Books like 'Claudia and the Great Search'
Readers who enjoyed Claudia and the Great Search by Ann M. Martin also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary children realistic coming-of-age friendship
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Saving Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe kids and their favorite teacher from Because of Mr. Terupt and Mr. Terupt Falls Again return for a third book in the funny, warmhearted series for fans of Wonder. Seventh grade was going to be awesome. The only thing missing was Mr. Terupt.The kids from Mr. Terupt’s fifth- and sixth-grade classes are entering their first year of junior high school... -
![Can You Get An F In Lunch? by Nancy E. Krulik]()
Can You Get An F In Lunch? by Nancy E. Krulik
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBest-selling author Nancy Krulik delves into the mind of a twelve-year-old girl just trying to survive middle school.After spending the night studying the Joyce Kilmer Middle School Handbook, Jenny McAfee feels totally prepared to start sixth grade. But Jenny has another reason to feel confident. She'll have her best friend, Addie Wilson, right there by her side...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic children-books contemporary fiction middle-grade womens-fiction -
![Darkest Hour by Lauren Brooke]()
Darkest Hour by Lauren Brooke
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHeartland is a horse farm nestled in the hills of Virginia, but it's much more than that. Heartland is like no other place - it's a place where the scars of the past can be healed, a place where frightened and abused horses learn to trust again.An equine flue is infecting Heartland's horses. Despite their desperate efforts, Amy and Ty cannot keep it from spreading...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship realistic animals anthropomorphism children-books contemporary -
![Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademetriou]()
Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademetriou
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis delicious new series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Papademetriou is a real treat -- full of humor and heart and cupcakes!Confession: My life is soooo not sprinkles and sunshine . . . Hayley's world is far from perfect: her parents have divorced, her mom has lost her job, and she and her sister Chloe are stuck sharing a bedroom in their grandmother's apartment... -
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![Madame President by Nancy E. Krulik]()
Madame President by Nancy E. Krulik
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBest-selling author Nancy Krulik delves into the mind of a twelve-year-old girl trying to survive middle school.Jenny McAfee never thought of herself as a leader, but then again, Jenny had also never thought that her best friend, Addie Wilson, would ditch her for the Pops-- the most popular kids in school...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic children-books contemporary fiction middle-grade womens-fiction -
![Katie and the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon]()
Katie and the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThis first book in The Cupcake Diaries is told through the perspective of Katie Brown. We find Katie miserable on the first day of middle school. Her best friend Callie came back from camp boy-crazy and part of a whole new group of friends. When it's made clear that Callie is in the PGC (Popular Girls Club) and Katie is not invited to join, Katie suddenly feels incredibly alone...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship realistic children-books contemporary culinary fiction -
![Clementine and the Family Meeting by Sara Pennypacker]()
Clementine and the Family Meeting by Sara Pennypacker
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThis New York Times bestselling chapter book series has been keeping readers engaged and laughing for more than a decade with over one million copies sold! Clementine's having a nervous breakdown. The FAMILY MEETING! sign is up in her house, and she just knows she's in trouble for something...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship realistic audiobook children-books contemporary family -
![My Lame Life: Queen of the Misfits by Jen Mann]()
My Lame Life: Queen of the Misfits by Jen Mann
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Jen Mann has written a hilarious and heartwarming story for fans of Meg Cabot and Rainbow Rowell. My name is Plum Parrish, I'm fourteen, and I'm pretty sure I'm invisible. Not like super power invisible, more like loser invisible. There's a big difference... -
![It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! by Nicole Chen]()
It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! by Nicole Chen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPerfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Jessica Kim, this joyful, moving middle grade contemporary follows a big-hearted Taiwanese American girl as she aims to gain her family’s acceptance and save her favorite boba tea shop by selling her handcrafted amigurumi dolls...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age children friendship middle-grade contemporary fiction children-books -
![BFF*: Just As Long As We're Together / Here's to You, Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume]()
BFF*: Just As Long As We're Together / Here's to You, Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this new bind-up, Judy Blume's two stories about three best friends will reach a new set of girls. Stephanie, Rachel and Alison know there will be plenty of family issues, broken hearts, and tough school assignments as they make their way through junior high. But with a good pair of friends, a girl can do anything...Categorized as:
coming-of-age realistic children friendship young-adult fiction middle-grade children-books -
![Sprinkles and Secrets by Lisa Schroeder, Nathalie Dion]()
Sprinkles and Secrets by Lisa Schroeder, Nathalie Dion
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIn this companion novel to It's Raining Cupcakes, twelve-year-old Sophie has a dream come true when she's offered a TV commercial spot...Categorized as:
children friendship realistic children-books contemporary fiction middle-grade young-adult -
![Accidentally Friends by Lisa Papademetriou]()
Accidentally Friends by Lisa Papademetriou
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe fourth book in our first Candy Apple mini-series from New York Times-bestselling author Lisa Papademetriou! Seventh grader Amy Flowers is at it again in her fourth fish-out-of-water adventure at super-snooty Allington Academy... -
![On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety by Michael Kroft]()
On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety by Michael Kroft
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOnce an amusing extrovert with a reputation as a prankster, Mr. Rosen is entering his retirement years as a stoic thirty-year converted introvert who has no interest in people, despises change, and is more than content to have his wife navigate his life... -
![Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper]()
Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"Are you willing to do anything to help your slimy pledge brothers become Distinguished Gentlemen?" Sharp demanded. "Anything, sir," Jericho said. He just wanted it to be over."Then suck my big toe.""Sir?" Jericho wasn't sure if he had heard correctly....When Jericho is invited to pledge for the Warriors of Distinction, he thinks his life can't get any better... -
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![Katie and the Cupcake War by Coco Simon]()
Katie and the Cupcake War by Coco Simon
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSydney Whitman, leader of Popular Girls Club has moved away! Does that mean Callie will try to be friends with Katie again? Just when Katie thinks things might get back to normal, Callir announces that the Popular Girls Club is baking cupcakes for this year's school fund-raiser...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship middle-grade children-books fiction contemporary family -
![Caitlin's Lucky Charm by Lisa Schroeder]()
Caitlin's Lucky Charm by Lisa Schroeder
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFour best friends, one lucky bracelet, and an utterly charming new middle-grade series!Caitlin would stay at summer camp forever if she could. Her new best friends in the world, Hannah, Mia, and Libby are there... -
![Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle by Hilda Eunice Burgos]()
Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle by Hilda Eunice Burgos
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHer last name may mean "kings," but Ana Maria Reyes REALLY does not live in a castle. Rather, she's stuck in a tiny apartment with two parents (way too lovey-dovey), three sisters (way too dramatic), everyone's friends (way too often), and a piano (which she never gets to practice). And when her parents announce a new baby is coming, that means they'll have even less time for Ana Maria...Categorized as:
realistic children coming-of-age friendship middle-grade family contemporary children-books -
![The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others by Bob Sornson, Maria Dismondy]()
The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others by Bob Sornson, Maria Dismondy
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHave you ever seen a bully in action and done nothing about it? The kids at Pete's new school get involved, instead of being bystanders. When Pete begins to behave badly, his classmates teach him about "The Promise"...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books fiction bullying psychological contemporary -
![Franklin and the Tooth Fairy by Paulette Bourgeois]()
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... -
![Accidentally Fooled by Lisa Papademetriou]()
Accidentally Fooled by Lisa Papademetriou
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSeventh grader Amy Flowers is finally making her mark at ultra-exclusive Allington Academy, but there's always one thing standing in her way: the League. They rule the school, and their queen is oh-so-mean Fiona, who doesn't exactly appreciate a new girl invading her turf. This time, Amy's stuck working on a service project with Fiona and preppie know-it-all Preston... -
![Like Bug Juice on a Burger by Julie Sternberg]()
Like Bug Juice on a Burger by Julie Sternberg
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn’t. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship realistic animals children-books contemporary family -
![The New Girl by Nancy E. Krulik]()
The New Girl by Nancy E. Krulik
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBestselling author Nancy Krulik delves into the mind of a twelve-year-old who is trying to survive middle school.Joyce Kilmer Middle School is holding a fundraising carnival, and Jenny and her rival Addie make a bet that each girl will raise more money than the other. The loser will have to wear her pajamas to school! The competition gets even hotter with the arrival of a stylish new girl...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books middle-grade fiction contemporary young-adult -
![Now I'll Tell You Everything by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Now I'll Tell You Everything by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt's Alice—for the rest of her life! Yes, the very last Alice book, and it reveals every last bit you'd want to know about Alice, including whether she spends the rest of her life with Patrick! "This is the book where Alice, every girl’s girl, turns into every lady’s lady" (VOYA).Alice McKinley is going to college! And everything, from her room to her classes to her friends, is about to change... -
![Always, Abigail by Nancy J. Cavanaugh]()
Always, Abigail by Nancy J. Cavanaugh
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAge Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 to 7 From the award-winning author of This Journal Belongs to Ratchet , a hilarious and heartwarming story about cheerleading, popularity, and middle school survival told exclusively through lists and letters...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age friendship children middle-grade fiction contemporary children-books -
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![My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe]()
My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAs Ida May begins fourth grade, she is determined never to make another best friend--because her last best friend moved away. This is a doable plan at first. Thanks to bratty, bossy Jenna Drews who hates Ida, no one in class has ever really noticed her before. It's when the sparkly Stacey Merriweather comes to her school that her plan goes awry...Categorized as:
realistic friendship children middle-grade children-books fiction contemporary female-mc -
![Permanent Rose by Hilary McKay]()
Permanent Rose by Hilary McKay
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt's a long hot, never-ending summer, with no letters for Rose. No phone calls, no messages, nothing at all.Rose is determined to find Tom in New York... -
![Scarlett by Cathy Cassidy]()
Scarlett by Cathy Cassidy
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsScarlett's in trouble at school. Again. With black fingernails and dyed ketchup-red hair, she's not your average twelve-year-old Londoner. So her mum sick of trying to get her into "another" school ships Scarlett to her father's cottage in Ireland. Having to learn Gaelic in a one-room schoolhouse and enduring a new stepmum and younger stepsister is just too much... -
![Alexis and the Perfect Recipe by Coco Simon, Elizabeth Doyle Carey]()
Alexis and the Perfect Recipe by Coco Simon, Elizabeth Doyle Carey
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe fourth book in Spotlight's fun and delicious tween series is told from the perspective of Alexis, the most organized member of the Cupcake Club...Categorized as:
realistic friendship coming-of-age children middle-grade fiction children-books contemporary -
![Katie, Batter Up! by Coco Simon]()
Katie, Batter Up! by Coco Simon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA sporty addition to a sweet tween series that’s all about friendship—and cupcakes, of course!Katie’s Cupcake Club friends all have other activities besides making Mia and Alexis are on the soccer team and Emma plays the flute. Katie sets out to find her extracurricular niche and soon she’s dribbling, passing, and catching...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship middle-grade children-books fiction contemporary religion -
![Mia's Baker's Dozen by Coco Simon]()
Mia's Baker's Dozen by Coco Simon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMia finds that one more in the mix is always better in this treat of a tween series!Mia is getting used to her new family now that her mom is remarried to Eddie and she’s gained a new stepbrother, Dan. She’s in the groove of going to her dad’s house on the weekends, and everything is going pretty well at home and at school. Well, except for Spanish class...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship middle-grade children-books fiction contemporary female-mc -
![How to Be a Girly Girl in Just Ten Days by Lisa Papademetriou]()
How to Be a Girly Girl in Just Ten Days by Lisa Papademetriou
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA magazine-article makeover gives middle-school tomboy Nick a brand new look. But can she be a "girly-girl" and still be true to herself?Nicolette Spicer ("Nick" to her friends) is a tomboy through and through. While her friends focus on shopping and lip gloss, Nick would rather buy new basketball shoes and practice her free throw... -
![The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney by Lauren Barnholdt]()
The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney by Lauren Barnholdt
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMom says karma always comes around to get you, and I guess it's true. Because last summer I was a total liar, and now, right in the middle of Mr. Pritchard's third-period math class, my whole world is about to come crashing down... -
![Stotan! by Chris Crutcher]()
Stotan! by Chris Crutcher
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsStotan: A cross between a Stoic and a SpartanIt's the last swimming season for Walker, Nortie, Lion, and Jeff, and their coach is building their self-discipline in a grueling four-hour-a-day test of stamina designed to bring them to the outer edge of their capabilities... -
![My Summer of Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald]()
My Summer of Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAt the end of My Life in Pink & Green , Lucy Desberg had just won the grant that would save her family’s pharmacy—and turn it into a modern eco-spa. Now it’s summer, and the work has begun in earnest. Lucy figures that with the spa opening and her sister, Claudia, home, she’ll have a great summer... -
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![Intensely Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Intensely Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWouldn't it be great to go back to the time before Pam got pregnant, before Patrick left for the University of Chicago, before anyone was making any big decisions about sex or college or life in general? Wouldn't it be great to get the whole gang together again, just once? What it takes for this to happen will change Alice (and the whole gang) forever. A funeral is not a happy reunion... -
![Girls Rule! by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Girls Rule! by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSUMMER IS AROUND the corner, and the rivalry between the Malloys and the Hatfords is heating up! The kids have two weeks to earn money for a fundraising contest sponsored by the local hospital. Those who collect $20 or more for the new children’s wing can choose to be in the annual Strawberry Festival Parade or get all the strawberry treats they can eat...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books fiction middle-grade contemporary humor -
![Second Time's the Charm by Melissa J. Morgan]()
Second Time's the Charm by Melissa J. Morgan
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSworn city girl Natalie Goode is actually back—voluntarily—at Lakepuke for more. More mess-food cooking, more bug-infested bunk beds, and even more nature shack (well, maybe not nature shack; a girl has to maintain some standards, after all). And even though the returning 3C-ers have been split up, she’s still got Alyssa as her bunkmate and official summertime BFF...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship coming-of-age children-books contemporary fiction middle-grade -
![Lake Rescue by Annie Bryant]()
Lake Rescue by Annie Bryant
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBig time adventure awaits the Beacon Street Girls and the rest of the seventh grade. The class is heading to Lake Rescue in New Hampshire for outdoor adventure...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books middle-grade fiction contemporary action-adventure -
![P.S. I Really Like You by Nancy E. Krulik]()
P.S. I Really Like You by Nancy E. Krulik
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBestselling author Nancy Krulik takes an inside look at what it takes to survive middle school.Jenny has been getting gifts, cards, and notes from a secret admirer. Who could the mystery boy be? While Jenny is dealing with her admirer, Rachel and Felicia stop speaking following a basketball game in which Rachel refused to pass the ball to Felicia, and then missed the winning basket... -
![Who Won the War? by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]()
Who Won the War? by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWho will win as the curtain closes on the war between the girls and the boys?Summer vacation is almost over and after one year in Buckman it looks like the Malloy girls will be going home to Ohio. The Hatford boys are relieved to finally be rid of Eddie, Beth and Caroline, also known as the Womper, the Weirdo and the Crazy...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books fiction middle-grade contemporary humor -
![Who's Got Spirit? by Nancy E. Krulik]()
Who's Got Spirit? by Nancy E. Krulik
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBestselling author Nancy Krulik delves into the mind of a twelve-year-old trying to survive middle school.It's fall spirit week at Joyce Kilmer Middle School, and the Pops have established their own exclusive "pep squad," complete with matching outfits! Jenny's friends decide to fight back by forming a rival group with their own uniforms...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship middle-grade children-books fiction contemporary young-adult -
![Scheme Spirit by Maya Gold]()
Scheme Spirit by Maya Gold
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDiana's never been a fan of cheerleaders. After all, mean queen bee Kayleigh is one, and she's always snooty to Diana and her friends. Still, Diana has school spirit, and is bummed to be missing the festivities for the town's Homecoming game while she's stuck working at the cleaners. But when Diana's co-worker Cat has to help a friend in need, Diana finds herself at the homecoming parade..Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books middle-grade contemporary womens-fiction fairy-tale -
![Also Known as Elvis by James Howe]()
Also Known as Elvis by James Howe
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSkeezie Tookis navigates a pivotal summer of first crushes and tough choices in this conclusion to the bestselling and acclaimed quartet that began with The Misfits.Skeezie Tookis, also known as Elvis, isn’t looking forward to this summer in Paintbrush Falls...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship realistic children-books contemporary fiction lgbtq -
![Drawn That Way by Elissa Sussman]()
Drawn That Way by Elissa Sussman
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Packs a swoony punch along with its feminist rage.” —Maurene Goo, author of Somewhere Only We KnowMoxie meets the world of animation in this fresh, unputdownable novel about a teen girl determined to prove herself in the boys’ club of her dream industry no matter what it takes... -
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![That’s What Friends Do by Cathleen Barnhart]()
That’s What Friends Do by Cathleen Barnhart
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA heartfelt and powerful debut novel for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and John David Anderson, That’s What Friends Do is a book for anyone learning how to have the hard conversations about feelings, boundaries, and what it means to be a true friend. Samantha Goldstein and David Fisher have been friends ever since they met on their town’s Little League baseball team...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age friendship children romance middle-grade contemporary sports -
![The Great Scavenger Hunt by Annie Bryant]()
The Great Scavenger Hunt by Annie Bryant
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGreat new adventures in the bestselling series from Aladdin M!X!Just in time for summer reading, Aladdin M!X offers two brand-new Beacon Street Girls books. In The Great Scavenger Hunt, the BSG and their classmates discover some exciting surprises during a weekend adventure on Cape Cod; and the series’ sixth special adventure, Ready! Set! Hawaii! has the BSG enjoying a glamerous cruise vacation...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books contemporary fiction middle-grade womens-fiction -
![Isabel's Texas Two-Step by Annie Bryant]()
Isabel's Texas Two-Step by Annie Bryant
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIsabel's sister Elena Maria is turning fifteen, and the Martinez family is planning her quinceañera -- at Uncle Hector's ranch in San...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship children-books middle-grade contemporary womens-fiction female-mc -
![Freestyle with Avery by Bryant Annie]()
Freestyle with Avery by Bryant Annie
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGo West, young girl. Avery's off to see "the Snurfman" (aka her dad) in Colorado. She can't wait to show off her skills in the first annual Telluride Snurfer Snowboarding Competition. But the Snurfman's got a few surprises in store. And when Avery meets Kazie, the thirteen year-old all-star boarder and her evil cat, Farkle, she's not so sure these surprises are so snurf-tastic after all...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship middle-grade children-books fiction contemporary sports -
![Sweet Thirteen by Annie Bryant]()
Sweet Thirteen by Annie Bryant
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCharlotte's thrilled -- Sophie's on her way from Paris to meet the BSG, and Charlotte's writing a special story as a welcome gift... -
![My New Best Friend by Julie Bowe]()
My New Best Friend by Julie Bowe
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThere's a new girl in town! After Ida May’s last best friend moved away, she swore she’d never have another. But then she met fun, sparkly Stacey Merriweather, and now she and Ida are like two peas in a pod. When the friends discover a magical mermaid night-light that seems to grant wishes, they start a secret club— just the two of them...Categorized as:
realistic friendship children fiction middle-grade children-books contemporary humor
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