Dumplin’ is the kind of book that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you wish you could read it forever and ever. Willowdean Dickson (whose mother calls her Dumplin’) is a Dolly Parton super-fan, a loyal friend, and self-proclaimed fat girl who never lets her weight affect her confidence. That is, until the hot guy she has a crush on starts crushing on her back. Instead of making her feel more confident, their newfound romance leaves her confused and makes her question herself. And on top of that, she and her best friend have just gotten in their first real fight. To beat this insecurity, get her mind off missing her best friend, and basically prove everybody wrong, Willowdean sets her sights on becoming the most unexpected beauty queen her small town has ever encountered. With heart-wrenchingly accurate descriptions of insecurity, grief, friendship, and first love, Dumplin’ is an absolute home run. Pick up this book. No ifs, ands, or buts. And, as the tagline says, prepare to go big or go home!

Anyone who’s familiar with Kate Beaton’s work, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Hark! A Vagrant!, knows just what to expect from her picture book debut: something different, funny, and truly fantastic. And they will not be disappointed.

Princess Pinecone hails from a fantasy kingdom packed with wonderful anachronistic elements such as a bespectacled hipster king, a fist-bumping knight, and a multicultural cast of characters, including our mixed-race heroine. Pinecone happens to be the smallest warrior in all the land, but that doesn’t stop her from having big dreams: like the noble stead she’s really hoping to get for her birthday. As you probably guessed, she gets a pony instead. And while it seems more appropriate for her age and size, the pony clearly isn’t what she had in mind. She thinks it’s too small, too round, and that its eyes are looking in different directions. “But you can’t say no to a birthday present,” so Princess Pinecone does what she can to prepare her new friend for the important upcoming battle. The big day arrives in a few quick page turns, but Pinecone now seems a little more intimidated than she had previously let on, and when she comes face to face with Otto the Awful, it’s actually the pony who comes to the rescue in the most unexpected way.

This smart, subversive, and hilarious gem of a book promises to be the first in a long career of outstanding children’s books from Beaton.

Surviving middle school should be a breeze for Bridge Barsamian, who survived being hit by a car at the age of eight—but it’s far from it. Bridge is part of a tight-knit trio, along with Em and Tab. The best friends have just one rule: no fighting. Their pact is put to the test when Em’s risqué selfie falls into the wrong hands and sparks a school-wide controversy. Meanwhile, Bridge finds a different kind of friendship with Sherm, a boy who writes letters to his estranged grandfather, but can’t find the courage to send them. Their stories intertwine with that of an unnamed high schooler, playing hooky after a fight with friends.

Rebecca Stead delivers another warmhearted and intelligent middle-grade novel, this time exploring the intricacies of young relationships, both online and off. While Goodbye Stranger is firmly set in the digital age, it raises perennial themes of love and friendship, intimacy and privacy, (mis)communication, and just about every other issue that young people grapple with during that difficult in-between stage of junior high. Stead captures it all with poignant realism, making this 20-something glad she doesn’t have to relive it.

After Amy’s dad dies in a car accident, her mom decides that their family needs a fresh start. She moves to Connecticut a month before Amy finishes her junior year, leaving Amy alone in their house in California. Since the accident, Amy hasn’t been able to get behind the wheel, creating a problem when her mom needs her to drive the family car to Connecticut. Enter Roger, Amy’s former neighbor who she hasn’t seen in years, and willing chauffer. The itinerary carefully planned by Amy’s mom is quickly left by the side of the road when Amy and Roger decide to take a detour, winding their way across the country in a true road trip. Between fast food stops and playlists (included in the novel along with a travel scrapbook, postcards, and pictures), Amy begins to come to terms with her father’s death, rebuild her relationship with her brother and mother, and recognize a growing crush on Roger—who happens to be grappling with a broken heart. Filled with a memorable supporting cast, Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour has a slow build that will leave readers clamoring for more. Even those who hate long road trips will be inspired to hop in a car with a friend and see where a map takes them.