Explore New Worlds: Top Climate Fiction Picks For Middle School Kids
Are you looking for an exciting new way to help middle school kids explore climate change and environmental issues? Check out our list of the best cli fi books designed specifically for young readers!
Middle Grade Books Environment + Climate Change Cli-Fi Picks
Not too long ago, a good friend of mine asked me a question.
“Did you know that The Ice House is a clif-fi book?”
The funny thing was, I’d only heard about Cli-Fi a few weeks earlier.
Climate fiction, or cli-fi, is a genre of literature that explores the effects of climate change on our planet and society.
So yes, I retroactively learned that my debut middle grade book, The Ice House, is not just magical realism, it’s also Cli-Fi. As I’ve learned more about climate fiction, it’s been fascinating to see the connections between middle grade books and climate fiction, especially when it comes to themes.
What are middle grade book themes?
Typical middle grade books have themes that lend themselves well to climate fiction. If you think about some of the most popular middle grade books of the moment, you notice a pattern in terms of themes: friendship, change, grief and loss, family, and community.
When I was writing The Ice House, its themes were ones I felt were really important for middle school young readers: change, grief, community, hope.
These themes lend themselves well to the message I’d want to impart on young readers when it comes to climate change, the environment, and activism. In a world where it’s reported that so many kids face anxiety over climate change, I am proud that The Ice House serves a message of hope toward readers grappling with the impact climate change may have on their world.
Middle Grade books, Climate Change, and Activism
Middle grade books about environmental issues allows readers to explore the potential effects of climate change on the world around them through stories. Cli-Fi offers middle schoolers an understanding of what is at stake when it comes to climate change - but more importantly, it gives them hope for a better tomorrow if we act today.
Climate Fiction offers a range of advantages for middle schoolers, giving them an entertaining way to learn about the consequences of climate change and relate to protagonists in these stories. It can provide kids with an opportunity to become knowledgeable about environmental matters, sharpen their problem solving abilities, practice empathy, stimulate creativity and imagination, and comprehend the significance of taking action on climate issues.
Middle grade books about the environment provide readers with new perspectives on the world around them, showing them how their actions can have an impact and why it’s so important to take action now. Cli-fi books give young readers a chance to cultivate empathy by connecting with characters who are dealing with adverse effects due to global warming or other factors outside of their control. Through this they can gain a greater capacity for compassion towards others as they explore climate change through a different lens. Cli-Fi books encourage imagination and inventiveness among readers; vivid descriptions of futuristic worlds inspire readers to conceive innovative ideas for our future world—something that will be beneficial when it comes time for students to come up with projects or essays at higher levels of education.
Why do Climate Change Focused Cli-Fi Middle Grade Books matter?
While middle grade nonfiction books about the environment can be a great choice when looking for ways to better teach and help kids understand scientific research around climate change, Cli-Fi offers exciting stories that involve environmental issues in a relatable way, often through action-packed survival stories featuring elementary school kids. In addition to learning about the potential impacts of climate change, Cli-Fi books offer relatable protagonists who are dealing with similar issues as readers themselves: making new friends, dealing with the anxiety that comes with being the new kid starting at a new school, or fighting with a best friend. This allows young people not only to understand the topics discussed but also to see themselves in these characters - which can make all the difference when trying grasp complex concepts such as global warming or rising sea levels.
The plots within Cli-Fi books span a wide range, from dystopian tales set in post-apocalyptic landscapes, to cautionary tales about the dangers of ignoring science and technology, and even humorous stories about adapting to new realities due to climate change. Through engaging narratives that focus on current environmental concerns, Cli-Fi books can help young people increase their understanding of climate change. They also have potential to hone problem-solving skills as readers encounter difficult predicaments in dystopian futures which characters must work around. This can benefit students far beyond middle school years when they need to develop solutions or complete projects down the line.
When we think about using Cli-Fi books to talk to kids about climate change, there are some clear connections we can make for young readers and how they can take action.
We want to empower tweens through middle grade books. Middle grade books about the environment, Cli Fi or not, can be a helpful tool to approach topics like global warming and climate change. Her are some ideas to get you thinking:
One way to do this is to use cli fi books to discuss steps young readers can take in their own home and daily lives in terms of sustainability and recycling.
Another could be to tie a cli-fi book to a science lesson, discussing endangered animals and reflecting on how extinction of animals in the past has impacted the environment.
Assigning a writing reflection for students to note the impact that the natural world around them has on their daily lives.
This works pretty much anywhere — I live in Brooklyn and certainly encounter the natural world on a daily basis. This prompt can help kids in cities to pay special attention to the way nature plays into their neighborhoods.
Cli-Fi helps middle schoolers understand the importance of taking proactive steps towards protecting our environment from climate change; characters often demonstrate how one person’s actions have tremendous power when it comes to making positive changes in our world—from reducing waste consumption, using the recycling bin, or transitioning toward renewable energy sources like solar power or wind energy.
It’s April, so in honor of Earth Day, today I’m going to share a bit about writing climate fiction, why middle grade books about environmental issues are so important, and share several other cli fi books for younger readers that I’ve explored since joining the cli fi author club!
Climate Fiction, The Environment, and Activism
3 of the Best Cli-Fi Middle Grade Books To Read Right Now
The Ice House by Monica Sherwood (Yes, me!)
The Ice House is set during an unexplained climate event: an unending, world wide snow storm.
As a result, our protagonist, sixth grade Louisa, has had her life turned upside down. This climate change fueled event is the catalyst at the core of the book. Louisa is a middle schooler experiencing grief for the first time. She’s also dealing with the anxiety of shifting middle school friendships, and being stuck in her apartment with her annoying little brother underfoot.
Louisa strives to change her situation despite the overwhelming unknowns she is facing. She decides to fight against the hopelessness that comes with environmental disaster and grief stricken parents. In searching for a sanctuary to escape the overwhelming reality of the world, she reconnects with her former friend and current neighbor, Luke.
In imagining an alternate reality where weather makes life as we know it impossible, The Ice House explores the impact that our climate has on our daily lives.
It asks the question: what if everyone across the globe suddenly had to face the impact of climate change?
My hope is that Louisa’s decision to resist accepting the dismal projections of Earth’s future is one that that will inspire middle grade readers (and the adults that read with them) to take action.It explores how with persistence, determination, and hope, kids are capable of creating change — something I believe, and something I hope readers will take to heart as well.
Ultimately, I view it as a story of hope. Louisa and Luke connect through their shared mission to forge their own reality — one where the future they see can be shaped by those who believe that Earth is worth fighting for.
The Infinite by Patience Agbabi
Make it stand out
Elle is a Leapling – she can time travel. She leaps to the Time Squad Centre in 2048 and is immersed in a world where everyone is actively working to combat climate change. Or are they? Leaplings keep going missing and everything is not as it seems…
The Infinite is a fun and entertaining read, jam-packed with adventure. It will give readers pause for thought on environmental and climate issues and what the future could look like.
Make it stand out
Front Country by Sara St. Antoine
The world is not okay. Now what?
Ginny Shepard is glad to be in Montana for a month of backcountry camping before she starts high school. The world is on fire. That’s the awful truth. And Ginny would much rather be hiking in the mountains than doing the summer college prep classes her parents think will help her future. Because, the future? Who even knows what that is anymore.
Set in Montana’s sweeping alpine wilderness, this epic adventure captures the tremendous heartbreak of realizing the world isn’t okay at all and shows how that knowledge, and what we choose to do with it, shapes us into who we are.
Buy Now
Earth Day Ideas for Middle Schoolers this April
Climate Fiction + Environmental Resources
Whether you are looking for Earth Day ideas for middle schoolers in your classroom or you’re in search of some resources to explore environmentalism with your middle schooler, I’ve compiled some additional resources here:
I hope that this blog post has given you an insight into how Cli-Fi books can serve as a powerful for middle schoolers to learn about the implications of climate change and take meaningful action.
Navigating Tough School Years with SEL: How Middle Grade Books Empower Kids to Thrive and Belong
Why are Teachers in Search of Social Emotional Learning Activities for Middle School
In recent years, there’s been a growing emphasis on the importance of SEL in education. As a former teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how integrating SEL into your classroom and into your interactions with your students can positively impact your relationships and your overall classroom environment. You can model these really important skills in a way that students might not see from other adults in their lives.
In my opinion, social emotional learning lessons in middle school can present a specific challenge. Middle schoolers want to be treated like adults, and if they feel lectured through sel lessons for middle school students, you lose buy in. So naturally, many of us are looking for social emotional learning activities for middle school that are easy to integrate cross curricularly and that will truly engage kids instead of leaving them feeling talked down to or lectured. That’s where middle grade books come in!
What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Really?
The term gets thrown around a lot these days, so let’s go to the experts. The Committee for Children defines SEL as the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Wow, that’s a lot! At its core, when we are integrating SEL into our interactions with our students or our children, we’re focusing on the development of the whole child. Not just their academic skills, but those critical emotional, intelligence and interpersonal skills.
The five key components of SEL
CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning defines the five key components as of SEL as:
Self Awareness: Recognizing one’s emotions, values, strengths, and limitations.
Self Management: Managing emotions and behaviors to achieve goals and maintain a positive mindset.
Social Awareness: Understanding the perspectives of others and demonstrating empathy.
Relationship Skills: Establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, and effectively communicating with others.
Responsible Decision-Making: Making constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions.
These are all skills that we continue to work on as adults, so when you think about it, why not really start to build that foundation for kids in the classroom from early on? Now, in a world where we are being prompted by school admin and others to craft social emotional learning activities for middle school students, teachers have a new challenge. Creating your own sel lessons for middle school or discovering a social emotional learning curriculum middle school students will take seriously.
Benefits of implementing Middle School Social Emotional Learning Lessons into the Classroom
So research shows that incorporating SEL into the classroom has numerous benefits for students as well as teachers and the overall learning environment you build. Some of these benefits include:
Improved academic performance: Studies have found that students who participate in SEL programs show significant improvement in their academic performance, as well as increased motivation to learn.
Enhanced mental health: SEL programs have been linked to reduced levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among students.
Improved behavior: Students who are taught SEL skills tend to exhibit fewer behavioral problems and have lower rates of suspension and expulsion.
Better relationships: Students who participate in SEL programs develop stronger relationships with their peers and teachers, leading to a more positive and inclusive classroom environment.
And in an ideal world, there would be plenty of time for you to dedicate to SEL in your classroom.
But in the real world, teachers have more expectations placed on them than ever, and less time to live up to those expectations. Maybe you are one of the lucky few teachers that work in a school that has a dedicated SEL curriculum. Even then, though, ELA is a place to put those SEL competencies into practice, and to provide students with opportunities to understand these skills in a different context.
Middle School Social Emotional Learning and Middle Grade Books
Middle grade books are really optimized for cultivating social emotional learning activities and lessons. As someone who loved teaching writing and literacy and then went on to write a book for kids, this is my wheelhouse.
I get really excited about this idea because books provide an opportunity for you to support SEL skill development without middle schoolers feeling like they are being patronized on how to be a human being. With middle grade books you’re able to explore themes, explore situations and conflicts that resonate with young readers and create natural buy in.
When reading middle grade books, students engage with stories that reflect their own experiences, emotions, and challenges. When they are reading books about experiences different from their own, they can gain valuable insights and develop empathy for others.
Popular middle grade books that promote SEL
I think the majority of middle grade books actually provide great opportunities to foster SEL skill development.
This realization really hit me when I was editing my middle grade novel, The Ice House. While building a connection to sixth graders Louisa and Luke, neighbors trapped inside for months due to an inexplicable climate disaster, readers will explore self awareness, empathy, and resilience. They can also begin to process some of the universal trauma they experienced during COVID.
I have actually heard really positive feedback from adult readers of The Ice House as well, who have expressed the ways the book helped them begin to acknowledge the trauma they experienced during COVID and how it helped them start conversations with others about the way COVID changed them.
I wrote an for Nerdy Book Club you can read here that discusses how editing The Ice House during the height of COVID in Spring 2020 impacted the overall trajectory of the book, and helped me develop new hopes for it’s message.
Some of my other favorite middle grade books that can be used to incorporate SEL into ELA lessons are:
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
As you can see, when we integrate books into middle school social emotional learning activities, we can empower children to thrive during their tough school years and beyond! The ideas I’ve shared here have led to some really positive feedback from middle school ELA teachers.
I also invite you to grab the FREE guide I created with questions and prompts you can use with any middle grade book to engage your students in social emotional conversations here.
I hope you try them out with your own kiddos. Comment below with any questions!
Unleash Your Inner Wordsmith: Insider Secrets to Magnify Your Creative Writing Prowess
Struggling with your writing? Here are five essential tips and advice to help aspiring writers unlock their true potential, from a middle grade writer. Upgrade your skills and build confidence in this craft!
Do you ever find yourself daydreaming about a movie, a tv show, or a book when your mind wanders? During a class, a meeting, or a particularly dull conversation, are you ever distracted by ideas and stories of characters you can’t get out of your head?
When I was bored at school, I spent countless hours zoning out on imagined worlds when I needed an escape. While procrastinating some task I dreaded getting started, I would write short stories, sketch character illustrations, or rewatch a favorite scene of a tv show to analyze character direction or dialogue.
Looking back, I can see that writing was always a part of my life, even if I didn’t believe I’d ever be a “real” author. It wasn’t untiI I began to acknowledge that my passions for reading, writing, tv analysis, etc. were unique that my perspective started to shift. With that, my behavior toward writing changed as well, in ways that have made all the difference.
That’s not to say that I haven’t dealt with tons of self-doubt, writer's block, and general discouragement over the seemingly endless task of revising and polishing. But I have managed to find ways to move forward despite it all. These are my top (sometimes unconventional) tips on how to overpower these roadblocks and develop strategies to support you in your writing goals.
Tip 1: Establishing a Consistent Writing Routine
It’s the best feeling to watch the word count of your work in progress manuscript rise toward the goal you’ve set. When you make writing a daily habit, you’ll not only improve your skills over time but you’ll start to see steady progress toward your goals.
As a decidedly Type B person, I do sometimes struggle to stick to self-imposed schedules, so my advice here might stray from the norm.
For all of you type A writing angels, if you are great at scheduling time to work on your writing pursuits, then by all means, set aside dedicated time each day or week to work on your writing projects, regardless of your current level of inspiration or motivation.
If you are more like me, however, you may find that you have a defeatist mindset about fitting time for writing into your overbooked schedule. Maybe it’s insufficient dopamine, or maybe its a desire on my part to avoid the dark, overwhelming feeling of writer’s block. Either way, I’ve had to develop my own system for meeting my writing goals.
I wrote my debut novel, The Ice House, while I was working as a special education teacher. Teaching was exhausting enough without trying to manage reaching a word count in a specified time period.
My solution? I’d turn writing into a time to channel my angst productively. I’d listen to playlists comprised of some of the moodiest songs of my adolescent years, perhaps revisit an episode of a particularly addicting tv show, and then, when I’d sufficiently prepped my mindset, I’d start writing. It didn’t have to be for hours a day, and it wasn’t daily.
When I didn’t force myself to carve out the time, it became something I wanted to fit into my days as often as possible. It became something fun, just for me, and a way to dwell in moodiness with a positive outcome. A nice side note? It gave me a place to put all of my stress, frustration, or other negative emotions.
Tip One, Part Two (Yes, I need two parts to explain the tricks I have to play on my brain to accomplish things)
When I was in the editing process for The Ice House, there were deadlines that my publisher made. Looming deadlines definitely provided the pressure I needed to ensure that I actually get to work on writing. However, these deadlines did not suddenly turn me into someone with great time management skills who could write without motivation.
The first tool that I recommend if you find yourself in the same boat is The Pomodoro Method. As a visual person who tends to procrastinate, the Pomodoro Method creates the illusion of tension — as if every 25 minutes is a new deadline that I must rush to meet. It provides a visual marker that I’ve completed something tangible.
I find that using the pomodoro method makes writing manageable for me. It’s less intimidating. It allows me a level of flexibility. I can tell myself that I will try to squeeze in one pomodoro of writing in between two other tasks I have, and sometimes feel so accomplished by the time my timer goes off that I complete a second pomodoro voluntarily! It may not be for you, but I recommend trying it out once or twice. There are a few different websites and apps that I’ve tried out, but my favorite is Pomofocus.
My second tool recommendation is less conventional, but was equally helpful for me. I invested in a frother for my morning coffee. Why? Well, because having legitimate, publisher-imposed deadlines to meet while also working a demanding full time job required that I had to wake up at least two hours earlier than normal. By now you may have guessed that I am not naturally a morning person.
It turns out that making yourself a fancy latte with oat milk and cinnamon in a pretty mug can actually make an early wake up feel luxurious. This is not something I ever did before this editing process, and the shift I made by pairing those two hours of AM writing with a delicious, instagram-worthy coffee created a really pleasant association that sometimes actually made me look forward to those quiet hours of editing.
Tip 2: Understanding Your Target Audience
Another essential aspect of learning how to write well is understanding your target audience. This means considering the preferences, interests, and expectations of your future readers.
I’ve found that researching your target audience can actually act as a solution for writer’s block.
No, it doesn’t suddenly resolve the issue you’re running into in your plot or with your character development, but it does help to frame your story’s overall narrative. For example, when I was writing The Ice House, I definitely stalled out for weeks at certain stages, unable to resolve a specific plot point, or to see how a secondary character fit into a larger story arc.
I would work to put myself in the mindset of a middle schooler, remembering (and sometimes dwelling) on my own experiences during those years. I took a piece of paper and recorded anything and everything I could remember about incidents that made me sad, happy, jealous, furious back then. I thought of how I acted as a result. I reflected on how different kids in the school where I taught reacted to various situations, remembering that no two kids have the exact same reactions, expectations, or experiences.
What does this research look like?
Well, if I were writing a mystery, I’d read some of the most popular mysteries, probably lots of Agatha Christie, and some of the best sellers of recent years as well. I’d check out reviews from readers online, and I’d make a list of some of my favorite mystery books, starting from Nancy Drew as a kid and moving up to remembering my experience reading that twist in Gone Girl. I’d record what I’d wanted to know, what twists or turns were disappointing, if there were trends I gravitated toward or moved away from.
By devoting some additional time to my target audience research throughout the writing process, I can create a reset while considering different approaches that can help shake things up and resolve my writer’s block.
Tip 3: Embracing the Revision Process
Revising takes a level of objectivity that you really need to develop with practice. It’s maybe the most crucial part of learning how to write well. While daunting and time-consuming, it’s unavoidable. I’ve come to view it as an opportunity for growth and improvement.
To make the most of the revision process, approach your work with a critical eye. I focus on story elements topic by topic, and do separate edits for each. For example, I focus on grammar only for one read, plot for another, character development, pacing, and dialogue. I also find that it can be really helpful to read sections of the manuscript out loud while you edit, especially dialogue.
I also have found that reading objectively well crafted books throughout the period I spend revising is helpful. You begin to recognize why these books work, and in turn, start to notice areas of your own manuscript that are unnecessary or need work.
It’s ongoing, and with time, practice, and by reading great books, you’ll get stronger at it.
Tip 4: Seeking and Incorporating Feedback from Others
Incorporating feedback from others can be a bit tricky. When we seek input from others, ideally we gain valuable insights into our manuscript that we may not have considered on our own. This feedback can help you identify areas for improvement, and can also highlight the strengths of your writing.
So, the first step is deciding who you want to ask to read your work in progress. Your early readers should be people in your life that you know are good writers themselves or who have proven to be good readers. What makes a good reader? I think people in my life fall into this category if I know that they are consistently reading books and making strong recommendations. Or, if I have known them well enough over time to have had conversations that show they have an understanding of craft, can explain why books work or don’t work for them, or have shared other comments that make it clear they are insightful about literature overall.
If you don’t have anyone in your circle that you think would be able to provide this kind of insight, don’t worry! I would consider joining a writing workshop course. There are plenty of virtual writing workshops these days. In my opinion, two of the most valuable aspects participating in a writing workshop are getting actionable feedback and becoming familiar with receiving other’s thoughts and opinions on your work.
Whenever we incorporate feedback into our writing, it is important to remember that not all advice will be useful. It’s up to you to be selective about the feedback you choose to implement. Ultimately, you get to decide how to revise and what will improve your manuscript.
Tip 5: Staying Inspired and Motivated Throughout the Writing Journey
I’m a fan of using visualization to help myself stay motivated when I’m working on a new piece of writing. I like to picture my finished manuscript, channel future me, overjoyed at the relief of having my book out in the world. I also have found comfort in researching the writing journeys of authors I admire, and reading what they share about their writing process. When you do, you often recognize that most writers have had the same feelings you are having: wanting to give up, wondering if they should even keep working on a manuscript, overwhelmed by plot holes, self-doubt. It’s a reminder that these feelings are just part of the process.
You need to find what will work best for you when you’re looking to sustain your writing practice. Setting realistic word count goals and celebrating your achievements along the way, finding others who have achieved writing goals you share and connecting with them (like me!), and finding a method that works for you to carve out time to dedicate to writing are all ways to build sustainability throughout your writing journey.
Another way to stay inspired is to continually expose yourself to new ideas. To do this, I try to read across various genres, see new movies and watch tv shows outside of my usual sphere of interest, and seek out short stories from new writers.
By constantly encountering different modes of storytelling from unique voices, you will not only improve your ability to discern good writing from bad, but you’ll gain new inspiration and enthusiasm that will support you as you write.
You’ve got this!
Accessing your writing potential takes time and dedication, but achieving your writing goals is one of the best feelings in the world. Remember that writing success can mean whatever you want it to mean. Sure, it can mean being published, but it can also mean expressing your creativity and sharing your unique voice with the world.
So there you have it, just a few of the strategies I’ve developed that have helped me achieve the writing goals I’ve set for myself. If you’re looking for some regular inspo to support you on your journey, I would love for you to sign up for my newsletter below, where I will be sharing more strategies and resources to help kickstart your writing practice.