Books like The Battling Bands by Frank Cammuso

Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novel follows middle‑school theater enthusiast Callie as she designs a blue‑grass‑tired set for a school play, grappling with teamwork, budgets, and the drama of friendship and family.

Nate Wright, an 11‑year‑old sixth‑grade chess prodigy, partners with friends to launch fun schemes in the middle‑school world of Big Nate, blending humor, school mischief, and clever ideas.

Sixth-grader Nate Wright treats every school activity as a game, bringing swagger, trash‑talk, and a daring attitude to basketball, soccer, and beyond.

A new Big Nate comic book where the schoolyard mischief continues—perfectly snappy and humorous for middle‑school readers.

Sixth‑grade life for Nate Wright turns chaotic when his baseball team gets a ridiculous name, he's stuck serving a know‑it‑all classmate, and his pet hamster Spitsy falls for a cat—all resolved with a humble plastic soda bottle.

Nate hatches a clever scheme, but can he avoid Mrs. Godfrey’s watchful eye before the plan backfires?

The fourth Big Nate comic collection, Mr. Popularity, follows Nate as he runs for office in his school, rivals for votes, and gets help from Francis—packed with over 300 full‑color strips and bonus activities.

Big Nate, self‑described genius and aspiring cartoonist, chronicles the humorous trials of sixth‑grade life at P.S. 38, from detention record‑breaking antics to friendships with classmates like Gina, Artur, and Teddy.

Big Nate is the president of P.S. 38, a cartooning club. When he sees Mighty Jefferson Middle School win in a contest, he decides it's time to become a hero. Will Nate lead P.S. 38 to its biggest victory ever?

gud

Amelia embarks on a journey to find her Aunt Tanner, her former cheerleader teammates, and the boy she once thought of as a friend, all while dodging ex-boyfriend's tell-all book and navigating the complex dynamics of their family's past and present. A lighthearted and humorous adventure story for young readers, perfect for fans of 'The Fault in Our Stars' and 'Wonder'.

Artie King, along with friends Percy and Wayne, enter Camelot Middle School’s Dragon Duel robot tournament to win $300, but they soon face a tough choice between cheating and playing fair.

A paper Fortune Wookiee from McQuarrie Middle School catches the attention of Sara, who learns its advice resembles that of Yoda, though in her case, it seems focused on romance.

In Victorian London, ten‑year‑old Florence Crutchfield is sent to an orphanage-run house with her great‑uncle, great‑aunt and sick cousin James. Little does she know another, sinister presence lurks in the home, threatening both girls’ safety.

In the tradition of Cynthia Heimel and Chelsea Handler, and with the boisterous iconoclasm of Amy Sedaris, Julie Klausner's candid and funny debut I Don't Care About Your Band sheds light on the humiliations we endure to find love--and the lessons that can be culled from the wreckage. I Don't Care About Your Band posits that lately the worst guys to date are the ones who seem sensitive. It's the jerks in nice guy clothing, not the players in Ed Hardy, who break the hearts of modern girls who grew up in the shadow of feminism, thinking they could have everything, but end up compromising constantly. The cowards, the kidults, the critics, and the contenders: these are the stars of Klausner's memoir about how hard it is to find a man--good or otherwise--when you're a cynical grown-up exiled in the dregs of Guyville.Off the popularity of her New York Times "Modern Love" piece about getting the brush-off from an indie rock musician, I Don't care About Your Band is marbled with the wry strains of Julie Klausner's precocious curmudgeonry and brimming with truths that anyone who's ever been on a date will relate to. Klausner is an expert at landing herself waist-deep in crazy, time and time again, in part because her experience as a comedy writer (Best Week Ever, TV Funhouse on SNL) and sketch comedian from NYC's Upright Citizens Brigade fuels her philosophy of how any scene should unfold, which is, "What? That sounds crazy? Okay, I'll do it."I Don't Care About Your Band charts a distinctly human journey of a strong-willed but vulnerable protagonist who loves men like it's her job, but who's done with guys who know more about love songs than love. Klausner's is a new outlook on dating in a time of pop culture obsession, and she spent her 20's doing personal field research to back up her philosophies. This is the girl's version of High Fidelity. By turns explicit, funny and moving, Klausner's debut shows the evolution of a young woman who endured myriad encounters with the wrong guys, to emerge with real-world wisdom on matters of the heart. I Don't Care About Your Band is Julie Klausner's manifesto, and every one of us can relate.

At a middle‑school fundraiser, Jenny and her rival Addie compete to raise the most money, but a new girl arrives, complicating the bet and forcing friendships to shift.

East High is putting on its first-ever Battle of the Bands! Troy and his basketball buddies are looking forward to living out their rock-star fantasies, and Sharpay has formed her very own girl group. But while Troy and Sharpay prepare to step into the spotlight, Gabriella and Ryan are left in the shadows. Gabriella keeps herself busy by tutoring Ryan, who needs help with algebra. Still, she can't help wondering why Troy wouldn't want to join forces with her for the Battle of the Bands. Didn't the two of them make a great team at the musical? Maybe it's time for Gabriella to take the stage on her own.