If you loved
Books like Crash
A punchy, fast-paced journey inside the mind of a middle-school bully who slowly learns that vulnerability takes more strength than tackling people. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Crash.
- boisterous
- energetic
- poignant
- grounded
- 01
Loser
Jerry Spinelli
A gentle, big-hearted ode to the kids who march to the beat of their own drum, blissfully oblivious to the world's judgments.
- 02
Fourth Grade Rats
Jerry Spinelli
A funny, fast-paced exploration of the exhausting pressure to be cool and the ultimate relief of just being yourself.
- 03
Milkweed
Ron Rifkin · 2003
A heartbreakingly naive perspective on unimaginable tragedy, told with breathless energy and profound empathy.
- 04
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney
A hilarious, highly visual survival guide to the everyday humiliations of middle school.
- 05
Winger
Andrew Smith
A hilarious, hormone-drenched boarding school romp that unexpectedly shatters your heart into a million pieces.
- 06
Crush
Svetlana Chmakova
A sweet, funny, and deeply relatable exploration of the butterflies and blunders that come with a first middle-school crush.
- 07
Restart
Gordon Korman
A heartfelt, multi-perspective exploration of whether we are defined by our past mistakes or the choices we make today.
- 08
Chester's Way
Kevin Henkes
A warm, gently humorous celebration of how unexpected disruptions can turn rigid routines into joyful new adventures.
- 09
Goodbye stranger
Rebecca Stead
A tender, deeply observant exploration of the exact moment when childhood friendships begin to stretch, fray, and reshape themselves.
- 10
Harris and Me
Gary Paulsen · 1993
A laugh-out-loud, mud-splattered ode to the wild freedom of a rural summer and the healing power of found family.
- 11
Flipped
Wendelin Van Draanen
A charming, he-said-she-said exploration of first love and the messy, beautiful process of learning to see people for who they truly are.
- 12
Pax
Sara Pennypacker
A tender, aching journey through a war-torn landscape that explores the profound, unbreakable bond between a boy and his fox.
