My Year in the Middle

By: Lila Quintero Weaver
BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
  • Home
  • 2022
    • A Wish in the Dark
    • All Thirteen
    • Before the Ever After
    • Caterpillar Summer
    • Dragon Hoops
    • Efren Divided
    • From the Desk of Zoe Washington
    • Gone to the Woods
    • Ground Zero
    • Hunger
    • I will always Write Back
    • Instant Karma
    • My Side of the Mountain
    • Never Caught
    • On the Horizon
    • Prairie Lotus
    • Puppet's Payback
    • Rescue
    • Show me a Sign
    • Song for a Whale
    • Spark
    • Strongheart
    • Three Keys
    • Trapped in Hitlers Web
    • Tristan Strong
    • Verify
    • War Stories
    • We Must not Forget
    • When Stars are Scattered
    • When you Trap a Tiger
    • Wild River
    • Wink
  • 2021
    • The 57 Bus
    • Above
    • All the Lovely Bad Ones
    • Allies
    • Because of the Rabbit
    • City of Ghosts
    • Clean Getaway
    • The Dark is Rising
    • Don't Tell the Nazis
    • A Drop of Hope
    • Echo Mountain
    • Endling the First
    • Finding Langston
    • The Fountains of Silence
    • Genesis Begins Again
    • Look Both Ways
    • Maybe He Just Likes You
    • Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus
    • My Year in the Middle
    • New Kid
    • The One and Only Bob
    • Other Words for Home
    • The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
    • A Single Shard
    • Stepsister
    • They Called Us Enemy
    • Thunder Head
    • The Traitor's Game
    • What'sHisFace
    • Where the Heart Is
    • Wildfire
    • Words on Fire
  • 2020
    • Grades 3-5 >
      • Amal Unbound
      • Among the Impostors
      • Blended
      • Endling the Last
      • Front Desk
      • The Girl in the Locked Room
      • Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
      • The Losers Club
      • Not if I Save you First
      • The Perfect Score
      • Ryan Quinn and the Lion's Claw
      • The Time of the Fireflies
    • Grades 3-8 >
      • Ban this Book
      • Breakout
      • Grenade
      • The Night Diary
      • Patina
      • SLOB
      • Stolen Girl
      • The Unteachables
    • Grades 6-8 >
      • Cameron Waldo
      • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
      • The Bridge Home
      • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
      • Internment
      • The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin
      • Monument 14
      • Never Say Die
      • Resistance
      • To Right the Wrongs
      • Shouting at the Rain
      • Warcross
      • Wind in the Willows
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • About
  • Contact
  • Rules
  • Books I've Read
    • Abby Helms
    • Abel Hoffman
    • Abigail Lashley
    • Adrian Sand
    • Adelyn Wells
    • Alex Klatt-terabelian
    • Allegra Johnson
    • Alyvia Rabe
    • Anna Hamilton
    • Anna Lind
    • Asher Gerlach
    • Asher Ham
    • Ashlyn Wendell
    • Ashton Brown
    • Augustus Haack
    • Bailey Dallmann
    • Baylee Kipp
    • Bailey Wilfahrt
    • Baylee Kipp
    • Beckett Ehrke
    • Braxton Mitchell
    • Briar Gunderson
    • Brigitte Basurto
    • Brittyn Frasier
    • Brody Dieghenbaugh
    • Brogan Pittz
    • Calin Light
    • Cameron Waldo
    • Camryn Jo Bunger
    • Carson Hamilton
    • Cash Schnuerle
    • Charlotte Nicholson
    • Chloe Henry
    • Cohen Wright
    • Colyns Mowry
    • Connor Edwards
    • Coralee Schurr
    • Corbyn Wright
    • Dakota Deterding
    • Dinah Sandman
    • Elin Patterson
    • Elsie Donley
    • Elsie Strand
    • Emily Lewis
    • Emma George
    • Emmett Nitchie
    • Evelyn Frerichs
    • Ford Mach
    • Gabriel Ayres
    • Gabriella Robinson
    • Gavin Kassing
    • Grayson Bray
    • Hadleigh Wasenius
    • Hailey Cepel
    • Ivy Nelson
    • Haisley McQuiston
    • Haley Downer
    • Hudson Schmidt
    • Ivy Nelson
    • Jackson Deaver
    • Jacob Jezbera
    • Jaelyn Bradley
    • Jaxton Stottler
    • Jayda Kincade
    • Jayden Glassmeyer
    • Jemma Just
    • Jerome Bieghler
    • John Wegner
    • Jonah Fegley
    • Juno Tischner
    • Kaden Russell
    • Kaden Schriner
    • KAIDEN KLEIN
    • Kaison Most
    • Kaitlyn Catanese
    • Kaiya
    • Kallie Wright
    • Kami Goedert
    • Kara Brockman
    • Karter Tilson
    • Katie Florell
    • Kenley Haussermann
    • Kinley Christensen
    • Kinley Hansen
    • Kyler Peterson
    • Kyper Vaughn
    • Kyler Schroeder
    • Kylie Koeppen
    • Kyper Vaughn
    • Kyrie Houghtelling
    • Kyson Bose
    • Laura Behrhorst
    • Lauren Quinn
    • Layla Popple
    • Leah DeWald
    • Leanna Ellingson
    • Lillian Helms
    • Logan Strolberg
    • Luke Lush
    • Lydia McGowen
    • Maddox Hartzog
    • Madi Trambly
    • Maggie Rawson
    • Mark Mahalek
    • Marley Hutchens
    • Marley Thorell
    • Mavrik
    • Mick Pfeil
    • Mikayla Kenton
    • Mistica Martin
    • Myley
    • Oliver Deibler
    • Palmer Loberg
    • Payton Adams
    • Peyton Soucie
    • Pierce Hytrek
    • Porter Wohlgemuth
    • Regina Pena
    • Rihanna Botello
    • Ruby Edwards
    • Rylan Lush
    • Santiago Carrasco Aguirre
    • Sofia Alvarez
    • Sutton Strong
    • Trinity Kappes
    • Truman Fennel
    • Whitney Wall
    • Will Nickerson
    • Wyatt Rice
    • Xavier Picotte
Picture
“A moving story about finding one’s center in the midst of overwhelming external pressure.” — Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Sixth-grader Lu Olivera just wants to keep her head down and get along with everyone in her class. The trouble is, Lu’s old friends have been changing lately — acting boy crazy and making snide remarks about Lu’s newfound talent for running track. Lu’s secret hope for a new friend is fellow runner Belinda Gresham. But in 1970 in Red Grove, Alabama, blacks and whites don’t mix. As segregationist ex-governor George Wallace ramps up his campaign against the current governor, Albert Brewer, growing tensions in the state — and in the classroom — mean that Lu can’t stay neutral about the racial divide at school. Will she find the gumption to stand up for what’s right and to choose friends who do the same?

​BL 4.6/7



COMMUNITY CHALLENGE:
In Chapter 25, Miss Garrett wants to give extra credit to the students to make up for their poor quiz grades. She suggests that anyone who attended George Wallace's Presidential rally could write a report about it for their project. Charles says, "That's discrimination." Why do you think Charles felt that way? Do you know much about George Wallace? You might get a good idea from the book - but you'll need to do more research for this project. Google George Wallace and see what you can find out. You can present your information as a poster, writing project, or picture. There aren't a lot of Americans today who are proud of the fact that George Wallace was running for president in 1972, or that he was Governor of Alabama before that. Share your opinion and what you learn.

​CHANCE:
Lu listens to a lot of music and it gives her things to think about in her community and world. One of those songs is STAND by Sly and the Family Stone. Watch the YouTube video with the lyrics by clicking on STAND and write about your opinion on why the song was so important to her. What do the words mean? Do you think there were a lot of songs similar to this one during the 1970's for African Americans by African Americans to help them deal with the prejudice that was going on during that time? You may also choose to create a poster describing the music as well as supporting their community.

Activity 3:
The author of My Year in the Middle is also an artist. Take a close look at the small illustrations that lead off each chapter. Which is your favorite? Why? How does the art enhance and extend the novel?
  • Home
  • 2022
    • A Wish in the Dark
    • All Thirteen
    • Before the Ever After
    • Caterpillar Summer
    • Dragon Hoops
    • Efren Divided
    • From the Desk of Zoe Washington
    • Gone to the Woods
    • Ground Zero
    • Hunger
    • I will always Write Back
    • Instant Karma
    • My Side of the Mountain
    • Never Caught
    • On the Horizon
    • Prairie Lotus
    • Puppet's Payback
    • Rescue
    • Show me a Sign
    • Song for a Whale
    • Spark
    • Strongheart
    • Three Keys
    • Trapped in Hitlers Web
    • Tristan Strong
    • Verify
    • War Stories
    • We Must not Forget
    • When Stars are Scattered
    • When you Trap a Tiger
    • Wild River
    • Wink
  • 2021
    • The 57 Bus
    • Above
    • All the Lovely Bad Ones
    • Allies
    • Because of the Rabbit
    • City of Ghosts
    • Clean Getaway
    • The Dark is Rising
    • Don't Tell the Nazis
    • A Drop of Hope
    • Echo Mountain
    • Endling the First
    • Finding Langston
    • The Fountains of Silence
    • Genesis Begins Again
    • Look Both Ways
    • Maybe He Just Likes You
    • Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus
    • My Year in the Middle
    • New Kid
    • The One and Only Bob
    • Other Words for Home
    • The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
    • A Single Shard
    • Stepsister
    • They Called Us Enemy
    • Thunder Head
    • The Traitor's Game
    • What'sHisFace
    • Where the Heart Is
    • Wildfire
    • Words on Fire
  • 2020
    • Grades 3-5 >
      • Amal Unbound
      • Among the Impostors
      • Blended
      • Endling the Last
      • Front Desk
      • The Girl in the Locked Room
      • Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
      • The Losers Club
      • Not if I Save you First
      • The Perfect Score
      • Ryan Quinn and the Lion's Claw
      • The Time of the Fireflies
    • Grades 3-8 >
      • Ban this Book
      • Breakout
      • Grenade
      • The Night Diary
      • Patina
      • SLOB
      • Stolen Girl
      • The Unteachables
    • Grades 6-8 >
      • Cameron Waldo
      • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
      • The Bridge Home
      • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
      • Internment
      • The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin
      • Monument 14
      • Never Say Die
      • Resistance
      • To Right the Wrongs
      • Shouting at the Rain
      • Warcross
      • Wind in the Willows
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • About
  • Contact
  • Rules
  • Books I've Read
    • Abby Helms
    • Abel Hoffman
    • Abigail Lashley
    • Adrian Sand
    • Adelyn Wells
    • Alex Klatt-terabelian
    • Allegra Johnson
    • Alyvia Rabe
    • Anna Hamilton
    • Anna Lind
    • Asher Gerlach
    • Asher Ham
    • Ashlyn Wendell
    • Ashton Brown
    • Augustus Haack
    • Bailey Dallmann
    • Baylee Kipp
    • Bailey Wilfahrt
    • Baylee Kipp
    • Beckett Ehrke
    • Braxton Mitchell
    • Briar Gunderson
    • Brigitte Basurto
    • Brittyn Frasier
    • Brody Dieghenbaugh
    • Brogan Pittz
    • Calin Light
    • Cameron Waldo
    • Camryn Jo Bunger
    • Carson Hamilton
    • Cash Schnuerle
    • Charlotte Nicholson
    • Chloe Henry
    • Cohen Wright
    • Colyns Mowry
    • Connor Edwards
    • Coralee Schurr
    • Corbyn Wright
    • Dakota Deterding
    • Dinah Sandman
    • Elin Patterson
    • Elsie Donley
    • Elsie Strand
    • Emily Lewis
    • Emma George
    • Emmett Nitchie
    • Evelyn Frerichs
    • Ford Mach
    • Gabriel Ayres
    • Gabriella Robinson
    • Gavin Kassing
    • Grayson Bray
    • Hadleigh Wasenius
    • Hailey Cepel
    • Ivy Nelson
    • Haisley McQuiston
    • Haley Downer
    • Hudson Schmidt
    • Ivy Nelson
    • Jackson Deaver
    • Jacob Jezbera
    • Jaelyn Bradley
    • Jaxton Stottler
    • Jayda Kincade
    • Jayden Glassmeyer
    • Jemma Just
    • Jerome Bieghler
    • John Wegner
    • Jonah Fegley
    • Juno Tischner
    • Kaden Russell
    • Kaden Schriner
    • KAIDEN KLEIN
    • Kaison Most
    • Kaitlyn Catanese
    • Kaiya
    • Kallie Wright
    • Kami Goedert
    • Kara Brockman
    • Karter Tilson
    • Katie Florell
    • Kenley Haussermann
    • Kinley Christensen
    • Kinley Hansen
    • Kyler Peterson
    • Kyper Vaughn
    • Kyler Schroeder
    • Kylie Koeppen
    • Kyper Vaughn
    • Kyrie Houghtelling
    • Kyson Bose
    • Laura Behrhorst
    • Lauren Quinn
    • Layla Popple
    • Leah DeWald
    • Leanna Ellingson
    • Lillian Helms
    • Logan Strolberg
    • Luke Lush
    • Lydia McGowen
    • Maddox Hartzog
    • Madi Trambly
    • Maggie Rawson
    • Mark Mahalek
    • Marley Hutchens
    • Marley Thorell
    • Mavrik
    • Mick Pfeil
    • Mikayla Kenton
    • Mistica Martin
    • Myley
    • Oliver Deibler
    • Palmer Loberg
    • Payton Adams
    • Peyton Soucie
    • Pierce Hytrek
    • Porter Wohlgemuth
    • Regina Pena
    • Rihanna Botello
    • Ruby Edwards
    • Rylan Lush
    • Santiago Carrasco Aguirre
    • Sofia Alvarez
    • Sutton Strong
    • Trinity Kappes
    • Truman Fennel
    • Whitney Wall
    • Will Nickerson
    • Wyatt Rice
    • Xavier Picotte