Books like 'You Matter'
Readers who enjoyed You Matter by Christian Robinson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
space children outdoors poc-mc realistic friendship evolution journey family
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Spaced Out by Stuart Gibbs
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn this New York Times bestselling novel the moon base commander has gone missing and Dash Gibson is on the case. The second mind-boggling mystery of the Moon Base Alpha series from beloved author Stuart Gibbs.There’s nowhere to hide on the world’s first moon base. After all, it’s only the size of a soccer field... -
Waste of Space by Stuart Gibbs, Gibson Frazier
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsTensions are running high when multibillionaire Lars Sjoburg is poisoned and demands to go home and everyone is looking to Dash Gibson to solve the case, in this third and final book in the New York Times bestselling Moon Base Alpha series.Moon Base Alpha was supposed to be an exciting place to live, but Dash didn't expect for it to be this exciting...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic action-adventure audiobook book children-books espionage -
Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRandom House/Lamb has bought Nicole Panteleakos's debut middle grade novel, Planet Earth Is Blue. The book follows Nova, an autistic, nonverbal, space-obsessed 12-year-old who is awaiting the Challenger shuttle launch and the return of her big sister, Bridget, as she struggles to be understood, and ultimately, shines in her new foster family. Publication is set for summer 2019... -
Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn 1969 twelve-year-old Mimi and her family move to an all-white town in Vermont, where Mimi's mixed-race background and interest in "boyish" topics like astronomy make her feel like an outsider... -
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A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNew York Times bestseller * Best Book of the Year from The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library The One and Only Ivan meets The Wild Robot in this unique and deeply moving middle grade novel about the journey of a fictional Mars rover, from the Newbery Honor–winning author of Other Words for Home... -
Black Boy Joy by Kwame Mbalia
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCelebrate the joys of Black boyhood with stories from seventeen bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors--including Jason Reynolds (the Track series), Jerry Craft (New Kid), and edited by Kwame Mbalia (the Tristan Strong series)!Black boy joy is… Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race...Categorized as:
children friendship poc-mc realistic action-adventure anthologies audiobook black-mc -
Space Case by Stuart Gibbs
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsIt’s a murder mystery on the moon in this humorous and suspenseful space adventure from the author of Belly Up and Spy School that The New York Times Book Review called “a delightful and brilliantly constructed middle grade thriller... -
Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom debut author Antwan Eady and artist Gracey Zhang comes a glowing tale about the young dreaming big. A perfect story to demonstrate how pride in where we come from can bring a shining confidence.When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself as…an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero, too!Among the stars, he twirls. With pride, his chest swells. And his eyes, they glow... -
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... -
George and the Blue Moon by Lucy Hawking, Stephen W. Hawking
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGeorge and Annie are off on another cosmic adventure inspired by the Mars Expedition in the fifth book of the George’s Secret Key series from Stephen and Lucy Hawking.George and his best friend, Annie, have been selected as junior astronauts for a program that trains young people for a future trip to Mars...Categorized as:
children evolution realistic action-adventure book children-books fiction middle-grade -
How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsFor Pluto, summer has always started with a trip to the planetarium. It’s the launch to her favorite season, which also includes visits to the boardwalk arcade, working in her mom’s pizzeria, and her best friend Meredith’s birthday party. But this summer, none of that feels possible.A month before the end of the school year, Pluto’s frightened mom broke down Pluto’s bedroom door...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic audiobook children-books contemporary disability fiction -
Phoenix by S.F. Said
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA boy with unprecedented power must turn to the terrifying Alien enemies of humanity to discover his true nature and bring peace to a galaxy at war.Lucky lives a relatively normal life on a remote moon of the planet Aries One, safe from the turmoil and devastation of the interstellar war between Humans and Aliens... -
Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe moon and back before bathtime? Whatever next! Join Baby Bear as he finds a rocket, makes friends with an owl and has a picnic on the moon! This enlarged edition is the second Bear family adventure following the bestselling 'Peace at Last'... -
Clues to the Universe by Christina Li
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis #ownvoices debut about losing and finding family, forging unlikely friendships, and searching for answers to questions bigger than yourself will resonate with fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Sara Pennypacker, and Rebecca Stead.On the surface, Rosalind Ling Geraghty and Benjamin Burns are completely different. Aspiring rocket scientist Ro normally has a plan for everything... -
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A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLittle Star's soft feet tiptoed to the Big Mooncake. Little Star loves the delicious Mooncake that she bakes with her mama. But she's not supposed to eat any yet! What happens when she can't resist a nibble? In this stunning, heartwarming original story that shines as bright as the stars in the sky, Newbery Honor author Grace Lin explains the phases of the moon... -
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsOnce there was a boy, and that boy loved stars very much. So much so that he decided to catch one of his very own. But how? Waiting for them to grow tired from being up in the sky all night doesn't work. Climbing to the top of the tallest tree? No, not tall enough. The boy has a rocket ship . . . but it is made of paper and doesn't fly well at all... -
Curious George Gets a Medal: Gift Edition by H.A. Rey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAfter repeatedly disastrous efforts to get himself out of trouble, George ends up being the first monkey in space... -
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe white shape silhouetted against a blue background changes on every page. Is it a rabbit, a bird, or just spilt milk? In this childhood classic, kids are kept guessing until the surprise ending and they're encouraged to improvise similar games of their own. This beloved classic picture book teaches that, with a little imagination, something ordinary could become something extraordinary... -
Three's a Crowd! by Ray O'Ryan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsZack finds out that two best friends are better than one in this chapter book adventure.Zack is thrilled when he finds out that his best friend on Earth, Bert Jones, is going to visit him on Nebulon. Zack can’t wait to show Bert around the new planet, as well as his new school. But when Bert meets Drake, Zack’s best friend on Nebulon, some jealousy starts to brew... -
The Countdown Conspiracy by Katie Slivensky
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAmbassador, you are go for launch in T- minus 5…4…3…2…. Get ready to blast off with this high-action, high-stakes middle grade adventure that’s perfect for fans of Chris Grabenstein and Peter Lerangis!Miranda Regent can’t believe she was just chosen as one of six kids from around the world to train for the first ever mission to Mars... -
Lights on Wonder Rock by David Litchfield
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHeather wants more than anything to go to outer space, where the stars sparkle with magic and wonder. When a UFO lands behind her house and she meets a friendly alien, it seems that all of her dreams have come true. But soon her new friend has to return home...Categorized as:
children family friendship action-adventure aliens book children-books coming-of-age -
The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSoar into space with this glorious love story of alien folk, from the creators of The Gruffalo and Stick Man . The Smeds (who are red) never mix with the Smoos (who are blue). So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love, their families strongly disapprove. But peace is restored and love conquers all in this happiest of love stories... -
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial by Jim Thomas, Kim Smith
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released in theaters thirty-five years ago, the film enchanted millions of kids and surpassed Star Wars to become the highest-grossing movie of all time. Now the blockbuster movie is an illustrated storybook, with colorful retro-style illustrations courtesy of Kim Smith. It's a story you can't help but love: After E.T... -
I Love You, Michael Collins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA funny and heartwarming middle-grade historical fiction novel about a girl who writes letters to her favorite astronaut as America prepares for the moon landing.It’s 1969 and the country is gearing up for what looks to be the most exciting moment in U.S. history: men landing on the moon. Ten-year-old Mamie’s class is given an assignment to write letters to the astronauts... -
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Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsBear travels to the highest mountaintop to find out what to give the Moon for its birthday and discovers a delightful surprise -- the Moon has the same birthday as Bear. Or so it seems... -
The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLook up!Turtle really likes standing in his favorite spot. He likes it so much that he asks his friend Armadillo to come over and stand in it, too. But now that Armadillo is standing in that spot, he has a bad feeling about it . .Categorized as:
children friendship outdoors 21st-century action-adventure aliens animals anthropomorphism -
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhen a boy discovers a single-propeller airplane in his closet, he does what any young adventurer would do: He flies it into outer space! Millions of miles from Earth, the plane begins to sputter and quake, its fuel tank on empty. The boy executes a daring landing on the moon . . -
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"A star is how you know it's almost night.""As soon as you see one, there's another, and another.""And the dark that comes doesn't feel so dark.""What if you could have a star?"From acclaimed author Mary Lyn Ray and two-time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee comes this tender, evocative--and profound--exploration of stars both near and far... -
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThis story literally unfolds as pages open dramatically, extending both outward and upward. Monica wants the moon to play with, so her Papa sets out to get it for her. It isn't easy to climb all the way to the moon, but he finally succeeds--only to find that the moon is too big to carry home! The way the problem is resolved is a joyful surprise. Illustrated... -
A House of Rage and Sorrow by Sangu Mandanna
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOne kingdom. One crown. One family.“Maybe it’s time the great House of Rey came to an end. After all, what are we now? Just a house of rage and sorrow.” Esmae once wanted nothing more than to help her golden brother win the crown of Kali but that dream died with her best friend. Alexi broke her heart, and she vowed to destroy him for it... -
Imani's Moon by JaNay Brown-Wood, Hazel Mitchell
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsImani is a young Maasai girl with a loving mother and a desire to do something great. When she decides she wants to touch the moon, she works hard to reach her goal, even in the face of teasing from the naysayers around her... -
Dr Xargle's Book of Earthlets by Jeanne Willis, Tony Ross
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThis humorous story tells how Dr Xargle instructs his class of aliens on the appearance and habits of "Earthlets" (human babies) before embarking on a field trip to Earth. Bath-time, feeding, and changing nappies are all given a new slant by this alien guide to human behavior... -
Whose Moon Is That? by Kim Krans
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA stunning picture book that addresses the question: do any of us "own" nature? When a curious cat asks the question, "Whose moon is that?," a panoply of animals try to stake their claim. The wolf, the owl, and the starry sky all have their reasons, but the moon ultimately answers for herself -- her light is meant to be shared by everyone... -
Life on Mars by Jennifer Brown
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTwelve-year-old Arcturus Betelgeuse Chambers' quest to find life on other planets seems at an end when his parents decide to move to Las Vegas, but while they look for a house he stays with his neighbor, an astronaut who soon becomes a friend... -
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Randy Riley's Really Big Hit by Chris Van Dusen
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsRandy likes space, robots, and baseball, but he can't ace everything . . . or can he? Chris Van Dusen knocks one out of the park with a comical ode to ingenuity.Randy Riley loves two things: science and baseball. When it comes to the solar system, the constellations, and all things robot, Randy is a genius. But on the baseball diamond? Not so much. He tries . . . but whiffs every time... -
Year We Fell From Space by Amy Sarig King
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe deeply affecting next book from acclaimed author Amy Sarig King.Liberty Johansen is going to change the way we look at the night sky. Most people see the old constellations, the things they've been told to see. But Liberty sees new patterns, pictures, and possibilities. She's an exception. Some other exceptions:Her dad, who gave her the stars...Categorized as:
realistic family children friendship middle-grade mental-illness contemporary fiction -
The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFun science meets humor and heart in this adventure about a boy who is searching for his mother . . . in a parallel universe.Stephen Albie Bright leads a happy, normal life. Well, as normal as it gets with two astrophysicist parents who named their son after their favorite scientists, Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein. But then Albie's mother dies of cancer, and his world is shattered... -
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 24 ratings"I haven't read anything that has moved me this much since Wonder." --Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places A space-obsessed boy and his dog, Carl Sagan, take a journey toward family, love, hope, and awe in this funny and moving novel for fans of Counting by 7s, Walk Two Moons, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time... -
Stella's Stellar Hair by Yesenia Moises
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBlack girl magic takes the solar system in Stella's Stellar Hair , a celebration of hair, family, and self-love from debut author-illustrator Yesenia Moises! It’s the day of the Big Star Little Gala, and Stella's hair just isn't acting right! What’s a girl to do?Simple! Just hop on her hoverboard, visit each of her fabulous aunties across the solar system, and find the perfect hairdo along the... -
The Stolen Moon by Rachel Searles
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe action-packed sequel to The Lost Planet.This is what the boy is told:- His younger sister has an otherworldly (and sometimes annoying) ability.- The starship he now lives on has been infiltrated.- His friend Parker is working on the network hack of a lifetime.This is what Chase and Parker fear:- They won't be able to save the world in time... -
We're Not from Here by Geoff Rodkey
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsImagine being forced to move to a new planet where YOU are the alien! From the creator of the Tapper Twins, New York Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey delivers a topical, sci-fi middle-grade novel that proves friendship and laughter can transcend even a galaxy of differences. The first time I heard about Planet Choom, we'd been on Mars for almost a year... -
This Is a Moose by Richard T. Morris, Tom Lichtenheld
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLights! Camera! Moose! MOOSE? Yes, Moose! When a movie director tries to capture the life of a moose on film, he's in for a big surprise. It turns out the moose has a dream bigger then just being a moose—he wants to be an astronaut and go to the moon.His forest friends step in to help him, and action ensues. Lots of action... -
Man On The Moon by Simon Bartram
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeginning with an introduction to the history of mosaics, colour and design are explored in mosaic-making, across the full range of equipment, materials and tesserae on offer... -
Small World by Ishta Mercurio
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Nanda is born, the whole of her world is the circle of her mother’s arms. But as she grows, the world grows too. It expands outward—from her family, to her friends, to the city, to the countryside. And as it expands, so does Nanda’s wonder in the underlying shapes and structures patterning it: cogs and wheels, fractals in snowflakes... -
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Farther Than the Moon by Lindsay Lackey
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom award-winning author Lindsay Lackey comes Farther Than the Moon , a heartfelt story about a boy who wants to become an astronaut, but wonders if his dreams can include his brother with disabilities, perfect for fans of We Dream of Space and Song for a Whale. All thirteen-year-old Houston Stewart has ever wanted is to become an astronaut... -
Earth to Clunk by Pam Smallcomb
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat do you send your alien pen pal Clunk to make it clear you do not want an alien pen pal? You send him your big sister. That'll teach Clunk to have a pen pal from Earth-or so our intrepid narrator thinks. But then Clunk sends him a Zoid, an exasperating Zoid that follows him everywhere... -
XO, Exoplanet by Deborah Underwood
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsXO, EXOPLANET is about the planets of our solar system spotting another planet outside the system—an exoplanet—and reaching out to it, via letter, to express their happiness that it is in the galaxy. But feelings get stepped on as the correspondence continues... -
Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA one-of-a-kind story of heart, humor, and finding one’s place in the universe.Prez knows that the best way to keep track of things is to make a list. That's important when you have a grandfather who is constantly forgetting. And it's even more important when your grandfather can't care for you anymore and you have to go live with a foster family out in the country... -
Hello, Nebulon! by Ray O'Ryan
Rated: 4.02 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsGet to know Galaxy Zack—and his new home planet!In Hello, Nebulon!, Zack makes the big move from Earth... -
Smek for President! by Adam Rex, Άνταμ Ρεξ
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this much-anticipated sequel to The True Meaning of Smekday, which inspired the blockbuster feature film Home, Tip and J.Lo are back for another hilarious intergalactic adventure!After Tip and J.Lo banished the Gorg from Earth, the pair is notorious—but not for their heroics. Instead, human Dan Landry has taken credit for conquering the Gorg, and the aliens known as the Boov blame J...
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