Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

A lonely girl, a cantankerous talking rat, and a nanny who is doing very, very bad things . . .

The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

An unlikely foursome are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine is doing their homework for them, they start attracting a lot of attention.

lBefore long, they are are getting strange Instant Messages from a shady guy named Milner; their teacher, Miss Rasmussen, is calling private meetings with each of them and giving them pop tests that they are failing; and someone has leaked the possibility of a homework machine to the school newspaper.

The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff

Georgie is a 4th graders with usual problems, like having to put up with Jeannie the Meanie; plus a unique one, being a dwarf.

The Liberation of Gabriel King by K. L. Going

Gabriel King was a born chicken. Gabe's best friend, Frita Wilson, thinks Gabe needs some liberating from his fears. Frita knows something about being brave— she's the only black kid in school in a town with an active Ku Klux Klan. But it turns out that Frita has her own list, and while she's helping Gabe confront his fears, she's avoiding the thing that scares her the most.

Star Jumper by Frank Asch

Alex has had it with his little brother. Jonathan is always hanging around-asking questions, messing with Alex's stuff. Alex decides there is only one thing to do-leave Earth-and Jonathan-forever. Using assorted bits of junk, Alex designs the Star Jumper. This cardboard spacecraft will take him across the galaxy to a brother-free planet.