Social issues in middle grade fiction
Social issues for middle graders take a lot of forms. Kids in 3rd through 8th grade are starting to consider that they are no longer the epicenter of the universe. They look more to their friends for recognition (much to their parents' and teachers' annoyance!) and start to develop an understand of some of the bigger issues around them. These two books are wonderful opportunities to help kids understand difference points of view through a variety of social issues. The first one is called "The Space Between Lost and Found" by Sandy Stark-Mcginnis. It's about Cassie, who is in middle school and lives with her mom and dad. Her mom has had to stop working and they employ a housekeeper who comes every day to help with her mom. Her mom has dementia and is forgetting a lot of things. Including, sometimes Cassie's name. Sometimes she seems perfectly normal and Cassie really wants to believe she's going to get better. But her mom's behavior...