Books like Max the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

In Camp Green Lake, a boy named Stanley Yelnats must dig endless holes for a supposedly reformatory camp that really hides a buried truth.

When ten‑year‑old Opal arrives in Naomi, Florida, she discovers friendship, community, and the healing power of a big ugly dog named Winn‑Dixie during her first summer in town.

A ten‑year‑old boy in rural Virginia befriends a newcomer, and together they create the imaginary kingdom of Terabithia, a friendship that ends tragically when a storm forces an untimely death.

Ivan, a gorilla who has lived behind glass in a shopping‑mall circus for 27 years, learns new meaning for art and friendship when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives.

Humorous classroom tales unfold on the thirtieth floor of the oddly built Wayside School, where each story holds a single classroom row, offered by Louis Sachar in a playful collection of short stories for young readers.

Josh and his twin brother Jordan navigate high school, basketball, and the changing bond between them through verses of rhyme and the thrill of the game.

A story about Nick Allen, who invents a new word and becomes a local hero by spreading it across the country.

In the sequel to *Freak the Mighty*, Maxwell Kane faces his toughest challenge yet: rescuing a runaway girl from her abusive stepfather and uncovering a secret that could shatter everything he knows about being heroic.

A middle‑grade story about Ally, a girl who struggles with dyslexia, and her journey to find acceptance and help at school.

Evan and his math‑savvy sister Jessie turn a simple lemonade stand into a fierce sibling rivalry, proving that people skills and arithmetic can clash as fiercely as bills of trade.

A complete 12‑book set of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid through Hard Luck, perfect for fans and collectors.

Learning‑disabled Max and the powerful yet disabled Freak team up in eighth grade to confront bullies and find friendship, courage, and acceptance.

In 1930 Scotland, eight‑year‑old Kirstie discovers a giant egg on the seashore that hatches into a peculiar sea creature; her family must decide how to protect and care for the unexpected visitor.

A coming‑of‑age tale that follows teenage girls as they form bonds over shared love for books in a library setting, weaving in themes of friendship, English literature, and the lives of widowers.

The story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life. Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans. John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wriggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same. Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, and stole women's undergarments. Obedience school did no good--Marley was expelled. And yet his heart was pure. Just as Marley joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. A dog like no other, Marley remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.

Elizabeth is waiting for Max to decide between her and his fiancée, Lavinia.

In a Montana town, a veteran coping with PTSD and a newly-divorced woman named Jillian form an unexpected bond that reshapes their lives, exploring friendship, family, self‑confidence, and the complexities of ranch life.

Davy Spencer might be the new kid in school, but that doesn't mean he can't start as the most POPULAR kid. With the help of his two best friends, Chuck and Annie, Davy throws himself into making viral YouTube videos with hilariously disastrous results. If he can pull this off, everybody at his new school will know his name before even meeting him. Davy's YouTube channel has everything- awesome pranks? Check! School lunch reviews? Check! Undercover detention missions? Check! Getting duct taped to the wall? Check - wait what? Becoming a rockstar Youtuber isn't easy but Davy won't give up... no matter how crazy things have to get. Kid Youtuber is a funny children's book for ages 9-12, middle school students, and adults who never grew up. Marcu Emerson is the author of Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja, The Super Life of Ben Braver, and Recess Warriors.