No empire-line dresses, no three-headed aliens, no smug vampires, no goblins, and no talking rabbits. Real characters making tough decisions about life right now.
	The crossover by Kwame Alexander (2014)
	I am not Esther by Fleur Beale (1998) First book in the I am not Esther series
	The thing about jellyfish by Ali Benjamin (2015)
	Are you there God? It's me, Margaret by Judy Blume (1970)
	Lion by Saroo Brierley (2013)
	Being Bindy by Alyssa Brugman (2004)
	My life with the liars by Caela Carter (2016)
	Dizzy by Cathy Cassidy (2004)
	Scarlett by Cathy Cassidy (2006)
	April and Rain by Sarah Crossan (2014)
	The weight of water by Sarah Crossan (2012)
	Boy by Roald Dahl (1984) First book in his autobiographical series
	Star-crossed by Barbara Dee (2017)
	The happiest refugee by Anh Do (2010)
	Out of my mind by Sharon M. Draper (2010)
	Parvana by Deborah Ellis (2000) First book in The breadwinner series
	The heaven shop by Deborah Ellis (2004)
	Goggle-eyes by Anne Fine (1989)
	The skin I'm in by Sharon G. Flake (1998)
	Joey Pigza swallowed the key by Jack Gantos (1998) First book in the Joey Pigza series
	Two weeks with the queen by Morris Gleitzman (1989)
	Refugee  by Alan Gratz (2017)
	Spilled water by Sally Grindley (2004)
	Olive's ocean by Kevin Henkes (2003)
	Ugly by Robert Hoge (2015)
	A song only I can hear by Barry Jonsberg (2018)
	See you at Harry's by Jo Knowles (2012)
	Paradise end by Elizabeth Laird (2004)
	Red sky in the morning by Elizabeth Laird (1988)
	Missing by Catherine MacPhail (2000)
	Girl, missing by Sophie McKenzie (2006) First book in the Girl, missing series
	Trash by Andy Mulligan (2010)
	Journey to Jo'burg by Beverley Naidoo (1985) First book in the Journey to Jo'burg series
	Wonder by R.J. Palacio (2012) First book in the Wonder series
	A term in year seven by Anna & Mary K. Pershall (2005) Second book in the Two weeks in grade six series Can be read & loved without having read any previous books in this series
	My sister lives on the mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher (2011)
	Feather boy by Nicky Singer (2002)
	Smart by Kim Slater (2014)
	Drums, girls, and dangerous pie by Jordan Sonnenblick (2004)
	Popular by Maya Van Wagenen (2014)
	Other words for home by Jasmine Warga (2019)
	Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt (1981) First book in the Tillerman family series
	The edge of thirteen by Nova Weetman (2021)
	Dustbin baby by Jacqueline Wilson (2001)
	Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson (2003)
	The illustrated mum by Jacqueline Wilson (1999)
	Vicky angel by Jacqueline Wilson (2000)
	Lockie Leonard, human torpedo by Tim Winton (1990) First book in the Lockie Leonard series
	Refugee boy by Benjamin Zephaniah (2001)
	Chloe by Cesca Adey (2005)
	The chicken dance by Jacques Couvillon (2007)
	The wanderer by Sharon Creech (2000)
	The life and times of Gracie Faltrain by Cath Crowley (2004) First book in The life and times of Gracie Faltrain series
	Zelah Green by Vanessa Curtis (2009) First book in the Zelah Green series
	The secret language of girls by Frances O'Roark Dowell (2004) First book in The secret language of girls series
	Perfect by Natasha Friend (2004)
	The other side of summer by Emily Gale (2016)
	George by Alex Gino (2015)
	Misery guts by Morris Gleitzman (1991) First book in the Misery guts series
	When friendship followed me home by Paul Griffin (2016)
	The year we fell from space by Amy Sarig King (2019)
	Tiger daughter by Rebecca Lim (2021)
	A summer to die by Lois Lowry (1977)
	Saffy's angel by Hilary McKay (2001) First book in the Casson family series
	Being black 'n chicken, and chips by Matt Okine (2021)
	The dogs of winter by Bobbie Pyron (2012)
	Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave (2011)
	Dandelion clocks by Rebecca Westcott (2014)
	The happiness quest by Richard Yaxley (2018)