21 must-read middle grade books like We Still Belong by Christine Day

Cover of We Still Belong by Christine  Day

We Still Belong

By: Christine Day

4.16

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover

A thoughtful and heartfelt middle grade novel by American Indian Youth Literature Honor–winning aut…

If you liked the middle grade plot in We Still Belong by Christine Day , here is a list of 21 books like this:

Cover of The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas  Day

1. The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

By: Nicholas Day

4.15

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover

A propulsive work of narrative nonfiction about how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, how t… read more

Similar categories in Nicholas Day's The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • audiobook
"Leonard da Vinci had painted the Mona Lisa. But Vincenzo Perugia had turned it into The Mona Lisa."

-Nicholas Day, The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

"The Lourve, he concluded, with an insult designed to puncture French pride, "is less well protected than a Spanish museum."

-Nicholas Day, The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

"If the Mona Lisa is the most famous face in art history, Les Demoiselles is a hatchet thrown at it. It's not a pretty painting. Its brutal and uncomfortable."

-Nicholas Day, The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

"Word of his midnight activities gets out. 'The pope has found out that I have skinned three corpses,' Leonardo writes in his notebook. He gets off easy. He's simply told: please stop skinning corpses."

-Nicholas Day, The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

Cover of Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango

2. Something Like Home

By: Andrea Beatriz Arango

4.31

Format: 256 pages, Library Binding

A novel in verse in which a lost dog helps a lonely girl find a way home to her family . . . only f… read more

Similar categories in Andrea Beatriz Arango's Something Like Home book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of Mascot by Charles Waters

3. Mascot

By: Charles Waters

4.02

Format: 255 pages, Kindle Edition

What if a school's mascot is seen as racist, but not by everyone? In this compelling middle-grade n… read more

Similar categories in Charles Waters's Mascot book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • indigenous
  • fiction
  • contemporary
Cover of Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson

4. Remember Us

By: Jacqueline Woodson

4.27

Format: 192 pages, Hardcover

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson brings readers a powerful story that delves deeply in… read more

Similar categories in Jacqueline Woodson's Remember Us book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of Good Different by Meg Eden  Kuyatt

5. Good Different

By: Meg Eden Kuyatt

4.52

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover

A extraordinary novel-in-verse about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate he… read more

Similar categories in Meg Eden Kuyatt's Good Different book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
"Fight for words, even if it's hard."

-Meg Eden Kuyatt, Good Different

"You may have different needs than some folks in your class, but that doesn't make you the ­«wrong» version and other people the «normal» version. You are Selah. And you are not the only one feeling t…"

-Meg Eden Kuyatt, Good Different

Cover of Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín

6. Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir

By: Pedro Martín

4.27

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

A poignant, hilarious, and unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican-American boy’s family and t… read more

Similar categories in Pedro Martín's Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • family
"It was like the driveway at Disneyland but with way more automatic weapons."

-Pedro Martín, Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir

"I like to say that my stories are 100% true 90% of the time. My memory and my heart like to play tricks on each other. The results are what makes my stories."

-Pedro Martín, Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir

Cover of Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

7. Simon Sort of Says

By: Erin Bow

4.31

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a ho… read more

Similar categories in Erin Bow's Simon Sort of Says book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • audiobook
"Dad picks Denver [to get his rabies shots], and he's totally fine, but he's going to be away for three days. "Just like Jesus," Mom says. I can hear the phone say, "Isobel!"

-Erin Bow, Simon Sort of Says

"In the tabernacle did the [squirrel]--" "Eat the Host?" says Dad. "Yes he did." "And was it--" "Consecrated?" says Dad. "Yes it was." ... "What, uh, happened to the squirrel?" "That squirrel is now 3…"

-Erin Bow, Simon Sort of Says

"The dog- Todd?- looks up from its leaking beer, puffs a sigh, then crosses the room to head-butt the fridge door closed. "Ummm" I manage "Did you see he got a--" "It's okay," she says. "He only has o…"

-Erin Bow, Simon Sort of Says

Cover of The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt

8. The Labors of Hercules Beal

By: Gary D. Schmidt

4.53

Format: 352 pages, Hardcover

From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday… read more

Similar categories in Gary D. Schmidt's The Labors of Hercules Beal book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • audiobook
"And when Achilles went inside the Vampire said to me, "You all right?" I nodded. "I'm okay." "Okay is good enough for now," she said."

-Gary D. Schmidt, The Labors of Hercules Beal

"Most people don't think we even look like brothers," I said. "You do when you're asleep," she said. "Your face relaxes, and you stop worrying, and all that grit you two carry around falls away, and y…"

-Gary D. Schmidt, The Labors of Hercules Beal

Cover of The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

9. The Night War

By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

4.04

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover

From the two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The War That Saved My Life and Fighting Words com… read more

Similar categories in Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The Night War book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps

10. And Then, Boom!

By: Lisa Fipps

4.69

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover

A gripping new novel-in-verse by the author of the Printz Honor-winning Starfish , featuring a pove… read more

Similar categories in Lisa Fipps's And Then, Boom! book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • audiobook
"Friendship is being there to notice someone's about to fall, to try to keep them from falling, to catch them when they fall or to cushion the blow when they do, to feel what they're feeling, and to u…"

-Lisa Fipps, And Then, Boom!

Cover of Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera

11. Barely Floating

By: Lilliam Rivera

3.94

Format: 240 pages, Hardcover

A dazzling story full of heart about how one twelve-year-old channels her rage into synchronized sw… read more

Similar categories in Lilliam Rivera's Barely Floating book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • audiobook
Cover of Eagle Drums by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

12. Eagle Drums

By: Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

4.05

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover

A magical realistic middle grade debut about the origin story of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a Nat… read more

Similar categories in Nasugraq Rainey Hopson's Eagle Drums book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • indigenous
  • fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

13. The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn

By: Sally J. Pla

4.57

Format: 336 pages, Hardcover

Neurodivergent Maudie is ready to spend an amazing summer with her dad, but will she find the coura… read more

Similar categories in Sally J. Pla's The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • audiobook
Cover of Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen

14. Two Tribes

By: Emily Bowen Cohen

3.87

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover

In her poignant debut graphic novel inspired by her own life, Emily Bowen Cohen embraces the comple… read more

Similar categories in Emily Bowen Cohen's Two Tribes book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • indigenous
  • family
  • fiction
Cover of Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz

15. Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II

By: Adam Gidwitz

4.17

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

Max Bretzfeld doesn’t want to move to London. Leaving home is hard and Max is alone for the firs… read more

Similar categories in Adam Gidwitz's Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of Aniana del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez

16. Aniana del Mar Jumps In

By: Jasminne Mendez

4.07

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover

A novel-in-verse by about a 12-year-old Dominican American swimmer who is diagnosed with Juvenile A… read more

Similar categories in Jasminne Mendez's Aniana del Mar Jumps In book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of We Still Belong by Christine  Day

17. We Still Belong

By: Christine Day

4.16

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover

A thoughtful and heartfelt middle grade novel by American Indian Youth Literature Honor–winning aut… read more

Similar categories in Christine Day's We Still Belong book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • romance
  • childrens
  • school
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • indigenous
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • audiobook
Cover of Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist

18. Eb & Flow

By: Kelly J. Baptist

3.95

Format: 224 pages, Hardcover

A ten-day suspension has tweens De'Kari and Ebony seeing the world with a fresh perspective. Don't … read more

Similar categories in Kelly J. Baptist's Eb & Flow book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • school
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • audiobook
Cover of Ruby Lost and Found by Christina  Li

19. Ruby Lost and Found

By: Christina Li

4.27

Format: 304 pages, Hardcover

It’s the summer after seventh grade, and Ruby Chu is feeling more lost than ever. Her best frien… read more

Similar categories in Christina Li's Ruby Lost and Found book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • audiobook
Cover of The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi

20. The Partition Project

By: Saadia Faruqi

4.23

Format: 416 pages, Hardcover

In this engaging and moving middle grade novel, Saadia Faruqi writes about a contemporary Pakistani… read more

Similar categories in Saadia Faruqi's The Partition Project book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • contemporary
Cover of The Puttermans Are in the House by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman

21. The Puttermans Are in the House

By: Jacquetta Nammar Feldman

3.91

Format: 368 pages, Hardcover

A heartfelt and hopeful middle grade novel from Jacquetta Nammar Feldman, author of the Junior Libr… read more

Similar categories in Jacquetta Nammar Feldman's The Puttermans Are in the House book and Christine Day's We Still Belong

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • family

17 must-read fiction books like We Still Belong by Christine Day

Transform Your Habits

Something Like Home

Andrea Beatriz Arango

4.31

Transform Your Habits

Mascot

Charles Waters

4.02

Transform Your Habits

Remember Us

Jacqueline Woodson

4.27

Transform Your Habits

Good Different

Meg Eden Kuyatt

4.52

View all the books

15 best-selling childrens books like Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín

Transform Your Habits

The Eyes and the Impossible

Dave Eggers

4.25

Transform Your Habits

Ferris

Kate DiCamillo

4.30

Transform Your Habits

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

Nicholas Day

4.15

Transform Your Habits

The Lost Year

Katherine Marsh

4.50

View all the books

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