A Dog-Friendly Town
by Josephine Cameron

Welcome to: Carmelito, California, where 12-year-old Epic McDade and his family run a dog-friendly bed and breakfast that's currently packed with famous guests (both canine and human) getting ready for Carmelito's Annual Puppy Picnic.

What happens: After a diamond-covered dog collar is stolen, Epic and his siblings search for the culprit while trying to avoid nosy gossip bloggers.

You might also like: Elizabeth Eulberg's The Great Shelby Holmes, another dog-centric mystery with quirky characters and a vivid setting.

The Time of Green Magic
by Hilary McKay

What it's about: Moving into a vine-covered old house proves life-changing for Abi and her new stepsiblings: things from Abi's books start appearing in real life, 13-year-old Max tumbles into his first crush, and six-year-old Louis adopts a feline friend who becomes more menacing as it grows bigger and bigger.

Read it for: a stirring family story with an eerie blend of magic and reality.

Something to Say
by Lisa Moore Ramée

What it's about: Jenae is okay with starting middle school without any friends -- she'd rather stay quiet and invisible. That begins to change, however, when she bonds with loud new kid Aubrey, and when a debate over her school's name (it's named after a racist celebrity) spurs her into speaking up.

If you like: the honesty, low-key humor, and authentic characters in this book, you'll want to pick up author Lisa Moore Ramée's previous book, A Good Kind of Trouble.

Not Your All-American Girl
by Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang

What it's about: In 1984 Virginia, sensational singer Lauren is angry when she isn't cast as the lead in the school musical because her Chinese and Jewish looks aren't "all-American" enough. Lauren's white bestie Tara gets the part instead, and even worse, she doesn't understand why Lauren's mad.

Read it for: Lauren's fiery grandmas; the funny buttons Lauren makes; and Lauren's relatable search for belonging even when other people make her feel like she doesn't fit in. 

Halfway Normal
by Barbara Dee

Starring: Nora Levy, who's survived leukemia but now has to face seventh grade after being out of school for two years.

What happens: It's tough to go back to normal when her parents are over-protective and everyone in her grade treats her like she's different, so Nora decides not to tell her new friend Griffin about her cancer. 

You might also like: Jordan Sonnenblick's After Ever After, another bittersweet yet hopeful read about the challenges of life after cancer. 

The Someday Suitcase
by Corey Ann Haydu

What it's about: Lifelong best friends Danny and Clover are so close that quiet, scientific Clover thinks they're symbiotic -- they can't live without each other. So, when Danny develops major health problems, Clover wonders: Can her friendship help him get better? And if not, how will she get by without him? 

For fans of: Ali Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish, another sincere story about the connections between science, friendship, and loss.

More to the Story
by Hena Khan

What it is: an update of Louisa May Alcott's classic Little Women, starring Jameela, Maryam, Bisma, and Aleeza, four sisters from a close-knit Pakistani American family.

What happens: With a job on the school newspaper and an exciting new friendship with British newcomer Ali, Jameela's 7th-grade year is looking up... until her dad goes overseas for work and Bisma becomes seriously ill.

Who it's for: readers who like feisty heroines, cozy vibes, and modern, realistic family stories.