Esperanza Ortega lives a beautiful, privileged life on her family’s bountiful ranch in Mexico. Her world is turned upside down on the eve of her thirteenth birthday when bandits ambush and kill her father. Though her father leaves the stunning family home to Esperanza and her mother, he wills the thousands of acres of profitable land the home is built upon to her greedy uncle, who tries to force Esperanza’s mother to marry him.

Not wanting to live under the heavy hand of the calculating uncle, Esperanza and her mother migrate to California during the Great Depression to start a new, much more humble life working as field hands.

Esperanza Rising guides young readers through a journey illustrating the many challenges faced by the hopeful families who migrate to the United States. It is a story of starting over, sticking by family, and finding community. Though my son and I read Esperanza Rising together, it would be a great choice for a middle grade independent read.

This moving story of hardship, friendship and resilience was a quick, engaging read for my seventh grader and me. Its 187 pages were so captivating that we had trouble putting the book down.

The Bridge Home tells the story of two runaway sisters, living in Chennai, India, who flee from a life destined to be filled with abuse from their father. Out on their own, they survive by finding odd jobs and eating what scraps they can find. When they settle for a night in an abandoned bridge, they meet two boys who become like family. Together they bravely navigate the streets, work together to make it through each day and find hope amidst the darkness.

This is an amazing book and both my son and I recommend it. Because of the nature of the story, there are some sad parts, but it is truly a great read.  

My seventh grader absolutely loved this book, and he’s not alone, as it is a New York Times bestseller.

This present-day story is set in a Pakastani village, where 12-year-old Amal lives with her family and studies diligently in hopes of becoming a teacher. Her dream is put on hold when her mother has another baby and she has to stay home from school to help out. 

During an outing to the market, an outspoken Amal has an unfortunate run-in with Jawad Sahib, a ruthless member of the ruling Kahn family. As punishment, she is forced to live as a servant in his estate and work off her family’s previously accumulated debit. 

Amal refuses to accept her position as her final fate and vows to become free again. Her unwavering courage and commitment to bringing justice to those who have controlled the destiny of her fellow villagers for years creates an inspirational story both my son and I highly recommend.