Middle grade is a term that refers to books written for readers between the ages of eight and twelve. In this column, Erica will recommend great books for children in this age group!

Bay Ann knows that she’s destined for stardom, but when fellow student Alyee Maq gets his fifteen minutes of fame off of her victory (and assumed helplessness due to her cerebral palsy), she’s determined to kickstart her stardom and outshine him, whatever the cost! But is her potential fame really worth what she’s willing to give up?

Bay Ann was a fantastically relatable protagonist; her choices, goals, and obstacles were as familiar as they were understandable. The interpersonal relationships between the characters and the plot were both well-crafted, and the expressiveness of the art really added an extra layer to this wonderful story.

Check out the book that Booklist Reviews praised as “a laugh-out-loud story…nicely complemented by a fun palette of brilliant pastel colors giving way to a cartoony yet very real neighborhood of families who co-parent, single parent, or are simply absent…Kids who refuse to dull their shine will find a familiar character in Bay Ann, who isn’t afraid to stand up for herself”; SLJ Reviews described as “a humorous middle school graphic novel featuring a strong-willed protagonist who won’t stand for anyone to define her solely by her disability” and Kirkus Reviews called a “bright, lively graphic novel [showing] how the exuberant Bay Ann navigates daily life with cerebral palsy, incorporating humor without being exploitative…comical, nuanced, and visually engaging.”