Commemorate Juneteenth with these books that are selected specially for middle school students! These are great for any time of the year, or on June 19th! 

I’m organizing these by fiction/nonfiction but also by skinny books/chapter books. When I was Media Specialist, that’s how we differentiated between chapter books and smaller, thin books! I’m also including the Accelerated Reader level, so you can get an idea of the reading level. If you’re not familiar with AR levels, it’s typically the grade level as the first number and the month of that grade level as the number behind the decimal. For instance, 5.1 would be grade 5, month 1. However, you know your middle school students’ actual reading levels, so I’ve included a variety! Also, keep in mind that students typically have a harder time with nonfiction, so they may need a lower level than what they are successful in fiction. 

Click on the book cover to read more info!

Fiction “Skinny” Books

Freedom’s a-callin me: AR 5.5

In a universal story about the human need to be free, this collection of poems brings to life the treacherous journey of the travelers on the Underground Railroad.

All Different Now: AR 3.1

In 1865, members of a family start their day as slaves, working in a Texas cotton field, and end it celebrating their freedom on what came to be known as Juneteenth.

Nonfiction “Skinny” Books

Harlem Hellfighters: AR 5.9

The Harlem Hellfighters were members of the 369th, an all-black regiment during World War I. Their nickname was given by their German foes who admired their bravery. The 369th played key roles in critical battles that helped secure an Allied victory.

Shaking Things Up: AR 6.1

Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, this book introduces 14 revolutionary young women, with portraits by noteworthy female artists, to the next generation of activists, trailblazers, and rabble-rousers.

Juneteenth: AR 5.1

This book describes Juneteenth, including its history, traditions, and how it is celebrated around the country. 

Fiction Chapter Books

One Crazy Summer: AR 4.6

n 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland to spend a month with the mother they barely know, 11-year-old Delphine and her sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover their mother wants them to attend a Black Panther summer camp. Book #1

A Good Kind of Trouble: AR 4.5

Shayla is in junior high, and all the rules have changed. She's suddenly questioning who her best friends are, and some people at school are saying she's not black enough.

Come Juneteenth: AR 4.3

Fourteen-year-old Luli and her family face tragedy after failing to tell their slaves that President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation set them free.

Short Chapter Book

What is Juneteenth? AR 6.4

This addition to the "What Was?" series provides a thorough introduction to the past and the present of Juneteenth. Text contains racism and disturbing imagery.

Grab a free reading comprehension packet for this book below!

More great reads…