15 must-read juvenile books like Looking Up by Stephan Pastis

Cover of Looking Up by Stephan Pastis

Looking Up

By: Stephan Pastis

3.99

Format: 240 pages, Hardcover

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Timmy Failure series comes a quirky and heartwarm…

If you liked the juvenile plot in Looking Up by Stephan Pastis , here is a list of 15 books like this:

Cover of Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango

1. Something Like Home

By: Andrea Beatriz Arango

4.31

Format: 256 pages, Library Binding

A novel in verse in which a lost dog helps a lonely girl find a way home to her family . . . only f… read more

Similar categories in Andrea Beatriz Arango's Something Like Home book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
Cover of A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) by Lisa Yee

2. A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1)

By: Lisa Yee

3.82

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover

When a notorious thief is out for priceless treasure (gems! cats! general decorum!)—who're you gonn… read more

Similar categories in Lisa Yee's A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • graphic novels
  • humor
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
"They all perished. tragic deaths. sad parents. lawsuits.' Monica's words were met with stunned silence. ignoring the horrified looks on the student's faces, she shouted, 'Joking! We discovered that t…"

-Lisa Yee, A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1)

Cover of Good Different by Meg Eden  Kuyatt

3. Good Different

By: Meg Eden Kuyatt

4.52

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover

A extraordinary novel-in-verse about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate he… read more

Similar categories in Meg Eden Kuyatt's Good Different book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
"Fight for words, even if it's hard."

-Meg Eden Kuyatt, Good Different

"You may have different needs than some folks in your class, but that doesn't make you the ­«wrong» version and other people the «normal» version. You are Selah. And you are not the only one feeling t…"

-Meg Eden Kuyatt, Good Different

Cover of The Bees of Notre-Dame by Meghan P. Browne

4. The Bees of Notre-Dame

By: Meghan P. Browne

4.01

Format: 41 pages, Kindle Edition

This lyrical, poignant nonfiction picture book tells the fascinating story of the honeybee colonies… read more

Similar categories in Meghan P. Browne's The Bees of Notre-Dame book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • juvenile
Cover of Duel by Jessixa Bagley

5. Duel

By: Jessixa Bagley

4.05

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

A rivalry between sisters culminates in a fencing duel in this funny and emotional debut graphic no… read more

Similar categories in Jessixa Bagley's Duel book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • graphic novels
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • juvenile
Cover of Squire & Knight (Squire & Knight, #1) by Scott Chantler

6. Squire & Knight (Squire & Knight, #1)

By: Scott Chantler

4.02

Format: 176 pages, Hardcover

A young squire tackles mysteries, monsters and magic, but the inept knight he serves takes the cred… read more

Similar categories in Scott Chantler's Squire & Knight (Squire & Knight, #1) book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • graphic novels
  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • fiction
Cover of Elf Dog and Owl Head by M.T. Anderson

7. Elf Dog and Owl Head

By: M.T. Anderson

3.92

Format: 240 pages, Hardcover

A Newbery Honor Book A magical adventure about a boy and his dog—or a dog and her boy—and a fore… read more

Similar categories in M.T. Anderson's Elf Dog and Owl Head book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • juvenile
Cover of And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps

8. And Then, Boom!

By: Lisa Fipps

4.69

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover

A gripping new novel-in-verse by the author of the Printz Honor-winning Starfish , featuring a pove… read more

Similar categories in Lisa Fipps's And Then, Boom! book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • contemporary
"Friendship is being there to notice someone's about to fall, to try to keep them from falling, to catch them when they fall or to cushion the blow when they do, to feel what they're feeling, and to u…"

-Lisa Fipps, And Then, Boom!

Cover of You Are Here: Connecting Flights by Ellen Oh

9. You Are Here: Connecting Flights

By: Ellen Oh

4.26

Format: 272 pages, Hardcover

An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that im… read more

Similar categories in Ellen Oh's You Are Here: Connecting Flights book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • juvenile
"Being good was slippery. It didn't stay still; it moved around, and not only that, sometimes it meant exactly opposite things. Like, there were times when being good meant speaking up, but other time…"

-Ellen Oh, You Are Here: Connecting Flights

Cover of The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies

10. The International House of Dereliction

By: Jacqueline Davies

4.04

Format: 227 pages, Hardcover

In this not-so-scary ghost story from Jacqueline Davies, bestselling author of the Lemonade War ser… read more

Similar categories in Jacqueline Davies's The International House of Dereliction book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • juvenile
Cover of Dogtown (Dogtown, #1) by Katherine Applegate

11. Dogtown (Dogtown, #1)

By: Katherine Applegate

4.22

Format: 352 pages, Hardcover

Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have … read more

Similar categories in Katherine Applegate's Dogtown (Dogtown, #1) book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • juvenile
Cover of The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson

12. The Firefly Summer

By: Morgan Matson

4.38

Format: 400 pages, Hardcover

The Penderwicks meets The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street in a story about a young girl who gets to k… read more

Similar categories in Morgan Matson's The Firefly Summer book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • juvenile
Cover of Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key by Tracy Occomy Crowder

13. Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key

By: Tracy Occomy Crowder

3.95

Format: 304 pages, Hardcover

It's 2008, and ten-year-old Montgomery "Monty" Carver is out to find the origin of a golden key fou… read more

Similar categories in Tracy Occomy Crowder's Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • juvenile
Cover of The In-Between: A Memoir in Verse by Katie Van Heidrich

14. The In-Between: A Memoir in Verse

By: Katie Van Heidrich

4.06

Format: 303 pages, Kindle Edition

For fans of Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle and Life in Motion by Misty Copeland, this middle grad… read more

Similar categories in Katie Van Heidrich's The In-Between: A Memoir in Verse book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • juvenile
Cover of The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow (Milkweed Meadow #1) by Elaine Dimopoulos

15. The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow (Milkweed Meadow #1)

By: Elaine Dimopoulos

4.35

Format: None pages, Hardcover

This timeless early middle-grade adventure about friendship and community will charm animal-loving … read more

Similar categories in Elaine Dimopoulos's The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow (Milkweed Meadow #1) book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • juvenile
Cover of The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor by Aubrey Hartman

16. The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor

By: Aubrey Hartman

4.37

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

A charming middle-grade novel about old magic, new adventures, a winged lion learning to roar, and … read more

Similar categories in Aubrey Hartman's The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • contemporary
Cover of Looking Up by Stephan Pastis

17. Looking Up

By: Stephan Pastis

3.99

Format: 240 pages, Hardcover

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Timmy Failure series comes a quirky and heartwarm… read more

Similar categories in Stephan Pastis's Looking Up book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • graphic novels
  • humor
  • middle grade
  • realistic fiction
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • juvenile
Cover of The Story of Gumluck the Wizard: Book One by Adam Rex

18. The Story of Gumluck the Wizard: Book One

By: Adam Rex

4.10

Format: 140 pages, Hardcover

Meet Gumluck the Wizard, the star of a new chapter book series by the inimitable Adam Rex! This is… read more

Similar categories in Adam Rex's The Story of Gumluck the Wizard: Book One book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • humor
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • juvenile
Cover of Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters by Wendelin Van Draanen

19. Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters

By: Wendelin Van Draanen

3.92

Format: 204 pages, Kindle Edition

Mr. Whiskers is a paw-some new dog detective from an Edgar Award winning author. He's on the trail … read more

Similar categories in Wendelin Van Draanen's Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • family
  • juvenile
Cover of The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing by Molly B. Burnham

20. The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing

By: Molly B. Burnham

3.93

Format: 208 pages, Hardcover

An enchanting middle grade about navigating the odd spaces between grieving and everyday living, an… read more

Similar categories in Molly B. Burnham's The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • juvenile
Cover of My Not-So-Great French Escape by Cliff Burke

21. My Not-So-Great French Escape

By: Cliff Burke

4.16

Format: 224 pages, Hardcover

When Rylan's best friend ditches him for the cool kids, Rylan thinks a summer spent working on a F… read more

Similar categories in Cliff Burke's My Not-So-Great French Escape book and Stephan Pastis's Looking Up

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • contemporary
  • juvenile

16 Best fiction books like Looking Up by Stephan Pastis

Transform Your Habits

Something Like Home

Andrea Beatriz Arango

4.31

Transform Your Habits

A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1)

Lisa Yee

3.82

Transform Your Habits

Good Different

Meg Eden Kuyatt

4.52

Transform Your Habits

Duel

Jessixa Bagley

4.05

View all the books

15 Best audiobook books like Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters by Wendelin Van Draanen

Transform Your Habits

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (The Penderwicks, #2)

Jeanne Birdsall

4.32

Transform Your Habits

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

Nicholas Day

4.15

Transform Your Habits

Something Like Home

Andrea Beatriz Arango

4.31

Transform Your Habits

The Lost Year

Katherine Marsh

4.50

View all the books

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