Books like 'That Thing about Bollywood'
Readers who enjoyed That Thing about Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary fantasy realistic magical-realism family poc-mc magic children asian-mc friendship
-
October, October by Katya Balen
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA classic in the making for anyone who ever longed to be WILD.October and her dad live in the woods. They sleep in the house Dad built for them and eat the food they grow in the vegetable patches. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. They read the books they buy in town again and again until the pages are soft and yellow - until next year's town visit... -
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsACE 1250043220 (ISBN13: 9781250043221)Trees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree"—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this "wishtree" watches over the neighborhood... -
The Last Present by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsDon't miss the latest entry in the incredible Willow Falls series by Wendy Mass!Amanda and Leo have a history with birthdays. Now their friend's little sister, Grace, has fallen into a strange frozen state on her birthday, and Amanda and Leo must travel in time in order to fix whatever's wrong. As they journey back to each of Grace's birthdays, they start seeing all sorts of patterns . .Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism realistic -
Owen by Kevin Henkes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratings“Fuzzy goes where I go.”Owen’s fuzzy yellow blanket is his favorite possession. Everywhere Owen goes, his blanket goes with him. Upstairs, downstairs, in-between. Inside, outside, upside down. Everywhere! Owen’s parents are in despair—soon Owen will begin school, and he can’t take Fuzzy with him then... -
-
All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA middle-grade novel about a young girl navigating the foster care system in search of where she belongs.Red’s inexplicable power over the wind comes from her mother. Whenever Ruby “Red” Byrd is scared or angry, the wind picks up. And being placed in foster care, moving from family to family, tends to keep her skies stormy. Red knows she has to learn to control it, but can’t figure out how...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism realistic -
Imagine a Day by Sarah L. Thomson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsImagine a day when your swing swings you higher than the highest treetops. Imagine a day when you can ride your bike up a path of falling leaves into the very tree they are falling from. Imagine a day when you release a handful of blue balloons into a cloudy, gray sky to create a postcard-perfect day. Imagine a day when the ordinary becomes the extraordinary...a day when anything is possible...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism book children-books contemporary female-author fiction -
13 Gifts by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWendy Mass turns to another magical birthday: 13!When Tara, a self-proclaimed shrinking violet, steals the school mascot, a goat, in order to make some friends with the popular crowd and gets caught, she gets herself in a heap of trouble...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship magic magical-realism realistic action-adventure -
Eleven Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsGROUNDHOG DAY meets FLIPPED in this tale of a girl stuck in her birthday.It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited -- after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. The worst part of it all is that she and her best friend, Leo, with whom she's shared every birthday, are on the outs and this will be the first birthday they haven't shared together...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism realistic -
Confessions of an Imaginary Friend: A Memoir by Jacques Papier by Michelle Cuevas
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsA TIME magazine Top 10 Children's Book of 2015The whimsical "autobiography" of an imaginary friend who doesn't know he's imaginary--perfect for fans of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Toy StoryJaques Papier has the sneaking suspicion that everyone except his sister Fleur hates him...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure arthurian -
The Wild Book by Juan Villoro, Lawrence Schimel
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom one of Mexico’s foremost authors comes a wondrous adventure story of a boy who goes to live with his kooky, book-obsessed uncle in a library where books have supernatural powers."We walked toward the part of the library where the air smelled as if it had been interred for years….Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure audiobook -
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThree children discover a magical bag of chalk on a rainy...Categorized as:
children friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism poc-mc action-adventure animals -
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsEveryone loves Mrs. Piggle-WiggleMrs. Piggle-Wiggle lives in an upside-down house and smells like cookies. She was even married to a pirate once. Most of all, she knows everything about children. She can cure them of any ailment. Patsy hates baths. Hubert never puts anything away. Allen eats v-e-r-y slowly. Mrs Piggle-Wiggle has a treatment for all of them.The incomparable Mrs... -
The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery, Laura Catalan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA heartwarming story about family, friendship and finding your inner fire.Between bullies at school and changes at home, Charlie Challinor finds life a bit scary. And when he's made guardian of a furry fox cub called Cadno, things get a whole lot scarier.Because Cadno isn't just any fox: he's a firefox - the only one of his kind - and a sinister hunter from another world is on his trail... -
Demon Dentist by David Walliams
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThis New York Times bestseller from David Walliams, the UK’s #1 bestselling children’s author and “the heir to Roald Dahl” (The Spectator), launched his books stateside in a big way!Walliams makes going to the dentist a wacky adventure with his signature humor—this is one dentist appointment you don’t want to miss.Something strange is happening in Alfie's town...Categorized as:
children family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure audiobook -
-
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...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism realistic action-adventure -
The Insiders by Mark Oshiro, Avi Roque
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThree kids who don’t belong. A room that shouldn’t exist. A year that will change everything.Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Meg Medina, this debut middle grade novel from award-winning author Mark Oshiro is a hopeful and heartfelt coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism poc-mc realistic -
Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThe riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester's Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting -- if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world."Julius is the baby of the world," said his parents. But Lilly, his older sister, disagreed... -
When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEverybody thinks Tara Doucet has the perfect life. But in reality, Tara’s life is anything but perfect: Her dear Grammy Claire has just passed away, her mother is depressed and distant, and she and her sister Riley can’t seem to agree on anything... -
Philippa Fisher And The Fairy's Promise by Liz Kessler
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsPhilippa is looking forward to spending New Year in the village where her new friend Robyn lives... -
The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsCharlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life at college, everything seems more important than Charlie. Then one day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything . . . in the form of a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism realistic -
Gorilla by Anthony Browne
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAnthony Browne’s incomparable artwork illuminates the deeply satisfying story of a lonely girl, a friendly gorilla, and their enchanted night out.Hannah spends all of her time reading gorilla books, watching gorilla TV shows, and drawing gorilla pictures. She has gorillas on her bedside lamp and even on her box of cereal... -
Graceful by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAngelina D'Angelo has left town to see the world. It's now Grace's turn to use her magic to protect the people of Willow Falls, and she is up to the challenge. This is her destiny, after all. But destiny is a funny thing—it doesn't always behave the way you'd expect it to...Categorized as:
children family friendship magic magical-realism realistic action-adventure audiobook -
Arcade Catastrophe by Brandon Mull
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsIt will take more than magical candy to win this war!Something fishy is going on over at the new amusement centre in Walnut Hills. The trouble seems linked to the mysterious disappearance of Mozag and John Dart, who have spent their lives policing the magical community... -
Wild Child by Lynn Plourde
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Time for bed," Mother Earth said."Not for a while,"said her wild child."A song, first. to play in my headbefore going to bed."So Mother Earthgave her child a song...."But then this wild child wants a snack and PJs and a kiss....Lynn Plourde's text snaps and crackles like the leaves of fall as Mother Earth gently gets her daughter ready for bed... -
-
A Mixture of Mischief by Anna Meriano
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe third book in the acclaimed, delightful, character-driven middle grade series about a family of Mexican American bakers who also happen to be brujas—witches!Leo Logroño may have discovered the true nature of her magical abilities, but her education in how to use them in her family’s magical bakery has only just begun... -
Imagine a Place by Sarah L. Thomson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIf you can imagine a place, you can go there. Imagine a place that makes you feel as free as a bird. Imagine a place where getting there is worth whatever it takes. Imagine a place that makes you feel like it's always been your destination. Imagine a place made out of pure imagination...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism book children-books contemporary fiction fantasy -
Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling authors Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins comes the hilarious and heartfelt story of a group of magical misfits. Nory Horace is nine years old. She's resourceful, she's brave, she likes peanut butter cookies. Also, she's able to transform into many different animals. Unfortunately, Nory's shape-shifting talent is a bit wonky... -
Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins? by Liz Kessler
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJessica Jenkins has always been a perfectly ordinary girl—until one day part of her arm vanishes in the middle of geography class! Jessica’s friends Izzy and Tom are determined to help her develop her newfound invisibility, though Jessica is more concerned with discovering where the ability came from...Categorized as:
children friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure book children-books -
さみしかった本 by Kate Bernheimer, ケイト バーンハイマー
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen a wonderful new book arrives at the library, at first it is loved by all, checked out constantly, and rarely spends a night on the library shelf. But over time it grows old and worn, and the children lose interest in its story. The book is sent to the library's basement where the other faded books live... -
A Pocketful of Stars by Aisha Bushby
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen I next open my eyes, I’m back . . . in front of the house again.It’s night time. The stars wave hello, like they’ve been expecting me.The door of the house, Mum’s house, is wide open, like it expects me too.This time, I go inside . . .Safiya and her mum have never seen eye to eye. Her mum doesn’t understand Safiya’s love of gaming and Safiya doesn't think they have anything in common... -
Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin, Kate Messner
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom Caldecott and Newbery Honoree Grace Lin and bestselling author Kate Messner comes a modern folktale about the joy of reading.Once upon a time, there was a girl. She went to a place alive with colors, where even the morning dew was warm. Alice loves to imagine herself in the magical pages of her favorite book...Categorized as:
family children poc-mc magical-realism low-fantasy fantasy children-books action-adventure -
Wish Girl by Nikki Loftin
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA dying girl gives a boy the strength to live in this lyrical novel that will break your heart and lift your spirit Peter Stone’s parents and siblings are extroverts, musicians, and yellers—and the louder they get, the less Peter talks, or even moves, until he practically fits his last name...Categorized as:
children family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism realistic action-adventure -
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...Categorized as:
children family friendship low-fantasy magical-realism realistic abuse action-adventure -
Imagine a Night by Sarah L. Thomson
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsImagine a night when you can ride your bike right up the stairs to your bed. Imagine a night when your toy train rumbles on its tracks out of your room and roars back in, full sized, ready for you to hop on for a nighttime adventure. Imagine a night when a farmer plays a lullaby on his fiddle, and his field of sunflowers begins to dip and sway to the rhythm...Categorized as:
children family low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure book children-books contemporary -
-
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... -
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA little free library guarded by a cat and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps. When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change...Categorized as:
magical-realism children family friendship realistic coming-of-age low-fantasy middle-grade -
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsAuthor(s): Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen ISBN: 9781406352481 Binding: Paperback Published: 2014-01-01 On a cold, dark day in a dull, grey town, little Annabelle discovers a box of brightly coloured yarn. She knits a cosy jumper to keep herself nice and toasty warm and finds, to her surprise, that she still has yarn left over...Categorized as:
children family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism realistic action-adventure -
Scumble by Ingrid Law
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsNine years after Mibs's Savvy journey, her cousin Ledge has just turned thirteen . . . But Ledger Kale's savvy is a total dud-all he does is make little things fall apart. So his parents decide it's safe to head to Wyoming, where it's soon revealed that Ledge's savvy is much more powerful than anyone thought...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship magic magical-realism realistic action-adventure -
The Stars of Whistling Ridge by Cindy Baldwin
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIvy Mae Bloom, whose name is one letter away from a complete sentence, has lived her entire life on the road. Her mama is a fallen star who travels near and far to tend to the magic that underpins our world... -
The Glitter Trap by Barbara Brauner, James Iver Mattson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMiddle school is far from a fairytale for adorkable misfit Lacey Unger-Ware. When Lacey ends up with popular girl Paige Harrington's smart-mouthed fairy godmother, Katarina, trapped in her hair, life gets more magical--just not in a 'prince charming' kind of way. Katarina's wings are too damaged to continue her fairy duties, and Lacey must take over as Paige's fairy godmother... -
Sugar and Spite by Gail D. Villanueva
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan a bully be defeated by a magical love potion?Jolina can't take Claudine's bullying any longer! The taunts and teasing are too much. Though Jolina knows she's still in training to use her grandfather's arbularyo magic, she sneaks into his potions lab to get her revenge. Jolina brews a batch of gayuma, a powerful love potion.And it works. The love potion conquers Claudine's hateful nature... -
The Infinity Year of Avalon James by Dana Middleton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAvalon James and Atticus Brightwell have a secret--one that they aren't allowed to discuss with anyone. This secret is shared between two best friends. When you and your best friend turn ten years old magical things are said to happen. You both will receive some kind of magical power. It can be a power you can call on time and time again. Or it can be a power that comes once when you need it most... -
The Snow Rabbit by Camille Garoche
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo sisters look longingly through their window at the snowy sky. One goes out and sculpts a little rabbit, but when she brings it back inside to her wheelchair-bound sister, it begins to melt. So they take it outside and into the forest where enchanted things begin to happen. A follow up to her hauntingly beautiful Fox’s Garden, Camille Garoche (a.k.a... -
Double Vision by Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry comes the story of tween twins Cassie and Caitlyn and their discovery that they have the ability to see things before they occur! This is the first book in the popular Twintuition series... -
-
Willa and the Whale by Chad Morris, Shelly and Brown
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magical-realism realistic animals -
Franklin and the Tooth Fairy by Paulette Bourgeois
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this Franklin Classic Storybook, our hero discovers that, unlike most of his friends, he doesn't have teeth, and worries that he's missing out on the Tooth Fairy's magical visits... -
Bounce by Megan Shull
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsYouTube star Jojo Siwa to star in the upcoming movie adaptation! "Bounce is a heartwarming story about a teenage girl who wishes she could trade her family for a new one on Christmas Eve. Her wish is granted and she finds herself 'bouncing' into the lives of other girls and living Christmas Day on repeat—learning the value of family, finding your voice, and the power of love... -
The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe much-anticipated new fantasy series from Ransom Riggs, his first since introducing the #1 global phenomenon Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series.Seventeen-year-old Leopold Berry is seeing weird things around Los Angeles. A man who pops a tooth into a parking meter. A glowing trapdoor in a parking lot. A half-mechanical raccoon with its tail on fire that just won’t leave him alone...Categorized as:
magic friendship coming-of-age magical-realism low-fantasy fantasy young-adult fiction -
Bite-Sized Magic by Kathryn Littlewood
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis third book in Kathryn Littlewood's acclaimed Bliss trilogy mixes the down-home heart punch of Ingrid Law's Newbery Honor Book Savvy, the always-on-the-edge-of-chaos comedy of Cheaper by the Dozen, and a humorous magic all its own to create a thoroughly original confection, a delicious guilty pleasure for readers of all ages...Categorized as:
children family low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure book children-books -
Bird by Crystal Chan
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEntrenched secrets, mysterious spirits, and an astonishing friendship weave together in this extraordinary and haunting debut that School Library Journal calls “a powerful story about loss and moving on.”Nothing matters. Only Bird matters. And he flew away. Jewel never knew her brother Bird, but all her life she has lived in his shadow...Categorized as:
realistic family children poc-mc friendship magical-realism coming-of-age low-fantasy
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.