23 Books like Hard Luck

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 96%

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

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 93%

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 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 92%

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

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 91%

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

Priklijuoti

by John David Anderson • 2017

A sticky-note war turns Eric's middle-school crew into targets and their words into weapons.

3.90

9k+

🎭 Middle School Drama 🆕 New Kid In School 📝 Power Of Words

Priklijuoti 91%

A sticky-note war turns Eric's middle-school crew into targets and their words into weapons.

by John David Anderson 2017

3.90

9k+ ratings

🎭 Middle School Drama 🆕 New Kid In School 📝 Power Of Words

Drama

by Raina Telgemeier • 2012

She can't sing, so she designs sets. Two brothers bring romantic chaos to the stage crew.

4.18

163k+

🎭 Theater Kids 💕 Love Triangle 🌈 Queer Crush

Drama 91%

She can't sing, so she designs sets. Two brothers bring romantic chaos to the stage crew.

by Raina Telgemeier 2012

4.18

163k+ ratings

🎭 Theater Kids 💕 Love Triangle 🌈 Queer Crush

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

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 90%

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

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

Because of Mr. Terupt

by Rob Buyea • 2010

A new teacher's warmth draws seven guarded fifth graders into a classroom that feels like family.

4.35

46k+

🏫 School Story 🗣️ Multiple Narrators 👨‍🏫 Inspirational Teacher

Because of Mr. Terupt 90%

A new teacher's warmth draws seven guarded fifth graders into a classroom that feels like family.

by Rob Buyea 2010

4.35

46k+ ratings

🏫 School Story 🗣️ Multiple Narrators 👨‍🏫 Inspirational Teacher

On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God

by Louise Rennison • 2000

When her dreamy boyfriend moves abroad, a dramatic teen fakes a romance with his funny rival.

3.95

49k+

📓 Diary Novel 🇬🇧 British Teen Humor 💔 Love Triangle

On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God Summary

On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God 90%

When her dreamy boyfriend moves abroad, a dramatic teen fakes a romance with his funny rival.

by Louise Rennison 2000

3.95

49k+ ratings

📓 Diary Novel 🇬🇧 British Teen Humor 💔 Love Triangle

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 90%

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

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

All Four Stars

by Tara Dairman • 2014

Mistaken for an adult food writer, an eleven-year-old must secretly review a Manhattan bistro.

4.18

4k+

🍳 Foodie Middle Grade 📝 Secret Passion 🎭 Mistaken Identity

All Four Stars 90%

Mistaken for an adult food writer, an eleven-year-old must secretly review a Manhattan bistro.

by Tara Dairman 2014

4.18

4k+ ratings

🍳 Foodie Middle Grade 📝 Secret Passion 🎭 Mistaken Identity

Auggie & Me

by R.J. Palacio • 2015

How three kids from Auggie's world confront the hardest thing of all: their own mistakes.

4.27

42k+

📖 Short Story Collection 📘 Companion Novel 🔄 Bully Redemption

Auggie & Me 89%

How three kids from Auggie's world confront the hardest thing of all: their own mistakes.

by R.J. Palacio 2015

4.27

42k+ ratings

📖 Short Story Collection 📘 Companion Novel 🔄 Bully Redemption

Out of My Mind

by Sharon M. Draper • 2010

Silent and brilliant, Melody finally speaks through a device, but the world still won't listen.

4.34

191k+

🤫 Underestimated Kid ♿ Living With Disability 💔 Toxic Friendship

Out of My Mind 89%

Silent and brilliant, Melody finally speaks through a device, but the world still won't listen.

by Sharon M. Draper 2010

4.34

191k+ ratings

🤫 Underestimated Kid ♿ Living With Disability 💔 Toxic Friendship

Suurlemoen!

by Jaco Jacobs • 2008

Punished with a band competition, two friends recruit a singer they both fall for.

3.57

338

🎸 School Band 🫶 Love Triangle 😅 Self-Deprecating Humor

Suurlemoen! 89%

Punished with a band competition, two friends recruit a singer they both fall for.

by Jaco Jacobs 2008

3.57

338 ratings

🎸 School Band 🫶 Love Triangle 😅 Self-Deprecating Humor

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 89%

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

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 89%

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

Room to Dream

by Kelly Yang • 2021

A corporation wants her family's motel. Seventh-grader Mia Tang has a column and something to prove.

4.37

6k+

🧳 Immigrant Experience 🌏 Cultural Identity 💔 Shifting Friendships

Room to Dream 89%

A corporation wants her family's motel. Seventh-grader Mia Tang has a column and something to prove.

by Kelly Yang 2021

4.37

6k+ ratings

🧳 Immigrant Experience 🌏 Cultural Identity 💔 Shifting Friendships

[(My Life as an Alphabet)] [By (author) Barry Jonsberg] published on

by Barry Jonsberg • 2013

An earnestly literal twelve-year-old sets out to fix her broken family, one awkward plan at a time.

3.91

2k+

🧠 Neurodivergent Narrator 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🏠 Family Reconciliation

[(My Life as an Alphabet)] [By (author) Barry Jonsberg] published on Summary

[(My Life as an Alphabet)] [By (author) Barry Jonsberg] published on 89%

An earnestly literal twelve-year-old sets out to fix her broken family, one awkward plan at a time.

by Barry Jonsberg 2013

3.91

2k+ ratings

🧠 Neurodivergent Narrator 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🏠 Family Reconciliation

Falling Short

by Ernesto Cisneros • 2022

Sixth grade. Basketball tryouts. Two best friends whose fathers are failing them in different ways.

4.05

2k+

🏀 Middle School Sports 🤝 Odd Couple Friends 💔 Absent Father

Falling Short 89%

Sixth grade. Basketball tryouts. Two best friends whose fathers are failing them in different ways.

by Ernesto Cisneros 2022

4.05

2k+ ratings

🏀 Middle School Sports 🤝 Odd Couple Friends 💔 Absent Father

Forget Me Not

by Ellie Terry • 2017

A girl with Tourette's hides behind vintage dresses; the class president becomes her secret ally.

3.91

16k+

📖 Verse Novel 🤝 Bystander To Ally 🚶 Outsider Protagonist

Forget Me Not 89%

A girl with Tourette's hides behind vintage dresses; the class president becomes her secret ally.

by Ellie Terry 2017

3.91

16k+ ratings

📖 Verse Novel 🤝 Bystander To Ally 🚶 Outsider Protagonist

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