8 Recommended Middle Grade Reads for Black History Month

Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis
This Newbury honor book tells the story of eleven year old Elijah Buxton, who is the first child born free in a settlement of runaway slaves at the Canadian/American border. When a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, Elijah makes a dangerous journey to track down the thief.

Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters, by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Stephen Alcorn
This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of ten black women who lit the path to freedom for generations. From Harriet Tubman to Rosa Parks, the book celebrates essential figures in American history and explains the importance of speaking up for what you believe in the face of oppression.

The Hero Two Doors Down, by Sharon Robinson
Written by the daughter of legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, The Hero Two Doors Down tells the story of the Robinson family and their move into an all-Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. There are many important teaching moments in this fictionalized account of an unlikely friendship between a sports legend and the eight-year-old boy who lives next door.

One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia
When Delphine and her sisters visit their estranged mother in California, they’re expecting to take a trip to Disneyland. Instead, they’re sent to a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Together, the three sisters start to understand their place in their family and the country.

Twelve Rounds To Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali, by Charles R. Smith Jr. and Bryan Collier
This is an in depth look at the legendary boxer’s life, told through twelve rhyming poems. The bold artwork and rap-inspired verse tell the story of Ali’s life in the ring and his humanitarian work around the world.

I See the Rhythm, by Toyomi Igus and Michele Wood
A moving story of African American music, this book takes us on a rhythmic journey through history. From the roots of black music in Africa to modern hip hop, the book’s poetic text and stunning art explore the work songs on southern plantations, the jazz of New Orleans, and the swing music of Harlem.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis
In this novel set in 1963 during an emerging Civil Rights movement, ten-year-old Kenny Watson visits his grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. When Grandma’s church is blown up, Kenny’s family is thrust into one of the darkest periods in our history. Told with humor and heart, this richly drawn story is about family love and endurance.

The Logan Family series, by Mildred D. Taylor
In a series of eight books starting, chronologically, with The Land, Mildred D. Taylor explores her own family history through the Logan family, taking us from the aftermath of the Civil War to World War II. The Land tells the story of Paul-Edward, the biracial son of a prosperous white landowner and a former black slave who sets off to find land of his own. Other books in the series include the award-winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry which tells the story of Cassie Logan and the racial tensions in southern Mississippi during the Great Depression.
What books are your middle graders reading to celebrate Black History Month?