Books like 'Payback'
Readers who enjoyed Payback by Paul Langan also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
realistic drama bullying children
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Big by Vashti Harrison
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThis deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance.The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal...Categorized as:
realistic children bullying children-books fiction mental-illness contemporary poc-mc -
![Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen]()
Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.”Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved... -
![Miss Nelson Is Back by Harry Allard]()
Miss Nelson Is Back by Harry Allard
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsIn this sequel to Miss Nelson is Missing, the scheming kids in Room 207 are in for a big surprise from the scariest substitute around: Miss Viola Swamp. Includes bonus downloadable audio. When their teacher has to go away for a week, Miss Nelson's kids are excited to "really act up... -
![The Pledge by Chandra Sparks Splond]()
The Pledge by Chandra Sparks Splond
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRaised in a strict household, sixteen-year-old Courtland Murphy never had a date. But that was before the guy of her every dream—basketball star Allen Benson—asked her out. She's gone from never-been-kissed to dating the hottest guy in school. And now her new boyfriend is pressuring her to prove she loves him—by having sex... -
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![Brothers in Arms by Paul Langan]()
Brothers in Arms by Paul Langan
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMartin Luna, a new student at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Haunted by the tragic death of his little brother, Martin seeks one thing: revenge. But his mother wants more for her only remaining child... -
![Search for Safety by John Langan]()
Search for Safety by John Langan
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThere is no escape for Ben McKee. For weeks, he's covered the bruises on his body. He's even lied to his teachers and new friends at Bluford High School. But the trouble in Ben's house isnt't going away. And if he doesn't act soon, it could swallow him and his mother forever... -
![Blood Is Thicker by Paul Langan, D.M. Blackwell]()
Blood Is Thicker by Paul Langan, D.M. Blackwell
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsHakeem Randall can't take it anymore. First he learns that his father is sick and that his parents can no longer afford their home. Then he finds out he has to leave his friends at Bluford High and move in with his uncle in faraway Detroit--where he has to share a bedroom with his moody, secretive cousin Savon... -
![No Way Out by Peggy Kern]()
No Way Out by Peggy Kern
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBluford High freshman Harold Davis is trapped. Medical bills for his sick grandmother are piling up, and a social worker has threatened to put him in a foster home. Desperate for money, he reluctantly agrees to work for Londell James, a neighborhood drug dealer. The choice leads him into a world of dangerous streets where no one is safe... -
![Until We Meet Again by Anne Schraff]()
Until We Meet Again by Anne Schraff
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWelcome to Bluford High. This widely acclaimed teen series set in an urban high school features engaging, accessible writing and appealing, contemporary storylines.This summer was supposed to be different. With the school year over, Darcy Wills is looking forward to the best time of her life. But her plans are shattered by a series of unexpected events... -
![Secrets in the Shadows by Anne Schraff]()
Secrets in the Shadows by Anne Schraff
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWelcome to Bluford High. This widely acclaimed teen series set in an urban high school features engaging, accessible writing and appealing, contemporary storylines.Roylin Bailey is living a nightmare--and it's all his fault. It started when the new student, Korie Archer, arrived in his history class... -
![The Fallen by Paul Langan]()
The Fallen by Paul Langan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMartin Luna's world is crumbling. A fight threatens to end his sophomore year at Bluford High School. But at home, things are even worse. Frankie, the most feared homeboy from his neighborhood, is hunting him. Alone and with time running out, Martin makes a desperate choice... -
![Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt]()
Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"A brave and breathtaking musical... -
![Someday by Alison McGhee, Peter H. Reynolds]()
Someday by Alison McGhee, Peter H. Reynolds
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA mother's love leads to a mother's dream—every mother's dream—for her child to live life to its fullest. A deceptively simple, powerful ode to the potential of love and the potential in life, Someday is the book you'll want to share with someone else... today. The perfect gift for Mother's Day, Graduation Day or any day—share a copy with every special person in your life... -
![Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish, Lynn Sweat]()
Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish, Lynn Sweat
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsLearn to read with the classic Amelia Bedelia!Ever since Amelia Bedelia made her debut in 1963, young readers have been laughing out loud at the antics of this literal-minded but charming housekeeper.The doctor is out! But Amelia Bedelia is ready to help a crowd of grouchy patients... -
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![I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont]()
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA New York Times best-selling masterpiece featuring a sing-song rhyming text and humorous energetic illustrations about a spirited child and outside-the-box, creative thinking... -
![A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff]()
A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn grade school, Darcy Wills and Brisana Meeks were friends. But all that changed at Bluford High when Darcy started hanging with "the zeros"--a group of students Brisana despises. Now the former friends are bitter rivals, and the tension between them is getting worse. For a while, Darcy tries to stay calm, ignoring her old friend's daily taunts... -
![Eyes That Weave the World's Wonders by Joanna Ho, Liz Kleinrock]()
Eyes That Weave the World's Wonders by Joanna Ho, Liz Kleinrock
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling Joanna Ho, of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, and award-winning educator Liz Kleinrock, comes a powerful companion picture book about adoption and family. A young girl who is a transracial adoptee learns to love her Asian eyes and finds familial connection and meaning through them, even though they look different from her parents’... -
![What Happened to You? by James Catchpole]()
What Happened to You? by James Catchpole
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis accessible, funny, and groundbreaking story addresses the questions children often ask, as well as a disabled child's choice not to answer.What happened to you? Was it a shark? A burglar? A lion? Did it fall off? A boy named Joe is trying to play pirates at the playground, but he keeps being asked what happened to his leg... -
![My Mouth Is A Volcano by Julia Cook]()
My Mouth Is A Volcano by Julia Cook
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTeaching children how to manage their thoughts and words without interrupting.Louis always interrupts! All of his thoughts are very important to him, and when he has something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he ERUPTS (or interrupts)... -
![Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch]()
Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsNone of the kids in her class wear a ponytail, so Stephanie decides she must have one. The loud, unanimous comment from her classmates is: “Ugly, ugly, very ugly.” Steadfast, when all the girls have copied her ponytail, she resolves to try a new style. Each hairdo is more outrageous than the last, while the cast of copycats grows and grows... -
![Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds]()
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe sky’s no limit as the author-illustrator of The Dot and Ish winds up his Creatrilogy with a whimsical tale about seeing the world a new way.Marisol loves to paint... -
![The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al-Abdullah, Kelly DiPucchio]()
The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al-Abdullah, Kelly DiPucchio
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLily and Salma are best friends. They like doing all the same things, and they always eat lunch together. Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus--but what's that between friends? It turns out, a lot. Before they know it, a food fight breaks out... -
![Step Up by Monica McKayhan]()
Step Up by Monica McKayhan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIndigo Summer and her boyfriend, Marcus Carter, have stayed solid through plenty of drama. Now Marcus is a senior, and he's already received his acceptance letter from Harvard. Indigo knows how hard he's worked for this chance... -
![David Goes to School by David Shannon]()
David Goes to School by David Shannon
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsNo, David!David's teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David's high-energy antics fill each school day with trouble—and are sure to bring a smile to even the best-behaved reader... -
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![Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor]()
Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsFancy Nancy celebrates a decade—that's fancy for ten years!—in this special anniversary edition of the first Fancy Nancy picture book by the New York Times bestselling team of Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser. This extra-fancy edition features a link to a free downloadable song from Fancy Nancy the Musical and includes a sheet of lyrics to the song in the back of the book... -
![Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson]()
Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOliver has always dreamed about where he will fit. Will he be in the mane of a unicorn? The tentacle of a pirate squid? The helmet of an astronaut? When he finally goes in search of his perfect place, he finds that trying to fit in is a lot harder than he thought. But like any puzzle, a little trial and error leads to a solution, and Oliver figures out exactly where he belongs... -
![What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold]()
What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsGender-creative Riley knows just what to wear for every occasion during a busy week with family and friends in this sweet and timely picture book from Elana K. Arnold and Linda Davick.Riley wears whatever clothes feel right each day. On Monday, Riley feels shy and wears a bunny costume to school. On Tuesday, a scary trip to the dentist calls for a super hero cape... -
![Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis]()
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, the New York Times bestselling team behind Today I Feel Silly and I’m Gonna Like Me, bring us a tender and funny picture book for every parent and child. Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born is a special celebration of the love and joy an adopted child creates for a family... -
![Si Anak Kuat by Tere Liye]()
Si Anak Kuat by Tere Liye
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAmelia, si bungsu, anak yang paling kuat. Buku pertama sekaligus terbit terakhir dari Serial Anak-Anak Mamak."Kau anak paling kuat di keluarga ini, Amelia. Bukan kuat secara fisik, tapi kuat dari dalam. Kau adalah anak yang paling teguh hatinya, paling kokoh pemahaman baiknya. Kau menyayangi sekitar, dan sungguh-sungguh mau membantu orang lain... -
![Zero by Kathryn Otoshi]()
Zero by Kathryn Otoshi
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsZero is a big round number. When she looks at herself, she just sees a hole right in her center. Every day she watches the other numbers line up to count: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 . . . !" "Those numbers have value. That's why they count," she thinks. But how could a number worth nothing become something? Zero feels empty inside. She watches One having fun with the other numbers... -
![Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy]()
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLucy is teased by a boy at school because she is different. She has the courage to be true to herself and to make the right choice when that same boy needs her help... -
![Para sa Hopeless Romantic: Extended Edition by Marcelo Santos III]()
Para sa Hopeless Romantic: Extended Edition by Marcelo Santos III
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"Totoo ba ang happy ending? Deserve ba ng isang tao ang second chance? Bakit kung sino pa 'yung nagmamahal, sila pa 'yung nasasaktan?"Ang Para sa Hopeless Romantic Extended Edition ay istorya ng anim na taong nakikipagsapalaran sa mundo ng pag-ibig.Isang lihim na umiibig. Isang umaasang babalikan. Isang naghahangad na mahalin. Isang natatakot nang umibig muli. Isang nagsusumikap na makalimot... -
![Burlian by Tere Liye]()
Burlian by Tere Liye
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBurlian, anak kampung dengan segala keriangan keluarganya. Bercita-cita ingin naik kapal besar keliling dunia. Buku 2, dari Serial Anak2 Mamak. Buku 3, PUKAT terbit Februari 2010, Buku 4, Eliana direncanakan terbit Oktober 2010, Buku 1, Amelia direncanakan terbit Februari 2011... -
![Novel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing/Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great/Super Fudge/Fudge-A-Mania/Double Fudge by Crystal Rende]()
Novel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing/Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great/Super Fudge/Fudge-A-Mania/Double Fudge by Crystal Rende
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNovel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series is an easy to use guide that will ensure your student will become a successful reader and writer! It will also engage the student in the learning process and provide creative opportunities to apply their new knowledge... -
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![Outbound Train by Renea Winchester]()
Outbound Train by Renea Winchester
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn 1976, memories from a night near the railroad tracks sixteen years earlier haunt Barbara Parker. She wrestles with past demons every night, then wakes to the train’s five-thirty whistle. Exhausted and dreading the day, she keeps her hands busy working in Bryson City’s textile plant, known as the “blue jean plant,” all the while worrying about her teenage daughter, Carole Anne... -
![Runaway Retriever by Tui T. Sutherland]()
Runaway Retriever by Tui T. Sutherland
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn exciting new series about those adorable pets that just won't behave--it's Marley & Me for middle-grade readers!Parker hadn't considered getting a dog, but when playful Merlin, the golden retriever, comes into his life, Parker is thrilled... -
![Loudest Beagle on the Block by Tui T. Sutherland]()
Loudest Beagle on the Block by Tui T. Sutherland
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn exciting new series about those adorable pets that just won't behave--it's Marley & Me for middle-grade readers! Ten-year-old Ella lives for music, and with the school talent show coming up, she doesn't have time for anything else... -
![Treasure in an Oatmeal Box: The Story of a Special Boy and the People Who Loved Him by Ken Gire]()
Treasure in an Oatmeal Box: The Story of a Special Boy and the People Who Loved Him by Ken Gire
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHere's a story about a girl with a special-needs brother who unexpectedly dies in an accident. This tender tale by award-winning author, Ken Gire, reminds kids that all life is a gift from God, and that we should be kind and compassionate to those who are somehow different from us... -
![Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman]()
Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIsaac Millman tells Moses Goes to a Concert in pictures and written English, and in American Sign Language (ASL), introducing hearing children to the signs for some of the key words and ideas.Moses and his school friends are deaf, but like most children, they have a lot to say. They communicate in American Sigh Language, using visual signs and facial expressions. This is called signing... -
![Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cook]()
Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cook
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy stomach feels likeit’s tied up in a knot.My knees lock up, andmy face feels hot.You know what I mean?I’m Wilma Jean,The Worry Machine.Anxiety is a subjective sense of worry, apprehension, and/or fear. It is considered to be the number one health problem in America. Although quite common, anxiety disorders in children are often misdiagnosed and overlooked... -
![Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year by Andrea Beaty]()
Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year by Andrea Beaty
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA moving story starring the Questioneers' teacher that's all about kindness, learning to face your fears, and the profound difference that one brilliant educator can make in a child’s life from the #1 bestselling creators of Aaron Slater, Illustrator and Ada Twist, Scientist ! Lila Greer is full of worries. Even the smallest things—from cabbages to cardboard—fill her with dread and What Ifs... -
![Gibberish by Young Vo]()
Gibberish by Young Vo
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt's Dat's first day of school in a new country! Dat and his Mah made a long journey to get here, and Dat doesn't know the language. To Dat, everything everybody says – from the school bus driver to his new classmates – sounds like gibberish... -
![Round Trip by Ann Jonas]()
Round Trip by Ann Jonas
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBlack and white illustrations and text record the sights on a day trip to the city and back home again to the country. The trip to the city is read from front to back and the return trip from back to front, upside down... -
![Jacob's New Dress by Sarah Hoffman, Ian Hoffman]()
Jacob's New Dress by Sarah Hoffman, Ian Hoffman
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be. Some kids at school say he can't wear "girl" clothes, but Jacob wants to wear a dress to school. Can he convince his parents to let him wear what he wants? This heartwarming story speaks to the unique challenges faced by children who don’t identify with traditional gender roles... -
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![Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish]()
Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAmelia Bedelia has never been camping. She tries her best to do as the Rogers order, but pitching a tent is not the same as throwing it into the bushes, and catching a fish with bare hands does not mean keeping. Tent stakes are not the same as tent-shaped steaks. Starting a fire on the grill may take a match more than pine cones and coffee grounds. Shhh for sleeping bags... -
![Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn]()
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLola has a big smile on her face. Why? Because it's Tuesday--and on Tuesdays, Lola and her mommy go to the library. Join Lola in this cozy celebration of books and the people who love them... -
![Going Places by Peter H. Reynolds, Paul A. Reynolds]()
Going Places by Peter H. Reynolds, Paul A. Reynolds
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA go-cart contest inspires imagination to take flight in this picture book for creators of all ages, with art from New York Times bestselling illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.It's time for this year's Going Places contest! Finally. Time to build a go-cart, race it—and win. Each kid grabs an identical kit, and scrambles to build.Everyone but Maya. She sure doesn't seem to be in a hurry .. -
![The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill]()
The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsOh, would that all bullying problems could be solved so easily! Mean Jean is the reigning Recess Queen, pushing and smooshing, hammering and slammering the other kids whenever they cross her. And then one day a puny new girl shows up on the playground and catches Mean Jean completely off-guard... -
![Mortimer by Robert Munsch]()
Mortimer by Robert Munsch
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWith over half a million copies in print, Mortimer is one of Robert Munsch’s most popular and beloved books. Mortimer is the story “... of a little boy who won’t go to sleep at night and who drives his family crazy with his rowdiness ... [It] reads as though it was written by a parent driven frantic by one of the contemporary but compulsive stages of childrearing .. -
![A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood]()
A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Sometimes a person needs a quiet place." A place that's far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life -- a place that isn't ringing or talking or roaring or playing. But sometimes that place isn't easy to find. Explore what it's like to find a special someplace where we all can think our own thoughts and feel our own feelings...
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