20 Books like No Brainer

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 👫 Frenemy Friendship 👨‍👩‍👦 Embarrassing Family

Cabin Fever 93%

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 👫 Frenemy Friendship 👨‍👩‍👦 Embarrassing 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 🤝 Found Family 🚨 Classroom Chaos

The Unteachables 93%

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 🤝 Found Family 🚨 Classroom Chaos

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 🎒 New Kid In School 👨‍👦 Father And Son

Billionaire Boy 91%

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 🎒 New Kid In School 👨‍👦 Father And Son

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 🎒 Private School Outsider 💖 First Crush

Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life Summary

Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life 91%

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 🎒 Private School Outsider 💖 First Crush

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 🕵️ Kid Detective 🎭 Comic Caper

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 🕵️ Kid Detective 🎭 Comic Caper

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 🆕 New Kid At School 🎪 Backstage Chaos

Drama 90%

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 🆕 New Kid At School 🎪 Backstage Chaos

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 ⚠️ School Bullying 👥 Friend Group Dynamics

Priklijuoti 90%

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 ⚠️ School Bullying 👥 Friend Group Dynamics

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 🫂 Found Family 💔 Grief And Loss

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 🫂 Found Family 💔 Grief And Loss

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 👭 Girl Friend Group 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Quirky Family

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 👭 Girl Friend Group 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Quirky Family

Spy School

by Stuart Gibbs • 2012

A twelve-year-old math whiz enters a secret spy academy and learns his enrollment is the trap.

4.10

38k+

🕵️ Kid Spy 🏫 Spy Academy 🐀 Mole Hunt 🛏️ Boarding School 😂 Humorous Adventure

Spy School 89%

A twelve-year-old math whiz enters a secret spy academy and learns his enrollment is the trap.

by Stuart Gibbs 2012

4.10

38k+ ratings

🕵️ Kid Spy 🏫 Spy Academy 🐀 Mole Hunt 🛏️ Boarding School 😂 Humorous Adventure

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 🦸 Reluctant Hero 👨‍👦 Sibling Dynamics

Stanley, Flat Again! 89%

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 🦸 Reluctant Hero 👨‍👦 Sibling Dynamics

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 🎩 Eccentric Benefactor ✨ Whimsical Adventure

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 🎩 Eccentric Benefactor ✨ Whimsical Adventure

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 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 👩‍🏫 Supportive Teacher

All Four Stars 89%

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 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 👩‍🏫 Supportive Teacher

The Bad Beginning

by Lemony Snicket • 1999

Three gifted orphans face a wicked guardian who stages a play to steal their inheritance.

4.03

575k+

🖤 Orphaned Siblings 🧠 Resourceful Orphans 👹 Wicked Guardian 💀 Macabre Humor 📖 Narrator Intrusion

The Bad Beginning 88%

Three gifted orphans face a wicked guardian who stages a play to steal their inheritance.

by Lemony Snicket 1999

4.03

575k+ ratings

🖤 Orphaned Siblings 🧠 Resourceful Orphans 👹 Wicked Guardian 💀 Macabre Humor 📖 Narrator Intrusion

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 💔 Family Dysfunction 🧑 Adolescent Angst

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

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 88%

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 💔 Family Dysfunction 🧑 Adolescent Angst

Villainous

by Matthew Cody • 2014

An ordinary boy in a superpowered town must find the real villains before a burning comet strikes.

4.23

501

🏫 Superhero School 🙅 Powerless Protagonist ⚔️ Superhero Rivalry 💖 Friends To Lovers 👪 Found Family

Villainous 88%

An ordinary boy in a superpowered town must find the real villains before a burning comet strikes.

by Matthew Cody 2014

4.23

501 ratings

🏫 Superhero School 🙅 Powerless Protagonist ⚔️ Superhero Rivalry 💖 Friends To Lovers 👪 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 🔓 Bonding Through Crime 🕵️ Secret Past

Gangsta Granny 88%

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 🔓 Bonding Through Crime 🕵️ Secret Past

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 🤝 Classroom Community 💗 Bully Redemption

Because of Mr. Terupt 88%

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 🤝 Classroom Community 💗 Bully Redemption

The House at the Edge of Magic

by Amy Sparkes • 2021

A tiny stolen house grows into a magical prison. The young thief must break its curse.

3.69

5k+

🎪 Whimsical Fantasy 🏠 Magical House 💛 Found Family 🧒 Orphan Protagonist 🧩 Riddle Quest

The House at the Edge of Magic 88%

A tiny stolen house grows into a magical prison. The young thief must break its curse.

by Amy Sparkes 2021

3.69

5k+ ratings

🎪 Whimsical Fantasy 🏠 Magical House 💛 Found Family 🧒 Orphan Protagonist 🧩 Riddle Quest

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 🤷 Reluctant Adventurer 🍽️ Culinary Worldbuilding

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 🤷 Reluctant Adventurer 🍽️ Culinary Worldbuilding

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