Books Featuring Back-to-School Kindness!
As a new school year begins, books can help children build empathy, welcome new friends, and create caring classroom communities. These stories encourage readers to notice others, celebrate differences, and discover how even small acts of kindness can make a big impact.
Featured Title
What if you had the chance to start over? After a fall leaves Chase Ambrose with no memory of his past, he returns to school unable to remember the person everyone else knows—a popular athlete who also happened to be a bully. As Chase pieces together his life, he must decide whether to become the person others expect or someone entirely new. This engaging novel sparks meaningful conversations about empathy, forgiveness, second chances, and the power each of us has to choose kindness.
Recommended ages: 10–14
More DGT Favorites
The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
When seventh-grader Hercules Beal is assigned to complete the legendary Twelve Labors of Hercules for school, he expects an impossible project. Instead, each challenge becomes an opportunity to serve others, build unexpected friendships, and discover his own strength.
Recommended ages: 10–14
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
Joe and Ravi couldn't seem more different. Joe has always struggled to fit in at school, while Ravi has just moved from India and is trying to navigate a new country, a new school, and unfamiliar classmates. Told from both boys' perspectives, this heartwarming novel explores friendship, empathy, and the importance of looking beyond first impressions.
Recommended ages: 8–12
Ten-year-old Mia Tang helps her parents manage the front desk of a motel while navigating the challenges of starting school, making friends, and standing up for what's right. As Mia balances family responsibilities with her dream of becoming a writer, she discovers the power of courage, compassion, and using her voice to help others.
Recommended ages: 9–13
As she enters middle school, Amina Khokar finds herself balancing friendships, family expectations, and her Pakistani-American identity while trying to find the confidence to let her voice be heard. When challenges arise both at school and in her community, Amina discovers the importance of empathy, courage, and embracing what makes each person unique.
Recommended ages: 8–12
Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
Starting middle school is challenging for anyone, but for Tally, an autistic girl, navigating new classmates, changing routines, and sensory overload can feel especially overwhelming. This novel offers readers a window into Tally's experiences while highlighting the importance of empathy, friendship, and creating spaces where everyone feels understood and included.
Recommended ages: 9–13
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
As sixth grade begins, Merci Suárez finds herself navigating changing friendships, new expectations, and the ups and downs of growing up while supporting her close-knit Cuban-American family. Through moments of misunderstanding, kindness, and self-discovery, Merci learns that empathy and compassion can strengthen relationships both at school and at home.
Recommended ages: 9–13
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Melody Brooks is a brilliant sixth grader with cerebral palsy who has never been able to speak, but that doesn't mean she has nothing to say. This unforgettable novel invites readers to look beyond disabilities, practice empathy, and recognize the unique gifts and potential in every person.
Recommended ages: 10–14
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The books below are captivating, plus they offer nuanced examples of mindfulness and gratitude in action.