100 Best Diaries Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank

5.0

In Everyman’s Library for the first time—one of the most moving and eloquent accounts of the Holocaust, read by tens of millions of people around the world since its publication in 1947.

The Diary of a Young Girl is the record of two years in the life of a remarkable Jewish girl whose triumphant humanity in the face of unfathomable deprivation and fear has made the book one of the most enduring doc

Recommended by Alice Little, Catalina Penciu, and Tim Fargo.

Alice Little

I remember being a fourth grader and trying to check out this book and being told it was grossly inappropriate and going so far as to have my parents take it to the school board and petition for me to be allowed to read this book. [source]

Catalina Penciu

I'm a huge fan of personal stories and biographies like this one. [source]

Tim Fargo

@Quixoticnance Good point, Nancy. The museum is a powerful experience, esp. when you've read her book. [source]

2

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

4.5

Read the cult-favorite coming of age story that takes a sometimes heartbreaking, often hysterical, and always honest look at high school in all its glory. Now a major motion picture starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a funny, touching, and haunting modern classic.

The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky, Perks follows observant “wallflower” C

Recommended by Emma Watson, Jamie Grayson, Rae Earl, and 1 others.

Jamie Grayson

Holy shit there’s no way this book is that old because that really ages me but I COMPLETELY agree. This book is a masterpiece and a must-read. Lessons about being human are in there and those are important right now. https://t.co/fF1spEFrUH [source]

Rae Earl

It is a tremendously powerful study of PTSD, a mental health issue that isn’t talked about enough [source]

Richard Speight Jr.

A pal for 30 years, @StephenChbosky ‘s first book #ThePerksofBeingaWallflower had a MASSIVE impact on me & countless others. Then came his great movies. Now..THE NEXT BOOK! Be like me & buy it THE DAY it comes out. (Then harass him until he agrees to put me in the movie! 🎥 🤠) https://t.co/02bMKPgF9A [source]

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3

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #1)

Jeff Kinney

4.4

Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they?

The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to

It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquel

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4

The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #3)

Jeff Kinney

4.3

Let’s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other "manly” endeavors. Of course, Greg is easily able to sidestep his father’s efforts to change him. But when Greg’s dad threatens to send him to military academy,

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5

Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #4)

Jeff Kinney

4.3

It’s summer vacation, the weather’s great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where’s Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video games with the shades drawn.

Greg, a self-confessed "indoor person,” is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg’s mom has a different vision for an ideal summer . . . one packed with outdoor activities and "family tog

6

The Martian

Andy Weir

4.3

Note: Alternate-Cover Edition for this ASIN can be found here

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even i

Recommended by Ev Williams, Craig Barrett, Dan Christensen, and 2 others.

Craig Barrett

Former CEO/Intel

This book didn’t really change my mind, but rather reinforced the concept of the power of the individual. At a time when we depend more and more on big institutions to solve our business and social problems the real solutions are crafted by individual actions and initiative. This is true in the business world, where ideas from individual researchers or entrepreneurs can create mega companies overnight, and in the social sector, where such actions as high performing charter schools run circles around a moribund K-12 education system. Best we all remember that the next meaningful advances will come from individual initiative rather than massive governmental programs. After all, Google, Facebook, Uber, microloans and countless other success stories were not products of big government. [source]

Dan Christensen

@EconTalker @cable_co1 The Martian... hey it can’t all be economics and it’s a great book [source]

Fabrice Grinda

I have lots of books to recommend, but they are not related to my career path. The only one that is remotely related is Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. That said here are books I would recommend. [source]

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7

Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #2)

Jeff Kinney

4.3

The highly anticipated sequel to the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling book!

Secrets have a way of getting out, especially when a diary is involved.

Whatever you do, don’t ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn’t want to talk about it.

As Greg enters the new school year, he’s eager to put the past three months behind him . . . and one event in particular.

Unfort

8

Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1)

Helen Fielding

4.3

Meet Bridget Jones—a 30-something Singleton who is certain she would have all the answers if she could:
a. lose 7 pounds
b. stop smoking
c. develop Inner Poise

"123 lbs. (how is it possible to put on 4 pounds in the middle of the night? Could flesh have somehow solidified becoming denser and heavier? Repulsive, horrifying notion), alcohol units 4 (excellent), cigarettes 21 (poor but will give up total

9

Go Ask Alice

Anonymous

4.3

It started when she was served a soft drink laced with LSD in a dangerous party game. Within months, she was hooked, trapped in a downward spiral that took her from her comfortable home and loving family to the mean streets of an unforgiving city. It was a journey that would rob her of her innocence, her youth -- and ultimately her life.

Read her diary.

Enter her world.

You will never forget her.

10

The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #7)

Jeff Kinney

4.3

Love is in the air - but what does that mean for Greg Heffley?

A Valentine's Day dance at Greg's middle school has turned his world upside down. As Greg scrambles to find a date, he's worried he'll be left out in the cold on the big night. His best friend, Rowley, doesn't have any prospects either, but that's a small consolation.

An unexpected twist gives Greg a partner for the dance and leaves Rowl

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11

Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #6)

Jeff Kinney

4.3

Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of. The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with

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12

The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #5)

Jeff Kinney

4.3

Greg Heffley has always been in a hurry to grow up. But is getting older really all it’s cracked up to be?

Greg suddenly finds himself dealing with the pressures of boy-girl parties, increased responsibilities, and even the awkward changes that come with getting older—all without his best friend, Rowley, at his side. Can Greg make it through on his own? Or will he have to face the “ugly truth”?

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13

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie

4.3

Preview Summary

Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation, with a foreword from Jaqueline Woodson.
Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully writt

Recommended by Rand Fishkin.

Rand Fishkin

Empathy is at the core of my beliefs, and this is one of the best books I’ve ever read that fosters empathetic thinking. It’s also a great reminder of how hard it is to accomplish anything when your life circumstances and surroundings negatively contribute to progress and a great reminder to stay humble. [source]

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14

Hard Luck (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #8)

Jeff Kinney

4.2

Greg Heffley and his family and friends are back in Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 8, the latest installment in the #1 bestselling series by Jeff Kinney and one of the most anticipated books of 2013. A global phenomenon, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has more than 85 million books in print around the world.

Greg Heffley's on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and find

15

Walden

Henry David Thoreau

4.2

Preview Summary

At Walden Pond, Henry David Thoreau reflected on simpler living in the natural world. By removing himself from the distractions of materialism, Thoreau hoped to not only improve his spiritual life but also gain a better understanding of society through solitary introspection.

In Walden, Thoreau condenses his two-year, two-month, two-day stay into a single year, using the four seasons to symbolize h

Recommended by Emma Watson, Donna Dickenson, Emily Thomas, and 5 others.

Donna Dickenson

He discusses how the original ideals that America was founded on were being compromised, and how massive industrial interests were starting to dominate. [source]

Emily Thomas

The beginning is hard going. Once you get past that, then suddenly you’re into these beautiful and inspiring descriptions of nature. [source]

Joan Boixados

In case you were deceived and expected me to name Walden by Henry David Thoreau, you should read it too if you haven’t, it obviously is the inspiration to Walden Two. :) [source]

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16

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 (Adrian Mole, #1)

Sue Townsend

4.2

At thirteen years old, Adrian Mole has more than his fair share of problems - spots, ill-health, parents threatening to divorce, rejection of his poetry and much more - all recorded with brilliant humour in his diary.

Recommended by Tom McLaughlin.

Tom McLaughlin

I love the gentle humour of it, I love the black comedy too. It’s as if Alan Bennet had written a kids’ book. [source]

17

The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath

4.2

First U.S. Publication

A major literary event--the complete, uncensored journals of Sylvia Plath, published in their entirety for the first time.

Sylvia Plath's journals were originally published in 1982 in a heavily abridged version authorized by Plath's husband, Ted Hughes. This new edition is an exact and complete transcription of the diaries Plath kept during the last twelve years of her life. S

Recommended by Tim Kendall.

Tim Kendall

The Journals are, in their unabridged state, an astonishing body of work. We talk about how poets are born, not made, but what I always take away from every page of the Journals—and it’s a serious slab of a book—is the extent to which Plath was both born and self-made. [source]

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18

Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors, #1)

Susan Beth Pfeffer

4.2

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, wher

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19

The Freedom Writers Diary

The Freedom Writers

4.2

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER & NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

Straight from the front line of urban America, the inspiring story of one fiercely determined teacher and her remarkable students.

As an idealistic twenty-three-year-old English teacher at Wilson High School in Long beach, California, Erin Gruwell confronted a room of “unteachable, at-risk” students. One day she intercepted a note with an ugl

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20

Old School (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #10)

Jeff Kinney

4.2

Life was better in the old days. Or was it?

That’s the question Greg Heffley is asking as his town voluntarily unplugs and goes electronics-free. But modern life has its conveniences, and Greg isn’t cut out for an old-fashioned world.

With tension building inside and outside the Heffley home, will Greg find a way to survive? Or is going “old school” just too hard for a kid like Greg?

21

This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor

Adam Kay

4.2

Adam Kay was a junior doctor from 2004 until 2010, before a devastating experience on a ward caused him to reconsider his future. He kept a diary throughout his training, and This Is Going to Hurt intersperses tales from the front line of the NHS with reflections on the current crisis. The result is a first-hand account of life as a junior doctor in all its joy, pain, sacrifice and maddening burea

Recommended by Quinn Cummings.

Quinn Cummings

@lorapenza You might love @amateuradam's book. [source]

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22

Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn

4.2

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. As the police begin to investigate, the town golden boy parades a series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter - but is he re

Recommended by Kelly Vaughn.

Kelly Vaughn

@ceeoreo_ Great book! [source]

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23

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #1)

Louise Rennison

4.2

There are six things very wrong with my life:

1. I have one of those under-the-skin spots that will never come to a head but lurk in a red way for the next two years.

2. It is on my nose

3. I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room.

4. In fourteen days the summer hols will be over and then it will be back to Stalag 14 and Oberfuhrer Frau Simpson and her bunch of sadistic te

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24

The Long Haul (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #9)

Jeff Kinney

4.2

A family road trip is supposed to be a lot of fun . . . unless, of course, you’re the Heffleys. The journey starts off full of promise, then quickly takes several wrong turns. Gas station bathrooms, crazed seagulls, a fender bender, and a runaway pig—not exactly Greg Heffley’s idea of a good time. But even the worst road trip can turn into an adventure—and this is one the Heffleys won’t soon forge

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25

A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary

Anonymous Anonymous

4.2

A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice

For eight weeks in 1945, as Berlin fell to the Russian army, a young woman kept a daily record of life in her apartment building and among its residents. The anonymous author depicts her fellow Berliners in all their humanity, as well as their cravenness, corrupted first by hunger and then by the Russians. A Woman in Berlin tells of the complex relations

Recommended by Antony Beevor and Keith Lowe.

Antony Beevor

This book, A Woman in Berlin, is one of the great diaries of the whole war. [source]

Keith Lowe

It’s by a German housewife in Berlin who was repeatedly raped when the Russians arrive in 1945. It’s heart-rending but, miraculously, not depressing. [source]

26

Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dork Diaries, #1)

Rachel Renée Russell

4.2

It’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid for girls in this hilarious novel!

Meet Nikki Maxwell! She's starting eighth grade at a new school—and her very first diary packed with hilarious stories and art in Book One of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series!

New school. New mean girl. New crush. New diary so I can spill about all of it…

I put a lot of really personal stuff in this diary along wi

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27

Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (Dork Diaries, #2)

Rachel Renée Russell

4.1

It’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid for girls in this hilarious novel!

Recipe for disaster: 4 parties. Add 2 friends and 1 crush. Divide by 1 mean girl out to RUIN Nikki. Mix well, put fingers over eyes, and CRINGE.
I thought it would NEVER happen, but my life is FINALLY going well for me.

I’m adjusting to my new school and hanging out with my BFFs Chloe and Zoey. And, get this! My crush, Brandon, has as

28

The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait

Frida Kahlo

4.1

Published here in its entirety, Frida Kahlo's amazing illustrated journal documents the last ten years of her turbulent life. This passionate, often surprising, intimate record, kept under lock and key for some forty years in Mexico, reveals many new dimensions in the complex persona of this remarkable Mexican artist.

Covering the years 1944-45, the 170-page journal contains Frida's thoughts, poems

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29

The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)

Meg Cabot

4.1

Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there's nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra.

Is she ever in for a surprise.

First mom announces that she's dating Mia's Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia. And guess who still doesn't have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance?

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30

These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901

Nancy Turner

4.1

“Belongs on your must-read list. This novel is a gem.” –Omaha World-Herald

The classic adventure of one courageous woman’s life and struggles in the Arizona Territories in the late nineteenth century

A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author's own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a

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31

Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002

David Sedaris

4.1

David Sedaris tells all in a book that is, literally, a lifetime in the making.

For forty years, David Sedaris has kept a diary in which he records everything that captures his attention-overheard comments, salacious gossip, soap opera plot twists, secrets confided by total strangers. These observations are the source code for his finest work, and through them he has honed his cunning, surprising s

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32

A Writer's Diary

Virginia Woolf

4.1

An invaluable guide to the art and mind of Virginia Woolf, drawn by her husband from the personal record she kept over a period of twenty-seven years. Included are entries that refer to her own writing, others that are clearly writing exercises; accounts of people and scenes relevant to the raw material of her work; and comments on books she was reading. Edited and with a Preface by Leonard Woolf;

Recommended by Juliet Gardiner.

Juliet Gardiner

I think she is the finest diarist of the 20th century. Nobody comes near her. She is so brilliant, but she’s snobbish and anti-semitic. [source]

33

The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star

Nikki Sixx

4.1

In one of the most unique memoirs of addiction ever published, Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx shares mesmerizing diary entries from the year he spiraled out of control in a haze of heroin and cocaine, presented alongside riveting commentary from people who were there at the time, and from Nikki himself. When Mötley Crüe was at the height of its fame, there wasn't any drug Nikki Sixx wouldn't do. He spen

34

Dracula

Bram Stoker

4.1

“Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring.”

Recommended by Andrei Codrescu, Becky Cloonan, Claire Jarvis, and 1 others.

Andrei Codrescu

Vampirism is a growth industry. Dracula is bigger than Jesus now. [source]

Becky Cloonan

@Noise_Raptor Oh, thank you so much! This book was such a delight, and such a challenge! Dracula is one of my favorites- funny enough I'd jump at the chance to do this again XD [source]

Claire Jarvis

Dracula is very explicit. That’s what’s so surprising about it. [source]

35

Diary of a Worm

Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss

4.1

This is the diary . . . of a worm. Surprisingly, a worm not that different from you or me: He lives with his parents, plays with his friends, and even goes to school. But unlike you or me, he never has to take a bath, he gets to eat his homework, and because he doesn't have legs, he just can't do the hokey pokey -- no matter how hard he tries. Oh, and his head looks a lot like his rear end.

Doreen

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36

Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, R.M.S. Titanic, 1912 (Dear America)

Ellen Emerson White

4.1

Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, R.M.S. Titanic 1912 (Dear America Series)

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37

Princess in the Spotlight (The Princess Diaries, #2)

Meg Cabot

4.1

No one ever said being a princess was easy.

Just when Mia thought she had the whole princess thing under control, things get out of hand, fast. First, there's an unexpected announcement from her mother. Then Grandmère arranges a national primetime interview for the brand-new crown princess of Genovia. On top of that, intriguing, exasperating letters from a secret admirer begin to arrive.

Before she

38

The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 1: 1931-1934

Anais Nin

4.1

This celebrated volume begins when Nin is about to publish her first book and ends when she leaves Paris for New York. Edited and with a Preface by Gunther Stuhlmann

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39

Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles, Austria - France, 1769

Kathryn Lasky

4.1

"I look up now into the oval mirror and see barely a trace of the mud-splattered girl tearing through the woodland on her horse, or the barefoot girl wading at Schonbrunn... I have become what Mama set out for me to be. Majestic. A Dauphine and eventually a Queen."

So writes the headstrong 13-year-old Maria Antonia--future Queen of France--in her diary on October 23, 1769. In this engrossing addi

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40

Wrecking Ball (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #14)

Jeff Kinney

4.1

In Wrecking Ball, Book 14 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series—from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney—an unexpected inheritance gives the Heffley family a chance to make major improvements to their home. But they soon find that construction isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. When things get rough, will the Heffleys be able to stay . . . or will they be forced to move?

And don’t miss Diary

Recommended by Kerri Jablonski.

Kerri Jablonski

This is the best news of the day! Book 14 in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid is Wrecking Ball! Another great book by Jeff Kinney! It will be smashing into stores November 5, 2019! Preorder your copy for your Awesome #WimpyKid #ad https://t.co/4L8zAcCrZ5 https://t.co/RhhFhbqRA7 [source]

41

I Capture The Castle

Dodie Smith

4.1

I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle's walls and

Recommended by Laura Wood and Sophie Ratcliffe.

Laura Wood

Cassandra and Rose are two very different sisters, isolated from the world by their peculiar and magical upbringing…I would say this is the most important book in my life. [source]

Sophie Ratcliffe

It is a delicious, glorious, coming-of-age tale told with humor about two sisters who live in a derelict, tumble-down, ramshackle castle. Underneath the surface, it’s a novel of absolute desolation. Cassandra is in mourning without having fully realized it yet. Her desperation to be noticed is partly because she likes Simon, and partly, I think, because she’s desperate for someone to love her. [source]

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42

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #11)

Jeff Kinney

4.1

The latest book in the phenomenally successful Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by bestselling author Jeff Kinney will go on sale on November 1, 2016. One of the most anticipated books of the year, tens of millions of fans all over the world eagerly await this newest installment—the eleventh book in the series. There are now more than 165 million copies of the books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series i

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43

On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #2)

Louise Rennison

4.1

You don't have to be a teenager to appreciate the humorous and often self-absorbed ravings found in 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson's diary, but it certainly helps. Now fans of Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging -- Georgia's first set of hilarious musings on life -- can get another peek into the mind of this wryly inquisitive English lass in the appealing sequel: On the Bright Side, I'm Now the

44

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

J.K. Rowling

4.1

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and

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45

Princess in Love (The Princess Diaries, #3)

Meg Cabot

4.1

Princess Mia may seem like the luckiest girl ever.

But the truth is, Mia spends all her time doing one of three things: preparing for her nerve-racking entrée into Genovian society, slogging through the congestion unique to Manhattan in December, and avoiding further smooching from her hapless boyfriend, Kenny.

For Mia, being princess is not the fairy tale it's supposed to be . . . or is it?

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46

Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914

Carolyn Meyer

4.1

Award-winning author Carolyn Meyer introduces readers to the unforgettable Anastasia Romanov whose idyllic life is forever changed with the coming of World War I.

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47

Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile - 57 B.C.

Kristiana Gregory, Josephine Bailey

4.1

Established "Dear America" author Kristiana Gregory kicks off "The Royal Diaries" with the captivating story of a young Cleopatra's life.

While her father is in hiding after attempts on his life, twelve-year-old Cleopatra records in her diary how she fears for her own safety and hopes to survive to become Queen of Egypt some day.

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48

Diary of a Spider

Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss

4.1

This is the diary... of a spider. But don't be worried – he's more scared of you and your gigantic shoe! Actually, he's a lot like you. He goes to gym class and has Grandparents' Day at school. But he also spins sticky webs, scales walls, and takes wind–catching lessons. Lucky for him, his best friend is a fly!
Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the #1 bestselling Diary Of A Worm, spin

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49

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

4.1

Beautifully captures the joys of a new family as it builds to an overwhelmingly moving climax. This is an unforgettable love story, at once heartbreaking and full of hope.

James Patterson has written a love story!--a powerfully moving and suspenseful novel about families, loss, new love, and hope.

Katie Wilkinson has found her perfect man at last. He's a writer, a house painter, an original thinker

Recommended by Miléna Santoro.

Miléna Santoro

It’s really fascinating that born out of this very autobiographical story of abandonment and the suffering that that caused and then the desire to reconnect with one’s roots, we have this exceptional novel that fills in the gaps of a story that can never be fully told or fully understood—and that really does encompass the history of Quebec, and its place in North America more broadly. [source]

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50

Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #4)

Louise Rennison

4.1

Since Georgia's been dating the yummy scrumboes Sex God, Robbie, her glossy lips are always at the ready, and her "red-bottomosity" is kept under wraps. Along with Naomi the Sex Kitten's new litter (thank you, Angus), Robbie's announcement that his band will be traveling to Hamburger-a-gogo land (Georgia can only hope to go with), and a class trip to France, Georgia is one camper in a state of tee

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51

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell (Dear America)

Kristiana Gregory

4.1

Now that we're in the North Platte River Valley the air feels dry and thin. My lips are so chapped they bleed when I talk. The only thing to do is dip our fingers in to the bucket of axle grease and rub our lips every hour or so. It smells bad, it tastes bad, and the blowing dust sticks.

It feels like we must be halfway to Oregon, but Tall Joe says, no, we've only gone five hundred miles. He also s

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52

Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #3)

Louise Rennison

4.1

Georgia Nicolson is now the girlfriend of the Sex God (aka Robbie), and things are wonderful. Except her loony parents are dragging her off to Och Aye land (aka Scotland), and the Sex God's band's chance at a record contract has left her something of a "pop widow."

Then up rears temptation in the form of old flame Dave the Laugh. Is Georgia about to become a shameless vixen?

53

Flowers for Algernon

Daniel Keyes

4.1

The story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be

Recommended by Irina Botnari.

Irina Botnari

It’s pretty hard to pick only one favorite book because as we get wiser (to be read: get older ☺) our interests change and so do our books, but it’ll stick to the plan. The highlight of this year for me was Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. The idea behind is heartbreaking and completely brilliant, being in the same time so perfect and so horribly disturbing. [source]

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54

A Tale for the Time Being

Ruth Ozeki

4.0

In Tokyo, sixteen-year-old Nao has decided there’s only one escape from her aching loneliness and her classmates’ bullying. But before she ends it all, Nao plans to document the life of her great-grandmother, a Buddhist nun who’s lived more than a century. A diary is Nao’s only solace—and will touch lives in a ways she can scarcely imagine.

Across the Pacific, we meet Ruth, a novelist living on a r

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55

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544

Kathryn Lasky

4.0

Newbery Honor author Kathryn Lasky introduces readers to young Elizabeth I and the intrigue of her father's court from 1544-1546.

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56

Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Wartime Sarajevo

Zlata Filipovic

4.0

When Zlata’s Diary was first published at the height of the Bosnian War, it became an international bestseller and was compared to The Diary of Anne Frank, both for the freshness of its voice and the grimness of the world it describes. It begins as the day-today record of the life of a typical eleven-year-old girl, preoccupied by piano lessons and birthday parties. But as war engulfs Sarajevo, Zla

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57

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (Bridget Jones, #2)

Helen Fielding

4.0

Lurching from the cappuccino bars of Notting Hill to the blissed-out shores of Thailand, Bridget Jones searches for The Truth in spite of pathetically unevolved men, insane dating theories, and Smug Married advice ("'I'm just calling to say in the potty! In the potty! Well, do it in Daddy's hand, then!'"). She experiences a zeitgeist-esque Spiritual Epiphany somewhere between the pages of "How to

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58

Revolution

KT McFarlan

4.0

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexa

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59

Bo and the Dragon-Pup (Unicorn Diaries, #2)

Rebecca Elliott

4.0

The unicorns of Sparklegrove Forest have a mystery to solve, in this magical series from the creator of the bestselling Owl Diaries series!
Pick a book. Grow a Reader!
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading

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60

Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All (Dork Diaries, #5)

Rachel Renée Russell

4.0

Nikki Maxwell authors an advice column for the school newspaper in this fifth book of the New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series.

Nikki Maxwell develops a sudden interest in student journalism that may or may not (okay, definitely does) have to do with the fact that mean girl MacKenzie has started writing a gossip column. And there just might be some juicy info involving Nikki’s crush, Bran

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61

Princess in Waiting (The Princess Diaries, #4)

Meg Cabot

4.0

Never before has the world seen such a princess.

Nor have her own subjects, for that matter. Mia's royal introduction to Genovia has mixed results: while her fashion sense is widely applauded, her position on the installation of public parking meters is met with resistance.

But the politics of bureaucracy are nothing next to Mia's real troubles. Between canceled dates with her long—sought—after roya

62

NRSV, Catholic Bible, Journal Edition, Cloth over Board, Blue, Comfort Print: Holy Bible

Catholic Bible Press

4.0

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63

Forever Princess (The Princess Diaries, #10)

Meg Cabot

4.0

What's a Princess to do?

It's Mia's senior year, and things seem great. She aced her senior project, got accepted to her dream college(s), and has her birthday gala coming up . . . not to mention prom, graduation, and Genovia's first-ever elections.

What's not to love about her life? Well . . .Her senior project? It's a romance novel she secretly wrote, and no one wants to publish it.Prince Phillipe

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64

Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star (Dork Diaries, #3)

Rachel Renée Russell

4.0

It’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid for girls in this hilarious novel!

Nikki’s Road to Stardom Checklist:
[Tick] Diva showdown
[Tick] BFF feud
[Tick] Talented entourage to back up VIP (Very Important Pop Star!)
Just when I was starting to get used to life at my new school, this talent competition could change everything!

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65

Love Is a Many Trousered Thing (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #8)

Louise Rennison

4.0

Woe is Georgia! Georgia Nicolson thought life was hard when her only worry was whether Masimo would choose her over Wet Lindsay. But then Dave the Laugh started acting strange --and everything was turned upside down when Robbie the Sex God suddenly returned!

In this eighth entry of the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series, every reader will be wishing they had Georgia's problems.

About the Author

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66

Do-It-Yourself Book (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Jeff Kinney

4.0

Now every kid can write like a Wimpy Kid! An exciting companion to the bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

“First of all, let me get something straight: This is a journal, not a diary.”

This innovative interactive journal based on Greg Heffley’s own “diary” lets kids express themselves in an exciting new way. In Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, kids will be asked: What was the best dre

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67

The Getaway (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 12)

Jeff Kinney

4.0

To escape the stress of the holidays, the Heffleys decide to get out of town and go to a resort instead of celebrating Christmas at home. But what's billed as a stress-free vacation becomes a holiday nightmare.

68

The Diary of Anaïs Nin Volume 2 1934-1939

Anais Nin and Gunther Stuhlmann

4.0

Beginning with Nin's arrival in New York, this volume is filled with the stories of her analytical patients. There is a shift in emphasis also as Nin becomes aware of the inevitable choice facing the artist in the modern world. "Sensitive and frank...[Nin's] diary is a dialogue between flesh and spirit" (Newsweek). Edited and with a Preface by Gunther Stuhlmann; Index.

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69

Diary ng Panget 2

HaveYouSeenThisGirl

4.0

70

An Interrupted Life: The Diaries, 1941-1943; and Letters from Westerbork

Etty Hillesum

4.0

For the first time, Etty Hillesum's diary and letters appear together to give us the fullest possible portrait of this extraordinary woman. In the darkest years of Nazi occupation and genocide, Etty Hillesum remained a celebrant of life whose lucid intelligence, sympathy, and almost impossible gallantry were themselves a form of inner resistance. The adult counterpart to Anne Frank, Hillesum testi

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71

Princess in Training (The Princess Diaries, #6)

Meg Cabot

4.0

Princess FOR PRESIDENT!

Student body president, that is - nominated by her power-mad best friend, Lilly. This is not how Mia imagined kicking off her sophomore year, but as usual, she has bigger problems to worry about, like Geometry. And now that Mia's one true love, Michael, is uptown at college, what's the point of even getting up for school in the morning? But the last straw is what Lana whispe

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72

Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess (Dork Diaries, #4)

Rachel Renée Russell

4.0

It’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid for girls in this hilarious novel!

I wasn’t at all surprised to find out that my crush Brandon volunteers at a local animal shelter. He’s SUCH a sweet guy—OF COURSE he wants to help those adorable puppies!

Then Brandon tells me that the shelter is in danger of closing, and I know I can’t let that happen . . . especially when I discover a SHOCKING secret about Brandon

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73

Jeff Kinney 10 Books Set Diary of a Wimpy Kid Collection (Hard Luck, Movie Di...

Jeff Kinney

4.0

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74

My Pants Are Haunted

Jim Benton

4.0

Can an ordinary pair of jeans have the power to ward off a toothy beagle, vanquish the prettiest girl in the world and make the wearer irresistible to the eight cutest guys in Jamie's class? Or are the haunted pants just, well, haunted?

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75

Catherine, Called Birdy

Karen Cushman

4.0

"Corpus Bones! I utterly loathe my life."

Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich man--any rich man, no matter how awful.

But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. Then a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north comes to call--by far the oldest, ugliest, most revolting suitor of them all.

Unfortunately, he is also

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76

The Diary of Samuel Pepys

Samuel Pepys, Robert Latham

4.0

The 1660s represent a turning point in English history, and for the main events -- the Restoration, the Dutch War, the Great Plague and the Fire of London -- Pepys provides a definitive eyewitness account. As well as recording public and historical events, Pepys paints a vivid picture of his personal life, from his socializing and amorous entanglements, to his theatre-going and his work at the Nav

Recommended by Alex Carlile, Alex Chase-Levenson, and Peter Ackroyd.

Alex Carlile

Pepys gives you a total flavour of his time. It’s a wonderful picture of London – no one else has written remotely as well about London in those days. [source]

Alex Chase-Levenson

Pepys is a really great person to follow through an epidemic. He records day by day what it’s like to live in a plague-stricken city, and shows us the intertwining of things that are normal and things that are surreal. [source]

Peter Ackroyd

It is an invaluable picture of daily life in mid-17th century London and one that has never really been rivalled by any other diarist. [source]

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77

The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (Adrian Mole #2)

Sue Townsend

4.0

At sixteen, Adrian Mole's life continues to be nothing but a set of tragic circumstances: His tempestuous relationship with an alluring schoolmate tortures him, while his intellectualism continues to be ignored by the British press. Despite it all he remains as agonizingly funny as ever in this, the second of his diaries.

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78

Princess in Pink (The Princess Diaries, #5)

Meg Cabot

4.0

Princess Mia is dreaming about the prom - and contending with a hotel workers' strike - in the fifth, supremely hilarious episode of Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries. This time, Mia's in the pink about the upcoming Albert Einstein H.S. prom, and she's crossing her fingers that Michael will ask her to go. (They're in love, so why wouldn't he ask her, right?) But during Seven Minutes in Heaven at her b-

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79

The Meltdown (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 13)

Jeff Kinney

4.0

When snow shuts down Greg Heffley's middle school, his neighborhood transforms into a wintry battlefield. Rival groups fight over territory, build massive snow forts, and stage epic snowball fights. And in the crosshairs are Greg and his trusty best friend, Rowley Jefferson.

It's a fight for survival as Greg and Rowley navigate alliances, betrayals, and warring gangs in a neighborhood meltdown. Whe

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80

Diary ng Panget 3

HaveYouSeenThisGirl

4.0

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81

The Diary of Virginia Woolf, Volume One: 1915-1919

Virginia Woolf

4.0

“Nothing yet published about her so totally contradicts the legend of Virginia Woolf.... [This] is a first chance to meet the writer in her own unguarded words and to observe the root impulses of her art without the distractions of a commentary” (New York Times). Edited and with a Preface by Anne Olivier Bell; Introduction by Quentin Bell; Index.

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82

Startled by His Furry Shorts (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #7)

Louise Rennison

4.0

On the rack of romance. And also in the oven of "luuurve,"

And possibly on my way to the "bakery of pain,"

And maybe even going to stop along the way to get a little "cake" at the cakeshop of agony.

"Shut up," brain, shut up.

Georgia is in quite a predicament. Dave the Laugh has declared his love for her (at least she thinks he was talking about her), leaving her in a state of confusiosity. And then w

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83

The Diary of a Nobody

Weedon Grossmith, George Grossmith

4.0

Weedon Grossmith's 1892 book presents the details of English suburban life through the anxious and accident-prone character of Charles Pooter. Pooter's diary chronicles his daily routine, which includes small parties, minor embarrassments, home improvements, and his relationship with a troublesome son. The small minded but essentially decent suburban world he inhabits is both hilarious and painful

Recommended by Allen MacDuffie and Moose Allain.

Allen MacDuffie

Class is just all over this book … but there are subtler and stranger moments in that book that I find more intriguing. [source]

Moose Allain

Also a great, very funny book. https://t.co/Qvf3AOkbV1 [source]

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84

She Believed She Could So She Did

Rogena Mitchell-Jones

4.0

2016 Brand NEW Interior Design-More Lines Per Page and a Crisp New Design.
"This is how I felt about becoming an editor as my career choice. After over 25 years in the newspaper industry, I Believed I Could So I Did. Maybe YOU should believe in yourself, too." -Rogena
Everyone loves a journal. Keep one with you always for when your characters begin to talk to you.

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85

Zombie Swap (Diary of a Minecraft Zombie, #4)

Zack Zombie

4.0

12 Year Old Zombie and Steve have Switched Bodies!

Find out What Happens in this Hilarious Minecraft Adventure as 12 Year Old Zombie Has to Pretend to Be Human and Steve Pretends to be a Zombie.

In this latest Minecraft adventure, 12 year old Zombie and Steve have accidentally switched bodies and must pretend to be each other until they figure out how to switch back.

Zombie must go to human middle S

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86

Book of a Thousand Days

Shannon Hale

4.0

When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years because of Saren's refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.

As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. With the arrival outside the tower of Saren's two suitors--one welcome, the

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87

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Avi

4.0

An ocean voyage of unimaginable consequences... Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I liv

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88

Stop in the Name of Pants! (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #9)

Louise Rennison

4.0

Time to gird the loins and pucker up.

Blimey O'Reilly's trousers! Three maybe-boyfriends is a lot for any girl to handle--red-bottomed or not. What with Robbie the Sex God back from Kiwi-a-gogo land wanting to "get coffee" and whatsit, Masimo the Luuurve God saying things like ""Ciao," Georgia, see you later" (the good see-you-later or the bad see-you-later ), and her mate Dave the Laugh snogging h

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89

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #5)

Louise Rennison

4.0

The Barnes Noble Review: The tres bon and marvy heroine of Louise Rennison's Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series returns in this fifth fab diary that's sure to get fans cheering -- Italian-American style! This time around, Georgia's lamenting the Sex God's departure to Kiwi A-go-go Land, and she's sure that her mouth will seal shut from lack of snogging. (Robbie's boring letter doesn't help her

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90

The Hired Girl

Laura Amy Schlitz

4.0

Today Miss Chandler gave me this beautiful book. I vow that I will never forget her kindness to me, and I will use this book as she told me to—that I will write in it with truth and refinement…But who could be refined living at Steeple Farm?

Fourteen-year-old Joan Skraggs, just like the heroines in her beloved novels, yearns for real life and true love. But what hope is there for adventure, beauty,

91

The Book of Disquiet

Fernando Pessoa, RICHARD Zenith

4.0

Fernando Pessoa was many writers in one. He attributed his prolific writings to a wide range of alternate selves, each of which had a distinct biography, ideology. and horoscope. When he died in 1935, Pessoa left behind a trunk filled with unfinished and unpublished writings, among which were the remarkable pages that make up his posthumous masterpiece, The Book of Disquiet, an astonishing work th

Recommended by Tyler Cowen.

Tyler Cowen

Founder/Marginal Revolution University

This is a book of ideas. It’s not a book about the internet. It was written much earlier, in the 20th century, and written in Portuguese. It’s really a book of meditations. It’s very philosophical. It applies to the internet in that the main point is how much joy you can take in small things and small changes and the true drama of life can be extraordinarily minute in scale, and this, I think, gets at the idea that the internet and the stories we follow are, to a lot of us, extremely important and exciting and meaningful, though really they are just a few changes of characters on a little screen somewhere. [source]

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92

Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior: Crafting Alliances (8-Bit Warrior, #3)

Cube Kid

4.0

Minecraft meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid in book 3 of the very popular 8-Bit Warrior series of the journal of a young Minecraft villager who dares to dream of becoming a Minecraft warrior!

THESE ARE THE REAL BOOKS BY CUBE KID! DIARY OF AN 8-BIT WARRIOR: CRAFTING ALLIANCES WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS WIMPY VILLAGER KINDLES 9 & 10.

Competition stiffens in book three of the 8-Bit Diary series, as Runt’s tr

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93

Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior: Quest Mode (Book 5 8-Bit Warrior series): An Unofficial Minecraft Adventure

Cube Kid

4.0

Minecraft meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid in book 5 of the very popular 8-Bit Warrior series of the journal of a young Minecraft villager who dares to dream of becoming a Minecraft warrior!

THESE ARE THE REAL BOOKS BY CUBE KID! DIARY OF AN 8-BIT WARRIOR: QUEST MODE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS WIMPY VILLAGER KINDLES 13 & 14.

In the fifth in this series of five unofficial Minecraft adventure books, everyon

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94

Party Princess (The Princess Diaries, #7)

Meg Cabot

4.0

Princess just want to have fun . . . And Mia does too, despite the fact that the student government over which she presides is suddenly broke. But Grandmere's got a wacky scheme to raise the money, catapult Mia to theatrical fame, and link her romantically with an eligible teen bachelor who's not her boyfriend. No wonder Michael seems to think she's a psycho, or worse: not much fun. Is it possible

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95

Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, #6)

Louise Rennison

4.0

In this latest instalment of the confessions of Georgia Nicolson, she recounts her trip to Hamburger-a-gogo land and her attempts to entice Masimo, the Italian stallion. Can she become the composed sex kitten she aspires to be?

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96

The Night Diary

Veera Hiranandani

4.0

It's 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders.

Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is

97

Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation

Ari Folman

4.0

Cover unavailable

98

Minecraft: Diary of a Minecraft Zombie Book 17: Zombie's Excellent Adventure (An Unofficial Minecraft Book)

Zack Zombie

4.0

Cover unavailable

99

Dreams In The Golden Country: the Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 (Dear America)

Kathryn Lasky

4.0

100

Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior: Forging Destiny (Book 6 8-Bit Warrior series): An Unofficial Minecraft Adventure

Cube Kid

4.0