Books for Middle School

by Carol Matas

Ruth Mendenberg risks her life to help lead a group of children on a daring journey over half a continent and across the sea to the Land of Israel, using secret routes and forged documents — and sheer force of will.

by Tammar Stein

Set in 1973, “Beni’s War” is the sequel to “The Six-Day Hero.” Twelve-year-old Beni must say goodbye to his older brother, Motti, who is now in the Israeli army.

by Arnon Z. Shorr
illustrated by Joshua M. Edelglass

A comic book short story set during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. It tells the true story of the author’s grandfather, Jacob Shorr, a teenager from Jerusalem who was wounded in the battle of Ramat Rachel.

by David Grossman

This translated-from-Hebrew mystery novel set in 1960s Israel tells the story of 12-year-old David and his friendship with elderly Mr. Rosenthal, who is challenged to a duel. David sets out to save his friend’s life and, in the process, learns about relationships set in the background of British-Mandate Palestine and pre-Holocaust Europe.

by Laszlo Hamori

Translated from its original Swedish, Journey to the Promised land follows Yemenite Shalom Mizrachi and his family as their Jewish village uproots itself in order to take the difficult journey to Aden where they will then take planes to fly them into Israel.

by Puah Shteiner

Puah Shteiner’s autobiographical book, Forever My Jerusalem, details the author’s memories as a young girl living in Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter.

by Jill Sherman

Learn about Israeli Gal Gadot and her life story of being born and raised in Israel, becoming a beauty pageant winner, entering the military, and eventually becoming a successful actress. Gadot serves as a positive role model for readers, especially young girls.

edited by Hadassa Ben Ari
illustrated by Tehila Bar-Hama

How do we share the stories of the October 7th massacre with children? This collection of 71 stories, crafted with the guidance of psychologists, focuses on courage, quick thinking, and self-sacrifice rather than on horror. Its clearly-narrated accounts, with their focus on the heroism of a wide range of Israelis, answer children’s questions with honesty and sensitivity, and will be useful to parents and teachers.

by Barbara Sofer

The author, Barbara Sofer, has written an engaging and informative short book that weaves the fictional story of four friends who represent the various backgrounds of many young Israelis who are about to join the army and the decision-making process for deciding which unit they will serve.

by Noa Nimrodi

Twelve-year-old Shai, struggling with moving from Israel to America, seeks a way back home through family visits and a drawing competition. Facing challenges in a new school and encountering antisemitism, she finds unexpected support.

by Lynne Reid Banks

A coming-of-age novel about a Jewish-Canadian girl named Lesley whose family decides to leave their comfortable life behind to make aliyah to a kibbutz right before the Six-Day War. The story discusses issues to which many readers growing up Jewish in the Diaspora can relate, including assimilation and intermarriage.

by Bat-Chen Shahak

The life of aspiring writer, 15-year-old Bat-Chen, was cut short when she was murdered in a suicide bombing in Tel-Aviv in 1996. Bat-Chen’s family and friends submitted letters, journal entries, pictures, and notes in order for readers to see the observations of this mature and eloquent Israeli teenager.

by Carol Matas

A sequel to Matas’ book, After the War, The Garden follows sixteen-year-old Holocaust survivor Ruth Mendolsohn as she settles into her new life working on a kibbutz in Palestine. Ruth and her fellow survivor friends who immigrated together to Israel have joined the Haganah and attempt to defend Jews from violence at the hands of local Arabs rioters and snipers.

by Sonia Levitin

The Return chronicles the life of the Jewish Ethiopians who are persecuted and discriminated against in Ethiopia. Fifteen-year-old Desta and her two siblings come to the difficult decision to embark on the dangerous journey to walk to Sudan where they hope to be rescued by Israelis and immigrate to the Promised land.

by Tammar Stein

12-year-old Motti lives in Jerusalem with his parents, younger brother, Beni, and older brother Gideon, who is serving in the Israeli army as the country faces war from neighboring Arab countries. Readers learn about the Six Day War from Moti, his family, friends and neighbors — including Holocaust survivors, native-born Israelis, and non-Jewish residents.

by Kathy Kacer

This poignant story is based on real events in pre-war Poland and Palestine. After saving seven hundred Jews and their families, Bronislaw Huberman went on to establish what later became the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

by Deborah Lakritz

Set in 1973, Melanie desperately wants to be accepted by the Shimmers, the popular girls in her class, but when she gets to know Dorit, the new girl from Israel, she must choose between popularity and true friendship.

by A. Shalom

As the UN votes to create a Jewish State, Aleppo explodes in a pogrom against its Jewish community. As the riot rages, young Ezra sets out to retrieve a midwife for his pregnant mother.