Middle School Friendship

“[Narrator Sid] Sagar masterfully brings out the strengths of the text: an ever-present undercurrent of humor and the irresistible quirkiness of the diverse characters, whose daredevil escapades and bravery fire up the easy flow.” — Booklist Impossible Creatures meets The Mysterious...

A 2026 Audie Awards Finalist! Created by real-life rivals and #1 New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft this hilarious story features two talented fifth graders going head-to-head in a competition for the ages. J and K are the most creative fifth graders at Dean...

It was the worst day of my life. The biggest bully in seventh grade punched me, and everybody at school ignored my existence—I felt invisible. Then I ditched class and was caught by the principal. And when I finally had the courage to tell my parents that my brother also bullies me at home, they said I was exaggerating. Really? I’m Louie Pickle, and my twisted life in middle school has been more gut-wrenching than my friends and I could’ve ever imagined. We’ve been teased, picked on, and punched for words we can't read and foods we can’t eat, which is why I’m writing this story.

This laugh-out-loud chapter book series follows adorably rambunctious fox siblings Ted and Nancy as they get into (and out of) trouble, making many colorful friends along the way. Perfect for young readers who love animals and are looking for big laughs, this humorous adventure story will draw...

Alex Cross’s son Ali is an accomplished mystery-solver and #1 bestseller. A crime at a concert near his school sparks his newest investigation, and it gets dangerous fast. Sometimes it’s good to have a father in the detective business. Ali Cross just solved his first real case. Alex Cross...

Grayson Sender has been holding onto a secret for what seems like forever: "He" is a girl on the inside, stuck in the wrong gender's body. The weight of this secret is crushing, but sharing it would mean facing ridicule, scorn, rejection, or worse. Despite the risks, Grayson's true self itches to break free. Will new strength from an unexpected friendship and a caring teacher's wisdom be enough to help Grayson step into the spotlight she was born to inhabit?

To 12-year-old Molly Nathans, perfect is: the number four; the tip of a newly sharpened No. 2 pencil; a crisp white pad of paper; her neatly aligned glass animal figurines. What's not perfect is Molly's mother leaving the family to take a faraway job with the promise to return in one year. Molly knows that promises are sometimes broken, so she hatches a plan to bring her mother home: Win the Lakeville Middle School Poetry Slam Contest. The winner is honored at a fancy banquet with white tablecloths. Molly is sure her mother would never miss that. Right?

Inspired by the global phenomenon of the Murdle puzzle books comes the first novel in a new thrilling mystery series. Perfect for fans of Mr. Lemoncello's Library and The Swifts. It’s a cloudy day on the Sacred Kidney playground, but Jake likes it that way—dark and uncertain. For a junior...

From the beloved author of Because of Mr. Terupt and its sequels comes The Perfect Score, a new middle-grade school story with a very special cast of unforgettable characters who discover that getting the perfect score—both on the test and in life—is perhaps not so perfect after all. No one...

Jojo has everything planned out for the perfect first day of middle school, down to her outfit and hairstyle. But when Mom, distracted by her new live-in boyfriend, Paul, forgets to wake Jojo up, she oversleeps and has to make do with leggings, a t-shirt, and her brother’s hoodie. The day still goes okay until Jojo realizes that she has a hole in her leggings thanks to Purrito, the kitten Paul “gifted” her. Because Paul isn’t just Paul; he’s Mr. Meow, a mega-famous cat-fluencer.

Twelve-year-old Fern believes she's living a noble life--but what if everything she's been told is a lie? This is a huge-hearted story about a girl learning to question everything—and to trust in herself. A NEWBERY HONOR BOOK A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FINALIST A KIRKUS REVIEWS AND...

House of Robots: Robots Go Wild!:Booktrack Edition adds an immersive musical soundtrack to your audiobook listening experience! * In book two of the House of Robots series, it's 'bot brains versus 'bot brawn in an all-out war! Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez and his "bro-bot" E are making new friends...

Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she's eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she'll need to prove her bravery. Luckily, Impy has just the quest in mind - she'll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it's not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. When her new friends encourage her to do something mean, Impy goes along with it. Before long, Impy doesn't even recognize herself. Is she the dragon in her own story or the heroic knight?

Super Mario Bros meets Captain Underpants in this action-packed comedy sure to make a splash! James Patterson presents: The Titans of the Toilet! The Wonders from Down Under! Nitro City's very own sewer superheroes: The Plumbers! Thirteen-year-old Sully Stringfellow has always admired the great...

From the author of the Canterwood Crest series comes the first book in a middle grade series about an equestrian boarding school following a girl who struggles to keep her eyes on the prize while receiving anonymous threats. Abby St. Clair can’t wait to start another season with her elite...

A tiny talking mouse sets off on a giant adventure to rescue his friend in this fun, heartwarming illustrated adventure, perfect for fans of Stuart Little and The Mouse and the Motorcycle. Talking mouse Isaiah is free from the experiments that left him with blue fur and a big voice, and living a...

It's a robot revolt! As Sammy's inventor mom works on a secret project, he and his sister try to contain the hilarious pranks and chaos of droids on strike. After a few early glitches in their relationship, Sammy and his “bro-bot” E are now fast friends. In fact, E is such a valued member of...

Here are 33 stories about bullies and the ups and downs of friendship for younger teens, including "True Friends and New Friends", "Mean Girls... and Boys", "Embarrassing Moments" and "Bully Payback".

This rags-to-riches story by an award-winning Ghanaian author has page-turning appeal with luminous literary resonance. Writing with effortlessly engaging prose, Wolo showcases the interweaving layers of Ghanaian culture to create a prismatic, multifaceted world in which two young girls, against...

A powerful story about family, fútbol, and playing like a girl, perfect for fans of Front Desk, The Academy, and, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret from the award-winning author of Furia. At twelve years old, Valeria "Magic" Salomón is already the best soccer player her town has ever seen...