STORIES FOR KIDS (Middle School)

Starfish

By: Lisa Fipps
Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
Length: 3 hours 27 minutes

A Printz Honor winner!
 
Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this poignant debut novel-in-verse.

Cover may vary.
 
Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules—like "no making waves," "avoid... Read more

Mostly the Honest Truth

By: Jody J. Little
Narrated by: Lillie Ricciardi
Length: 5 hours

A pitch-perfect story exploring the many meanings of family, Jody J. Little’s tough yet tender debut is perfect for fans of Leslie Connor and Katherine Paterson. After Pop is sent back to rehab, Jane Pengilly arrives at her newest foster home determined to stick to the straight and narrow and get back to her beloved dad as soon as she can. It’s... Read more

The Swag Is in the Socks

By: Kelly J. Baptist
Narrated by: Nile Bullock
Length: 5 hours 40 minutes

Xavier Moon is stepping out of the shadows when his great-uncle gives him some outlandish socks and some even stranger requests. A story about heart, confidence, and standing on your own two feet that is perfect for fans of The Season of Styx Malone and The Parker Inheritance.

"An excellent read-alike to Jacqueline Woodson’s Harbor Me or Janae... Read more

The Bridge Home

By: Padma Venkatraman
Narrated by: Padma Venkatraman
Length: 4 hours 33 minutes

"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma shares with us an unflinching peek into the reality millions of homeless children live every day but also infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers and stay with them long after turning... Read more

Everything Sad is Untrue

(a true story)

By: Daniel Nayeri
Narrated by: Daniel Nayeri
Length: 7 hours 48 minutes

“A beautiful patchwork of a story. Astonishing in its complexity and heart. I listened to the audio through Libro.fm and loved hearing the author read his story, to hear his pronunciation and cadence. Brilliant! Cannot recommend enough. Read more

Tornado Brain

By: Cat Patrick
Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie
Length: 6 hours 35 minutes

In this heartfelt and powerfully affecting coming of age story, a neurodivergent 7th grader is determined to find her missing best friend before it's too late.

Things never seem to go as easily for thirteen-year-old Frankie as they do for her sister, Tess. Unlike Tess, Frankie is neurodivergent. In her case, that means she can't stand to be... Read more

The Samosa Rebellion

By: Shanthi Sekaran
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
Length: 9 hours 18 minutes

Critically acclaimed author Shanthi Sekaran makes her middle grade debut with this timely and stunning novel in which a young boy and his friends must rescue his grandmother from a relocation camp after their country’s descent into xenophobia. Perfect for fans of The Night Diary and Front Desk.Before his grandmother moved from India to the... Read more

The Boy at the Back of the Class

By: Onjali Q. Raúf
Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
Length: 5 hours 37 minutes

Told with humor and heart, The Boy at the Back of the Class offers a child's perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense.

There used to be an empty chair at the back of Mrs. Khan's classroom, but on the third Tuesday of the school year a new kid fills it:... Read more

The Science of Being Angry

By: Nicole Melleby
Narrated by: Jennifer Nittoso
Length: 5 hours 16 minutes

From the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, an unforgettable story about what makes a family, for fans of Hazel’s Theory of Evolution and Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World.
 
Eleven-year-old Joey is angry. All the time. And she doesn’t understand why. She has two loving moms, a supportive older half brother, and, as a triplet, she’s never... Read more

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

By: Jessica Kim
Narrated by: Greta Jung
Length: 6 hours 3 minutes

“Young readers will connect with the challenges of pursuing interests that your family may not be too thrilled about, and the lengths you'll go to for your dreams to come true! Read more

It’s the End of the World as I Know It

By: Matthew Landis
Narrated by: Matt Godfrey
Length: 5 hours 17 minutes

Derrick is sure that doomsday is coming, and he’s prepping to survive—whether his friends believe him or not—in this middle-grade novel for fans of Gary Schmidt, Gordon Korman, and Jack Gantos.Ever since his mother was killed in the line of duty in Iraq, Derrick has been absolutely certain that the apocalypse is coming. And he’s prepared: he’s... Read more

Turtles of the Midnight Moon

By: María José Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Elena Rey, Frankie Corzo & María José Fitzgerald
Length: 7 hours 41 minutes

When poachers threaten the island they love, two girls team up to save the turtles—and each other. An eco-mystery with an unforgettable friendship story at its heart from a fresh new voice in middle grade.

Twelve-year-old Barana lives in a coastal village in Honduras, where she spends every spare minute visiting the sea turtles that nest on the... Read more

Frankie & Bug

By: Gayle Forman
Narrated by: Stockard Channing
Length: 5 hours 21 minutes

“I loved Frankie & Bug! It is a middle grade fiction about a girl named Bug set in the summer of 1987. It is about family, friendship, as well learning about the world around her. All the characters are wonderful and I love the characters of Frankie and Bug especially. The diversity in the story is really great. The story is exciting and also... Read more

Indigo & Ida

By: Heather Murphy Capps
Narrated by: Channie Waites
Length: 6 hours 30 minutes

Eighth-grade aspiring journalist Indigo has a plan.
She’s determined to win back her two best friends, Abbie and Manning, who drifted away from her as they got more popular. So now Indigo is going to become popular too—by breaking an important news story that gets everyone’s attention.
Indigo’s reporting about an unfair school policy puts her in... Read more

Thanks a Lot, Universe

By: Chad Lucas
Narrated by: Ruffin Prentiss & Mark Sanderlin
Length: 7 hours 3 minutes

He went silent again, until he asked the question I knew was coming. Why are you doing this? I took a breath before I replied. Because you’re my friend.
Brian has always been anxious, whether at home or in class or on the basketball court. His dad tries to get him to stand up for himself, and his mom helps as much as she can, but after he and his... Read more

Pet

By: Akwaeke Emezi
Narrated by: Christopher Myers
Length: 5 hours 32 minutes

National Book Award Finalist

Stonewall Book Award Winner

"[A] beautiful, genre-expanding debut...Pet is a nesting doll of creative possibilities." (The New York Times)

The award-winning, genre-defying novel by the New York Times best-selling author of The Death of Vivek Oji that explores themes of identity and justice and asks: How do you share the... Read more

Marcus Makes It Big

Marcus

By: Kevin Hart
Narrated by: Dion Graham & Kevin Hart
Length: 3 hours 41 minutes

From celebrity author Kevin Hart comes the laugh-out-loud sequel to Marcus Makes a Movie about a young boy who has big Hollywood dreams--and the hustle to make it happen.

"Everybody, grab a ticket and run for a front row seat to Marcus Makes a Movie!" —Judd Winick, New York Times bestselling author of the Hilo series
 
Marcus’s movie, Toothpick vs.... Read more

Marcus Makes a Movie

By: Kevin Hart
Narrated by: Kevin Hart
Length: 3 hours 8 minutes

“This book is a must-listen to because it is read by Kevin Hart. I just cant imagine it being the same reading it. It is a wonderful way to learn about writing and although it is about writing a screen play I think aspiring authors can learn from the importance of revision revision revision and listening to other people opinion about your... Read more

Ellen Outside the Lines

By: A. J. Sass
Narrated by: Emma Galvin
Length: 6 hours 48 minutes

Rain Reign meets Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World in this heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old navigating changing friendships, a school trip, and expanding horizons.

Thirteen-year-old Ellen Katz feels most comfortable when her life is well planned out and people fit neatly into her predefined categories. She attends temple... Read more

Hello, Universe

By: Erin Entrada Kelly
Narrated by: Ramon de Ocampo & Amielynn Abellera
Length: 5 hours 17 minutes

Winner of the Newbery Medal“A charming, intriguingly plotted novel.” —Washington PostAcclaimed and award-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly’s Hello, Universe is a funny and poignant neighborhood story about unexpected friendships.Told from four intertwining points of view—two boys and two girls—the novel celebrates bravery, being different, and... Read more