Blubber by Judy Blume (1974)

Judy Blume’s 1974 middle-grade novel Blubber focuses on the complex social dynamics of a fifth-grade class as they begin to mercilessly bully one of the girls among them. The story is told through first-person narrator Jill Brenner, as she joins in on the bullying and gets wrapped up in the drama that results from it, learning valuable lessons about people getting what they deserve and about the harm she’s helped to facilitate.

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Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (1993)

Freak the Mighty tells the story of two boys—a giant with learning disabilities and a genius with physical disabilities—who become friends, share adventures, and defend themselves against bullies and social rejection. The novel explores themes of bullying, friendship, and loss.

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Firegirl by Tony Abbott (2006)

In Firegirl, Abbott explores the growing empathy of a seventh-grade boy when he forms a friendship with a girl whose face has been disfigured by burn scars. Written for middle grade readers, Firegirl realistically conveys what effect an encounter with profound difference would have on adolescents. Addressing issues like bullying, social standing, and the nature of friendship, the novel paints a portrait of a middle school boy forever changed by a short-lived but meaningful connection.