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)
	Rules of the road by Joan Bauer (1998) First book in the Rules of the road series
	Don't call me Ishmael! by Michael Gerard Bauer (2006) First book in the Ishmael series
	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)
	Shark girl by Kelly Bingham (2007) First book in the Shark girl series
	Tiger eyes by Judy Blume (1981)
	Lion by Saroo Brierley (2013)
	Walking naked by Alyssa Brugman (2002)
	My life with the liars by Caela Carter (2016)
	See you in the cosmos by Jack Cheng (2017)
	April and Rain by Sarah Crossan (2014)
	One by Sarah Crossan (2015)
	The weight of water by Sarah Crossan (2012)
	The happiest refugee by Anh Do (2010)
	The heaven shop by Deborah Ellis (2004)
	The skin I'm in by Sharon G. Flake (1998)
	Inventing Elliot by Graham Gardner (2003)
	Refugee  by Alan Gratz (2017)
	Spilled water by Sally Grindley (2004)
	A song only I can hear by Barry Jonsberg (2018)
	See you at Harry's by Jo Knowles (2012)
	Missing by Catherine MacPhail (2000)
	So much to tell you by John Marsden (1987) First book in the So much to tell you series
	Girl, missing by Sophie McKenzie (2006) First book in the Girl, missing series
	Trash by Andy Mulligan (2010)
	A monster calls by Patrick Ness (2011)
	Wonder by R.J. Palacio (2012) First book in the Wonder series
	My sister lives on the mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher (2011)
	Feather boy by Nicky Singer (2002)
	Drums, girls, and dangerous pie by Jordan Sonnenblick (2004)
	Popular by Maya Van Wagenen (2014)
	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)
	Lockie Leonard, human torpedo by Tim Winton (1990) First book in the Lockie Leonard series
	Refugee boy by Benjamin Zephaniah (2001)
	The goats by Brock Cole (1987)
	The wanderer by Sharon Creech (2000)
	Toffee by Sarah Crossan (2019)
	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
	Perfect by Natasha Friend (2004)
	The other side of summer by Emily Gale (2016)
	Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough (2018)
	A summer to die by Lois Lowry (1977)
	Cut by Patricia McCormick (2000)
	Being black 'n chicken, and chips by Matt Okine (2021)
	Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave (2011)
	Keep your hair on by Elizabeth Vercoe (2003)
	The happiness quest by Richard Yaxley (2018)