The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney has turned many students, especially boys, into readers again. They have discovered that books can be a fun form of escapism and it is essential that once students have finished the hilarious series that they find other humorous books. This list will appeal to both female and male readers. Many of the books have comic illustrations mixed in.
Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Little, Brown, 2007. ISBN Grades 8-10Through his humorous diary entries and comic style illustrations fifteen-year-old Arnold “Junior” Spirit tells how he decided to be the first Indian on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend the local public school.
Amato, Mary. Illustrated by Ethan Long. The Riot Brothers Series. Holiday House. Grades 2-5 Similar to the Disney hit cartoon series Phineas and Ferb, Wilbur and Orville Riot are adventure-seeking brothers whose over the top escapades include hunting for mummies, discovering treasure, becoming mad scientists and creating a water park.
Angleberger, Tom. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. Amulet Books, 2010. Grades 4-7 When the sixth grade class weirdo, Dwight, shows up to school with an origami Yoda finger puppet strange things happen. In a wierd voice oragmi Yoda doles out bits of wisdom about the future to his class. The strange thing is that Yoda’s cryptic advice is usually true. Tommy collects first-hand accounts of how Origami Yoda helped his friends so he can decide if he should ask Yoda for advice. Yoda-making instructions are included.
Sequel: Darth Paper Strikes Back.
Boggess, Eileen. Mia the Meek. Bancroft Press, 2006. Grades 6-8 At the start of her freshman year at Saint Hilary’s Catholic High School Mia Fullerton is determined to shed her former geeky image by being more outgoing. When Mia wins the election for class president her crush Jakes asks her out.
Caseley, Judith. The Kissing Diary. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. Grades 6-8 Twelve-year-old Rosie Goldglitt starts writing in the diary her dad gave her about her feelings about her newly divorced mom dating, her sick grandfather, being bullied by popular Mary Katz and her desire to be kissed by her crush Robbie Romano.
Korman, Gordon. Son of the Mob. Hyperion, 2002. Grades 6-9 As the son of a New York mob boss seventeen-year-old Vince Luca could take advantage of his family’s connections but has always wanted nothing to do with the business until he gets wrapped into helping Jimmy the Rat pay off some debts and discovers an undercover agent all while secretly dating Kendra
Brightly, the daughter of the FBI agent who is assigned to take down his dad. Sequel: Hollywood Hustle.
McDonald, Megan. The Stink Series. Candlewick Press. Grades 2-4 Judy Moody’s seven-year-old brother Stink Moody is now the star of his own series where his adventures include rescuing one hundred guinea pigs, becoming a master thumb wrester and enters the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneaker contest.
Myracle, Lauren. The Fashion Disaster that Changed My Life. Dutton, 2005. Grades 5-8 Allsion is thrilled and confused when the most popular girl in seventh grade, Rachael Delaney, invites Allison into her inner circle. Allison tries to stay close with her old friends, Megan and Kathy, while she is hanging out with the popular kids until she discovers how mean Rachael really can be.
Norris, Shana. Something to Blog About. Amulet Books, 2008. Grades 6-9 Things go from bad to worse for tenth grader Libby Fawcett when she accidentally sets her hair on fire in front of her crush, her mom announces that she is dating her archenemy, Angel Rivera’s dad and Angel posts Libby’s secret blog for all of Yeardy High to read.
Palatini, Margie. Geek Chic: The Zoey Zone. Katherine Tegen Books, 2008. Grades 4-6 The misadventures of ten-year-old Zoey who is preparing for sixth grade with a complete image-intervention that includes learning about style so she can join the cool crowd in the lunchroom.
Patterson, James and Chris Tebbetts. Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life. Little, Brown, 2011. Grades 5-8 After a terrible first day of school at Hills Village Middle School sixth-grader Rafe Khatchadorian and his imaginary friend Leo create Operation R.A.F.E. (Rules Aren't For Everyone) in which he must break every rule in the school's handbook by June. Throughout the year Rafe spends time in detention for pulling fire alarms, streaking, graffiti, and fighting until his English teacher intervenes.
Pierce, Lincoln. Big Nate Series. Grades 3-7 The misadventures of Nate Wright, a confident sixth grader who seems destined for detention. Based on the comic strip series.
Rupp, Rebecca. Sarah Simpson's Rules for Living. Candlewick Press, 2008. Grades 6-8 One year after her father moved to California and remarried twelve-year-old Sarah Simpson fills a journal with lists and rules about her crazy life that includes her parents and their significant others as well as her part in the school play.
Russell, Rachel Renee. Dork Diaries Series. Aladdin. Grades 5-8 In the first book, Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life, fourteen-year-old Nikki J. Maxwell is a self-professed dork who is awarded a scholarship at the prestigious Westchester Country Day School where she encounter s snobby mean girls.
Scieszka, Jon. Illustrated by Shane Prigmore. Spaceheadz Series. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2010. Grades 3-7 At his new school in Brookyln fifth grader Mike befriends Ben and Jennifer, who are actually aliens on a mission to convert millions of kids into Space Headz.
Scott, Kieran. Geek Magnet: a Novel in Five Acts. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2008. Grades 7-10 As the first high school junior to be stage manager of the school musical, realizing her father is an alcoholic and avoiding the group of unsavory admirers KJ Miller has a lot on her mind. When KJ takes the advice from the musical’s lead, Tama Gold, KJ temporally loses the geeks and alienates her real friends.
Silberberg, Alan. Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze. Aladdin, 2010. Grades 5-8 After a recent move twelve-year-old Milo Cruikshank is adjusting to his school by making new friends and getting a crush on Summer Goodman.
Trine, Greg. Melvin Beederman, Superhero Series. Grades 2-5 After graduating from the superhero academy, Melvin Beederman uses his x-ray vision and super strength to fight evil-doers in Los Angeles along with his sidekick Candace.
Vega, Denise. Click Here: (to Find Out How I Survived Seventh Grade). Little, Brown, p2006, c2005. Grades 6-8 At the start of middle school Erin Swift reveals in her private weblog her anxiety about fitting in, her best friend Jilly, her crush Mark and her hatred of popular Serena. When her weblog is accidentally published on the school’s online newspaper Erin learns to speak up for herself.
Vail, Rachel. Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters. Fewel and Friends, 2010. Grades 3-5 Third grader Justin Krzeszewski, nicknamed Justin Case, writes and draws in his diary everything about his life including his dog, violin lessons, soccer games, homework problems, family, best friends and gym class.
Yee, Lisa. Warp Speed. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011. Grades 5-8At Rancho Rosetta Middle School seventh grader Marley Sidelski feels invisible to everyone, except a few bullies who torment him daily. A total Star Trek geek, Marley looks forward to AV class when he can hang out with other sci-fi tech nerds. When it is discovered that Marley is a
fast-runner he is invited to join the school track team. But he is not sure if he has the competitive edge like the.
Coraline. Adapted & illustrated by P. Craig Russell. HarperCollins, 2008.
Dracula by Michael Mucci. Sterling, 2008.
