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Five Faves: Books About Foster Care for Middle Readers

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Yesterday, I posted some books for younger kids who are in foster care. The thing is, it isn’t just younger kids who are in the foster system. Here are some middle-grade books that have kids who deal with all the hard things about foster care. Hopefully if readers read some of these books, they can see that they aren’t the only ones who have to live through all these hard things. Sometimes life is hard. And sometimes seeing yourself in a book—or at least seeing kids in similar situations in a book—can make all the difference. 

By Ivy Noelle Weir 
Illustrated by Myisha Haynes 
Little, Brown and Company, 2022. Graphic Novel. 244 pgs.

In this retelling of Anne of Green Gables, Anne comes from foster care to stay with Marilla and Matthew in West Philly. With a nod to all of the original Anne books, Weir and Haynes have put their own spin on some of the events (Minnie May falls off the climbing bars and hurts her ankle or Anne and Diana are in the robotics club at school). This graphic novel has all the feels and shows readers what a modern-day Anne might look like. 

By Ellen Hopkins 
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2020. Fiction. 405 pgs.

In this moving story, cousins Hannah and Cal have to figure out life now that Cal has moved in with Hannah’s family. Cal’s mother died and his father is in jail. Cal gets frustrated when Hannah doesn’t realize how easy and nice her life is (Cal is used to sleeping on the streets and not having much). However, Hannah feels like life has become upended when Cal moves in and she can’t understand why Cal can’t just calm down and be what she thinks is “normal” once he moves in. This story shows both sides as to how a kinship foster placement can change both the lives of the child and the family they move in with—for good and bad. 

By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 
Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2020. Fiction. 259 pgs.

Della and her sister have been put into foster care while their mom is in prison and their mom’s boyfriend (who had been taking care of them) gets arrested for something he did to Della. This is a bold story about a pair of sisters who had to endure unspeakable things (that are hinted at but not described in detail) and are sent to foster care where they have to pick up the pieces of their lives. This story sheds a light on some of the awful things that kids may have gone through before they get taken and placed in foster care. 

By Jamie Sumner 
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020. Fiction. 275 pgs.

Lou’s life is usually focused on doing all the things that her mother wants her to do—which often involves singing to make money. However, after an accident, Lou is sent to live in a kinship foster placement with her aunt and uncle. Lou’s family helps her realize more about herself and what she really wants to do with her life—and some of it includes just being a kid and not worrying about becoming the next singing sensation. The book also helps readers understand some things that certain foster kids may go through—such as hording food when they are used to not having much to eat. 

By Shawn Peters 
Harper, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2022. Fiction. 266 pgs.

Logan Foster has been in foster care for as long as he can remember. One day he gets placed with a couple who potentially want to adopt him—only things are a little strange. Logan soon realizes that the couple are really superheroes and they need Logan’s help in saving the world. This is a story that has adventure, intelligence (being a nerd can help save the day), and a healthy dose of emotions (being in foster care is no walk in the park). Logan is the type of kid that readers will want to get to know—and may even wish that future books about this super kid with superhero foster parents will soon be written. 

Bonus Nonfiction Title

By Zion Clark and James S. Hirsch 
Candlewick Press, 2021. Informational. 31 pgs.

This is a great autobiography about Zion Clark. It tells about how Zion was in the foster care system as a newborn and how he eventually was adopted by his mother. Then the story goes on to tell how Zion has accomplished so many things, such as, becoming a world-class athlete and doing things that many people thought were impossible for a man who doesn’t have any legs. This is an inspirational story.
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