Realistic Fiction

The Thing About JellyfishBy Ali Benjamin

Everyone says that it was an accident... that sometimes things "just happen." But Suzy won't believe it. Ever. After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy was a rare jellyfish sting.

Trailer for The Thing

About Jellyfish

47 People You Meet in Middle SchoolBy Kristin Mahoney

Discover the ins and outs of middle school in this guide from

an older sister to her younger sister. From tackling a new

building to meeting new people like the assistant principal, the

class pet, the Huggers, the renegade, the tomato kid, your old

best friend’s new best friend, this is a must-read for everyone

starting middle school. Dear Lou,You've been asking and asking about what middle school is like, but I just thought they were annoying-younger-sister questions. Even though I am almost done with my first year, I can still remember when I thought middle school was a mystery, so I'll try to give you a leg up. I know middle school is a lot to figure out. But since I still haven't worked it all out yet, I'm happy to help as much as I can. That's what big sisters are for.Love, Gus

Blackbird Fly By Erin Entrada Kelly

Future rock star, or friendless misfit? That’s no choice at all. In this debut tween novel,

twelve-year-old Apple grapples with being different; with friends and backstabbers and

following her dreams.

The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh

Everything in Bea's world has changed. She's starting seventh grade newly friendless and facing big changes at home. But then something incredible happens-- Bea begins to connect with new friends, including a classmate obsessed with a nearby labyrinth and determined to get inside. Bea starts taking risks she could never have imagined.

Sliderby Pete Hautman

David can eat an entire sixteen-inch pepperoni pizza

in four minutes and thirty-six seconds. Not bad. But

he knows he can do better. In fact, he’ll have to do

better: he’s going to compete in the Super Pigorino

Bowl, the world’s greatest pizza-eating contest, and

he has to win it, because he borrowed his mom’s

credit card and accidentally spent $2,000 on it. So he

really needs that prize money. Like, yesterday. As if

training to be a competitive eater weren’t enough,

he’s also got to keep an eye on his little brother, Mal

(who, if the family believed in labels, would be labeled

autistic, but they don’t, so they just label him Mal).

And don’t even get started on the new weirdness

going on between his two best friends, Cyn and

HeyMan. Master talent Pete Hautman has cooked up

a rich narrative shot through with equal parts humor

and tenderness, and the result is a middle-grade

novel too delicious to put down.

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American as Paneer Pie By Supriya Kelkar

An Indian American girl navigates prejudice in her small town and learns the power of her own voice in this brilliant gem of a middle grade novel full of humor and heart, perfect for fans of Front Desk and Amina’s Voice.

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Adam Canfield of The Slash By Michael Winerip

Adam Canfield has to be the most

over-programmed middle-school student in

America. So when Jennifer coaxes him to be

co-editor of their school newspaper, he wonders

if he’s made a big mistake. But when a

third-grader’s article leads to a big scoop, Adam

and his fellow junior journalists rise to the

challenge of receiving their principal’s wrath to

uncover some scandalous secrets.

George By Alex Gino

When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl.

George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part . . . because she’s a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte — but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

The Miscalculations of Lightning GirlBy Stacy McAnulty

Lucy-Callahan was struck by lightning. She

doesn't remember it, but it changed her life

forever. The zap gave her genius-level math

skills, and ever since, Lucy has been

homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she's

technically ready for college. She just has to

pass one more test: middle school!

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Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending DoomBy Booki Vivat

Abbie Wu is starting middle school and is freaking out. Her family is not helping, not at all!

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The Best at it By Maulik Pancholy

Rahul Kapoor is heading into seventh grade in a small town in Indiana. The start of middle school is making him feel increasingly anxious, so his favorite person in the whole world, his grandfather, Bhai, gives him some well-meaning advice: Find one thing you’re really good at and become the BEST at it.

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Zoe in WonderlandBy Brenda Woods

Brenda Woods. Zoe Reindeer

has an unusual name and a

big imagination. She does her

best to blend in at the family

business. When an

astronomer from Zimbabwe

arrives, he changes Zoe

forever.

Drums, Girls and Dangerous PieBy Jordan Sonnenblick

Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life (well, almost): He plays drums in the All-Star Jazz Band, has a crush on the hottest girl in school (who doesn't know he's alive), frequently finds himself sitting across from his school counselor (who bribes him with candy), and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey (who is cuter than cute). Oh, Steven has parents, too (the kind that embarrass him). But when Jeffrey gets sick, Steven's world is turned upside down as he is forced to deal with his brother's illness, his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece, the band, overdue homework, girls, and of course, Dangerous Pie (yes, you have to listen to the book to find out what that is).

MockingbirdBy Kathryn Erskine

Diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, 10-year-old Caitlin faces a range of

social and emotional challenges. The unexpected death of her caring

brother makes matters even worse, but will the memory of his words of

wisdom and the help of a compassionate counselor be enough to

enable her to connect with others?

Front Desk By Kelly Yang

Tang has a lot of secrets. Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests. Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed. Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?

Zack de LaCruz SeriesBy Jeff Anderson

Zack Delacruz is unnoticed at his middle

school—and that’s just the way he likes it. But a

school assembly and an uncharacteristic

moment of bravery are all it takes to change

everything. Zack never wanted to be a hero, but

can he save the day?

RestartBy Gordon Korman

A boy who's been a bully and hanging out with the wrong

friends gets a new start after a memory-loss-inducing

accident. But can someone really change who he is, or

will the old him merely come back over time? Book

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One for the MurphysBy Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Carley struggles with being open to love after she suffers a betrayal that forces her to move in with a foster family. (*)

ReboundBy Kwame Alexander

Before Josh and Jordan Bell were streaking up and down the court, their father was learning his own moves. In this prequel to Newbery Medal winner The Crossover, Chuck Bell takes center stage, as readers get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshiping, basketball star his sons look up to.

Also in verse!

A prequel to The

Crossover!

My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich By Ibi Zoboi

Harlem is an exciting and terrifying place for a sheltered girl from Huntsville, and Ebony-Grace’s first instinct is to retreat into her imagination. But soon 126th Street begins

to reveal that it has more in common with her beloved sci-fi adventures than she ever thought possible, and by summer's end, Ebony-Grace discovers that Harlem has a

place for a girl whose eyes are always on the stars.