Recommendations based on So B. Itby Sarah Weeks

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. The City of Ember

    by Jeanne DuPrau
    A city on the brink of destruction, two young people race against time to unlock its secrets.

    As the book starts off, a coalition of architects, scientists, and doctors known as "The Builders" have built Ember, an isolated, underground city with enough supplies for its inhabitants to survive ... (Wikipedia)

  2. Stargirl

    by Jerry Spinelli
    An uplifting story of a unique girl who challenges her classmates to be their true selves.

    The book begins with a brief introduction to the main character, Leo, at an early age, which is followed by his move from his home state of Pennsylvania to Arizona when he is 12. Before the move, his ... (Wikipedia)

  3. Small Steps

    by Louis Sachar
    Two boys, one black and one white, are released from a juvenile detention center and must navigate the challenges of starting over.

    Two years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is home in Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life around. But it’s hard when you have a record, and everyone expects the worst from you. ... (Goodreads)

  4. Hatchet

    by Gary Paulsen
    A boy must learn to survive in the wilderness after a plane crash leaves him stranded.

    Brian Robeson is a thirteen-year-old son of divorced parents. As he travels from Hampton, New York on a single engine Cessna bush plane to visit his father in the oil fields in Northern Canada for ... (Wikipedia)

  5. Bud, Not Buddy

    by Christopher Paul Curtis
    A young boy searches for his father during the Great Depression, encountering adventure and unexpected kindness along the way.

    The story opens with Bud being placed with a new foster family, the Amoses'. Bud soon meets Todd Amos, their 12-year-old son, who teases him mercilessly and calls him Buddy. After a fight with Todd, ... (Wikipedia)

  6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

    by Eric Carle
    A caterpillar's journey of growth and transformation to becoming a butterfly.

    THE all-time classic story, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! Have you shared it with a child or grandchild in your life? One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar ... (Goodreads)

  7. Ida B. . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and

    by Katherine Hannigan
    Ida B. is a spunky, imaginative girl who loves her apple orchard, but when her mother falls ill, she must learn to cope with change.

    Ida B. Applewood believes there is never enough time for fun. That's why she's so happy to be homeschooled and to spend every free second outside with the trees and the brook. Then some not-so-great ... (Goodreads)

  8. Because of Winn-Dixie

    by Kate DiCamillo
    A girl's journey of self-discovery and healing, as she finds friendship in an unlikely companion.

    Kate DiCamillo's beloved, best-selling debut novel is now available in a paperback digest edition. Kate DiCamillo's first published novel, like Winn-Dixie himself, immediately proved to be a keeper—a ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Luxe

    by Anna Godbersen
    In 1899 Manhattan, society's elite are caught up in a whirlwind of scandal, secrets, and forbidden love affairs.

    Elizabeth Holland and her best friend Penelope Hayes rule Manhattan's social scene. But when Elizabeth learns her family's status is far from secure, suddenly everyone is a threat to a golden future. ... (Wikipedia)

  10. Walk Two Moons

    by Sharon Creech
    A young girl embarks on a road trip with her grandparents to find her missing mother, while reflecting on her own life and relationships.

    The novel is narrated by a 13-year-old girl named Salamanca (Sal). Sal's mother has recently left Sal's father, and Sal's grandparents are taking her on a cross-country car trip to Lewiston, Idaho to ... (Wikipedia)

  11. Smile

    by Raina Telgemeier
    A young girl navigates the challenges of middle school and braces, overcoming obstacles with the help of her friends.

    For fans both new and old, Smile is now available with fifteen pages of never-before-seen content exclusively at B&N. Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she ... (Barnes & Noble)

  12. Maniac Magee

    by Jerry Spinelli
    A young orphan boy, Jeffrey Lionel Magee, becomes a legend in a racially divided town by bringing people together through his incredible feats of athleticism and kindness.

    Jeffrey Lionel Magee's parents were killed in a trolley accident when a drunk driver crashed and sunk it into the river in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania , orphaning him at age three. After living with his ... (Wikipedia)

  13. Rules

    by Cynthia Lord
    A young girl's attempt to make peace with her family's dynamic and her autistic brother.

    This Newbery Honor Book is a heartfelt and witty story about feeling different and finding acceptance–beyond the rules. Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible ... (Goodreads)

  14. Fever 1793

    by Laurie Halse Anderson
    A young girl's fight for survival in the midst of a deadly fever epidemic in Philadelphia.

    An epidemic of fever sweeps through the streets of 1793 Philadelphia in this novel from Laurie Halse Anderson where "the plot rages like the epidemic itself" ( The New York Times Book Review ). ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. How to Steal a Dog

    by Barbara O'Connor
    A young girl and her brother hatch a plan to steal a dog in order to get the reward money to help their homeless family.

    Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other middle-grade work—like, Wish; Wonderland; Greetings from Nowhere; Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia; The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester;, and more! Half of me ... (Barnes & Noble)

  16. This Isn't What It Looks Like

    by Pseudonymous Bosch
    Cass and Max-Ernest are on the run from the Midnight Sun, trying to clear their names and solve the mystery of the Symphony of Smells.

    The story starts off with Cass awakening somewhere unknown to her, in an unknown time (she later finds she is in fact 500 years in the past), not knowing who she is, where she came from, or what she ... (Wikipedia)

  17. The Westing Game

    by Ellen Raskin
    A mysterious game of wit and skill, with a fortune as the prize.

    BE CLASSIC with, The Westing Game, introduced by, New York Times, bestselling author Mac Barnett. A highly inventive mystery begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of the very ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. The Bad Beginning

    by Lemony Snicket
    Three orphans must use their wits to survive a cruel and unusual guardian.

    Dear Reader, I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and ... (Goodreads)

  19. The Name of This Book Is Secret

    by Pseudonymous Bosch
    Two kids embark on a dangerous adventure to uncover the secrets of a mysterious magician's hidden legacy.

    Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year ... (Goodreads)

  20. Stuck in Neutral

    by Terry Trueman
    A teenage boy with cerebral palsy contemplates his life and the possibility of his father ending it.

    The book follows Shawn McDaniel's first-person point of view . He is a 14-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects motor control. In Shawn's case, his entire body is ... (Wikipedia)

  21. Frindle

    by Andrew Clements
    A boy's simple idea revolutionizes the English language, sparking a debate among teachers and students.

    Nicholas "Nick" Allen is a class clown who has been formulating creative schemes throughout grade school . At the start of fifth grade in 1987, he is unhappy because his English teacher is the ... (Wikipedia)

  22. Every Soul a Star

    by Wendy Mass
    Three kids from different backgrounds converge at a campground to witness a total solar eclipse, discovering themselves and each other in the process.

    Almost 13-year-old Ally lives at a campsite called The Moon Shadow where she is homeschooled by her parents along with her 10-year-old brother Kenny. Although they don't have phone reception and have ... (Wikipedia)

  23. Good Grief

    by Lolly Winston
    A young widow navigates the grieving process, finding solace in unexpected places and learning to live again.

    A brilliantly funny and heartwarming debut about a young woman who stumbles, then fights to build a new life after the death of her husband. The perfect book for anyone who has ever been heartbroken, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. Virals

    by Kathy Reichs
    A group of friends uncover a mysterious medical secret that unlocks superhuman abilities.

    Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island ... (Goodreads)

  25. Love That Dog

    by Sharon Creech
    A young boy's reluctant journey to discover his love of poetry, and his own writing talent.

    "I guess it does look like a poem when you see it typed up like that." Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, ... (Goodreads)

  26. Copper Sun

    by Sharon M. Draper
    A young African girl is captured and sold into slavery in America, where she struggles to survive and find freedom.

    Stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteen-year-old Amari has only one thing left of her own: hope., Amari's life was once perfect. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, ... (Goodreads)

  27. The One and Only Ivan

    by Katherine Applegate
    A gorilla named Ivan, who lives in a mall, finds hope and freedom through his art and the help of his friends.

    The story is placed at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall by the Video Arcade. Ivan, the gorilla, has lived in captivity at the Big Top Mall for 9,855 days by his own tally. , He lives in his domain, and is ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Ungifted

    by Gordon Korman
    A troublemaker accidentally gets sent to a school for gifted students and ends up changing the lives of everyone around him.

    Donovan Curtis thinks he's ungifted. He's the ultimate prankster and trouble-maker. But one day, he goes too far in causing a commotion. He strikes a statue of Atlas with a stick, causing the globe ... (Wikipedia)

  29. Rumors

    by Anna Godbersen
    In a wealthy Long Island town, rumors spread like wildfire, revealing secrets and scandals that threaten to destroy the lives of the elite.

    The book begins with Elizabeth Holland in California with her runaway love, Will Keller. While Elizabeth is having a good time in California, her sister Diana is anything but happy. Diana is stuck in ... (Wikipedia)

  30. Flush

    by Carl Hiaasen
    A humorous tale of a dog named Flush, who helps his owner, a girl named Noah, seek revenge on a polluting casino boat owner.

    The narrator of the story is a teenage boy named Noah Underwood. Noah's father, Paine, a passionate environmentalist, has been arrested for sinking the Coral Queen , a casino boat operated by "Dusty" ... (Wikipedia)