Too Cool for Middle School: Extracurricular Pursuits!

Middle School is not just about boring classes—it’s about becoming who you are and enjoying all the fun extracurricular activities to choose from! As with all new experiences, it can be tricky to learn how to fit in at first, but these Middle Grade novels will be there for you along the way. The observant Talia of the school’s newly merged coed math team in Talia’s Codebook for Middle School by Marissa Moss learns to navigate the struggles of jealousy, leadership, stage fright, and the mysterious girl-boy codes of a middle school math team. May Li is also no stranger to competition, and Kyla Zhao’s May the Best Player Win follows May’s competition to beat her jealous supposed-to-be-friend Ralph in their school’s chess tournament and be chosen as team captain for nationals. For aspiring actress Maggie Pierson from Maggie’s Big Break by Jennifer Dickinson, doing theater doesn’t come easy when her classmates begin to tease her about her stutter, and she must find the courage to keep chasing her dreams. With Children’s librarian Yesica Hurd leading the way, follow your heart to this session about the ups and downs of middle school life beyond the classroom!