Books like 'Whale Talk'
Readers who enjoyed Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary comedy sports realistic coming-of-age high-school bullying poc-mc friendship humor
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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... -
Forever Geek by Holly Smale
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMy name is Harriet Manners and I’ll be a geek forever…Harriet Manners knows almost every fact there is.Modelling isn’t a sure-fire route to popularity. Neither is making endless lists. The people you love don’t expect you to transform into someone else. Statistically, you are more likely to not meet your Australian ex-boyfriend in Australia than bump into him there... -
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life (well, almost): He plays drums in the All-Star Jazz Band, has a crush on the hottest girl in school (who doesn’t know he’s alive), frequently finds himself sitting across from his school counselor (who bribes him with candy), and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey (who is cuter than cute)... -
The Chronicles of Audy: 21 by Orizuka
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHai. Namaku Audy. Umurku masih 22 tahun. Hidupku tadinya biasa-biasa saja, sampai aku memutuskan untuk bekerja di rumah 4R. Aku sempat berhenti, tapi mereka berhasil membujukku untuk kembali setelah memberiku titel baru: "bagian dari keluarga". Di saat aku merasa semakin akrab dengan mereka, pada suatu siang, salah seorang dari mereka mengungkapkan perasaannya kepadaku... -
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The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBilly loves telling jokes . . . but there's one thing he feels is standing in his way of being a comic: his stutter. In The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, debut author Helen Rutter shows how Billy finds his own triumph . . . with lots of laughs along the way.Billy Plimpton has a big dream: to become a famous comedian when he grows up... -
Spud: Exit, Pursued by a Bear by John van de Ruit
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAfter an unexpected and diabolical farewell breakfast conversation with his father, Spud Milton returns to boarding school for his 1993 Matric year, his last as a schoolboy. Armed with a prefects’ tie and a raging libido, Spud soon discovers that being a large(ish) fish in a small pond has its fair share of challenges... -
Head Over Heels by Holly Smale
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratings“My name is Harriet Manners, and I will always be a geek.”The fifth book in the bestselling, award-winning GEEK GIRL series.Harriet Manners knows almost every fact there is.She knows duck-billed platypuses don’t have stomachs.She knows that fourteen squirrels were once detained as spies.She knows only one flag in the world features a building... -
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... -
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... -
The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWinner or washout?When it comes to tackling third grade, Clementine is at the top of her game—okay, so maybe not all the time. After her teacher announces that the third and fourth graders will be putting on a talent show, Clementine panics. She doesn't sing or dance or play an instrument. She can't even hop with finesse... -
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... -
Model Misfit by Holly Smale
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratings“My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek.” Harriet knows that modelling won’t transform you. She knows that being as uniquely odd as a polar bear isn’t necessarily a bad thing (even in a rainforest). And that the average person eats a ton of food a year, though her pregnant stepmother is doing her best to beat this... -
The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLeft quad. Right quad. Lunge. A girls indoor soccer team warms up. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, the team navigates big questions and wages tiny battles with all the vim and vigor of a pack of adolescent warriors. A portrait of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls who just want to score some goals... -
How to Convince a Boy to Kiss You by Tara Eglington
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe course of true love never did run smooth. For a girl who shares her name with a princess (a.k.a Aurora from Sleeping Beauty) Aurora Skye’s life seem fathoms away from a fairytale. Sure, she’s landed Hayden Paris, Potential Prince extraordinaire. And she got her wish -- one first kiss with all the knee-trembling, butterfly-inducing gloriousness she’d hoped for... -
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Cheeky Romance by Kim Eun Jeong
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWanita yang tingkahnya tidak terduga, “si ibu hamil nasional”, vs laki-laki yang selalu dianggap sempurna,“si dokter nasional”. Aku adalah seorang reporter. Saat aku sedang bekerja, di tengah syuting, muncul seorang dokter kandungan yang marah-marah seperti orang gila dan menuduhku sebagai ibu hamil. Celakanya, acara itu sedang ditayangkan ke seluruh penjuru negeri... -
Permanent Rose by Hilary McKay
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt's a long hot, never-ending summer, with no letters for Rose. No phone calls, no messages, nothing at all.Rose is determined to find Tom in New York... -
Geek Girl (4). Der Star unter den Sternschnuppen by Holly Smale
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsMy name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek.Harriet Manners has high hopes for the new school year: she’s a Sixth Former now, and things are going to be different... -
The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe book club is about to get a makeover.... Even if Megan would rather be at the mall, Cassidy is late for hockey practice, Emma's already read every book in existence, and Jess is missing her mother too much to care, the new book club is scheduled to meet every month... -
Totally Joe by James Howe
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJoe Bunch breaks down his life—and his secrets—for a school assignment in this second book of the funny, heartfelt, and beloved Misfits series by Bunnicula author James Howe.What can I say? I’m a total original. Joe may only be twelve-going-on-thirteen, but he’s known who he is from the time he was a little kid tottering around in his mother’s high heels... -
Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now by Lauren Child
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThere seems to be an awful lot in Clarice's life to worry about and when she finds herself unable to sleep at night, she follows Ruby Redfort's advice. But Clarice soon realises that your worst worry is the worry you haven't even thought to worry about... -
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"Fans of Beverly Cleary's Quimbys, Judy Blume's Hatchers, and, more recently, Jeanne Birdsall's Penderwicks will fervently hope that more Fletcher misadventures are yet to come." --School Library Journal, Starred The start of the school year is not going as the Fletcher brothers hoped. Each boy finds his plans for success veering off in unexpected and sometimes diastrous directions... -
Boys Rock! by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWally Hatford dreams of long lazy days far away from school and Caroline Malloy. But Wally, the best speller among the Hatford brothers, gets roped into helping them with a summer newspaper project that will earn the twins school credit.What does that get Wally? When he hears scratching noises coming from Oldakers’ bookstore cellar, Mr... -
No Talking by Andrew Clements
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 25 ratings"You have the right to remain silent." However... The fifth-grade girls and the fifth-grade boys at Laketon Elementary don't get along very well. But the real problem is that these kids are loud and disorderly. That's why the principal uses her red plastic bullhorn. A lot... -
The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon—and me, Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom E. Lockhart, author of the highly acclaimed, New York Times bestseller We Were Liars, which John Green called "utterly unforgettable," comes The Treasure Map of Boys , the third book in the uproarious and heartwarming Ruby Oliver novels. Ruby is back at Tate Prep, and it’s her thirty-seventh week in the state of Noboyfriend... -
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Should Have Got Off at Sydney Parade by Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, Paul Howard
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFiction from Ireland. No 1 Bestseller... -
The Teenage Dirtbag Years by Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, Paul Howard
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSo there I was, roysh, class legend, schools rugby legend, basically all-round legend, when someone decides you can't, like, sit the Leaving Cert four times. Well that put a focking spanner in the works.But joining the goys at college wasn't the mare I thought it would be, basically for, like, three major beer, women and more women... -
Skinnybones by Barbara Park
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPlay Ball???"I've played Little League baseball for six years now. But to tell you the truth, I'm not exactly what you'd call a real good athlete. Actually, I'm not even real okay. Basically, what I'm trying to say here is, I stink... -
Caddy Ever After by Hilary McKay
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLove is in the air for the Casson family! Four hilarious, endearing tales unfold as Rose, Indigo, Saffy, and Caddy each tell their intertwining stories. Rose begins by showing how she does special with her Valentine's card for Tom in New York. Not to be outdone, Indigo has his own surprise in store for the Valentine,s Day disco at school... -
After Iris by Natasha Farrant
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAn unforgettable middle-grade debut that will steal your heart Blue Gadsby’s twin sister, Iris, died three years ago and her family has never been the same. Her histrionic older sister, Flora, changes her hair color daily; her younger siblings, Jasmine and Twig, are completely obsessed with their pet rats; and both of her parents spend weeks away from home–and each other... -
Beat the Band by Don Calame
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGet ready for riffs on hot girls, health class, and social hell! The outrageously funny boys from Swim the Fly return to rock their sophomore year. In this hilarious sequel to Swim the Fly, told from Coop’s point of view, it’s the beginning of the school year, and the tenth-grade health class must work in pairs on semester-long projects... -
The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsLife is looking up for D.J. Schwenk. She’s in eleventh grade, finally. After a rocky summer, she’s reconnecting in a big way with her best friend, Amber. She’s got kind of a thing going with Brian Nelson, who’s cute and popular and smart but seems to like her anyway... -
Swim the Fly by Don Calame
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThree adolescent boys with a single goal: see a reallive naked girl. The result? Razor-sharp, rapid-fi re, and raunchy, of course. And beyond hilarious. Fifteen-year-old Matt Gratton and his two best friends, Coop and Sean, always set themselves a summertime goal... -
The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It by Lisa Shanahan
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIN MY FAMILY, when anyone rides the wave of their emotions, we say they're chucking a birkett. When the emotion drives out all common sense, we say they're chucking a big one. The telltale signs are: flaming cheeks, shortness of breath, bulging eyes, and a prolonged illogical outburst... -
The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb, Darcy Vance
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen self-proclaimed geek girl Bethany Reynolds becomes the newest member of the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there's one thing worse than blending into the lockers: getting noticed. Who knew cheerleading was so hard? Well, at least there's a manual, The Prairie Stone High Varsity Cheerleading Guide. Too bad it doesn't cover any of the really tough questions... -
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Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My to Do List by Janette Rallison
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA PC school principal turns West Side Story into a comedy of errors.Sixteen year-old Jessica dreams of Hollywood fame, and when Jordan moves into her small town, she dreams of him too. He’s a movie star’s son, and hey, he’s gorgeous to boot... -
7 Clues to Winning You by Kristin Walker
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen a humiliating picture of Blythe goes viral, she's instantly the target of ridicule at her new school. To salvage her reputation, Blythe teams up with Luke to win the Senior Scramble scavenger hunt. But Luke is an unlikely ally and potentially can't be trusted. Perhaps it's his Shakespearean witticisms that reel Blythe in despite her better judgment . . -
Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsViolet's TV-director dad has traded a job in Vancouver for one in Los Angeles, their run-down house for a sleek ranch-style home complete with a pool, and, worst of all, Violet's mother for a trophy wife, a blonde actress named Jennica. Violet's younger sister reacts by bed-wetting, and her mother ping-pongs from one loser to another, searching for love... -
Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time by Lisa Yee
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsStanford Wong is in big trouble--or as he would spell it, "trubble"--in this laugh-out-loud companion to the award-winning MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS and this season's HC, EMILY EBERS. Stanford Wong is having a bad summer. If he flunks his summer-school English class, he won't pass sixth grade. If that happens, he won't start on the A-team... -
Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? by Jerry Spinelli
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWho Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? Sibling rivalry at its finest! Whether it's on the hockey ice, at school, or at home, Greg and Megin just can't seem to get along. She calls him Grosso, he calls her Megamouth. They battle with donuts, cockroaches, and hair... -
War with Grandpa, The by Robert Kimmel Smith, Nicholas Kelly
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPeter is thrilled that Grandpa is coming to live with his family. That is, until Grandpa moves right into Peter’s room, forcing him upstairs.Peter loves his grandpa but wants his room back. He has no choice but to declare war! With the help of his friends, Peter devises outrageous plans to make Grandpa surrender the room. But Grandpa is tougher than he looks... -
A Non-Blonde Cheerleader in Love by Kieran Scott
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe Sand Dune High cheerleading squad has gone coed, and not everyone is happy about it. Annisa's psyched when her boyfriend signs up, and stunting with the guys is pretty cool. But then the battle of the sexes heats up, and Annisa is caught in the middle... -
Revenge of the Cheerleaders by Janette Rallison
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsChelsea's school year has taken a turn for the worse. After being dumped by her boyfriend and humiliated at the pep assembly by her younger sister's boyfriend, Rick, she's just concentrating on avoiding any other major embarrassments. That's when Rick and his band debut their new album, complete with a whole set of songs bashing cheerleaders... -
Schooled by Gordon Korman
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsHomeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television, tasted a pizza, or even heard of a wedgie. But when his grandmother lands in the hospital, Cap is forced to move in with a school counselor and attend the local middle school. While Cap knows a lot about tie-dyeing and Zen Buddhism, no education could prepare him for the politics of public school... -
45 Pounds (More or Less) by K.A. Barson
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsHere are the numbers of Ann Galardi’s life:She is 16.And a size 17.Her perfect mother is a size 6.Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 8 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid.So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in two months... -
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Geek Girl by Holly Smale
Rated: 3.85 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsHarriet Manners knows a lot of things. She knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a "jiffy" lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. What she isn't quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she's spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself... -
Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott
Rated: 3.81 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMean Girls meets High School Musical from the author of I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader! Everyone loves KJ Miller, especially the geeks. She's pretty, smart, and super nice to everyone, which has made her the geek pied piper of Washington High. If only Cameron, the star of the basketball team, would follow her around and worship her the way her dorky entourage does... -
King of the Screwups by K.L. Going
Rated: 3.81 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLiam Geller is Mr. Popularity. Everybody loves him. He excels at sports; he knows exactly what clothes to wear; he always ends up with the most beautiful girls in school. But he's got an uncanny ability to screw up in the very ways that tick off his father the most. When Liam finally kicked out of the house, his father's brother takes him in... -
Squashed by Joan Bauer
Rated: 3.79 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHumor, agriculture and young love all come together in Joan Bauer's first novel, set in rural Iowa. Sixteen-year-old Ellie Morgan's life would be almost perfect if she could just get her potentially prize-winning pumpkin to put on about 200 more pounds—and if she could take off 20 herself...in hopes of attracting Wes, the new boy in town... -
Meet The Sennas by Orizuka
Rated: 3.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAku Daza Senna. Anak kedua dari tiga bersaudara. Yang artinya aku anak tengah …. Astaga. Aku menulis apa, sih? Oke, mari coba lagi. Aku Daza Senna. Aku tinggal bersama orang-orang yang sama sekali tak bisa disebut normal. Dan sialnya, orang-orang itu adalah keluargaku. Hmm, ini sudah lebih bagus... -
The Misfits by James Howe
Rated: 3.78 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsKids who get called the worst names oftentimes find each other. That's how it was with us. Skeezie Tookis and Addie Carle and Joe Bunch and me. We call ourselves the Gang of Five, but there are only four of us. We do it to keep people on their toes. Make 'em wonder. Or maybe we do it because we figure that there's one more kid out there who's going to need a gang to be a part of...
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