Middle School Friendship

Painfully shy Grace dreads starting fifth grade, now that her best friend has moved away. Jada hopes she'll stop feeling so alone if she finds the mother who left years ago. And Malia fears the arrival of her new baby sister will forever change the family she loves. When the girls each find a mysterious treasure box in their library and begin to fill the box with their own precious things, they start to feel less alone. But it's up to Grace, Jada, and Malia to take the treasures and turn them into something more: true friendship.

Here are 33 stories about bullies and the ups and downs of friendship for younger teens, including "True Friends and New Friends", "Mean Girls... and Boys", "Embarrassing Moments" and "Bully Payback".

Secrets always find their way out. Thirteen-year-old Maia thinks she has seen it all. She has survived a soul-extraction attempt, been threatened with death, and faced off with saboteurs trying to bring down her nation. She lets nothing get to her anymore—not even the memories of her dead mother's terrifying communique. All Maia wants is for the Alliance Initiative to resume. She longs to visit the under-ocean civilization of the Jjord, ride the underwater transport lines, and to learn about the Jjordic energy farms that could save her ruined planet. Most of all, she wants to goof off ...

Matt is the new kid—again. His attempt to blend in at school quickly unravels when a cafeteria scuffle with two bullies lands him in hot water. Making new friends is never easy, but he soon finds allies in Gina, his photography classmate with a knack for uncovering surprising tidbits, and Rob, who shares Matt's fascination with snakes. Rob’s half-finished swimming pool promises cool summer fun. The discovery of valuable historical artifacts on Rob's property seems like a stroke of luck at first. These centuries-old tools, once used in the construction of nearby Fort Hawkins, become the ...

After defeating the necromancers and bringing alchemy back to the Alexandria Academy, Shad Hadid is ready for an exciting second term at school. It doesn’t hurt that he’s being called a hero, but the new lessons are harder than he expected and his mentor, Kahem, is nowhere to be found. When Shad intercepts a letter from an informant with a possible clue for thwarting the necromancers’ evil plans once and for all, he's determined to help. Joined by his friends, Shad embarks on a perilous journey across Lebanon to track down this secretive stranger.

Christmas is almost here, and Alice-Miranda and her closest friends are celebrating early at Highton Hall. But it's not all gingerbread, parties and present shopping. There are mysteries to be solved! Why are Christmas decorations disappearing and local stores empty of festive treats? What long-kept family secret does Alice-Miranda discover? More importantly, what will she do about it?

Run with Your Heart follows Holly, a shy 12-year-old who moves from a bustling city to a small town where running is everything. At first, she struggles to fit in, unsure of her place in this new world. But with the help of a new friend and a local running club, Holly discovers not only her talent for cross-country running but also the strength to overcome her self-doubt. As she trains for the season’s championship race, Holly navigates friendships, rivalries, and personal growth, learning that sometimes, the most important race is the one you run with your heart. This inspiring story of ...

Eleven-year-old Anthoni Gillis is not the kind of kid who believes in fairies, unicorns, or even the word maybe. She's more of a comic-book girl. So when her mom brings her to Thunder Lake for a summer at the Showboat Resort, she doesn't believe the local rumors about the Boulay Mermaid. Anthoni has bigger fish to fry. She's always wanted a true-blue friend. But it's been hard to find one, since for the past five years she's been bouncing from town to town, helping her mother sell Beauty & the Bee cosmetic products to keep them both afloat. This summer will be different, though.

Marie Lane has always been the girl with a wild imagination, but when the annual school talent show is announced, her daydreams take a turn for the nerve-wracking. With everyone buzzing about their acts, Marie can’t shake the feeling of stage fright creeping up on her. She loves making people laugh and has the perfect idea for a quirky act with her mischievous dog, Max—but the thought of standing in front of a sea of expectant faces makes her stomach twist into knots. As her friends eagerly prepare for their performances, Marie finds herself torn between her fear of failing and her ...

When Natty’s mom kind of takes a break from her dad and sort of the whole family, Natty and her dad move to his childhood hometown of Miller Creek. Now she’s starting middle school for the second time, this time in Miller Creek—without her mom—or her BFF. But Natty’s doing great! Really. Anything is possible. And what’s the point of dwelling on the stuff that stinks when there’s so much good stuff to think about? Natty is absolutely, positively sure that she can turn it all around. Like 1,000 percent sure. As long as she stays absolutely positive!

(Formerly released as "Alone in the Dark". Only the title has changed.) Live the Magic Love the Adventure It's been a rough month for David. The water and electricity in his house is shut off, and his dad is missing. When Mrs. Huffity asks David to house sit, he jumps at the chance. Her only request is that David stay inside at night, which would be fine, except a boy is out there making strange sounds and staring into the window. David calls Carrie and Ivy for help, but not all is as it seems. What will happen in this next great adventure? This book will have a guest appearance with Sparky...

When a new student comes to Broomsfield Academy, Mrs. Kettledrum informs the students she is an extra-talented witch-in-training. At first Heidi is intrigued and wants to be friends, but when Jodi tells Heidi she intends to be the best witch ever, a competition brews between them and bubbles over while on a field trip to a museum—which becomes more dangerous than either could have imagined!

Set in Zimbabwe, The Music Box is a heartwarming story about the power of friendship, kindness, and standing up to bullies. Eleven-year-old Busi dreads going to her school in Zimbabwe. Her classmates single her out because she was once considered the teacher’s pet, and the school bully, Doreen, continues to harass her. Together with Thabisa, the new girl in school, Busi proposes a Cinderella play as a way to raise funds for a class trip and is ecstatic when she lands the lead role. But Doreen is cast as the wicked stepmother—a role that would allow her to put Busi down. In an attempt to...

The countdown to extinction has begun! After Maia narrowly escapes from yet another execution attempt, she finds her life upended once again. As specters from her past reappear and friendships she had always counted on swiftly collapse around her, Maia is left struggling with her inner demons. All the while, the R’armimon Empire’s mighty Execution Fleet draws closer to Tansi, and everyone braces for annihilation. Maia races to find a way to stop the R’armimon and rediscover the true meaning of friendship, forgiveness, and courage. Will she be on time or is it already too late? Maia ...

Some wishes should never come true. Back home from the Alliance Initiative, Maia is restless. She wants the Initiative to resume, she wishes to visit the energy summit poised to transform Tansi, she is desperate to break free of her stifling existence and join in the making of Tansi's future. When fate rips Maia's life apart in one cruel swoop and forces her to run for cover, Maia realizes her secret is out and her life is on the line. Thrust into her enemy's cross-hairs, there's no place left to hide. How long will Maia survive, if at all? Maia and the Regency Protocol is the third book of...

What if everything you believe is a lie? Maia has spent most of her life trying to run away from her past. When a chance encounter lands Maia in a dubious peace initiative, she has to walk down a road she had hoped never to tread. Little does she know that the real truth about her long-deceased mother is somewhere down this path. But before she gets to that, Maia will discover true friendship, face an unimaginable evil, and fight her deepest fears to save the world she loves. A planet on the brink of extinction. An enemy from the dark side of the universe. Only one girl and her secret stand...

The source has been destroyed. Food is scarce. Tensions are rising. Then the earthquake strikes. Esther and Caleb hit the road, leading a ragtag caravan. Their destination? A mythical city where they hope to find food and shelter - not to mention a way to make it past age 19. On the way, alliances and romances blossom and fracture as the group faces vicious gangs, violent weather, and more variants. Esther must rally to take charge, accepting the help of a blind wilderness guide, Aras.

There’s something strange going on at school. The Breakfast Club Investigators haven't managed to solve a mystery in months – and, even worse, Marcus is worried that the group is going to break up! So when Gbenga, the captain of the school basketball team, comes to ask for their help Marcus knows this might just be the Investigator's last chance to prove themselves. The basketball team have had a streak of bad luck, and Marcus and his mates are sure there's more going on than meets the eye.

What if you had the power to destroy the universe? An unimaginable power has awakened within Maia. As much as she wants to resume a regular life at ThulaSu, she realizes normalcy is an impossible quest. She has changed . . . forever. So has the world around her. As fifteen-year-old Maia battles a swiftly-strengthening storm of evil and struggles to regain her friends' trust, she understands the meaning of true strength. That real power is not about blasting everything that stands in her way just because she can, unless it serves the greater good. And sometimes, the greater good can demand ...

In the high-stakes world of a middle school science fair, Marie Lane has one goal: to win first prize. Her ambitious project—a self-sustaining ecosystem that could survive in any environment—pushes her to the edge of possibility. With her supportive mother by her side and her inspiring teacher, Mrs. Thompson, guiding her every step, Marie is determined to take on the ultimate challenge. But the path to success is far from easy. Her first attempt ends in spectacular failure, leaving her questioning everything. Yet, with each setback, she discovers something even more valuable—...