If you like … Family Stories

If you like stories about girls with family problems and life in tough surroundings …

Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech: Zinny comes to terms with the death of her aunt and her uncle’s grief.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo: One summer, a lonely girl, and an ugly dog called Winn-Dixie.
The tulip touch by Anne Fine: Tulip is exciting, different- but Natalie soon begins to realise that Tulip’s games are becoming increasingly sinister and dangerous.
Everything on a waffle by Polly Horvath: Primrose knows her parents are only missing at sea, not dead, but the town community is determined to treat her like an orphan.
The flip-flop girl by Katherine Paterson: Lupe, the flip-flop girl, helps Vinnie and Mason cope with the death of their father.
Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt: Dicey leads her brothers and sister on an urban survival trip to find a safe refuge.

If you like stories about quirky and not-so cool kids …

Flour babies by Anne Fine: Mr Cartright’s class gets landed with Flour Babies as their school science fair project little bags of flour that must be cared for all the time, just like real babies.
Up on cloud nine by Anne Fine: Stolly lies in a hospital bed, unmoving, while his best mate Ian remembers…
Joey Pigza swallowed the key by Jack Gantos: Joey has problems with mood swings and paying attention in class, but will some new medication make a difference?
The canning season by Polly Horvath: Ratchet is spending the summer with two distant and elderly cousins, Tilly and Penpen, in a house surrounded by woods, bears, and tall stories.
Molly McGinty has a really good day by Gary Paulsen: Molly has lost her three ring-binder notebook in which she organises every second of her life. Can she survive without it?
The slightly true story of Cedar B. Hartley (who planned to live a normal life) by Martine Murray: Cedar has always liked walking on fences and swinging from trees, but after she meets Kite, she discovers the joy of acrobatics and circus.
Wringer by Jerry Spinelli: Palmer is dreading his 10th birthday and becoming part of the town’s pigeon shoot tradition.

If you like stories about families their fights and frustrations and fallings-out and fun …

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech: For Annie, the best thing in the world is running. But she can’t run away from the things that are changing.
The more the merrier by Anne Fine: Why are ghastly relatives even more ghastly at Christmas?
The ballad of Cauldron Bay by Elizabeth Honey: The inhabitants of Stella Street take off on holiday again and Henni finds out that being a teenager is a lot more complicated than she thought.
Forever X by Geraldine McCaughrean: Celebrating Christmas every day of the year may sound like fun, but imagine how you would feel dressed up as an elf for 365 days at a time.
The exiles by Hilary McKay: Four book-loving sisters are sent to stay with Big Grandma who firmly believes they all need lots of fresh air and exercise.
Saffy’s angel by Hilary McKay: Saffron begins to wonder about her background when she realises her name, unlike the rest of her family, is not one of the oil paint colours.
The colour of sunshine by David Metzenthen: A new family in town repaints Davey’s grey life in colours.

If you like stories about people who make a difference in someone’s life …

That dolphin thing by Ian Bone: Mac’s scared of the sea, and only one thing will make him swim with a dolphin.
Hoot by Carl Hiassen: Property developers, endangered burrowing owls, and running lots of running.
When Zachary Beaver came to town by Kimberley Willis Holt: Toby realizes that there’s more to Zachary Beaver than being the 600-pound fattest kid in the world.
Loser by Jerry Spinelli: Zinkoff lives in a world of winners, and hasn’t noticed that he doesn’t quite belong there.
The pearl of Tiger Bay by Gabrielle Wang: Annie creates a drama school to save the Pearl, a dilapidated hotel owned by the mysterious Madame Olenka.
The friends by Kazumi Yumoto: Three boys, curious about death, spy on an old man.