Books like 'Across the Desert'
Readers who enjoyed Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary action / adventure realistic survival family friendship children grief suspense
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Love Under Siege: A Limited Edition Military Romantic Suspense Collection by Samantha A. Cole, Maryann Jordan
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEight Sizzling Full-Length Novels featuring Military Heroes by acclaimed authors who know how to bring the Heat, Action and Suspense! Tuff Enough by Samantha A. Cole While security operative Jason “Tuff” Tanner lives for dangerous assignments, he likes his downtime in his quiet neighborhood too... -
![The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren]()
The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too... -
![Stella by McCall Hoyle]()
Stella by McCall Hoyle
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsSTELLA has been nominated for 14 state awards in FL, ME, NE, NM, OK, PA, KY, KS, LA, AL, MA, SC & TX!"This empathetic read is also full of important themes and lessons for young readers bravery, how to overcome fears, and that mistakes don't have to define us... -
![If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen]()
If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIf I built a car, it'd be totally new!Here are a few of the things that I'd do. . . .Young Jack is giving an eye-opening tour of the car he'd like to build. There's a snack bar, a pool, and even a robot named Robert to act as chauffeur... -
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![Unstoppable by Tim Green]()
Unstoppable by Tim Green
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Tim Green has written an unforgettable story—inspired by interviews with real-life cancer survivors and insider sports experience—showing a brave boy who learns what it truly means to be unstoppable."Absolutely heroic, and something every guy should read... -
![A Bad Case Of Stripes by David Shannon, Jane Casserly]()
A Bad Case Of Stripes by David Shannon, Jane Casserly
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 56 ratingsBestselling and award-winning author and illustrator David Shannon's colorful cure for conformityCamilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don't like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her... -
![Charlie Foxtrot by Giulia Lagomarsino]()
Charlie Foxtrot by Giulia Lagomarsino
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMummies. Yeah, you heard me right. That’s my next job—protecting a mummy. It wouldn’t be a problem, except someone doesn’t want this particular mummy to make it to the museum. Not to mention one of my teammates thinks this particular mummy is cursed. On top of this ridiculous job, I’ve also met the most gorgeous woman in the world... -
![Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein]()
Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWelcome, boys and girls, readers of all ages, to the first-ever Library Olympiad! Kyle and his teammates are back, and the world-famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, is at it again! This time Mr. Lemoncello has invited teams from all across America to compete in the first ever LIBRARY OLYMPICS. Will it be fun? Like the commercials say. . -
![The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, Stephen Gammell]()
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, Stephen Gammell
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe relatives' station wagon: it smelled like a real car, looked like a rainbow, and was roomy enough for a crowd. Lucky! Because a big crowd in all shapes and sizes piled into that old wagon at four o'clock one summer morning and piled out of it the next day at their relatives' place on the north side of the mountains. All in good moods...Categorized as:
children family friendship realistic action-adventure book children-books contemporary -
![Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly]()
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn the spirit of modern-day classics like Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s comes the Schneider Family Book Award-winning story of a deaf girl's connection to a whale whose song can't be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him. From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius... -
![The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate]()
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsBob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family... -
![Make the Rules by Annie Barrows]()
Make the Rules by Annie Barrows
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBean's older sister, Nancy, is going to Girl Power 4-Ever Camp, where she will do Crafts and Music and First Aid and other secret things that Bean will never know about because girls have to be eleven to go to Girl Power 4-Ever Camp. Bean doesn't care. She doesn't want to go to camp. She wouldn't go even if they begged her. So ha. So ha ha...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic action-adventure book children-books contemporary fiction -
![The Star Outside My Window by Onjali Q. Raúf]()
The Star Outside My Window by Onjali Q. Raúf
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMy mum is up there somewhere. She's waiting -- I can feel it. I just have to find her in time, that's all ... Because when I do, I'll know the truth about who stole her. ' Told through the innocent voice of a child, this is a story that celebrates the power of hope and resilience, from the author of The Boy at the Back of the Class.On her tenth birthday, Aniyah makes a wish -- a wish for her mum... -
![Louder Than Hunger by John Schu]()
Louder Than Hunger by John Schu
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsRevered teacher, librarian, and story ambassador John Schu explores anorexia—and self-expression as an act of survival—in a wrenching and transformative novel-in-verse. But another voice inside me says, We need help. We’re going to die. Jake volunteers at a nursing home because he likes helping people... -
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![Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret]()
Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThirteen-year-old Sunny runs away from her current foster parent in search of her twin sister, from whom she was separated ten years earlier. On the way, shell face a tornado, bullies, and a stray dog and the fact that her sister may not be who Sunny hoped she would be... -
![The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling]()
The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA novel in verse about a young girl's struggle for survival after a climbing trip with her father goes terribly wrong.One year after a random shooting changed their family forever, Nora and her father are exploring a slot canyon deep in the Arizona desert, hoping it will help them find peace... -
![Ruby Reinvented by Ronni Arno]()
Ruby Reinvented by Ronni Arno
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen Ruby flees Hollywood to escape the fame of her parents, she tells a lie that could ruin the life she loves at her new boarding school in this M!X novel about courage, families, and finding your own spotlight.Ruby Miller has it made. As the only child of model-turned-TV-host Celestine Cruz and pro-baseball star Zack Miller, she has everything a twelve-year-old girl could want...Categorized as:
children family friendship realistic action-adventure boarding-school book children-books -
![The Last Bear by Hannah Gold]()
The Last Bear by Hannah Gold
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsIn this instant literary classic about friendship, forging your own path, and doing what’s right, debut author Hannah Gold inspires fans of Pax and A Wolf Called Wander to make a difference in any way they can.There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to a faraway Arctic outpost... -
![Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur]()
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA beautifully written and deeply moving middle-grade novel with characters to cherish and a story that deals with tragedy and loss in a fresh way. Aubrey has suffered an unbelievable loss, and goes to live with her grandmother in Vermont in order to heal. There she makes new friends, learns to cope with what has happened, and begins to figure out how to move on... -
![The Stars of Summer by Tara Dairman]()
The Stars of Summer by Tara Dairman
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt’s not easy being an undercover restaurant critic—especially when you’re only twelve years old!After successfully completing her first restaurant review for the New York Standard newspaper, Gladys Gatsby is looking forward to a quiet summer of cooking and eating. But her plans quickly go awry when her friend Charissa Bentley delivers Gladys’s birthday gift: a free summer at Camp Bentley... -
![Train I Ride by Paul Mosier]()
Train I Ride by Paul Mosier
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRydr is on a train heading east, leaving California, where her gramma can’t take care of her anymore, and traveling to Chicago to live with an unknown relative. She brings with her a suitcase, memories both happy and sad, and a box containing something very important.As Rydr meets her fellow passengers and learns their stories, her own past begins to emerge... -
![Public Enemies by Gordon Korman]()
Public Enemies by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWANTED...Aiden and Meg Falconer have been crossing the country as fugitives in order to prove their parents didn't commit a crime. In a world where criminals are celebrities and news coverage is 24-7, the Falconers are finding it very hard to hide from their unwanted fame. They've been chased from state to state by the FBI... and by a killer they know only as Hairless Joe... -
![No News Is Good News by Annie Barrows]()
No News Is Good News by Annie Barrows
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIvy and Bean need some money. Ten dollars, to be exact. Never mind what for. Okay, it's for low-fat Belldeloon cheese in a special just-for you serving size. Don't ask why. How are Ivy and Bean going to make ten dollars? Hey, maybe they should write a newspaper about Pancake Court and sell it! Great idea! And easy, too. All they have to do is snoop around the neighborhood. Wow..Categorized as:
children friendship realistic action-adventure audiobook book children-books contemporary -
![Supergifted by Gordon Korman]()
Supergifted by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe highly anticipated sequel to Ungifted from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman.Donovan Curtis has never been what anyone would call “gifted.” But his genius friend Noah Youkilis is actually supergifted, with one of the highest IQs around. After years at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, all Noah dreams of is the opportunity to fail if he wants to... -
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![Stolen Children by Peg Kehret]()
Stolen Children by Peg Kehret
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsAmy learned a lot in her babysitting course, but not what to do if two thugs show up, intent on kidnapping. Armed with misinformation and a weapon, the men take Amy and little Kendra to a remote cabin in the woods. There they make videos of the girls and mail them to Kendra’s wealthy parents in an effort to get ransom money... -
![Football Genius by Tim Green]()
Football Genius by Tim Green
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author and former NFL player Tim Green scores a touchdown with this exhilarating and action-packed story about an ordinary boy who becomes a hero you can really root for. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica.Twelve-year-old Troy White has a phenomenal gift: He can predict football plays before they even happen. Any position. Any player. Any team... -
![Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan]()
Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA sheltered girl. A wild horse. An unforgettable journey.Paint the Wind joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!Maya lives like a captive. At Grandmother's house in California, everything is forbidden: friends, fun, even memories... -
![London Calling by James Ponti]()
London Calling by James Ponti
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIn this sixth installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies stage a rescue in Rome.Cairo, the newest member of the City Spies, takes the lead when his sister disappears in Istanbul. Determined to save the family of one of their own, the team risks discovery as their search leads them to Rome... -
![Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix]()
Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsHIDE OR FIGHT?Matthias, an illegal third child, is caught in the cross fire between rebels and the Population Police. When he unwittingly saves a Population Police officer, Matthias is brought to Population Police headquarters to train as an officer himself. There he meets Nina, another third-born who enlists his help in a plot to undermine the Population Police... -
![Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix]()
Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsA Reluctant HeroTrey may have saved Luke's life, but he still thinks of himself as a coward who can barely stand to be outdoors. Now Trey finds out Luke has been taken prisoner at Population Police headquarters. Trey is terrified, but he knows that if he doesn't rescue his friend, no one will.At police headquarters, Trey impersonates an officer to try getting to Luke... -
![The Last Wish of Sasha Cade by Cheyanne Young]()
The Last Wish of Sasha Cade by Cheyanne Young
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe day Raquel has been dreading for months has finally arrived. Sasha, her best friend in the whole world, has died of cancer. Overwhelmed and brokenhearted, Raquel can't even imagine life without her. And then a letter from Sasha arrives... -
![My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano]()
My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA story of first friendship.she is my best friend i think i never had a best friend so i’m not sure but i think she is a really good best friend because when we were drawing she drew me and i drew her... -
![Deep Water by Watt Key]()
Deep Water by Watt Key
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA middle grade survival story about a scuba dive gone wrong and two enemies who must unite to survive.It's the most important rule of scuba diving: If you don't feel right, don't go down.So after her father falls ill, twelve-year-old Julie Sims must take over and lead two of his clients on a dive miles off the coast of Alabama while her father stays behind in the boat... -
![Survivors by Jeff Probst, Christopher Tebbetts]()
Survivors by Jeff Probst, Christopher Tebbetts
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSequel to the New York Times bestseller Stranded and Trial by Fire! As seen on The Today Show, Rachael Ray, and Kelly and Michael. From the Emmy-Award winning host of Survivor, Jeff Probst with Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life co-author Chris Tebbetts comes a brand new family adventure series!Eleven days down, and no end in sight... -
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![The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson]()
The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA story of fear and hope, loneliness and friendship -- full of the heart, engaging characters, and propulsive, page-turning mystery that made The Goldfish Boy so beloved.Nate and his mother are running away. Fleeing from an emotionally abusive situation, they hide out in an abandoned cottage in the middle of a forest. Though it's old and run-down, at least it's a place of their own... -
![Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen]()
Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSHORTLISTED FOR THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD 2015LONGLISTED FOR THE BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2015SHORTLISTED FOR THE REDBRIDGE AWARD 2015RUNNER UP TEACH PRIMARY NEW CHILDREN'S FICTION AWARD 2015BOOKTRUST PICKWhen they first arrived, they came quietly and stealthily as if they tip-toed into the world when we were all looking the other way. Ade loves living at the top of a tower block... -
![Hunting the Hunter by Gordon Korman]()
Hunting the Hunter by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIT'S NOT OVER...Hairless Joe. Aiden and Meg Falconer have known him as a threat. A killer. A madman. But now they've discovered that he holds the key to freeing their parents from prison.The Falconer kids know what they have to do: Hunt the hunter and trap the killer - even if he's armed and very dangerous. It's their only chance, and they're going to take it... and risk everything...Categorized as:
children family realistic survival action-adventure book children-books contemporary -
![Christmas in Eternity Springs by Emily March]()
Christmas in Eternity Springs by Emily March
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCan Miss Christmas find her spirit again?After a devastating betrayal, Claire Branham packs up the pieces of her life, along with a twenty-million-dollar secret, and moves to Eternity Springs. She opens a specialty shop—Forever Christmas—and, with the help of a surprise romance with the town’s sexy new handyman, Claire’s heart begins to heal... -
![Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London]()
Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFroggy's mother knows that everyone's nervous on the first day of school. "Not me!" says Froggy, and together they leapfrog to the bus stop -- flop flop flop. Froggy's exuberant antics, complete with sound effects, will delight his many fans and reassure them that school can be fun."This is a great read-aloud with sounds and words that encourage active participation... -
![Bound to be Bad by Annie Barrows]()
Bound to be Bad by Annie Barrows
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe adventures of Ivy and Bean continue in the latest installment from series creators Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall. In Ivy and Bean Bound to Be Bad the two girls decide to be so good and kind and pure of thought that wild animals will befriend them. When this doesn't work, they decide that perhaps a little badness can be good... -
![The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby]()
The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsGirl Online meets Wild in this emotionally charged story of girl who takes to the wilderness to rediscover herself and escape the superficial persona she created on social media.Mari Turner’s life is perfect. That is, at least to her thousands of followers who have helped her become an internet starlet... -
![Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record by Annie Barrows]()
Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record by Annie Barrows
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWorld record fever grips the second grade, and soon Ivy and Bean are trying to set their own record by becoming the youngest people to have ever discovered a dinosaur... -
![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... -
![The Fugitive Factor by Gordon Korman]()
The Fugitive Factor by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsNOWHERE TO HIDE.Aiden and Meg Falconer are out to find the evidence that will free their parents from a life sentence in prison. But in order to do that, they have to live undercover. Ever since they broke out of a juvenile detention facility, they've been chased by the FBI... and by a strange killer they've nicknamed Hairless Joe... -
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![Close to You by Kathryn Shay]()
Close to You by Kathryn Shay
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAward-winning author Kathryn Shay delivers a powerful novel about two people whose undeniable passion for each other pushes them to take the chances of a lifetime. Through his sister, the Second Lady of the United States, photographer Aidan O'Neil meets Secret Service Agent C.J... -
![The Boys Return by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
The Boys Return by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt’s spring break and the only assignment Wally Hatford and Caroline Malloy have is to do something that they have never done before. Wally’s sure that will be a cinch once he hears the great news about the mighty Benson brothers coming to stay for vacation. It will be nonstop action all the way...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic family children-books fiction middle-grade contemporary -
![After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson]()
After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhat happens when the lights go off after what might truly be an end-of-the-world event? How do you stay alive? Who do you trust? How much do you have to sacrifice?'After the Lights Go Out is a terrifying yet hope-filled story of disaster, deceit, love, sacrifice and survival... -
![Main Street #5: The Secret Book Club by Ann M. Martin]()
Main Street #5: The Secret Book Club by Ann M. Martin
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFlora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki start their own summer book club when well-loved books start appearing on their doorsteps in the fifth of Ann Martin's wonderful Main Street books.Flora and Ruby are about to start their second summer in Camden Falls...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic action-adventure audiobook book children-books contemporary -
![The Girls Take Over by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
The Girls Take Over by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe race is on! The Hatford boys and the Malloy girls are ready to outdo one another again. Eddie is the first girl to ever try out for the school baseball team. Now she and Jake are competing for the same position, while Caroline and Wally compete for class spelling bee champ. Wally is itching to win, but Caroline the show-off plans to be number one...Categorized as:
realistic children family friendship children-books fiction contemporary middle-grade -
![A Traitor Among the Boys by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Morris Gleitzman]()
A Traitor Among the Boys by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Morris Gleitzman
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Hatford boys' New Year's resolution is "the girls can stay . . . but only if they play by our rules." Their mother insists that they "treat those girls as though they were your sisters." Okay, but somehow the boys' interpretation owes more to sibling rivalry than to brotherly love...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship family children-books fiction middle-grade contemporary
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