The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda
Angleberger, Tom
Amulet Books, 2010
J ANG
Sixth-grader tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future.
PICKLE: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Middle School
Baker, Kimberly
Roaring Book Press, 2012
J BAK
Using a bogus name, the League of Picklemakers, sixth-grader Ben and three recruits start a prank-pulling club and receive funding from their middle school’s PTA.
Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel
Barshaw, Ruth McNally
Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2007
J BAR
Eleven-year-old Ellie McDoodle illustrates her sketchbook with chronicles of her adventures and mishaps while camping with her cousins, aunt and uncle.
Okay, So Maybe I Do Have Superpowers. Dear Dumb Diary 11
Benton, Jim
Scholastic, 2011
J D SERIES
As their school gets ready for the annual Fun Fair, Jamie and Isabella agree to compete in the bottle toss game and to terrible consequences for the loser.
Cheesie Mack is Running Like Crazy
Cotler, Stephen L.
Random House, 2013
J COT
Sixth-grader Ronald “Cheesie” Mack finds the best way to earn points against his older sister is to become popular, and decides to join the cross-country team, help his best friend run for class president, and ignore her attempts to embarass him.
How to Survive Middle School
Gephart, Donna
Delacorte Press, 2010
J GEP
Thirteen-year-old David Greenberg’s best friend makes the start of middle school worse than he feared it could be, David becomes friends with Penny, who shares his love of television and posts one of their skits on YouTube, making them popular–online, at least.
Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit
Greenwald, Tom
Roaring Book Press, 2012
J GRE
Bright but unenthusiastic middle school student Charlie Joe Jackson signs up for the school play in an attempt to get straight As on his last quarter report card in order to avoid having to go to Camp Rituhbukkee over the summer.
The Adventures of Beanboy
Harkrader, Lisa
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012
J HAR
Wheaton, Kansas seventh-grader Tucker MacBean loves comic books, so when his favorite comic has a contest to create a sidekick, he is hopeful that he can win, thereby fixing his struggling family.
Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff
Holm, Jennifer L.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007
J HOL
The first year of middle school can be exciting, or scary, just ask Ginny.
The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang
Ignatow, Amy
Amulet Books, 2010
J IGN
Two best friends embark on a project to study the behavior and tastes of the popular girls at their elementary school so that by the time they get to middle school they too will be in the right crowd. Novel appears in the form of a scrapbook.
Revenge of the Loser. Loser List 2
Kowitt, Holly
Scholastic Press, 2012
J KOW
Inching his way up from being one of the least popular guys in school, seventh-grader Danny Shine experiences reputation-damaging jealousy when new kid Ty Randall arrives with good looks, a dedication to worth causes, and instant popularity.
Alien Eraser Unravels the Mystery of the Pyramids. Max Disaster 2
Moss, Marissa
Candlewick Press, 2009
J MOS
Did aliens build the pyramids? Will a magic love potion bring Mom and Dad back together? Max jots down his worst fears and best brainstorms.
Amelia’s Boy Survival Guide. Amelia’s Notebooks
Moss, Marissa
Simon & Schuster, 2012
J MOS
Amelia wants to go to a dance with Gerald but she is afraid.
Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life
Patterson, James
Little, Brown, 2011
J PAT
When Rafe Kane enters middle school, he teams up with his best friend, “Leo the Silent,” to create a game to make school more fun by trying to break every rule in the school’s code of conduct.
Big Nate on a Roll
Pierce, Lincoln
Harper, 2011
J PEI
Middle-schooler Nate Wright vies against his rival, the “perfect” Artur, to win the grand prize of a customized skateboard in their scout troop contest.
Tales From a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All. Dork Diaries 5
Russell, Rachel Renee
Aladdin, 2012
J RUS
When Miss Know-It-All’s inbox overflows with pleas for guidance, Nikki Maxwell, the school newspaper advice columnist, turns to her best friends for help.
Tales of a Sixth Grade Muppet: When Pigs Fly. Tales of Sixth Grade Muppet 4
Scroggs, Kirk
Little, Brown, 2013
J SCR
Sixth-grade-boy-turned-Muppet Danvers Blickensderfer travels to outer space to learn how he can become human again.
Reality TV Nightmare. My Totally Secret Diary
Shulman, Dee
Doubleday, 2010
J SHU
Polly Price chronicles mishaps from her daily life in her diary, including the horror when her celebrity mother allows a reality show to film in their home.
Niagara Falls, or Does It? Hank Zipfer, the Mostly True Confessions for the World’s Best Underachiever 1
Winkler, Henry
Grossett & Dunlap, 2003
J H SERIES
Fourth-graders Hank, Ashley, and Frankie are excitedly preparing for a magic show at the Rock ‘N Bowl when Hank’s creative alternative to an English essay lands him in detention and grounded the week of the show.
Stuck in the Middle of Middle School: A Novel in Doodles
Young, Karen Romano
Feiwel and Friends, 2013
J YOU
Doreen has vowed to make her new middle school work for her, but it is still a challenge given her ADHD, her younger sister’s growing popularity, and tensions between her parents. Good thing Doreen has her doodle journal!
