Best Middle Grade Fiction That Sneaks in Sex Ed

In this graphic novel, a group of high school sophomores stage a “menstruation revolution” in response to the lack of resources at their school. I read this one because I will never say no to an all ages graphic novel, and this one especially charmed me with its menstrual ed angle. For the longest time, it was actually the only fiction title in my sex ed database.

Oh, Cardboard Kingdom, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1. You are a graphic novel my child and I can easily enjoy together. 2. You handle heavy topics in a way that makes them accessible to younger readers. 3. The casual diversity of your characters is an absolute delight. There are tons of important lessons in these books (there are now three of them in the series), among them are those that subtly center around questions of gender and sexuality.

In this novel, the new girl at East Middle School decides to use her investigative podcasting skills to discover why a girl who was previously at the top of the social chain is now a complete outcast. The book contains themes of friendship and betrayal, but the really important lessons in this book circle around the issue of sexual harassment. It may seem like your kids are too young to worry about such things, but this is the time to be preparing them for the possibilities of this behavior in their lives.

What fascinates me about this book is that it takes the slipperiness of online cruelty and makes it tangible. In this novel, cell phones are banned at school. Presumably, this new policy should curtail the bullying that’s been happening via text message and on social media. But then students find a new way to communicate, smacking sticky notes onto their peers’ lockers with messages—benign and otherwise—that anyone can see. Have your kiddo read this for lessons on bullying and the dangers of social media.

I know. This one’s a graphic memoir. But the narrative form is still an anomaly for many sex ed books aimed at this age group, so I wanted to include it. A beautiful glimpse at those awkward middle school years, Santat recounts a school trip that has him traveling throughout Europe alongside all the same classmates who loved to bully him at home. But over the course of this trip, he comes to experience a lot of firsts…including first love.

In this novel-in-verse, 12-year-old Joylin’s world is rocked when, out of nowhere, it seems to be extra difficult to do what she always did before: namely, play hoops with the guys and joke around with her best guy friend. For one thing, her body seems to be changing, and her favorite outfits are suddenly ill-fitting. For another, her best guy friend and her best girl friend are always flirting. And then there’s the crush she has on this new guy. With themes around friendship, first crushes, and changing bodies, this is a perfect read for those kids just entering puberty.

Caroline has always been considered an unlucky outcast for reasons I won’t get into here. But then, a new girl comes to town, and things seem to be turning around. There’s a lot going on in this rich coming-of-age tale, but for the purposes of this list, I want to mention that Caroline begins to develop a crush on her new friend, which is an exploration of burgeoning sexuality and queerness that I’d love to see more of in middle grade literature.

In this verse novel (yessss…), Celi, the main protagonist, is dealing with a lot: Her changing body. Her first crush. Her best friend’s exploration of what it might mean to be genderfluid. All topics ripe for a book that’s sneaking in its sex ed. But at the center of this story is a ritual embraced by Celi’s community, in which those experiencing their first period have a moon ceremony. Celi wants nothing to do with it. But will she prevail?

Another novel in verse (will wonders never cease? I’ve been obsessed with this literary form since first reading Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X), this book centers around a middle schooler who is constantly fat-shamed by her peers. As a result, she tries to live her life by a number of unspoken rules, making herself shrink into a version of herself that the other kids might find more palatable. Unfortunately, her diet-happy mom isn’t much help. But thanks to having a support system of people who love her for who she is, she’s eventually able to embrace herself in all of her fabulousness. Bookmark this one for the lessons on bullying and body image.

Another graphic memoir, this book also features a kid struggling with their weight. Through this narrative, readers will learn lessons about body image, self-esteem, and friendship. There’s also a lot in this book about finding oneself and learning to be true to who you are, struggles that can be especially fraught during those middle school years.

A fellow Book Rioter recommended this one to me, and, as she said to me, the sex ed lessons aren’t exactly sneaky (lol). But the way they’re wrapped up in such a fun story makes me feel like this book is a perfect fit for this list. In this novel, middle schooler Eden gets into a fight with a fellow student who mocks her for the fact that her mom works for a company that creates period products. As punishment, she’s sent to volunteer at a food bank, where she learns about period poverty and is inspired to make a difference. Unfortunately, this work puts her at odds with her mom (capitalism!). Will it all work out in the end? I love that this book not only normalizes talk about menstruation but highlights a very real issue around access to period products. Brava!

In this novel, 12-year-old Liv wages battle against his school dress code when it requires him to wear a skirt…even though he knows he’s a boy. In this sweet story, readers get to follow a transgender main character through struggles with bullying, gender identity, and low self-esteem. Much like the previous book, this one also shows how kids, too, can engage in social justice and inspire empathy, acceptance, and positive change.

This book features a transgender protagonist, a middle schooler living openly as a girl for the first time in her life. Fellow trans readers have raved over the book’s authentic depictions of trauma, gender dysphoria, and the growing pains that come with this stage of life.

And finally, here’s the book that inspired the list. It’s about a group of middle schoolers fighting to get the restrooms stocked with period products. I was instantly charmed by the badass main protagonists and the book’s overall sense of humor. But as I made my way through the entire book, what I was really blown away by was how such a fun story managed to pack so much punch, imparting lessons not only about menstrual equity but also about friendship and the various ways there are to engage in activism.