100 Books Like Pack of Dorks

This made me laugh, and it made me cry. I challenge anybody with a heart not to feel for Augie Pullman as he not only survives a new school and new situation but thrives in them. He doesn’t just overcome his self-doubt; he proves to himself and everyone else that he’s not only his classmates’ equal but their superior. Augie surpasses every single other child character in this book with his compassion and intelligence. He is a hero of the 21st century. 

As cliché as it sounds, I couldn’t put it down. In between reading sessions (that I undertook with my daughter), I found myself obsessing about Augie’s plight and wondering what would happen to him next. I needed to know how the young boy with the messed-up face would respond and react to whatever challenges the world, his school, his town, his family, and his friend threw at him.… show more.

I used to be husky. I had weight problems when I was in middle school and jr. high. To be able to read stories like this as an adult gives me hope for the children of newer generations. Kids who get to meet Ellie and travel through her traumatic experiences will understand that they are not alone.

Bullying and shaming (for whatever reason) are traditions that need to be thrown out. As writers, educators, and parents work hard to protect their kids and teach them right from wrong, it is critical to have examples in books and shows that help kids walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Both Ellie (from Starfish) and Coleman (from Don’t Mess with Coleman Stoops) achieve this. 

Judy Blume books are classics! One of the aspects I love most about this one is that the main character is neither the victim nor the bully. She’s a classmate stuck in the middle. Jill is, depending on the chapter, either a bully or a victim—but her role is to witness the bullying events in her class and report them back to the reader.

The reader judges for himself how Jilly fits into the bigger picture of bullying. It’s very easy for younger readers to relate to Jill because chances are they have been in both roles at different times. Jill learns the hard way throughout the story that it isn’t fun to be the bully because sooner or later, even bullies end up being bullied. 

I love so much about this book. The heroine is constantly being thrown curve balls in life, and it’s up to her to navigate those challenges. This isn’t just a book about bullying; it is a book about how to get back up after a setback, dust yourself off, and keep trying to succeed in the face of all adversity.

Charlotte is a very relatable main character, who has an embarrassing trait that she goes out of her way to hide so that she can avoid the bullies. But she faces other trials as well: What should she do when she witnesses other children being bullied? How can she speak up when she begins stuttering and then gets bullied all over again? When Charlotte learns of her proclivity for singing, the administration kills the performing arts at the school! So what does she do? Does she retreat with her tail… show more.

I loved the message of this book of self-love and finding your own way to shine. Elise says, “I was born to be unpopular. There was no other way it could have gone.” I think that unfortunately, a lot of teens feel this way, but that doesn’t mean that life is over.

It doesn’t mean that high school will last forever, although it may feel that way at times. I think depressed teens who read this may not totally identify with Elise’s way of finding her own better life, but they will be left with the idea that there is hope. 

Brian feels invisible because he’s never picked by his classmates for teams, is ignored at lunchtime, and isn’t invited to a classmate’s birthday party. I liked the way the illustrator drew Brian in shades of gray rather than full color, like the other characters. When a new child joins the class, Brian shows kindness when other classmates make fun of him.

I liked how the new boy wants to include Brian, and that bit of kindness makes all the difference–turning the illustrations from gray to full color.  

Before I Fall is Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day, with the popular and pretty protagonist, Sam, forced to relive February 12th (her beloved “Cupid’s Day”) over and over. In the beginning, I had no love for Sam and was appalled by her and her friend’s nasty behavior, but Sam’s character growth throughout the novel is inspirational. The time-turning in the novel is handled flawlessly with repeated events never growing dull, and each new loop offering another layer to Sam’s redemption. Admittedly the book didn’t end the way I wanted (I’m a fan of fairy tale endings, even if unrealistic), but watching Sam evolve from a shallow mean girl to a beautiful soul was a moving experience and made the book worth the read.

I remember struggling with body image when I was the age of these characters. (Actually, if we’re being totally honest, I still do.) The main characters in this novel, however, triumph over the physical expectations placed upon young women by finding kinship and support from one another. The characters themselves are diverse, realistic, and smart. It’s difficult not to see yourself or the young people in your life in them.

This book is an unusual, magical story about differences and how we often react to those who don’t conform to the norms in society.

The plot is tremendously intertwined with suspense, the type that unexpectedly creeps up on you and surprises you every time. You are instantly hooked from start to finish.

Unputdownable. I was totally immersed from the first page. It's an unforgettable book. If you believe in non-conformity, then this book is for you.

I grew up reading Svetlana Chmakova’s work back when she was releasing the manga series Dramacon and I am beyond thrilled that kids and teens today still get to read her work!

Awkward is all about kids exploring their differences in the arts and sciences and it feels like a page ripped out of my childhood. It is so relatable, so charming, and full of emotion and wit to boot. Her work inspired me when I was drawing comics in my sketchbook for fun all the way until today, when I do it for a living. I think her work will go on to inspire many generations to come!