Children's Book Suggestions | Realistic Fiction

Not interested in dragons, aliens, or ghosts? These realistic fiction stories for readers in Grades 3-7 feature no supernatural elements--just kids like you dealing with the everyday challenges of school, friendship, and family in their everyday lives.

Updated August 30, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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Stink : the incredible shrinking kid
McDonald, Megan.
Paper Book
In honor of Judy Moody's younger "bother," the creators of the award-winning series have put themselves in a very Stink-y mood — proving, once and for all, that you're only as short as you feel. Shrink, shrank, shrunk! Every morning, Judy Moody measures Stink...

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

The used-to-be best friend
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
American Indian Youth Literature Award: Middle Grade Honor Book! Hello/Boozhoo--meet Jo Jo Makoons! Full of pride, joy, and plenty of humor, this first book in an all-new chapter book series by Dawn Quigley celebrates a spunky young Ojibwe girl who loves who she is. Jo Jo...

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

Ivy + Bean
Barrows, Annie.
Paper Book
The moment they saw each other, Bean and Ivy knew they wouldn't be friends. But when Bean plays a joke on her sister, Nancy, and has to hide quickIvy comes to the rescue, proving that sometimes the best of friends are people never meant to like each other. Vibrant characters and lots of humor make...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Stella Diaz has something to say
Dominguez, Angela
Paper Book
In her first middle-grade novel, award-winning picture book author and illustrator Angela Dominguez tells a heartwarming story based on her own experiences growing up Mexican-American. Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Díaz is not a...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Dory Fantasmagory
Hanlon, Abby
Paper Book
Move over, Junie B. Jones and Ivy & Bean! Here comes a lovably energetic little sister with a BIG personality--and an imagination to match! As the youngest in her family, Dory really wants attention, and more than anything she wants her brother and sister to play with her. But...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Squished
Lloyd, Megan Wagner
Ebook

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Zara's rules for record-breaking fun
Khan, Hena
Paper Book
From the beloved author of Amina's Voice comes the first book in a humor-filled middle grade series starring a young Muslim girl with an endless list of hobbies who searches for ways to maximize fun for her family and neighborhood friends. Meet Zara Saleem, the queen of...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Invisible Isabel
Pla, Sally J.
Paper Book
From award-winning author Sally J. Pla comes an illustrated middle grade novel about introverted Isabel Beane, who learns to speak up to quiet her worries. This thoughtful, earnest story is perfect for fans of Elana K. Arnold and Leslie Connor. Isabel Beane is a shy girl who lives in a...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Ellen outside the lines
Sass, A. J.
Paper Book
Winner of a Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor! A heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old navigating changing friendships, a school trip, and expanding horizons for fans of Rain Reign and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World. ...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Grounded : a novel
Saeed, Aisha
Paper Book
When a thunderstorm grounds all flights following a huge Muslim convention, four unlikely kids are thrown together. Feek is stuck babysitting his younger sister, but he'd rather be writing a poem that's good enough for his dad, a famous poet and rapper. Hanna is intent on finding a lost cat in the...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Summer at Squee
Wang, Andrea
Paper Book
From Newbery Honor-winning author Andrea Wang, a new middle grade novel about a Chinese American tween who attends a Boston-based Chinese cultural overnight camp-and the many ways it transforms her. Phoenny Fang plans to have the best summer ever. She's returning to Summertime...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Ways to make sunshine
Watson, Renée
Paper Book
From Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson, the first book in a young middle grade series about Ryan Hart, a girl who is pure spirit, kindness, and sunshine. Ryan Hart can be and do anything. Her name means "king", that she is a leader, and she...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

The new girl
Calin, Cassandra
Paper Book
Instagram sensation and Tapas webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin makes her long-form debut with this funny, feel-good middle-grade graphic novel about change. Goodbye, old life... Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family,...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Gabby gets it together
Fairbairn, Nathan
Paper Book
Are you a fan of Raina Telgemeier or Shannon Hale? Then don't miss PAWS, a new graphic novel series about best friends, cute dogs, and all the fun (and trouble) that comes with them. Perfect for fans of Real Friends, Roller Girl, and Allergic, this funny and heartwarming...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Paula Danziger's Amber Brown is not a crayon
Ying, Victoria
Paper Book
Even when her best friend is moving away, Amber Brown is always bold, bright, and colorful. And now she's in a graphic novel! Third graders Amber Brown and Justin Daniels have been best friends since the day they first met in preschool. How great of a team are they? Amber helps...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Grow up, Luchy Zapata
Alessandri, Alexandra
Paper Book
A funny, relatable middle school drama about two Colombian American girls who have always been BFFs--until sixth grade turns everything upside down. Luchy Zapata is starting middle school, and she's muy excited. She and her two best friends, Cami and Mateo, will finally be...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Eb & Flow
Baptist, Kelly J.
Paper Book
A ten-day suspension has tweens De'Kari and Ebony seeing the world with a fresh perspective. Don't miss this poignant novel in verse from the award-winning author of Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero. Two kids. One fight. No one thinks they're wrong.   ...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Falling short
Cisneros, Ernesto
Paper Book
Ernesto Cisneros, Pura Belpré Award-winning author of Efrén Divided, is back with a hilarious and heartfelt novel about two best friends who must rely on each other in unexpected ways. A great next pick for readers who loved Ghost by Jason Reynolds or The First Rule of Punk by Celia...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Keep it together, Keiko Carter
Florence, Debbi Michiko
Paper Book
Fans of Wendy Mass and Lisa Greenwald are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sweet story about first crushes, friendship drama, and finding the courage to stand up for yourself.Seventh grade is supposed to be a game changer. And Keiko thinks she's got it covered, especially with Audrey and Jenna...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Make a move, Sunny Park!
Kim, Jessica
Paper Book
From the author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! comes a funny and utterly charming novel about friends--how to make them, how to let go of them, and how to be your own BFF. This is the story of Sunny Park, a seventh-grade student at Ranchito Mesa Middle who loves the K-pop band...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Truly Tyler
Libenson, Terri
Paper Book
A story about being your truest self--and trusting your truest friends--from bestselling author Terri Libenson. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale. Cliques. Crushes. Comics. Middle school! Emmie is psyched that she gets to work on a comics project with her crush,...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

The dubious pranks of Shaindy Goodman
Lowe, Mari
Paper Book
SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD WINNER NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD WINNER Kirkus Top 10 Middle Grade for Fall '23 SHAINDY is a twelve-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl who struggles in school and has no good friends. She watches with...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Walkin' the dog
Lynch, Chris
Paper Book
"Lynch is back and better, smarter, and funnier than ever." --Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner A boy learns how to be a friend from man's best friend in this "funny, fetching" (Booklist, starred review) middle grade novel about humans being able to change...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Barely floating
Rivera, Lilliam
Paper Book
A dazzling story full of heart about how one twelve-year-old channels her rage into synchronized swimming dreams, from the author of The Education of Margot Sanchez and Never Look Back, Lilliam Rivera. Natalia de la Cruz Rivera y Santiago, also known as Nat, was...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

The labors of Hercules Beal
Schmidt, Gary D.
Paper Book
From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill a seemingly impossible school assignment--and learns about friendship, community, and himself along the way. Herc...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Click
Miller, Kayla
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Kayla Miller comes a graphic novel about friendship and finding where you "click" in middle school, perfect for fans of Smile and Real Friends. Olive wants to get in on the act . . . . . . Any act! ...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Picture day
Sax, Sarah
Paper Book
Everyone knows the most stressful day of middle school is picture day! And that's exactly where thisyearbook-worthy graphic novel series opener begins- with reinventing yourself, drama, popularity, and the friends who see you through. Seventh-grader Viv never looks forward...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)


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