Award-Winning Intermediate Chapter Books
Disclaimer: The Nora Project no longer uses the term "#OwnVoices" to describe books where the author's lived experience is reflected in their work through its characters, events, themes, and more. To learn more about this decision and background, please reference the statement released by We Need Diverse Books here.
In this installment of our series highlighting the Schneider Family Book Award and Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award winners for 2022, we’re focusing on intermediate chapter books. Three of the four books within this post feature autistic characters, while the fourth involves a young boy with anxiety. These chapter books can be a terrific springboard to deepen conversations on topics relating to friendship, disability, and those difficult middle grade years with their attendant emotions and growing pains.
Colorful illustrated book cover with a brown bird with outstretched wings in the middle of the cover and children reaching out their arms towards the bird
Alison Green Myers has written a compelling novel entitled A Bird Will Soar (Schneider Family Middle Grade Winner) that brings into focus the thought processes of an autistic boy named Axel. We are drawn into his world of thinking as he navigates situations at home and at school, all within the framework of his passion for birds. The theme of spaces - inside spaces, outside spaces, shared spaces, private spaces - is woven into the very fabric of the story. His relationships with his family, friends, and neighbors provide fruitful ground for understanding how to be a good friend, what constitutes friendship, and the ways in which diverse people can form strong and caring bonds. Reading this book can be especially timely for those tweens navigating their way through what can often be a tumultuous time in their lives.
Book cover with blue background and a side profile silhouette of a girl with long wispy hair with a white firework in the middle of her hair.
A Kind of Spark (Schneider Family Middle Grade Honor), the first novel by Elle McNicoll, provides a snapshot into the life of Addie, a young autistic girl living in a small village in Scotland. This #OwnVoices book delves deeply into the challenges facing disabled people, touching on topics such as ableism and bullying. Readers are given the opportunity to see how Addie processes information, challenges mindsets, and achieves goals as she pushes back against those who are fearful and unaccepting of her differences. The support she receives from family members (including an older sister who is also autistic) and friends speaks to the importance of interdependence, not just for those with disabilities, but for everyone.
Illustrated book cover of a boy with brown skin standing wearing a red superhero cape, yellow tank top, black shorts, and a belt with the letter S on it.
Stuntboy, in the Meantime (Schneider Family Middle Grade Honor), written by Jason Reynolds, is a graphic novel that follows the exploits of Portico Reeves, a young boy with anxiety. The reader is introduced to Portico’s best friend, Zola Brawner, and his neighbor and bully named Herbert Singeltary. Vivid descriptions of Portico’s anxiety manifestations, which he terms “the Frets”, give the reader a window into the feelings of Portico, and how anxiety may feel to others dealing with intense emotions. He meets a variety of challenges, including being bullied and confronting his parents’ impending divorce, using his imagination to fight against the anxiety that threatens at times to overwhelm him. This book can spark discussions about the importance of empathy, friendship, and the fact that not all disabilities are apparent.
Book cover of a girl wearing a pink sweater reaching up towards a large blue earth illustration
In Planet Earth is Blue (Dolly Gray Award winner - Chapter Book) , author Nicole Panteleakos brings us into the life experiences of an autistic, non-speaking tween, Nova, framed within a story situated in 1986. The author states that she based some of Nova’s spectrum behaviors on herself, with additional characteristics that she deemed relevant to the story she was crafting. This beautifully written novel will allow for some deep discussions on making assumptions that can be harmful, and on bullying, while celebrating the persistence of Nova and her new foster parents as they work to make her abilities seen and supported.
To follow along with this series, check out our previous post that highlighted Award Winning Picture Books.
As always, Team TNP is asking for your input! Please continue to let us know what you think about the books we have chosen to highlight, and tag us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) with book recommendations for our ever-growing list of stories to read and discuss.
Never miss a post! Subscribe to the Nora Notes blog and get the latest delivered straight to your inbox weekly.