Books like 'Old School'
Readers who enjoyed Old School by Jeff Kinney also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary comedy action / adventure humor realistic children family friendship coming-of-age epistolary
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Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsAn utterly wonderful debut novel of love, crime, magic, fate and a boy’s coming of age, set in 1980s Australia and infused with the originality, charm, pathos, and heart of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.The mind can take you anywhere you want to goEli Bell’s life is complicated... -
![The Midnight Gang by David Walliams]()
The Midnight Gang by David Walliams
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsWelcome to the Midnight Gang! Midnight is the time when all children are fast asleep, except of course for… the Midnight Gang. That is when their adventures are just beginning…When Tom gets hit on the head by a cricket ball, he finds himself at Lord Funt Hospital, and is greeted by a terrifying-looking porter... -
![I Want to Go Home! by Gordon Korman]()
I Want to Go Home! by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRudy Miller is so unhappy spending the summer at Camp Algonkian Island that he devises dozens of tricks to get himself sent home... -
![The Unteachables by Gordon Korman, Sarah Beth Goer]()
The Unteachables by Gordon Korman, Sarah Beth Goer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA hilarious new middle grade novel from beloved and bestselling author Gordan Korman about what happens when the worst class of kids in school is paired with the worst teacher—perfect for fans of Ms. Bixby’s Last Day.The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks... -
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![Si llevas un raton a la escuela by Laura Joffe Numeroff]()
Si llevas un raton a la escuela by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThe Barnes & Noble ReviewBringing a plucky mouse to school isn't the wisest idea, no matter how much fun it might seem. Thankfully, the bestselling duo of author Laura Numeroff and illustrator Felicia Bond -- creators of If You Take a Mouse to the Movies and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie -- have teamed up to show us the hijinks a whiskered school guest could cause... -
![Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr, Guy Puzey]()
Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr, Guy Puzey
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPippi Longstocking meets Heidi meets Anne Shirley in this tale of an irrepressible girl in a mountain village who navigates unexpected changes with warmth and humor.Speed and self-confidence, that’s Astrid’s motto... -
![Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst]()
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 41 ratingsThe perennially popular tale of Alexander's worst day is a storybook that belongs on every child's bookshelf.Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in this hair.And it got worse...His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship humor realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
![The Good Egg by Jory John]()
The Good Egg by Jory John
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsIn this follow-up to Jory John and Pete Oswald’s popular picture book The Bad Seed, meet the next best thing: a very good egg, indeed!The good egg has been good for as long as he can remember. While the other eggs in his carton are kind of rotten, he always does the right, kind, and courteous thing... -
![Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter]()
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 57 ratingsWhen Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart... -
![Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump]()
Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA tale of raw adventure as Uncle Hec and Ricky use all their skills to survive in the hard world of precipitous hills and impassable forest. It uncovers the slow maturing of love and trust between two loners in a hard world... -
![No, David! by David Shannon]()
No, David! by David Shannon
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsWhen author and artist David Shannon was five years old, he wrote a semi-autobiographical story of a little kid who broke all his mother's rules. He chewed with his mouth open, jumped on the furniture, and he broke his mother's vase... -
![Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter]()
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 66 ratingsCammie Morgan is back, and it's clear that her life hasn't calmed down since the events of I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. At first, giddy anticipation is in the air. Gallagher Academy, Cammie's elite spy school, is hosting a visit from a covert training center for boys... -
![Finally by Wendy Mass]()
Finally by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA humorous look at what it means to FINALLY turn twelve years old.NARRATOR: TBAFORMAT: 5 CDs, UnabridgedYou can pierce your ears when you're twelve. You can go to the mall with your friends when you're twelve. You can babysit little Timmy next door when you're twelve. You can get a cell phone when you're twelve. Hey, you can even ride in the front passenger-side seat when you're twelve... -
![Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume]()
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsLife with his little brother, Fudge, makes Peter Hatcher feel like a fourth grade nothing. Whether Fudge is throwing a temper tantrum in a shoe store, smearing mashed potatoes on the walls at Hamburger Heaven, or trying to fly, he's never far from trouble...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship humor realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
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![Mr Stink by David Walliams]()
Mr Stink by David Walliams
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsMr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say he stinked, then he stinked as well…” Chloe sees Mr Stink every day, but she’s never spoken to him. Which isn’t surprising, because he’s a tramp, and he stinks. But there’s more to Mr Stink than meets the eye (or nose) and before she knows it, Chloe has an unusual new friend hiding in her garden shed... -
![Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague]()
Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsA dog laments his fate at obedience school through a series of hilarious letters home.When Ike LaRue is "imprisoned" at the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy, he tries everything to get sent home -- from weepy letters to his owner to illness. In reality, Brotweiler is more like camp than prison, but still, Ike's not cut out for life without Mrs. LaRue...Categorized as:
children epistolary family friendship humor action-adventure animals anthropomorphism -
![Picture Perfect by Holly Smale]()
Picture Perfect by Holly Smale
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratings"My name is Harriet Manners, and I'll always be a geek." It's the hilarious third book in the No.1 bestselling, award winning GEEK GIRL series! Harriet Manners knows more facts that most. She knows that New York is the most populous city in the United States. She knows that its official motto is "Ever Upward". She knows that 28% of Americans believe we never landed on the moon... -
![Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary]()
Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsRamona tries her hardest to be brave and fearless, but now she has her own bedroom it's sometimes a little difficult to be brave - you never know what could be lurking under the bed...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship humor realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
![Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes]()
Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 30 ratings“I like croquet and peanut butter and making my bed.”There is only one way for Chester to do things—his own way. “You definitely have a mind of your own,” said Chester’s mother. “That’s one way to put it,” said Chester’s father.Luckily Chester’s best friend, Wilson, likes doing things just the same way as Chester. When they cut their sandwiches, it's always diagonally...Categorized as:
children family friendship humor realistic action-adventure animals anthropomorphism -
![The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams]()
The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsEverybody needs friends? especially a boy in a dress! Dennis? life is boring and lonely. His mother left two years ago, his truck driver father is depressed, his brother is a bully and, worst of all, ?no hugging? is one of their household rules. But one thing Dennis does have is soccer?he?s the leading scorer on his team... -
![I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black, Debbie Ridpath Ohi]()
I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black, Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThere is NOTHING boring about being a kid, but one little girl is going to have to prove it in this anything-but-boring picture book from comedian Michael Ian Black.Just when a little girl thinks she couldn't possibly be more bored, she stumbles upon a potato who turns the tables on her by declaring that children are boring... -
![Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle]()
Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe sequel to Better Nate Than Ever —a New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2013, Publishers Weekly Flying Start and Best Book of 2013, and Amazon Best Book of 2013 ★ “This is an encore performance that will leave them standing in the aisles.” —Kirkus (starred review) ★ “[W]ill appeal to every budding theater geek... -
![The Swap by Megan Shull]()
The Swap by Megan Shull
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratings"You be me . . . And I'll be you."Ellie spent the summer before seventh grade getting dropped by her best friend since forever. Jack spent it training in "The Cage" with his tough-as-nails brothers and hard-to-please dad. By the time middle school starts, they're both ready for a change. And just as Jack's thinking girls have it so easy, Ellie's wishing she could be anyone but herself... -
![Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker]()
Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsClementine can't believe her ears her beloved teacher, Mr. D'Matz, might be leaving them for the rest of the year to go on a research trip to Egypt! No other teacher has ever understood her impulsiveness, her itch to draw constantly, or her need to play "Beat the Clock" when the day feels too long... -
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![Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick]()
Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsFrom hot new talent Jordan Sonnenblick, a "Tuesdays with Morrie" for teens. Coincides with the publication of his new hardcover novel.16-year-old Alex decides to get even. His parents are separated, his father is dating his former third-grade teacher, and being 16 isn't easy, especially when it comes to girls... -
![Edensor by Andrea Hirata]()
Edensor by Andrea Hirata
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsI wanted to climb to the summit of challenges, attack my way through hardships as solid as granite, tempt all sorts of peril, and break through mysteries with science. I longed to inhale all sorts of experience and then explore the labyrinthine ins and outs of life that in the end cannot be guessed... -
![The Empty Nesters by Carolyn Brown]()
The Empty Nesters by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe worst of times calls for the best of friends in this sassy novel about starting over, from New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.Dear friends and army wives Diana, Carmen, and Joanie have been through war, rumors of war, marital problems, motherhood, fears, joy, and heartache. But none of the women are prepared when their daughters decide to enlist in the army together... -
![Billionaire Boy by David Walliams]()
Billionaire Boy by David Walliams
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA hilarious, touching and extraordinary new fable from the author of The Boy in the Dress and Mr Stink.Joe has a lot of reasons to be happy. About a billion of them, in fact. You see, Joe's rich. Really, really rich. Joe's got his own bowling alley, his own cinema, even his own butler who is also an orangutan. He's the wealthiest twelve-year-old in the land.But Joe isn't happy... -
![Despicable Me: The Junior Novel by Annie Auerbach, Annie Auerbacj]()
Despicable Me: The Junior Novel by Annie Auerbach, Annie Auerbacj
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA smart, funny junior novelization of Despicable Me, an animated movie about "world's greatest villain" Gru, coming from Universal Studios in Summer 2010! Includes a color insert of stills from the... -
![The Risk Pool by Richard Russo]()
The Risk Pool by Richard Russo
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe Risk Pool is a thirty-year journey through the lives of Sam Hall, a small-town gambling hellraiser, and his watchful, introspective son Ned... -
![The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander]()
The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe humor of Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets a Godfather-like tale of crime and betrayal in this first book in Chris Rylander's The Fourth Stall Saga.Do you need something? Mac can get it for you. He and his best friend and business manager, Vince... -
![The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall]()
The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratings"Delightful. . . funny and poignant." --People With a kick like the best hot sauce, this is the laugh-out-loud story of a girl determined to keep up with her aging, crazy-as-a-fox mother"If you ever pined for a mother who would take a hunting falcon as her wingman to a parent-teacher conference, Polly is the gal for you. Delicious... -
![Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary]()
Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsGrowing up just wouldn't be the same without Ramona! Young readers delight in her trials and triumphs at home and at school... -
![Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume]()
Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFudge is back—and driving his brother Peter crazy, as usual. This five-year-old human hurricane is more trouble than ever. His latest plan is to marry Peter’s sworn enemy, Sheila Tubman (how disgusting!).But Peter’s problems are about to get worse. His parents have decided to share a summer house with the Tubmans... -
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![Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo]()
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsTo Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons' bed...Categorized as:
children family friendship humor realistic action-adventure animals anthropomorphism -
![Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary]()
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsHaving a little sister like four-year-old Ramona isn't always easy for Beezus Quimby. With a wild imagination, disregard for order, and an appetite for chaos, Ramona makes it hard for Beezus to be the responsible older sister she knows she ought to be…especially when Ramona threatens to ruin Beezus's birthday party...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship humor realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
![Ungifted by Gordon Korman]()
Ungifted by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsThe word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It's usually more like Don't try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he's finally gone too far... -
![There's A Boy In The Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar]()
There's A Boy In The Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsWith the new school counselor's help, Bradley begins to see himself as less of a monster and more of an individual capable of believing in himself... -
![The Final Exam by Gitty Daneshvari]()
The Final Exam by Gitty Daneshvari
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCheck out the laugh-inducing, phobia-reducing final book in the School of Fear trilogy! Is school out forever at the School of Fear? A nosy reporter is planning a scandalous expose on eccentric Mrs. Wellington and her unorthodox teaching methods, and the news is sure to put an end to the school... -
![Gimme Some Sugar by Kimberly Kincaid]()
Gimme Some Sugar by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOut of the frying pan. . .and into the fire!Desperate to escape the spotlight of her failed marriage to a fellow celebrity-chef, Carly di Matisse left New York City for a tiny town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The restaurant she's running these days may not be chic, but in Pine Mountain she can pretend to be the tough cookie everybody knows and loves... -
![Judy Moody Was in a Mood. Not a Good Mood. A Bad Mood. by Megan McDonald]()
Judy Moody Was in a Mood. Not a Good Mood. A Bad Mood. by Megan McDonald
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe book that started it all--now in paperback!Judy Moody was in a mood. Not a good mood. A bad mood. A mad-faced mood.Judy Moody doesn't have high hopes for third grade. But she does have an abundance of individuality and attitude, and when Mr... -
![How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles]()
How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsMoshav? What’s a moshav? Is it “shopping mall” in Hebrew? I mean, from what Jessica was telling me, Israeli stores have the latest fashions from Europe. That black dress Jessica has is really awesome. I know I’d be selling out if I go with the Sperm Donor to a mall, but I keep thinking about all the great stuff I could bring back home... -
![Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child]()
Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsIt's not easy to concentrate at school when mysterious things are happening all around you. Clarice Bean is beginning to feel just like the hero of her favorite books-Schoolgirl detective Ruby Redfort. Can Clarice pay attention long enough to ace her book project about Ruby and win the class prize? Find out in the utterly hilarious and suspenseful diary of Clarice Bean... -
![Piglettes by Clémentine Beauvais]()
Piglettes by Clémentine Beauvais
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAwarded the Gold, Silver and Bronze trotters after a vote by their classmates on Facebook, Mireille, Astrid and Hakima are officially the three ugliest girls in their school, but does that mean they're going to sit around crying about it?Well.. -
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![The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary]()
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 39 ratings"Pb-pb-b-b-b. Pb-pb-b-b-b." With these magic vocables, Ralph the mouse revs up a dream come true--his very own motorcycle. Living in a knothole in a hotel room, young Ralph has seen plenty of families come and go, some more generous with their crumbs than others. But when young Keith and his parents check in to the hotel, Ralph gets his first chance to check out...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship humor realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
![O Menino no Espelho by Fernando Sabino]()
O Menino no Espelho by Fernando Sabino
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"Quando eu era menino, os mais velhos perguntavam: -Que é que você quer ser quando crescer? Hoje não perguntam mais. Se perguntassem, eu diria que quero ser menino." Como nesse pequeno conto, Fernando Sabino conta sobre sua infancia no livro "O menino no espelho"... -
![Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe DeClements]()
Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe DeClements
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsJenny knows one thing for sure - Elsie Edwards is a fat thief who steals people's lunch money to buy candy. So when the book club money disappears, why is the whole class punished? Nothing's fair!But soon Jenny realizes some things aren't fair for Elsie, either. Elsie is on a strict diet, but when she starts losing weight, her mother won't buy her new clothes...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship humor realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
![Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows]()
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
Rated: 3.95 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsThe 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 quickly, Ivy 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 this a charming and addictive introduction to Ivy and Bean... -
![Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce]()
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLiam is too big for his boots. And his football strip. And his school blazer. But being super-sized height-wise has its advantages: he's the only eleven-year-old to ever ride the G-force defying Cosmic rollercoaster - or be offered the chance to drive a Porsche. Long-legged Liam makes a giant leap for boy-kind by competing with a group of adults for the chance to go into space... -
![Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle]()
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he'd settle for *seeing* a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York...
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