In crafting this list, I looked for books which addressed puberty and growing up in an accessible, entertaining way. The greatest wisdom of these stories is that they recognize the complexity and dignity of young people. When kids are at their most vulnerable and misunderstood, these works of fiction will remind them that they're not alone.
Sixth grade is going to change everything! This year, star basketball player Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac's parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, straight-A Marco vows…
For nine-year-old Abby, everything seems to be changing. Her best friend has moved across the country, her mom is going back to work and Abby is stuck in running club. On top of everything, Abby suddenly has to deal with things like…
Unlike other kids, eleven-year-old Piper was diagnosed with early-onset puberty and has been taking shots to keep it at bay since she was six. But when her doctor decides it’s time for her treatment to end, Piper’s eyes are opened to a…
Abby, Brit, Christine and Sasha are fed up. Hazelton High never has enough tampons. Or pads. Or adults who will listen. Sick of an administration that puts football before female health, the girls confront a world that shrugs -- or worse,…
For Elio, eighth grade fizzes with change. His body teems with hormones. His feelings flow like lava. His relationship with Pops, who's always telling him to man up, is on the rocks. But when betrayal and heartbreak send Elio spiraling…
Twelve-year-old Tahlia is ready to kick off her perfect summer at the popular kid's pool party. But when her first period arrives 24 hours before the pool party, it messes up all her plans. To make matters worse, her mom is out of town,…
Will is the only round kid in a school full of thin ones. So he hides… in baggy jeans and oversized hoodies, in the back row during class and anywhere but the cafeteria during lunch. And especially from Jules, his new crush. Will's shame…
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery,…
Before Tegan and Sara took the music world by storm, the Quins were just two identical twins trying to find their place in a new home and new school. From first crushes to the perils of puberty, surviving junior high is something the…
Sixth grade isn't as great as Rex thought it would be. He's the only kid who hasn't had a growth spurt, and the bullies won't let him forget it. His closest friend is unreliable, at best. And there's a cute girl in his class who he can't…
On the first day of seventh grade, Rex encounters a bump in the road -- a big angry pimple right in the center of his forehead. What follows is a frustrating battle with acne, body odor and other embarrassments of puberty. Worst of all,…
Ever since Ellie made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she’s been bullied about her weight. Now she tries to live by her Fat Girl Rules. The pool is her safe space, where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. It’s also…
THE PRETTIEST: It’s the last thing Eve expected to be, the only thing Sophie wants to be and something Nessa knows she’ll never be... until a list appears online, ranking the fifty prettiest girls in the eighth grade. Eve is disgusted with…
When Jay starts eighth grade with a few pimples, he doesn’t think much of it at first. But when his acne goes from bad to worse, Jay’s prescribed a powerful medication with some serious side effects. Meanwhile, all of Jay’s friends are in…
Celi Rivera's life swirls with questions. About her changing body. Her first crush. And her best friend's exploration of what it means to be genderfluid. But most of all, she questions her mother's insistence that she have a moon ceremony…
Riley loves being a member of the Red Club. It’s more than a group of girls supporting each other through Aunt Flo’s ups and downs; it’s a Hawking Middle School tradition. The club’s secret locker has an emergency stash of supplies, and…
Mila's story all starts with a series of unwanted hugs from the boys at school. They're just being friendly, right? And how can she say no? But the hugs last a few seconds too long, and they feel... weird. According to her friends, Mila is…
Best friends Matt and Eric are hatching a plan for one big final adventure together before Eric moves away: during the marching band competition at an amusement park, they will sneak away to a nearby comics convention to meet their idol.…
Twelve-year-old Neva feels beautiful wearing her new bra, but she's confused by how others respond to her changing body. Her best friend, Jamila, is getting all the attention. Her brother, Clayton, is becoming an activist. And Grandad and…
Greg Heffley has always been in a hurry to grow up. But is getting older really all it's cracked up to be? Greg suddenly finds himself dealing with the pressures of boy-girl parties, increased responsibilities and even the awkward changes…
