More books that mix writing, drawings, humor, and (mostly) real-life situations. Also see Lincoln Peirce's BIG NATE books, James Patterson's I FUNNY and MIDDLE SCHOOL books, and Rachel Russell's DORK DIARIES books.
13-STORY TREEHOUSE series by Andy Griffiths***
MARTY PANTS series by Mark Parisi
JEDI ACADEMY series by Jeff Brown***
FUNNY KID FOR PRESIDENT by Matt Stanton
HOW TO BE A SUPERVILLAIN by Michael Fry
ORIGAMI YODA series by Tom Angleberger
POPULARITY PAPERS series by Amy Ignatow***
STICK DOG (and STICK CAT) books by Tom Watson
TIMMY FAILURE series by Stephan Pastis
ZOMBIEKINS by Kevin Bolger
***STAFF FAVORITES
...or The Mysterious Benedict Society, check out the "Puzzles, Codes, and Contests" box on the Series page.
BABYSITTER'S CLUB graphic novels
EL DEAFO by Cece Bell***
BE PREPARED by Vera Brosgol
AWKWARD by Svetlana Chmakova
BRAVE by Svetlana Chmakova
CRUSH by Svetlana Chmakova***
CUB by Cynthia L. Copeland
THE DUMBEST IDEA EVER! by Jimmy Gownley***
MAKING FRIENDS by Kristen Gudsnuk
REAL FRIENDS and sequel by Shannon Hale
SUNNY series by Jennifer L. Holm
THE POPULARITY PAPERS series by Amy Ignatow***
ALL'S FAIRE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL by Victoria Jamieson***
ROLLER GIRL by Victoria Jamieson
ALL SUMMER LONG by Hope Larson
INVISIBLE EMMIE (and sequels) by Terri Libenson
THE TIME MUSEUM by Matthew Loux
THE WITCH BOY (and sequels) by Molly Ostertag
THE CARDBOARD KINGDOM by Chad Sell***
SHEETS by Brenna Thummler
THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER by Jen Wang
***STAFF FAVORITES!
THE LOST RAINFOREST: MEZ'S MAGIC by Eliot Schrefer
KULIPARI series by Trevor Price
WINGS OF FIRE series by Tui Sutherland
SILVERWING (and sequels) by Kenneth Oppel
THE SIGHT by David Clement-Davies
THE UNDERLAND CHRONICLES by Suzanne Collins (has humans, but also warring Crawlers (giant roaches), Fliers (giant bats), Gnawers (giant rats), and more. Epic!
FOXCRAFT series by Inbali Iserles
More heartfelt realistic fiction that encourages kindness and empathy, and get at what it might be like to be in someone else's shoes.
MS. BIXBY'S LAST DAY by John David Anderson
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate
WISHTREE by Katherine Applegate
ALMOST HOME by Joan Bauer
EL DEAFO by Cece Bell
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY by Betty Birney
THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
EFREN DIVIDED by Ernesto Cisneros
THE TRUTH AS TOLD BY MASON BUTTLE by Leslie Connor
BECAUSE OF MR. TERUPT by Rob Buyea
OUT OF MY MIND by Sharon Draper
CAN YOU SEE ME? by Libby Scott
SO B. IT by Sarah Weeks
HARBOR ME by Jacqueline Woodson
Check out the "Action, Adventure, and Fantasy" series list on the Series page--all are recommended by Library Pages and staff.
Our number one recommendation for Potter and Percy fans? The Underland Chronicles series by Suzanne Collins. Start with Gregor the Overlander.