Once upon a Time in Junior High

A parent might reach for this book when their child is navigating the shift to middle school and facing new, complicated social pressures, especially around friendships. Once upon a Time in Junior High follows best friends Amber and Shelby, who are excited for their new school until they realize that some classmates, and new social cliques, object to their interracial friendship. The story directly addresses themes of friendship loyalty, peer pressure, identity, and the pain of social exclusion. Appropriate for ages 11 to 14, this book provides a powerful, relatable story that can help normalize these difficult experiences and open up important conversations about prejudice, resilience, and what it means to be a true friend.