Books like 'Swallowing Stones'
Readers who enjoyed Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald & Ed Sala also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary mystery realistic high-school coming-of-age children
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Mr. Terupt Falls Again by Rob Buyea
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsThe kids and teacher of Because of Mr. Terupt are back in this warm-hearted sequel.Fifth-grade was full of unforgettable events for Mr. Terupt and his class at Snow Hill School. Seven students were particularly affected by Mr. Terupt... -
![Looks Over by Rose Christo]()
Looks Over by Rose Christo
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratings"There's nothing wrong with trying to get to know my son's boyfriend." Skylar knows he's lucky to have an open-minded father. It's not just that Skylar and Rafael are both boys. Between their families exists a dark and turbulent past: Rafael's father was the first serial killer in the history of the Nettlebush Indian Reserve, and Skylar's mother was his last victim... -
![The Walk On by John Feinstein]()
The Walk On by John Feinstein
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBestselling sportswriter John Feinstein kicks off a new series for middle grade featuring Alex Myers, a student athlete who tries to take on the sports establishment in his new town. Alex Myers is a quarterback, but from the first day of football practice, it’s clear that that position is very much filled by the coach’s son, Matt... -
![Sammy Keyes and the Search for Snake Eyes by Wendelin Van Draanen]()
Sammy Keyes and the Search for Snake Eyes by Wendelin Van Draanen
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsThe most winning junior detective ever in teen lit. (Take that, Nancy Drew!) --Midwest Children's Book ReviewSammy's softball team is in contention for the Junior Slugger's Cup, and all she wants to do is hunker down behind the home plate and catch strikes. But Heather Acosta brings new meaning to the term foul ball as she schemes to get Sammy kicked off the team...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age realistic action-adventure audiobook book children-books contemporary -
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![Lost and Found by Anne Schraff]()
Lost and Found by Anne Schraff
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWelcome to Bluford High. This widely acclaimed teen series set in an urban high school features engaging, accessible writing and appealing, contemporary storylines.Darcy Wills is in big trouble. And she does not know where to turn for help. First there was the mysterious stranger who started following her. Then there was the threatening note left on her desk at Bluford High School... -
![Canyon Echoes by Jerry B. Jenkins, Chris Fabry]()
Canyon Echoes by Jerry B. Jenkins, Chris Fabry
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBryce and Ashley Timberline are normal 13-year-old twins, except for one thing—they discover action-packed mystery wherever they go. Whether it's searching for a missing writer or fearing for their lives at the bottom of a canyon, Bryce and Ashley never lose their taste for adventure. Wanting to get to the bottom of any mystery, these twins find themselves on a nonstop search for the truth...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age children mystery christian contemporary young-adult children-books -
![Truth or Dare by L A Cotton]()
Truth or Dare by L A Cotton
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEscaping to Credence was supposed to be Becca's shot at a new life, but some secrets refuse to stay hidden, and now that the truth is out, everything changes. Everything. The people she thought she could trust lied. The guy she thought cared about her kept her in the dark. And with no one to turn to, Becca finds it hard to unravel the truth...Categorized as:
coming-of-age high-school realistic book contemporary dark enemies-to-lovers fiction -
![Tonight We Rule the World by Zack Smedley]()
Tonight We Rule the World by Zack Smedley
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIncludes an exclusive reader's guide from Zack SmedleyFrom the critically acclaimed author of Deposing Nathan comes an explosive examination of identity, voice, and the indelible ways our stories are rewritten by others.In the beginning, Owen’s story was blank . . . then he was befriended by Lily, the aspiring author who helped him find his voice...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age high-school young-adult lgbtq contemporary mental-illness fiction -
![Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz]()
Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 43 ratingsNew Year's Eve in Scotland and for once Alex Rider is enjoying a normal life. But then he meets Desmond McCain, the dynamic chief of an international charity, First Aid, and what starts as a simple card game rapidly becomes a duel to the death. Suddenly Alex is in more danger than ever before and his life is threatened without his even knowing why...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age high-school realistic action-adventure audiobook book children-books -
![Awakening You by Jessica Sorensen]()
Awakening You by Jessica Sorensen
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLately, life has been going well for Ayden. His relationship with Lyric is starting to heat up and his career in music is taking off. But the disappearance of his sister still weighs heavily on his mind. Desperate to find out where his sister is, Ayden decides to take drastic measures...Categorized as:
coming-of-age high-school realistic abuse book contemporary fiction literary-fiction -
![Math Curse by Jon Scieszka]()
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsDid you ever wake up to one of those days where everything is a problem? You have 10 things to do, but only 30 minutes until your bus leaves. Is there enough time? You have 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants... -
![Almost True by Keren David]()
Almost True by Keren David
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRuthless killers are hunting Ty so the police move him and his mum to a quiet seaside town. But a horrific attack and a bullet meant for Ty prove that he's not safe.On the road again, Ty's in hiding with complete strangers . . . who seem to know a lot about him. Meanwhile he's desperate to see his girlfriend Claire, and terrified that she may betray him... -
![Invisible by Jeff Erno]()
Invisible by Jeff Erno
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsChase Devereaux is a fifteen year old boy under a great deal of stress. He has to give a speech today for his Oral Communications class, and he's terrified of public speaking. Worse yet, he's being bullied by one of the most popular kids at school. He just has to make it through his third-hour gym class and then give his speech, and everything will be all right... -
![Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt]()
Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAn against-the-odds love story at the heart of a book for teens about prejudice, courage, and a dark, compelling mystery—shortlisted for a Romantic Novelists Association AwardUgly people don’t have feelings. They’re not like everyone else. They don’t notice if you stare at them and turn away. And if they did notice, it wouldn’t hurt them. They’re not like real people... -
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![Paradise Lost by Kate Brian]()
Paradise Lost by Kate Brian
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsParadise awaits.... Now that Cheyenne's murderer has been revealed and Reed knows the truth about who's been stalking her, she's ready to leave the heartache and turmoil of last semester behind. And what better way to recover than a five-star Caribbean vacation? Reed is reunited with former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor, and she and her friends take over the exclusive island... -
![Safe Harbor by AnnaLisa Grant]()
Safe Harbor by AnnaLisa Grant
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLayla Weston was supposed to be planning her wedding, not waiting for her fiancé’s father to die.As Luke prepares to defend Holly for the shooting of Gregory Meyer, Layla and her family weigh the possibility of being able to return home to North Carolina. Only Layla isn't quite sure that's what she wants... -
![What I Lost by Alexandra Ballard]()
What I Lost by Alexandra Ballard
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsA searing yet ultimately uplifting young adult novel about a teenage girl's recovery from anorexia.Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth has honed a dangerous skill: starving herself. Even when her parents send her to a treatment center, she can't stop. Then she begins receiving packages from someone she doesn't know... -
![The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik by David Arnold]()
The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik by David Arnold
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThis is Noah Oakman → sixteen, Bowie believer, concise historian, disillusioned swimmer, son, brother, friend. Then Noah → gets hypnotized. Now Noah → sees changes—inexplicable scars, odd behaviors, rewritten histories—in all those around him. All except his Strange Fascinations . . -
![A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler]()
A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsOn her way to visit her best friend, Autumn, Jenni Green suddenly finds she's been transported exactly one year forward in time. Now she discovers that in the year that's gone by, tragedy has struck and her friendship with Autumn will never be the same again...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age realistic action-adventure book children-books contemporary family -
![Chasing Forever Down by Nikki Chartier]()
Chasing Forever Down by Nikki Chartier
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen seventeen-year-old Haley Sullivan is dragged to a corporate party with her parents, she's searching for one thing - the nearest exit. Instead, she finds a mysterious stranger who plays by his own rules and chases his own dreams, and he's definitely cute enough to disappear with for the night...Categorized as:
coming-of-age high-school realistic action-adventure book california contemporary fiction -
![Boys Against Girls by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Boys Against Girls by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAbaguchie mania! Caroline Malloy thrills when Wally Hatford tells her that a strange animal called the abaguchie was spotted in their area. Wally warns Caroline not to search alone, but she is bent on finding the abaguchie. Wally and his brothers try to foil the plan, but Caroline and her sisters plan to outfox them once and for all...Categorized as:
realistic children children-books fiction middle-grade humor contemporary young-adult -
![Tell Me Why by Sydney Snow]()
Tell Me Why by Sydney Snow
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAnna Vasquez has had enough. Torn after finding out her best friend committed suicide, she's determined to find out why this horrible thing has happened. But when she falls for her best friend's brother, she learns a terrible secret. Suddenly she's left with questions, and wondering if love really can conquer all... -
![I Know Lucy by Melissa Pearl]()
I Know Lucy by Melissa Pearl
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her... -
![Mystery at Malachite Mansion by Carolyn Keene]()
Mystery at Malachite Mansion by Carolyn Keene
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNancy Drew and her friends aren't having the most restful Malibu vacation. After noticing pollution on the shores of their beautiful beachfront condo, they check into the shady "holistic spa" next door to investigate a motivational guru who could be tied to ocean garbage dumping! An environmental, ripped-from-the-headlines adventure, with some Kardashian sister look-alikes thrown in...Categorized as:
children realistic mystery middle-grade children-books young-adult contemporary law-enforcement -
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![Model Suspect by Carolyn Keene]()
Model Suspect by Carolyn Keene
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI'm beginning to think Sydney and Vic's marriage was doomed from the start. First Sydney's best friend, Candy, tried to sabotage the wedding. Then Vic's onscreen beau brought a knife to the ceremony -- and it wasn't just for cutting the cake. Luckily, we caught her before any damage was done...Categorized as:
coming-of-age children realistic mystery children-books middle-grade law-enforcement fiction -
![This Town is on Fire by Pamela N. Harris]()
This Town is on Fire by Pamela N. Harris
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom the critically acclaimed author of When You Look Like Us comes a page-turning YA contemporary novel about what happens when the latest “Becky” on the internet is your best friend. A lot is up in the air in Naomi Henry’s her spot as a varsity cheer flier, her classmates’ reaction to the debut of her natural hair, and her crush on the guy who’s always been like a brother to her...Categorized as:
realistic high-school coming-of-age contemporary young-adult audiobook social-commentary racism -
![What I Want You to See by Catherine Linka]()
What I Want You to See by Catherine Linka
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWinning a scholarship to California’s most prestigious art school seems like a fairy tale ending to Sabine Reye’s awful senior year. After losing both her mother and her home, Sabine longs for a place where she belongs.But the cutthroat world of visual arts is nothing like what Sabine had imagined...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age high-school romance young-adult contemporary mystery 21st-century -
![Suspicion by Kate Brian]()
Suspicion by Kate Brian
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsForbidden fruit... Reed, Noelle, and former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor have been living it up on St. Barths over winter break. The tropical sun has melted away all the tensions of last semester, and for the first time in months, Reed is happy. She's got her best friends by her side, she has a palatial suite with an ocean view, and she's landed Upton, the most sought-after guy on the island... -
![A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks]()
A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFollow a young girl reshaping her meaning of home.Joy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home becomes a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesn't have her music to escape through anymore...Categorized as:
realistic children coming-of-age middle-grade fiction contemporary mystery friendship -
![The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford]()
The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA sweet story of a tree that's literally filled with secrets.What is your secret?Minty's neighborhood is full of mysteries. There's the Witch House, a spooky old farmhouse on the other side of the woods from where Minty and her best friend, Paz, live. There's the Man Bat, a seven-foot-tall half man, half bat who is rumored to fly through the woods... -
![I Am No One You Know by Joyce Carol Oates]()
I Am No One You Know by Joyce Carol Oates
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI Am No One You Know contains nineteen startling stories that bear witness to the remarkably varied lives of Americans of our time. In "Fire," a troubled young wife discovers a rare, radiant happiness in an adulterous relationship. In "Curly Red," a girl makes a decision to reveal a family secret, and changes her life irrevocably... -
![Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter by Simon Mayo]()
Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter by Simon Mayo
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThrills. Danger. And world domination. Itch is as action-packed and suspenseful as a novel for young readers can get! Fourteen-year-old Itchingham Lofte, nicknamed Itch, has an unusual passion: collecting specimens of every element in the periodic table. So what if that means hes had a few ..Categorized as:
children high-school realistic action-adventure book children-books contemporary drama -
![The Bully Book by Eric Kahn Gale]()
The Bully Book by Eric Kahn Gale
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThere is a book that teaches how to be a bully, and it will ruin Eric Haskins’ life. It all starts when his best friend, Donovan, ditches him and befriends Adrian Noble, the tallest kid in class, and a karate-kicking 10-year-old Eric calls Jason Crazy-Pants. The three boys systematically tease and humiliate Eric, eventually turning the entire class against him...Categorized as:
realistic children coming-of-age young-adult middle-grade fiction mystery contemporary -
![New Girl by Laura Sieveking]()
New Girl by Laura Sieveking
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsElla has started at her new high school, and Eden College is everything she hoped it would be. She is getting to know her new friends and enjoying everything Eden has to o er. Until things start to get complicated. She accidently insults Saskia, the school diva, there could be a ghost in the dorm and items have started to mysteriously disappear...Categorized as:
children realistic mystery children-books contemporary friendship young-adult middle-grade -
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![When I Was Joe by Keren David]()
When I Was Joe by Keren David
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen Ty witnesses a stabbing, his own life is in danger from the criminals he's named, and he and his mum have to go into police protection. Ty has a new name, a new look and a cool new image - life as Joe is good, especially when he gets talent spotted as a potential athletics star, special training from an attractive local celebrity and a lot of female attention...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age high-school realistic 21st-century action-adventure book contemporary -
![Just a Little Embrace by Tracie Puckett]()
Just a Little Embrace by Tracie Puckett
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGone are the days of police patrol. With ten hours to go before completing her job shadowing project, seventeen-year-old Julie Little’s assignment has switched gears, and now she’s required to start living the lifestyle of every man (and woman) in uniform. Under Luke’s command, Julie is obligated to complete her remaining hours through early morning exercise training... -
![All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen]()
All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratings"All the Broken Pieces kept me guessing and frantically flipping the pages. It's a unique story with layered characters I couldn't help but fall in love with." -Nyrae Dawn, author of CharadeWhat if your life wasn’t your own?Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar... -
![Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest]()
Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA fresh new YA romance novel by Kristina Forest, Zyla & Kai is an epic star-crossed love story about first love and not just the will they, won’t they— but why can’t they?While on a school trip to the Poconos Mountains (in the middle of a storm) high school seniors, Zyla Matthews and Kai Johnson, run away together leaving their friends and family confused...Categorized as:
realistic high-school coming-of-age romance contemporary young-adult fiction audiobook -
![11 Paper Hearts by Kelsey Hartwell]()
11 Paper Hearts by Kelsey Hartwell
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA YA contemporary rom com about a girl who follows a trail of paper hearts from her mystery admirer--and it's a paperback original perfect for fans of To All the Boys I've Loved Before and the Kissing Booth. Ella's life was picture perfect. She had a circle of close friends, a jam-packed social life, and an amazing boyfriend...Categorized as:
high-school realistic coming-of-age romance young-adult contemporary mystery fiction -
![Jules, the Bounty Hunter by Katie Ashley]()
Jules, the Bounty Hunter by Katie Ashley
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHigh-speed car chases, hiding out in overgrown bushes, nabbing the bad guy—all in a days work for Julianne aka Jules St. James. Sure growing up with a bounty hunter for a father was a little unorthodox, but she wouldn’t have it any other way... -
![Solving Zoe by Barbara Dee]()
Solving Zoe by Barbara Dee
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsZoe Bennett feels lost at her fancy private school.She's not the star drama queen like her sister, or a brainiac math genius like her brother. Luckily her best friend, Dara, is just as content as Zoe is to stay in the shadows -- or is she? When Dara gets a part in the school musical, Zoe feels abandoned. What's worse, Zoe's practically being stalked by the weird new kid, Lucas...Categorized as:
realistic children coming-of-age middle-grade mystery children-books young-adult fiction -
![The Namesake by Steven Parlato]()
The Namesake by Steven Parlato
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGifted artist? Standout student? All his teachers are sure certain that Evan Galloway can be the graduate who brings glory to small, ordinary St. Sebastian's School. As for Evan, however, he can't be bothered anymore. Since the shock of his young father's suicide last spring, Evan no longer cares about the future. In fact, he believes that he spent the first fifteen years of his life living a lie...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age young-adult contemporary fiction mystery mental-illness family -
![The Annihilation Agenda by A.J. Butcher]()
The Annihilation Agenda by A.J. Butcher
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAt a special high school that trains students to be secret agents, six teenagers are assigned a mission to investigate terrorism at a power plant but discover an even more sinister plot... -
![Third Lie's the Charm by Lisa Roecker, Laura Roecker]()
Third Lie's the Charm by Lisa Roecker, Laura Roecker
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNew friend into old, the bond of the Sisterhood will never grow cold. Life at Pemberly Brown is a whirlwind for Kate Lowry. Determined to finally destroy the secret society responsible for her best friend Grace’s death, Kate joins the Sisterhood hoping to go all Trojan Horse on their asses. But the night of her initiation another student at Pemberly Brown dies in what looks like tragic accident... -
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![The Hideout by Peg Kehret]()
The Hideout by Peg Kehret
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn a moment of madness, Jeremy Holland's parents were killed by a gunman in a Seattle mall. Now he faces a new life with his uncle Ed, a man with a vastly different lifestyle from the one Jeremy is used to. As he sits on the train hurtling toward Chicago, he can barely believe the terrible truth. He has no mother, no father, no home... -
![At First Touch by Mattie Dunman]()
At First Touch by Mattie Dunman
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLiz Hannigan has been on the run since she was twelve years old. Her mother is dead. Her father has lost his job. And thanks to an experimental procedure, Liz is now able to ‘download’ the contents of every brain around her with a simple touch... -
![Remedy by Eireann Corrigan]()
Remedy by Eireann Corrigan
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCara's been sick all her life . . . but in this case the cause might be more shocking than the cure.It's a mystery - why is Cara so sick? It feels like she's been sick all her life . . . but she and her mom have never stayed in one place long enough for doctors to really understand what's happening to her. Now, at fourteen, Cara is tired of being tired, and sick of being sick...Categorized as:
coming-of-age realistic book children-books contemporary fiction horror law-enforcement -
![Between Now & Never by Laura Johnston]()
Between Now & Never by Laura Johnston
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBuh boom, buh boom. My heart thrusts with a force that takes me by surprise. Telling me something I don’t understand. A splitting pain, a longing to slip back under. They tell me I was in a hit-and-run, but I can’t remember what happened that night. All I know is that I woke up with pictures in my pocket, a card from one of those photo booths in the mall. And I’m in the pictures. Cody Rush...Categorized as:
coming-of-age high-school book contemporary fiction mystery new-adult substance-abuse -
![Discovering Alexis: The Wildly Crazy Day by Jessica Sorensen]()
Discovering Alexis: The Wildly Crazy Day by Jessica Sorensen
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBenton:Today is crazy. I got an anonymous tip that Alexis, Zhara's twin sister, might be being targeted by Hacker Hearts Anonymous, one of the most infamous hacker groups. If anything happened to Alexis, Zhara would be crushed, so I come up with a plan. I’ll call West, Steel, and Ellis, our old team members until they broke off and formed their own team, and see if they can keep an eye on Alexis... -
![Kind of Sort of Fine by Spencer Hall]()
Kind of Sort of Fine by Spencer Hall
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSenior year changes everything for two teens in this coming-of-age story that looks at what happens when the image everyone has of us no longer matches who we really are.Senior year of high school is full of changes. For Hayley Mills, these changes aren’t exactly welcome...Categorized as:
coming-of-age realistic high-school romance young-adult contemporary mental-illness fiction
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