Favorite Neurodiverse Middle Grade Stories

There are a ton of wonderful middle grade books coming out that feature neurodiverse characters. In an effort to share more books with my 5th graders, I've been creating bookmarks that feature six books on a single theme. You can download a full page of bookmarks here.

You can see the whole set of bookmark posts here: Book Recommendation Bookmarks. If you want recommendations from my fifth graders themselves, check out #iLoveMG for individual books and Best Book Lists for their end-of-year favorites.

Favorite Neurodiverse Middle Grade Stories

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! by Sarah Kapit. This engaging baseball story is written as a series of letters between Vivy, an autistic 11-year-old, and her professional baseball player pen pal. This book is a great fit for kids who love sports, endearing characters, and a big dose of determination! 

Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn. (Student review by Marcus) This book is about a kid named Elliot who has ADHD and can’t concentrate on anything except cooking. When he gets his anger out by throwing baseballs at a window he has to face consequences! He has the money that he needs saved up but he wants to go to a cooking camp with that money! What will he do? When he gets a chance in school to sell stuff at a local marketplace he teams up with a unlikely friend to get enough money to pay his dad back and still be able to go to cooking camp.

BenBee and the Teacher Griefer by K. A. Holt. This novel-in-verse (and several other formats) features the point of view of four different students who are stuck in summer school. Their teacher helps them see their own strengths as they show her the benefits of video games! Perfect for all readers, as everyone can find a way to relate. 

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacey McAnulty. A lightning strike might have turned Lucy's brain into a super-genius at math, but it might not have prepared her for her greatest challenge... middle school! This is a highly entertaining book about embracing what makes us unique and celebrating friendship.

How to Make Friends with the Sea by Tanya Guererro. Moving to the Philippines has given Pablo even more things to fear, and his mother seems intent on adding to his list. But when his mother brings in Chiqui, an orphaned girl with a cleft lip, Pablo learns new ways to discover his courage.

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt [a Schneider Family Book Award Honor]. Selah has relied on her rules for being normal in order to mask her own feelings and true self. But when an outburst at school exposes more than she intended, she has to learn how to love all of herself and help her school to love all of themselves too. The novel-in-verse format makes this book particularly emotional and accessible.  

What other neurodiverse middle grade books would you include? Share in the comments below!

Looking for more middle grade? Check out #iLoveMG for all my 5th graders' book reviews or Best Book Lists for their end-of-year favorites.

Incredible Magic and Magic School Books for Middle Grade and Middle School

Looking for new book recommendations for the fantasy reader in your life? These are the top magic fantasy books and magic school books in my 5th grade classroom. 

Incredible Magic and Magic School Books for Middle Grade and Middle School

Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea. Hawaiian legends meet real life when you anger Pele, the fire goddess! Action-packed adventure and excitement. 

Nic Black and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas. Nic thought she knew what it meant to be Remarkable in an Unremarkable world, until a shocking series of revelations upend everything she thought she knew. Hilarious and suspenseful - and bonus baby hellhound. (Book two now available!) 

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije. Shad has never quite fit in, but he didn't realize it might be because his baba was an alchemist---and he's one too! But when he arrives at Alexander Academy, it is not the warm welcome he expected. Facing suspicion can Shad rescue his friends and prove his worth?

Lia Park and the Missing Jewel by Jenna Yoon. Lia Park thought she had overprotective parents. She didn't realize that sneaking out would trigger an ancient protection spell that *might* have been protecting her whole family and the world from evil. Friendship and courage meet Korean mythology in this action-packed series. (Book two also available!)

Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu. No one pays any attention to Marya until the sorcerers come to test her brother's magic skills. Then Marya finds herself shipped off to the faraway Dragomir Academy for other troublesome girls like herself. But they soon discover that more may be going on underneath the surface...

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. Amari does not believe her brother Quinton is truly gone. And when a ticking suitcase appears with a mysterious invitation, Amari thinks she's found her first clue. This action-packed series has tons of sibling and friendship drama plus supernatural characters and situations. (Book four arrives in February 2026!) 

The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton. Ella is the first Conjurer to attend the prestigious Arcanum Training Institute and adjusting is proving harder than she expected. When she is suspected of a treacherous crime, Ella must find a way to clear her name and rescue her teacher. (Book four drops in August 2026!) 

Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans by Isi Hendrix. (British cover shown above.) Adia is an orphan in a tough situation, so she jumps at the opportunity to attend the Academy of Shamans. But as she starts to discover where true evil lies, she will need all the skills and friends she can get!

Did I miss a favorite of yours? Share in the comments below!

[Update, May 2026] I've been turning my book recommendation series into bookmarks to make them more accessible for my 5th grade students. Download a full page of Magical School bookmarks here, or you can find the whole set of bookmark posts here.

Looking for more middle grade? Check out #iLoveMG for all my 5th graders' book reviews.