Book picks similar to
An Unexpected Schoolgirl by Ethel Talbot


school-stories
childrens-fiction
ethel-talbot
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It's All About Us


Shelley Adina - 2008
    And then there's her New-York-loudmouth roommate, Gillian Chang, who's not just happy to be a Christian herself--she's determined to out Lissa, too! If Lissa can just keep her faith under wraps long enough to hook Callum McCloud, the hottest guy in school, she'll be golden.But when Callum pressures her to go all the way with him, Lissa has to decide for herself how far is too far. How can she see that line when he's so gorgeous and popular and she's so dazzled? And besides, she's too busy shopping for a Valentino and booking the hottest celeb for the Benefactors Ball. Who knew finding a place at Spencer Academy would be so complicated?

Mission: Back to School: Top-Secret Information


Susan Hood - 2016
    Chock-full of tips and fun visuals, it’s bound to get kids excited for their next mission!

Nickel Bay Nick


Dean Pitchford - 2013
    Schmidt, this heartfelt coming-of-age story will make you believe in the power of second chances. Eleven-year-old Sam Brattle is already having the worst Christmas ever – his dad’s bakery is going bankrupt and his mom is spending the holidays with her new family. To make things worse, Nickel Bay Nick, the anonymous Good Samaritan who leaves hundred-dollar bills around Nickel Bay at Christmastime, is a no-show, so this year the rest of the town is as miserable as Sam. When he stumbles upon the secret identity of this mysterious do-gooder, Sam is stunned to learn that he might now be his town’s only hope. But before he can rescue Nickel Bay, Sam has to learn the skills of a spy and unravel some even darker secrets that will change his life forever.

Anna Is Still Here


Ida Vos - 1993
    Anna, a "hidden child" during World War II, struggles to adjust to freedom and overcome her fears in Holland after the Holocaust.

Take the Reins


Jessica Burkhart - 2009
    She's not exactly welcomed with open arms. One group of girls in particular is used to being the best, the brightest, and the prettiest on the team, and when Sasha shows her skills in the arena, the girls' claws come out. Sasha is determined to prove that she belongs at Canterwood. Will she rise to the occasion and make the advanced riding team by the end of her first semester? Or will the pressure send Sasha packing?

A Dream of Sadler's Wells


Lorna Hill - 1950
    Veronica, newly orphaned, longs to study ballet but instead must live with unsympathetic relatives in the North of England.

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society


Michael Buckley - 2009
    With the help of cutting-edge science, their nerdy qualities are enhanced and transformed into incredible abilities. They battle the Hyena, a former junior beauty pageant contestant turned assassin, and an array of James Bond–style villains, each with an evil plan more diabolical and more ridiculous than the last.

Wishing for Tomorrow: The Sequel to A Little Princess


Hilary McKay - 2009
    But Sara is much missed - and most acutely by best friend Ermengarde, who laments that 'nothing is the same as it was before'. But life must go on at Miss Minchin's as new friendships are made, rivalries continued, lessons learned and, most importantly, fairytale endings are had.

The Worst Witch


Jill Murphy - 1974
    She's always getting her spells wrong and she can't even ride a broomstick without crashing it. Will she ever make a real witch?

That Thing about Bollywood


Supriya Kelkar - 2021
    The truth is, Sonali’s parents don’t get along, and it looks like they might be separating. Sonali’s little brother, Ronak, is not taking the news well, constantly crying. Sonali would never do that. It’s embarrassing to let out so many feelings, to show the world how not okay you are. But then something strange happens, something magical, maybe. When Sonali gets upset during a field trip, she can’t bury her feelings like usual—instead, she suddenly bursts into a Bollywood song-and-dance routine about why she’s upset! The next morning, much to her dismay, Sonali’s reality has shifted. Things seem brighter, almost too bright. Her parents have had Bollywood makeovers. Her friends are also breaking out into song and dance. And somehow, everyone is acting as if this is totally normal. Sonali knows something has gone wrong, and she suspects it has something to do with her own mismanaged emotions. Can she figure it out before it’s too late?

Pajama Day


Lynn Plourde - 2005
    Shepherd’s class is wearing their favorite PJs to school. Everyone, that is, except Drew A. Blank. He forgot his—just like he forgot his slippers, his teddy bear, his favorite breakfast snack, and everything else he needs to celebrate Pajama Day. Drew would forget his own name if it weren’t written on his hand as a reminder. But he doesn’t want to be the odd man out. Can resourceful (and forgetful) Drew find a way to participate in Pajama Day anyway? It’s much too fun to miss!

The Last Holiday Concert


Andrew Clements - 2004
    Kids look up to him, and all the teachers let him get away with anything -- all the teachers except the chorus director, Mr. Meinert. When Hart's errant rubber band hits Mr. Meinert on the neck during chorus practice, it's the last straw for the chorus director, who's just learned he's about to lose his job due to budget cuts. So he tells the class they can produce the big holiday concert on their own. Or not. It's all up to them. And who gets elected to run the show? The popular Mr. Hart Evans. Hart soon discovers there's a big difference between popularity and leadership, and to his surprise, discovers something else as well -- it's really important to him that this be the best holiday concert ever, and even more important, that it not be the last.

Flame-Colored Taffeta


Rosemary Sutcliff - 1989
    How they rescue him and help him get safe passage out of the country is the plot of this historical adventure set in Sussex, England in the 1750s. As readers have come to expect, Sutcliff writes in a demanding, evocative style and conveys a strong sense of place.

Adopted Jane


Helen F. Daringer - 1947
    Reliable and sensible, she has watched other children find families of their own, but never once has any family wanted to adopt Jane. Then one magical summer, Jane gets not one -- but two-- invitations for a month each to live with a real family in a real house. If only the summer could last forever.

Felix Stands Tall


Rosemary Wells - 2015
    But right after Felix’s first-prize triumph, trouble waits in the wings. "Twinkletoes!" someone taunts, and Felix crumbles. Can he pull himself together and face down the bullies? With a little help from Fiona, can Felix find a magic key that unlocks the secret to standing up—to anyone?