Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius
Asch, Frank
Alex has had it with his little brother. Jonathan is always hanging around–asking weird questions, messing with Alex's stuff, and generally being a pest. Mom says it's all just normal sibling rivalry, but Alex decides there is only one thing to do–leave Earth–and Jonathan–forever. Using his astounding scientific ability–plus lots of grocery boxes, duct tape, and assorted bits of junk, Alex designs the Star Jumper. This advanced cardboard spacecraft will take him across the galaxy to a brother-free planet–if only he can keep the first grader out of the way until liftoff.
Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel
Barshaw, Ruth McNally
Eleven-year-old Ellie McDoodle illustrates her sketchbook with chronicles of her adventures and mishaps while camping with her cousins, aunt, and uncle.
Dear Dumb Diary (series)
Jamie Kelly chronicles her middle school life in a series of humorous diary entries and doodles.
Attack of the Mutant Underwear
Birdseye, Tom
Fifth-grader Cody Carson keeps a journal of his hopes for a fresh start in a town where nobody knows about his humiliating mistakes of the past, but before school even begins so does his embarrassment.
Clarice Bean (series)
Child, Lauren
This series deals with the eponymous Clarice Bean's difficulties in navigating the complex ethical and social questions children deal with at school and at home.
Lunch Money
Clements, Andrew
Twelve-year-old Greg, who has always been good at moneymaking projects, is surprised to find himself teaming up with his lifelong rival, Maura, to create a series of comic books to sell at school.
Horace Splattly: The Cupcake Crusader
David, Lawrence
When his little sister's magic cookies transform him into a flying, fire-breathing superhero, ten-year-old Horace Splattly has adventures which include confronting the monster at the school playground.
The Curse of Addy McMahon
Davis, Katie
After her father's death, aspiring sixth-grade writer Addy McMahon feels like she is cursed with bad luck, and when she temporarily loses her best friend, and is forced to admit that her mother is dating again, she vows she will never write another word.
The Great Brain at the Academy
Fitzgerald, John Dennis
The Great Brain faces the challenge of life at a strict Catholic boarding school with daring exploits and money-making schemes.
Hoot
Hiaasen, Carl
Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.
Horrible Harry (series)
Kline, Suzy
Horrible Harry of classroom 2B cuts back on his mischievous pranks after falling for Song Lee.
My Life as a Fifth Grade Comedian
Levy, Elizabeth
Although Bobby's father thinks that he might be expelled just like his older brother, with the encouragement of a new fifth-grade teacher, Bobby tries to channel his penchant for humor into a learning experience.
Bobby vs. Girls (Accidently)
Yee, Lisa
When Bobby inadvertently gets into a fight with his best friend Holly, their disagreement develops into a boys versus girls war involving their whole fourth-grade class.
Judy Moody (series)
McDonald, Megan
This series follows the hilarious adventures of third-grader, Judy Moody.
Stink (series)
McDonald, Megan
Seven-year-old Stink Moody (the younger brother of Judy Moody) discovers exciting ways to create catastrophe and adventure for his classmates and friends.
Amelia’s 6th Grade Notebook
Moss, Marissa
Problems arise for Amelia when she starts sixth grade at the same middle school where her older sister Cleo is an eighth-grader, and she gets the school's meanest teacher for three of her classes.
Clementine
Pennypacker, Sara
While sorting through difficulties in her friendship with her neighbor Margaret, eight-year-old Clementine gains several unique hairstyles while also helping her father in his efforts to banish pigeons from the front of their apartment building.
Captain Underpants (series)
Pilkey, Dav
This series covers the exploits of two fourth graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, and the aptly-named superhero they accidentally create by hypnotizing their principal, Mr. Benny Krupp.
How to Eat Fried Worms
Rockwell, Thomas
Two boys set out to prove that worms can make a delicious meal.
Marvin Redpost: Alone in His Teacher’s House
Sachar, Louis
Marvin is pleased when his teacher asks him to take care of her dog while she's away, but he soon finds that there's more pressure involved than he likes.
Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger
Sachar, Louis
Unusual things continue to happen in the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story.
Fourth Grade Rats
Spinelli, Jerry
Suds learns that his best friend is wrong. You don't have to be a tough guy, a "rat," to be a grown up fourth grader.
Doyle and Fossey (series)
Torrey, Michele
Fourth-graders Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey combine their detective and scientific investigation skills to solve a variety of cases, involving a hungry cat, endangered penguins, a fish-stealing monster, and a dirty election. Includes a section of scientific experiments and activities.
Tripping Over the Lunch Lady: And Other School Stories
School is great—lots of friends, fun sports, and interesting classes. But then there are the days that are horrible: arguing with your best friend, being laughed at in front of your class, meeting up with the school bully, failing a test you really studied for. We’ve all been there, including these authors. In this hilarious and diverse collection of short stories, ten well-known writers, including Avi, Angela Johnson, David Lubar, James Proimos, and Susan Shreve, tell of those funny and memorable middle school moments.
It’s Only Temporary
Warner, Sally
When Skye's older brother comes home after a devastating accident, she moves from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to California to live with her grandmother and attend middle school, where she somewhat reluctantly makes new friends, learns to stand up for herself and those she cares about, and begins to craft a new relationship with her changed brother.
Sammy Keyes (series)
Van Draanen, Wondering
The series focuses on Sammy's adventures as an amateur sleuth. Sammy begins her adventures in the first book as a seventh-grader, and the series will end when she completes the eighth grade.
Camp Babymouse
Holm, Jennifer
Baby Mouse is excited to be going to Camp Wild Whiskers for two weeks, but she soon discovers that camping is not as easy as it seems.
The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich (Melvin Beederman series)
Trine, Greg
fter graduating from the superhero academy, Melvin Beederman heads for Los Angeles, where he unexpectedly teams up with Candace Brinkwater, school play actress, to nab the evil McNasty Brothers.
Sardine in Outer Space
Guibert, Emmanuel
The adventures of the intrepid Sardine, who travels across the universe meeting cosmic squids, space leeches, talking clouds, and other strange beings.
