18 books like Parrot in the Oven
The meaning of Maggie
Eleven-year-old Maggie Mayfield is an A-plus student with big plans for herself, but at this moment she is also facing a lot of problems--like starting middle school and figuring out how to help her father who is out of work and in a wheelchair.
Eleven-year-old Maggie Mayfield is an A-plus student with big plans for herself, but at this moment, she is also facing a lot of problems, such as…
Shares: Family life, Bildungsromans, Family, Coming-of-age
The Long Winter
After an October blizzard, Laura's family moves from the claim shanty into town for the winter, a winter that an Indian has predicted will be seven months of bad weather.
Shares: Family life, Family, Families, Children's fiction
On the Banks of Plum Creek
Laura and her family move to Minnesota where they live in a dugout until a new house is built and face misfortunes caused by flood, blizzard, and grasshoppers.
Shares: Family life, Family, Families, Children's fiction
Sami and the time of the troubles
A ten-year-old Lebanese boy goes to school, helps his mother with chores, plays with his friends, and lives with his family in a basement shelter when bombings occur and fighting begins on his street.
Shares: Family life, Families, Children's fiction
The goodbye season
In Canton, Texas, seventeen-year-old Mercy's dreams of a different life than her mother's are postponed by harsh circumstances, including the influenza epidemic of 1918-19, which forces her into doing domestic work for a loving, if troubled, family.
Shares: Family life, Bildungsromans, Coming-of-age, Families
Alice, I Think
Fifteen-year-old Alice keeps a diary as she struggles to cope with the embarrassments and trials of family, dating, school, work, small town life, and a serious case of "outcastitis."
Shares: Family life, Family, Coming-of-age, Families
The Book of the Banshee
Will Flowers doesn't understand what could have happened. His sister, Estelle, used to be really cool. She was quiet, responsible, and most times you'd never even know she was around(which was the cool part). But lately, Estelle has been acting totally weird - to everyone. All she does is get mad and yell. She yells at Mom. She yells at Dad. She even yells at little Muffy. But mostly she yells at…
Shares: Family life, Family, Families, Children's fiction
What I saw and how I lied
In 1947, with her jovial stepfather Joe back from the war and family life returning to normal, teenage Evie, smitten by the handsome young ex-GI who seems to have a secret hold on Joe, finds herself caught in a complicated web of lies whose devastating outcome change her life and that of her family forever.
Shares: Family life, Family, Coming-of-age, Families
Alice in April
While trying to survive seventh grade, Alice discovers that turning thirteen will make her the Woman of the House at home, so she starts a campaign to get more appreciated for taking care of her father and older brother.
Shares: Family life, Family, Families, Children's fiction
Now I'll Tell You Everything
Book 25 of the Alice series.
This book covers Alice's life from college to age 60.
Shares: Family life, Bildungsromans, Coming-of-age, Families
Waves
Hal feels eerily connected to his comatose older sister as she hovers between life and death in a hospital. Hal believes his sister is trying to communicate with him as he tries to solve the mystery of her accident.
Shares: Family relationships, Family, Coming-of-age, Children's fiction
Little Town on the Prairie
Pa's homestead thrives, Laura gets her first job in town, blackbirds eat the corn and oats crops, Mary goes to college, and Laura gets into trouble at school, but becomes a certified school teacher.
Shares: Family life, Family, Families, Children's fiction
Benny And Omar
"In my old school, we had fighting, no pool and there'd be vicious matches against the other schools . . . I miss all that stuff!"Moving to Africa is the worst thing that has ever happened to Benny Shaw. No one plays hurling (the best game on the planet) and the local school is run by hippies who like to talk about feelings. As if.But when Benny meets wisecracking Omar (the name's Bond, James…
Shares: Family life, Bildungsromans, Coming-of-age, Children's fiction
Perfect Girl
Out of the blue, Ruthie has fallen in love with the boy next door, Perry. He's suddenly grown up and made her heart go thwang, and Ruthie has no idea what to do about it.Then a new girl shows up at school, and Ruthie realizes she has to do something, and fast. Jenna is perfect, from her perfectly straight hair to her perfectly manicured toes. Perry's noticed her, too, and worse, Jenna has noticed…
Shares: Family life, Family, Families, Children's fiction
Midnight War of Mateo Martinez
Life is confusing for Mateo Martinez. He and Johnny Ramirez don't hang out anymore, even though they used to be best friends. He and his new friend Ashwin try to act like brave, old-time knights, but it only gets them in trouble. And last night, two skunks stole Mateo's old trike.
Wait—two skunks stole his trike?
Mateo is too big for that rusty kid toy. He has a cool, shiny new bike anyway. But…
Shares: Mexican Americans, Children's fiction
How I Live Now
"Every war has turning points and every person too."Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she's never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more…
Shares: Family life, Family, Families, Children's fiction
Voices
Young Memer takes on a pivotal role in freeing her war-torn homeland from its oppressive captors.
Shares: Bildungsromans, Coming-of-age, Children's fiction
Loser
From renowned Newbery-winning author Jerry Spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. This classic book is perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Carl Hiaasen.
Just like other kids, Zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. But Zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips over…
Shares: Family life, Family, Families, Children's fiction