Realistic Fiction

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech

Mary Lou's school assignment to keep a journal over the summer seems boring. Then cousin Carl Ray comes to stay, and the summer gets exciting!

Amber Brown is not a Crayon by Paula Danziger

Amber struggles with life when she finds out her best friend Justin is moving away.

Animal House and Iz by Betty Hicks

Elizabeth has to decide whether or not to stay with her dad and her crazy stepfamily or move in with her lonely mother.

Anistasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry

Anastasia has a good and bad 10th year, including falling in love and finding out about a new baby brother on the way!

Bad Girls by Cynthia Voigt

Mikey and Margalo are both troublemakers on their own, but just wait until they get together!

Blister by Susan Shreve

Alyssa decides to reinvent herself after her father moves out and her family starts to fall apart.

Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Tobin McCauley is a good kid with a lousy life. To top it off, Tobin's only friend truly believes that the study of chickens will reveal that they have a soul. Can things get only better or worse?

Dork in Disguise by Carol Gorman

Jerry was a dork at his old school, but this year he is planning to be a "Cool Guy."

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O'Connor

Misfit Bird decides to recruit Harlem, another misfit, to help her win the state spelling bee.

The Flunknig of Joshua T. Bates by Susan Shreve

Joshua finds life a disaster when he has to repeat third grade.

Fourth-Grade Celebrity by Patricia Reilly Giff

Casey decides to run for class president so she can get famous at her school.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet spies on everyone and keeps a secret journal of her thoughts, but what happens when her friends read it?

Just as long as We're Together by Judy Blume

Rachel and Stephanie have always been best friends, then new girl Alison moves into the neighborhood. Will three be a crowd?

The Kid in the Red Jacket by Barbara Park

10 year old Howard has to get used to a neighborhood and the little girl who follows him around when his family moves across country.

The Landry News by Andrew Clements

A fifth grader publishes a newspaper criticizing the burnt out teacher and spurs the teacher to change his attitude.

Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee

Millie hides the fact that she is a genius so that she can make an ordinary friend. But what will happen when her secret gets out?

Niagara Falls or Does It? by Henry Winkler

Hank has a hard time writing his "What I did over the summer" school essay, until he gets a brilliant idea to make it "live."

Sahara Special by Esme Codell

Sahara has a hard time adjusting when her father leaves the family, but her new teacher inspires her to pursue her dreams.

Say Yes by Audrey Couloumbis

After Casey is abandoned by her stepmother, she gets help from the landlord's son. But what will she do when he asks her to break the law?

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli

Palmer feels peer pressure to become a "wringer" at the annual Family Fest. Should he do what his friends want or do what he wants?