious and clever adventure. Call Number: J Lai.R
You can check out the Playaway of this book here.
48. From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks.
Budding chef Zoe discovers a letter from her estranged birth father serving time in jail for murder. When he tells her he didn’t do it, Zoe will stop at nothing to prove his innocence. Call Number: J Marks.J
You can check out the Playaway of this book here.
You can check out the audiobook here.
You can check out the ebook here or the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
49. A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese.
If you could have only one wish, what would it be? When Samantha plays a game with a charming fox, she has a chance to make everything go back to the way it was. But should she? Call Number: J Reese.J
You can check out the ebook here on Overdrive.
50. Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen by Sarah Kapit.
Autistic Vivy can throw a mean knuckleball and wants to play on an all-boys’ little league team. Made up of emails between Vivy and a Major League pitching star, this engaging book is a home run. Call Number: J Kapit.S
51. The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf.
Suraya’s best friend has always been a ghost. He’s cruel and terrible and scary and he adores Suraya. So what happens when she decides the two can’t be together anymore? Call Number: J Hanna
52. Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker.
Ware loves the age of knights and chivalry. Jolene prefers the reality of plants and trees. A powerful look at friendship and the birth of a budding artist. Call Number: J Penny.S
Check out the Playaway of this book here.
Check out the ebook here or the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
53. Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon.
A simple game of Hide and Seek turns into a nightmare when a malevolent monster starts pulling kids into its terrifying world. You can run, but you cannot hide! Call Number: J Hermo.D
54. King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender.
In this visceral Louisiana-set novel, twelve-year-old Kingston experiences racism and homophobia while grieving the death of an older brother who may now be a dragonfly. Call Number: J Calle.K
Check out the Playaway of this book here.
Check out the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
55. Leaving Lymon by Lesa Cline-Ransome.
In the 1940s, Lymon loves music and his grandpops. However, after tragedy strikes, he must leave his home and travel into an uncertain future up North. Call Number: J Cline.L
56. The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson.
After Ailey botches his audition for The Wiz, his grandfather hands him magical shoes that once belonged to the legendary Bo Bojangles Robinson. Soon Ailey’s transported to 1939 Harlem where he meets his grandfather…as a boy with tapdance dreams! Call Number: J Hende.L
57. The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert.
California surfer Alberta is the only Black girl in her grade until goth Brooklynite Edie moves into the house next door. Can such different people become friends? Call Number: J Colbe.B
You can check out the Playaway of this book here.
You can check out the ebook here and the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
58. Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian, ill. Nasaya Mafaridik.
A Pakistani Muslim boy living in England faces big changes when he starts school in a new town. Fans of Wimpy Kid and Big Nate, meet the one and only Omar! Call Number: J Mian.Z
59. Second Dad Summer by Benjamin Klas, ill. Fian Arroyo.
Jeremiah spends the summer with his dad. The only problem: his father’s flamboyant new boyfriend embarrasses him. Will Jeremiah learn to accept the new dad in his life? Call Number: J Klas.B
Read the ebook here and the e-audiobook here on Hoopla.
60. Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare Le Zotte.
Set in 1805, this atmospheric novel introduces Mary Lambert, a proud Deaf girl who lives among other Deaf people on Martha’s Vineyard. Still mourning the death of her beloved older brother, Mary finds her world shaken up by the arrival of a troubling stranger. Call Number: J Lezot.A
You can check out the ebook here on Overdrive.
61. Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake, ill. Jon Klassen.
As far as Badger’s concerned, he’s happiest holed up in his brownstone doing “important rock work”. But that’s before Skunk arrives and turns his life upside down in this kooky, charming bedtime read. Call Number: J Timbe.A
You can check out the ebook here and the e-audiobook (which we HIGHLY recommend) here on Hoopla.
62. Stand Up, Yumi Chung by Jessica Kim.
Shy Yumi wants to be a stand-up comedian, but her parents do not see a future in telling jokes. When she sneaks a peek at a summer comedy camp, the instructor mistakes her for someone else…and Yumi goes along with it! Breezy fun. Call Number: J Kim.J
You can check out the ebook here and the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
63. The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas.
Cuban-American Army brat Nestor moves from town to town. The upside? He can talk to animals. Soon after he arrives in New Haven, Texas, he learns that he must solve a mystery involving missing pets, his abuela, and sinister forces in the woods. Call Number: J Cueva.A
You can listen to the e-audiobook here on Hoopla.
64. Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson, ill. Nina Mata.
After her family experiences some financial hardship, Ryan Hart has to move to a new house and face new challenges in Coretta Scott King Author winner Watson’s chipper series opener. Call Number: J Watso.R
You can read the ebook here on Overdrive.
65. Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom by Louis Sachar.
The wacky kids of Wayside School have all kinds of problems. So when a great big, nasty cloud of doom perches on top of their school, things go from weird to wild. Call Number: J Sacha.L
Check out the Playaway for this book here.
You can check out the audiobook here.
You can check out the ebook here and the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
You can check out the e-audiobook here on Hoopla.
66. What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado.
In this fast-paced realistic novel, Black sixth grader Stephen’s eyes become open to a world divided by race and force him to choose different lanes. Call Number: J Madlo.T
67. Wink by Rob Harrell.
It’s hard to blend in when you’re losing your hair, forced to wear a floppy cowboy hat, and get called “the cancer kid” behind your back. But when Ross Maloy becomes obsessed with learning the guitar, things go from awful to awesome. Call Number: J Harre.R
You can check out the ebook here and the e-audiobook here on Overdrive.
You can find the full 101 Great Books for Kids 2020 list here.