Crash by Jerry Spinelli

Cocky seventh-grade super-jock Crash Coogan got his nickname the day he used his first football helmet to knock his cousin Bridget flat on her backside. And he has been running over people ever since, especially Penn Webb, the dweeby, vegetarian Quaker kid who lives down the block. Through the eyes of Crash, readers get a rare glimpse into the life of a bully in this unforgettable and beloved story about stereotypes and the surprises life can bring. Place a hold today

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Unfortunately, Roy’s first acquaintance in Florida is Dana Matherson, a well-known bully. Then again, if Dana hadn’t been sinking his thumbs into Roy’s temples and mashing his face against the school-bus window, Roy might never have spotted the running boy. And the running boy is he was running away from the school bus, carried no books, and–here’s the odd part–wore no shoes. Sensing a mystery, Roy sets himself on the boy’s trail. The chase introduces him to potty-trained alligators, a fake-fart champion, some burrowing owls, a renegade eco-avenger, and several extremely poisonous snakes with unnaturally sparkling tails. Place a hold today.

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

In an old attic in Lambert, South Carolina, a letter waits for Candice Miller. It’s addressed to her grandmother, who left town in disgrace, and tells of a buried injustice, a mysterious puzzle, and a hidden fortune. With help from Brandon, the quiet boy across the street, Candice sets out to solve the mystery her grandmother couldn’t—uncovering secrets from Lambert’s past and their own families along the way. Place a hold today.

Wish by Barbara O’Connor

Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish for years, hoping it will finally come true. But when she’s sent to live with relatives in the Blue Ridge Mountains, everything feels uncertain—until she meets Wishbone, a stray dog, and Howard, an unexpected new friend. As her world begins to shift, Charlie starts to realize that what she truly needs might be very different from what she wished for. Place a hold today.

The Thing I’m Most Afraid of by Kristen Levine

Twelve-year-old Becca isn’t thrilled to spend the summer in Austria with her dad—especially with her severe anxiety. Armed with her Doomsday Journal to manage her fears, she braces for the worst. But unexpected friendships with Felix, her dad’s girlfriend’s son, and Sara, a young Bosnian refugee, help Becca navigate a new city and her own worries. As she explores Vienna, she discovers she’s not alone—and that courage isn’t the absence of fear, but what you do in spite of it. Place a hold today.

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

For generations, the city of Ember has survived underground—until now. Supplies are running low, the lights are beginning to fail, and darkness looms. When two kids, Lina and Doon, discover a mysterious parchment, they believe it may hold the key to saving their city. But can they decode its message in time—and convince others to follow them before it’s too late? Place a hold today.

Slacker by Gordon Korman

Cameron Boxer would rather game than do just about anything else—until one session goes too far and nearly burns his house down. To cover it up, he creates a fake school club to look responsible, but things spiral when others believe it’s real and name him president. Suddenly, Cameron is leading a mission to save a beaver, making unexpected friends—and enemies—along the way. For a kid who never cared, he’s now at the center of it all, and it’ll take every bit of his slacker genius to keep it together. Place a hold today.