12 must-read contemporary books like The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn

Cover of The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn

The Queen Bee and Me

By: Gillian McDunn

4.26

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover

Meg has been friends with confident, self-assured Beatrix since kindergarten. She's always found co…

"She doesn't turn her head to see if I'm following. She knows I'll always follow."

-Gillian McDunn, The Queen Bee and Me

"She doesn't turn her head to see if I'm following. She knows I'll always follow."

-Gillian McDunn, The Queen Bee and Me

"She doesn't turn her head to see if I'm following. She knows I'll always follow."

-Gillian McDunn, The Queen Bee and Me

If you liked the contemporary plot in The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn , here is a list of 12 books like this:

Cover of Spy Ski School (Spy School #4) by Stuart Gibbs

1. Spy Ski School (Spy School #4)

By: Stuart Gibbs

4.55

Format: 368 pages, Hardcover

Ben Ripley enrolls in ski school, where the slopes, and the stakes, get really steep in this follow… read more

Similar categories in Stuart Gibbs's Spy Ski School (Spy School #4) book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • fiction
"Just clip the red one," Cyrus told her. "They're all red," Erica informed him. "They are?" Cyrus asked. "Curse those Soviets! Everything always has to be red with them."

-Stuart Gibbs, Spy Ski School (Spy School #4)

Cover of Just as Long as We're Together by Judy Blume

2. Just as Long as We're Together

By: Judy Blume

4.05

Format: 144 pages, Paperback

Rachel is Stephanie's best friend. Since second grade, they've shared secrets, good and bad. Now in… read more

Similar categories in Judy Blume's Just as Long as We're Together book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • coming of age
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
Cover of A Dash of Trouble (Love Sugar Magic, #1) by Anna Meriano

3. A Dash of Trouble (Love Sugar Magic, #1)

By: Anna Meriano

3.41

Format: 549 pages, Hardcover

The novel follows a girl who discovers that she comes from a long and distinguished line of brujas … read more

Similar categories in Anna Meriano's A Dash of Trouble (Love Sugar Magic, #1) book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • family
  • middle grade
  • fiction

4. The Running Dream

By: Wendelin Van Draanen

2.86

Format: 442 pages, Hardcover

An award-winning and inspiring novel. When Jessica's dreams are shattered, she puts herself back to… read more

Similar categories in Wendelin Van Draanen's The Running Dream book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

Cover of Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson

5. Remember Us

By: Jacqueline Woodson

4.27

Format: 192 pages, Hardcover

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson brings readers a powerful story that delves deeply in… read more

Similar categories in Jacqueline Woodson's Remember Us book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
Cover of Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

6. Simon Sort of Says

By: Erin Bow

4.31

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a ho… read more

Similar categories in Erin Bow's Simon Sort of Says book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
"Dad picks Denver [to get his rabies shots], and he's totally fine, but he's going to be away for three days. "Just like Jesus," Mom says. I can hear the phone say, "Isobel!"

-Erin Bow, Simon Sort of Says

"In the tabernacle did the [squirrel]--" "Eat the Host?" says Dad. "Yes he did." "And was it--" "Consecrated?" says Dad. "Yes it was." ... "What, uh, happened to the squirrel?" "That squirrel is now 3…"

-Erin Bow, Simon Sort of Says

"The dog- Todd?- looks up from its leaking beer, puffs a sigh, then crosses the room to head-butt the fridge door closed. "Ummm" I manage "Did you see he got a--" "It's okay," she says. "He only has o…"

-Erin Bow, Simon Sort of Says

Cover of Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

7. Other Words for Home

By: Jasmine Warga

4.42

Format: 352 pages, Kindle Edition

I am learning how to be sad and happy at the same time. Jude never thought she’d be leaving h… read more

Similar categories in Jasmine Warga's Other Words for Home book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
"Americans are obsessed with murder"

-Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home

"You will belong here. . .You will make anywhere beautiful."

-Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home

"It seems like the kind of place where dreams could grow and live."

-Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home

"Mama hugs me and I hold her back. Sometimes all you can do is hold on."

-Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home

Cover of Supernova (Amulet, #8) by Kazu Kibuishi

8. Supernova (Amulet, #8)

By: Kazu Kibuishi

4.29

Format: 199 pages, Hardcover

Emily has lost control of her Amulet and is imprisoned in the Void, where she must find a way to es… read more

Similar categories in Kazu Kibuishi's Supernova (Amulet, #8) book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • fiction
"But like all things, the storms do pass."

-Kazu Kibuishi, Supernova (Amulet, #8)

Cover of The One and Only Ruby (The One and Only #3) by Katherine Applegate

9. The One and Only Ruby (The One and Only #3)

By: Katherine Applegate

4.28

Format: 210 pages, Hardcover

Ruby’s story picks up a few months after the events of The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildli… read more

Similar categories in Katherine Applegate's The One and Only Ruby (The One and Only #3) book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • juvenile
Cover of We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

10. We Dream of Space

By: Erin Entrada Kelly

4.12

Format: 400 pages, Hardcover

It's January 1986. The launch of the Challenger is just weeks away, and Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelso… read more

Similar categories in Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
Cover of Four Thousand Paws: Caring for the Dogs of the Iditarod: A Veterinarian's Story by Lee   Morgan

11. Four Thousand Paws: Caring for the Dogs of the Iditarod: A Veterinarian's Story

By: Lee Morgan

4.41

Format: 304 pages, Hardcover

An intimate account―the first from a trail veterinarian―of the canines who brave the challenges of … read more

Similar categories in Lee Morgan's Four Thousand Paws: Caring for the Dogs of the Iditarod: A Veterinarian's Story book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

Cover of Boy-Crazy Stacey: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #7) by Gale Galligan

12. Boy-Crazy Stacey: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #7)

By: Gale Galligan

4.32

Format: 165 pages, Paperback

Stacey and Mary Anne are baby-sitting for the Pike family for two weeks at the New Jersey shore. Th… read more

Similar categories in Gale Galligan's Boy-Crazy Stacey: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #7) book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
Cover of Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee

13. Maizy Chen's Last Chance

By: Lisa Yee

4.29

Format: 277 pages, Hardcover

Welcome to The Golden Palace! Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota. . . until now. Her… read more

Similar categories in Lisa Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • juvenile
"When you're in a position to help, that means you're in a good place in your own life."

-Lisa Yee, Maizy Chen's Last Chance

"Sometimes people don't know their dreams until they're in it. Other times, their dreams escape them because they are too busy being busy."

-Lisa Yee, Maizy Chen's Last Chance

Cover of Finally Seen (Finally Seen #1) by Kelly Yang

14. Finally Seen (Finally Seen #1)

By: Kelly Yang

4.46

Format: 304 pages, Hardcover

From the New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk comes a “involving, realistic” ( Booklist … read more

Similar categories in Kelly Yang's Finally Seen (Finally Seen #1) book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

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

15. 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 Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • juvenile
Cover of Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner

16. Tune It Out

By: Jamie Sumner

4.31

Format: 275 pages, Hardcover

A 2020 BookExpo Book Buzz Pick From the author of the acclaimed Roll with It comes a moving nove… read more

Similar categories in Jamie Sumner's Tune It Out book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
Cover of Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos

17. Planet Earth Is Blue

By: Nicole Panteleakos

4.44

Format: 240 pages, Hardcover

Twelve-year-old Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger--it's the first… read more

Similar categories in Nicole Panteleakos's Planet Earth Is Blue book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • fiction
Cover of Give and Take by Elly Swartz

18. Give and Take

By: Elly Swartz

4.21

Format: 313 pages, Hardcover

Twelve-year-old Maggie knows her new baby sister who smells like powder isn’t her sister for keeps.… read more

Similar categories in Elly Swartz's Give and Take book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • family
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • juvenile
Cover of Birdie by Eileen Spinelli

19. Birdie

By: Eileen Spinelli

4.05

Format: 208 pages, Hardcover

A novel-in-verse about loss… and what happens afterwards Twelve-year-old Birdie Briggs loves bir… read more

Similar categories in Eileen Spinelli's Birdie book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • juvenile
Cover of The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn

20. The Queen Bee and Me

By: Gillian McDunn

4.26

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover

Meg has been friends with confident, self-assured Beatrix since kindergarten. She's always found co… read more

Similar categories in Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • childrens
  • coming of age
  • realistic fiction
  • young readers
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • contemporary
  • family
  • kids
  • juvenile
"She doesn't turn her head to see if I'm following. She knows I'll always follow."

-Gillian McDunn, The Queen Bee and Me

Cover of A Sprinkle of Spirits (Love Sugar Magic, #2) by Anna Meriano

21. A Sprinkle of Spirits (Love Sugar Magic, #2)

By: Anna Meriano

4.27

Format: 310 pages, ebook

Leonora Logroño has finally been introduced to her family’s bakery bruja magic—but that doesn’t mea… read more

Similar categories in Anna Meriano's A Sprinkle of Spirits (Love Sugar Magic, #2) book and Gillian McDunn's The Queen Bee and Me

  • family
  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • fiction

19 Best fiction books like The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn

Transform Your Habits

Spy Ski School (Spy School #4)

Stuart Gibbs

4.55

Transform Your Habits

Just as Long as We're Together

Judy Blume

4.05

Transform Your Habits

A Dash of Trouble (Love Sugar Magic, #1)

Anna Meriano

3.41

Transform Your Habits

Remember Us

Jacqueline Woodson

4.27

View all the books

19 Best fiction books like The One and Only Ruby (The One and Only #3) by Katherine Applegate

Transform Your Habits

The Lost Library

Rebecca Stead

4.14

Transform Your Habits

The Eyes and the Impossible

Dave Eggers

4.25

Transform Your Habits

The Puppets of Spelhorst

Kate DiCamillo

4.19

Transform Your Habits

Ferris

Kate DiCamillo

4.30

View all the books

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