Ann M. Martin is a beloved children's author, best known for creating The Baby-Sitters Club series. Her heartfelt stories about friendship and growing up appeal to young readers worldwide.
If you enjoy reading books by Ann M. Martin then you might also like the following authors:
Judy Blume is an author who captures the real experiences and feelings of young readers in an authentic way. Fans of Ann M. Martin’s heartfelt storytelling will likely appreciate Blume’s relatable characters and their personal journeys.
Her book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. follows Margaret Simon, an eleven-year-old navigating the challenges of growing up. Margaret faces the questions of friendship, puberty, and even her own beliefs about religion.
Her honest reflections and everyday struggles make this story memorable and easy to connect with. If you enjoy characters who feel like real friends, Judy Blume offers plenty of warm and genuine moments to discover.
Readers who enjoy Ann M. Martin might also appreciate the books of Paula Danziger. Her novels often revolve around everyday struggles and sincere friendships, making them easily relatable.
In The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, Danziger introduces us to Marcy Lewis—a thirteen-year-old dealing with self-esteem issues, family tensions, and a school life full of challenges.
When Marcy’s favorite English teacher suddenly gets suspended, Marcy finds her voice and decides to stand up for what’s right. This story offers humor, heart, and an honest look at the ups and downs of middle-grade life.
Beverly Cleary is a beloved children’s author known for stories that capture everyday life with humor and warmth. Readers who enjoy Ann M. Martin’s relatable characters and heartfelt storytelling often find Cleary’s books delightful.
In Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Cleary introduces Ramona, a lively third-grader navigating family changes, new friendships, and all the awkwardness growing up can bring.
Readers quickly connect with Ramona’s enthusiasm—and her occasional frustrations—as she figures out how to handle school projects, a challenging teacher, and a big sister who always seems to have life figured out.
Cleary paints childhood vividly and honestly, creating a story readers won’t want to put down.
Sharon Creech is an author who creates heartfelt and sincere stories about family, friendship, and self-discovery. If you enjoy Ann M. Martin’s relatable and authentic stories, you might appreciate Creech’s novel Walk Two Moons.
This story follows Salamanca Tree Hiddle, known as Sal, a young girl who takes a road trip with her grandparents from Ohio to Idaho.
During their journey, Sal shares the mysterious story of her friend Phoebe Winterbottom, whose life is filled with unexpected events and surprises. Sal reflects on her own experiences, reconnects with memories of her mother, and learns more about herself along the way.
Creech smoothly weaves themes of love, loss, and growth through Sal’s personal journey, making it a thoughtful and emotional read.
Gail Carson Levine is an author who captures heartfelt friendships, relatable characters, and imaginative storytelling that readers of Ann M. Martin often enjoy.
In her popular book Ella Enchanted, Levine introduces Ella, a spirited teenage girl who receives an unwanted gift of obedience at birth from a misguided fairy. This gift turns out to be more of a curse, as Ella must obey any command told to her—even when it puts her at risk.
As Ella seeks her independence, she meets enchanted creatures, attends balls, and faces awkward but charming situations. Fans of Martin’s realistic friendships and emotional insights may find themselves equally charmed by Levine’s vivid fantasy worlds and witty humor.
If you enjoy books by Ann M. Martin, Katherine Paterson is another author worth discovering. Paterson writes thoughtful stories that explore friendship and growing up, often set against life’s challenges.
Her novel Bridge to Terabithia tells the story of Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke, two kids who create a magical realm named Terabithia as their secret refuge. Together, they navigate family troubles and school bullies, forming a bond that changes their lives profoundly.
Paterson captures childhood emotions with warmth and insight, making her books deeply moving and memorable.
Books by Kate DiCamillo often explore friendship, courage, and kindness, so fans of Ann M. Martin’s stories might appreciate her work as well. One great book to begin with is Because of Winn-Dixie.
The story follows young Opal, who moves to a new town and finds herself lonely until she meets a friendly, stray dog named Winn-Dixie. Together they make friends with the people in the community, each character showing how we all carry sadness and joy.
The book is touching without being overly sentimental—funny and gentle all at once—and filled with characters readers won’t soon forget.
Raina Telgemeier is an author and illustrator who creates relatable graphic novels about friendship, school life, and family experiences. If you enjoy Ann M. Martin’s heartfelt and genuine portrayal of young people’s lives, you might appreciate Telgemeier’s Smile.
This graphic memoir tells the story of Raina, who, after an accidental fall, must cope with dental drama, braces, and awkward middle-school moments.
Telgemeier combines humor, honesty, and warmth into this engaging story, capturing exactly what it’s like to grow up with challenges similar to those faced by Martin’s beloved characters.
If you enjoy Ann M. Martin’s thoughtful storytelling and genuine characters, Rebecca Stead might be an author for you. She builds believable worlds where kids face real-life challenges in stories full of hope and connection.
Her book When You Reach Me focuses on Miranda, a girl in 1970s New York City who begins receiving mysterious notes predicting future events.
Miranda is trying to make sense of changing friendships, puzzling messages, and hints of time travel—all woven into a story influenced by her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time.
Rebecca Stead brings warmth, mystery, and heartfelt depth, offering readers a story they’ll think about long after the last page.
If you enjoy Ann M. Martin’s heartfelt, character-driven stories, Jerry Spinelli might be a perfect next author for you. Spinelli often tackles friendship, identity, and growing pains from an honest and sensitive perspective. Take Maniac Magee, for instance.
It follows a boy named Jeffrey Lionel Magee—nicknamed Maniac —who becomes a legend in his town after running away from home. He has an unusual talent for running fast, untying impossible knots, and bringing people from different backgrounds closer together.
Adventure, humor, and tough questions about prejudice and belonging are wrapped up in a story that’s hard to put down.
Louis Sachar is an author who creates thoughtful stories filled with relatable characters and meaningful life lessons. If you’ve enjoyed Ann M. Martin’s books about real friendships and everyday adventures, you might appreciate Sachar’s novel Holes.
It tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a boy unjustly sent to a juvenile detention camp named Camp Green Lake. The camp is not what it seems. Stanley has to dig holes each day in the dry lakebed because the warden is searching for something valuable buried in the dirt.
As Stanley tries to uncover the truth, he learns unexpected connections between the past and present, family curses, and the true meaning of friendship and loyalty.
Louis Sachar blends humor, mystery, and heartfelt characters, offering readers a satisfying story that sticks with you long after finishing the book.
Books by Megan McDonald often appeal to readers who enjoy Ann M. Martin because they feature relatable characters facing everyday situations with humor and warmth. A great example is Judy Moody, the first book in her popular series.
Judy is a spunky third-grader with strong opinions and plenty of attitude. In this introductory story, Judy returns to school feeling grumpy about summer ending and refuses to be in a good mood.
She deals with school projects, friendships, and sibling annoyances in ways that readers will easily recognize.
McDonald’s vivid writing and funny scenarios make Judy Moody’s adventures entertaining and familiar to those who appreciate the realistic, heartfelt stories found in Martin’s work.
Readers who enjoy Ann M. Martin’s books may also appreciate Andrew Clements, an author known for his relatable school-life stories and genuine characters.
In his popular novel Frindle, Clements shares the story of Nick Allen, a creative fifth-grader who invents a new word and sparks an unexpected trend at school.
What begins as playful classroom rebellion quickly grows into a nationwide sensation, affecting Nick’s teachers, parents, and classmates. The story explores the power of language, imagination, and standing up for your ideas.
Andrew Clements crafts smart, humorous narratives that resonate with young readers and adults alike.
Books by Gordon Korman often showcase relatable kids in everyday adventures that fans of Ann M. Martin will surely appreciate. In his book Restart, readers meet Chase Ambrose, a popular boy who loses his memory after an accident.
Returning to middle school without his past memories, Chase begins to see himself differently and questions whether he’s proud of who he used to be. This heartfelt story invites readers to consider how second chances can reshape friendships and identities.
If you enjoyed the friendship dynamics and genuine characters in Martin’s books, Korman’s Restart may speak to you as well.
Readers who enjoy Ann M. Martin’s heartfelt stories about friendship, family, and growing up might find a new favorite author in Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Naylor writes insightful, compassionate books that authentically capture childhood and adolescence.
One of her best-known works, Shiloh, tells the story of Marty Preston, a young boy who discovers an abused beagle in the woods near his home. Determined to protect the dog from its cruel owner, Marty faces difficult choices about honesty, courage, and responsibility.
The realistic portrayal of Marty’s emotional journey and the gentle exploration of moral questions give Shiloh the emotional depth that fans of Martin’s novels will truly appreciate.