22 Books like Old School

Cabin Fever

by Jeff Kinney • 2011

Greg Heffley's journal captures middle school: a world where moldy cheese decides your social fate.

4.23

135k+

📓 Journal Format 😂 School Comedy 🤥 Unreliable Narrator

Cabin Fever 94%

Greg Heffley's journal captures middle school: a world where moldy cheese decides your social fate.

by Jeff Kinney 2011

4.23

135k+ ratings

📓 Journal Format 😂 School Comedy 🤥 Unreliable Narrator

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4

by Sue Townsend • 1982

At 13 3/4, a spot-prone diarist resolves to improve himself while his parents implode.

3.88

52k+

📓 Diary Novel 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🤓 Self-Absorbed Narrator

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 Summary

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 91%

At 13 3/4, a spot-prone diarist resolves to improve himself while his parents implode.

by Sue Townsend 1982

3.88

52k+ ratings

📓 Diary Novel 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🤓 Self-Absorbed Narrator

Unplugged

by Gordon Korman • 2021

A spoiled tech heir, a forbidden lizard, a candy ring: summer camp just got criminal.

4.02

8k+

🏕️ Summer Camp 🦎 Secret Pet 💛 Found Family

Unplugged 91%

A spoiled tech heir, a forbidden lizard, a candy ring: summer camp just got criminal.

by Gordon Korman 2021

4.02

8k+ ratings

🏕️ Summer Camp 🦎 Secret Pet 💛 Found Family

Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

by Rachel Renée Russell • 2009

A diary, a crush, and a mean-girl nemesis: an artistic dork's survival guide to private school.

4.10

119k+

📓 Diary Novel 🏫 Middle School Drama 😈 Mean Girl Rivalry

Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life Summary

Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life 90%

A diary, a crush, and a mean-girl nemesis: an artistic dork's survival guide to private school.

by Rachel Renée Russell 2009

4.10

119k+ ratings

📓 Diary Novel 🏫 Middle School Drama 😈 Mean Girl Rivalry

The Unteachables

by Gordon Korman • 2019

A jaded teacher assigned to the worst class discovers they refuse to be given up on.

4.34

20k+

🏫 Satirical School Story 👾 Misfit Class 🍎 Jaded Teacher Arc

The Unteachables 90%

A jaded teacher assigned to the worst class discovers they refuse to be given up on.

by Gordon Korman 2019

4.34

20k+ ratings

🏫 Satirical School Story 👾 Misfit Class 🍎 Jaded Teacher Arc

Stanley, Flat Again!

by Jeff Brown • 2003

Stanley Lambchop is flat again. This time, his strangest problem might be someone's only hope.

3.92

3k+

📚 Early Chapter Books 🎈 Absurd Premise 😊 Gently Humorous

Stanley, Flat Again! 90%

Stanley Lambchop is flat again. This time, his strangest problem might be someone's only hope.

by Jeff Brown 2003

3.92

3k+ ratings

📚 Early Chapter Books 🎈 Absurd Premise 😊 Gently Humorous

Billionaire Boy

by David Walliams • 2010

A billionaire twelve-year-old with no friends switches to the local school to find a real one.

4.12

20k+

🚽 Toilet Humor 🏫 School Comedy 🇬🇧 British Humor

Billionaire Boy 90%

A billionaire twelve-year-old with no friends switches to the local school to find a real one.

by David Walliams 2010

4.12

20k+ ratings

🚽 Toilet Humor 🏫 School Comedy 🇬🇧 British Humor

The Wrong Way Home

by Kate O'Shaughnessy • 2024

After escaping her commune, Fern longs to return, but uncovering the truth might make her stay.

4.27

3k+

🏕️ Off-Grid Community 👩‍👧 Mother-Daughter Clash 🫂 Found Family

The Wrong Way Home 89%

After escaping her commune, Fern longs to return, but uncovering the truth might make her stay.

by Kate O'Shaughnessy 2024

4.27

3k+ ratings

🏕️ Off-Grid Community 👩‍👧 Mother-Daughter Clash 🫂 Found Family

Gangsta Granny

by David Walliams • 2011

His boring granny was a jewel thief. She needs him for one last heist.

4.23

31k+

🏴‍☠️ Middle Grade Heist 🇬🇧 British Humor 🧓 Quirky Grandmother

Gangsta Granny 89%

His boring granny was a jewel thief. She needs him for one last heist.

by David Walliams 2011

4.23

31k+ ratings

🏴‍☠️ Middle Grade Heist 🇬🇧 British Humor 🧓 Quirky Grandmother

The New Girl

by Meg Cabot • 2008

Allie Finkle starts a new school with a pirate-costumed brother, and a bully wants to fight.

3.86

3k+

🏫 New Kid 🤝 Bully Redemption 🐱 Pet Adoption

The New Girl 89%

Allie Finkle starts a new school with a pirate-costumed brother, and a bully wants to fight.

by Meg Cabot 2008

3.86

3k+ ratings

🏫 New Kid 🤝 Bully Redemption 🐱 Pet Adoption

I Funny

by James Patterson • 2012

An orphaned middle schooler in a wheelchair bets everything on a comedy contest.

4.14

13k+

🎤 Stand-Up Comedy ♿ Disabled Protagonist 😂 Humor As Coping

I Funny 89%

An orphaned middle schooler in a wheelchair bets everything on a comedy contest.

by James Patterson 2012

4.14

13k+ ratings

🎤 Stand-Up Comedy ♿ Disabled Protagonist 😂 Humor As Coping

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

by Chris Grabenstein • 2013

An eccentric game-maker locks twelve kids in his library and dares them to escape.

4.12

62k+

🧩 Puzzle Mystery 📚 Library Adventure 🤝 Team Competition

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library Summary

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library 89%

An eccentric game-maker locks twelve kids in his library and dares them to escape.

by Chris Grabenstein 2013

4.12

62k+ ratings

🧩 Puzzle Mystery 📚 Library Adventure 🤝 Team Competition

Heart and Brain

by Nick Seluk • 2017

Heart wants fun. Brain wants safety. Your life, a compromise between two impossible roommates.

4.30

3k+

💻 Webcomic Collection 😰 Anxiety Comics 😮‍💨 Adulting Struggles

Heart and Brain 88%

Heart wants fun. Brain wants safety. Your life, a compromise between two impossible roommates.

by Nick Seluk 2017

4.30

3k+ ratings

💻 Webcomic Collection 😰 Anxiety Comics 😮‍💨 Adulting Struggles

A Tiny Bit Marvellous

by Dawn French • 2010

A mum, a furious teen, a flamboyant son: three diaries, one year their family nearly breaks.

3.24

12k+

🏠 Domestic Comedy 👩‍👧 Mother Daughter Conflict 🕰️ Midlife Crisis

A Tiny Bit Marvellous 88%

A mum, a furious teen, a flamboyant son: three diaries, one year their family nearly breaks.

by Dawn French 2010

3.24

12k+ ratings

🏠 Domestic Comedy 👩‍👧 Mother Daughter Conflict 🕰️ Midlife Crisis

The Penderwicks at Last

by Jeanne Birdsall • 2018

When the Penderwicks return to Arundel for a wedding, the youngest must find her own rhythm.

4.18

10k+

🏡 Summer Estate 💒 Family Wedding 🤝 Unlikely Friendship

The Penderwicks at Last 88%

When the Penderwicks return to Arundel for a wedding, the youngest must find her own rhythm.

by Jeanne Birdsall 2018

4.18

10k+ ratings

🏡 Summer Estate 💒 Family Wedding 🤝 Unlikely Friendship

We Are All Made of Molecules

by Susin Nielsen • 2015

His mother died. Her father came out. Now they're stepsiblings, and neither one will bend.

3.82

17k+

🏠 Blended Family 👥 Dual Pov 🌈 Gay Parent

We Are All Made of Molecules 88%

His mother died. Her father came out. Now they're stepsiblings, and neither one will bend.

by Susin Nielsen 2015

3.82

17k+ ratings

🏠 Blended Family 👥 Dual Pov 🌈 Gay Parent

Beezus and Ramona

by Beverly Cleary • 1955

Beezus Quimby is nine, responsible, and sure of one thing: her little sister Ramona is impossible.

4.03

104k+

🏠 Slice Of Life Family 👧 Annoying Little Sister 💕 Love-Hate Sibling Bond

Beezus and Ramona 88%

Beezus Quimby is nine, responsible, and sure of one thing: her little sister Ramona is impossible.

by Beverly Cleary 1955

4.03

104k+ ratings

🏠 Slice Of Life Family 👧 Annoying Little Sister 💕 Love-Hate Sibling Bond

No Fixed Address

by Susin Nielsen • 2018

A twelve-year-old trivia whiz hides his homelessness, but a game show could unravel his secret.

4.22

6k+

🚐 Hidden Homelessness 🧠 Parental Depression 🤫 Family Secrets

No Fixed Address 88%

A twelve-year-old trivia whiz hides his homelessness, but a game show could unravel his secret.

by Susin Nielsen 2018

4.22

6k+ ratings

🚐 Hidden Homelessness 🧠 Parental Depression 🤫 Family Secrets

The Twenty-One Balloons

by William Pène du Bois • 1947

A reclusive balloonist crash-lands on Krakatoa, where a hidden utopia runs on diamonds and dinner.

3.95

26k+

🎈 Balloon Adventure 🏝️ Hidden Utopia 🔧 Whimsical Inventions

The Twenty-One Balloons 88%

A reclusive balloonist crash-lands on Krakatoa, where a hidden utopia runs on diamonds and dinner.

by William Pène du Bois 1947

3.95

26k+ ratings

🎈 Balloon Adventure 🏝️ Hidden Utopia 🔧 Whimsical Inventions

The Wednesday Wars

by Gary D. Schmidt • 2007

Wednesdays with Mrs. Baker: Shakespeare, eraser dust, and Holling's certainty she wants him gone.

4.12

48k+

📜 Shakespeare In School 🤝 Unlikely Mentorship 🌅 Bittersweet Coming Of Age

The Wednesday Wars 88%

Wednesdays with Mrs. Baker: Shakespeare, eraser dust, and Holling's certainty she wants him gone.

by Gary D. Schmidt 2007

4.12

48k+ ratings

📜 Shakespeare In School 🤝 Unlikely Mentorship 🌅 Bittersweet Coming Of Age

The Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan • 2005

A twelve-year-old outcast discovers Greek gods are real, and Zeus thinks he stole the master bolt.

4.31

3.5M+

🏛️ Modern Mythology 🗡️ Demigod Adventure ⚡ Chosen One

The Lightning Thief 88%

A twelve-year-old outcast discovers Greek gods are real, and Zeus thinks he stole the master bolt.

by Rick Riordan 2005

4.31

3.5M+ ratings

🏛️ Modern Mythology 🗡️ Demigod Adventure ⚡ Chosen One

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

by Wendy Mass • 2006

Four lost keys, his dead dad's locked box, and one summer to open it before thirteen.

4.02

20k+

🔒 Locked Box Mystery 🌞 Summer Quest 🖤 Grief Journey

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life Summary

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life 88%

Four lost keys, his dead dad's locked box, and one summer to open it before thirteen.

by Wendy Mass 2006

4.02

20k+ ratings

🔒 Locked Box Mystery 🌞 Summer Quest 🖤 Grief Journey

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