Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo – ER DIC

Two roller-skating best friends–one tiny, one tall–share three comical adventures involving outrageously bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion.

Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid (series) by Megan McDonald – J F MCD

The shortest kid in the second grade, James Moody, also known as Stink, learns all about the shortest president of the United States, James Madison when they celebrate Presidents’ Day at school.

Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon – J F HAN

Dory, the youngest in her family, is a girl with a very active imagination. She spends the summer playing with her imaginary friend, pretending to be a dog, battling monsters, and generally driving her family nuts.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang – J F YAN

After emigrating from China, ten-year-old Mia Tang’s parents take a job managing a rundown motel, despite the nasty owner, Mr. Yao, who exploits them while she works the front desk and tries to cope with fitting in at her school.

Wink: Surviving Middle School with One Eye Open by Rob Harrell – J F HAR

After being diagnosed with rare eye cancer, twelve-year-old Ross discovers how music, art, and true friends can help him survive treatment and middle school.

Because of Mr. Terupt (series) by Rob Buyea – J F BUY

Seven fifth-graders at Snow Hill School in Connecticut relate how their lives are changed for the better by “rookie teacher” Mr. Terupt.

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks – J F WEE

Ravi, who has just moved to America from India, and Joe, who is learning disabled, gain strength from each other as they struggle to navigate middle school, family relationships, and friendships.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt – J F HUN

Ally fears that everyone will find out she is as dumb as they think she is because she still doesn’t know how to read.

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim – J F KIM

When eleven-year-old Yumi Chung stumbles into a kids’ comedy camp, she is mistaken for another student, so she decides to play the part.

Eggs by Jerry Spinelli – J F SPI

Mourning the loss of his mother, nine-year-old David forms an unlikely friendship with independent, quirky thirteen-year-old Primrose, as the two help each other deal with what is missing in their lives.

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass – J F MAS

Ally, Bree, and Jack meet at the one place the Great Eclipse can be seen in totality, each carrying the burden of different personal problems, which become dim compared to the task they embark upon and the friendship they find.

Emmy in the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido – J F LUC

Sixth-grader Emmy tries to find her place in a new school and figure out how to create her own music using a computer.

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan – J F TOL

Jake, a budding juvenile delinquent, is sent for homeschooling to the arty and eccentric Applewhite family’s Creative Academy, where he discovers talents and interests he never knew he had.

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez – TWEEN F PER

Twelve-year-old Malu reluctantly moves with her Mexican-American mother to Chicago and starts seventh grade with a bang–violating the dress code with her punk rock aesthetic and spurning the middle school’s most popular girl in favor of starting a band with a group of like-minded weirdos.

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein – TWEEN F WOL

Seventh-grader Will’s Bar Mitzvah community service project, visiting an incurably ill older boy in the hospital, leads to a friendship that is life-changing for both them and those around them.