Families who loved Jessi and the Troublemaker by Ann M. Martin often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is struggling to navigate a complex friendship where one peer is using a personal hardship, like a health crisis, to justify acting out or breaking rules. It provides a nuanced look at the tension between being supportive of a friend in need and maintaining healthy, safe boundaries for everyone involved. In this installment of the Baby-Sitters Club series, Jessi Ramsey is babysitting Danielle Roberts, a young girl whose leukemia is in remission. Danielle's parents are so relieved she is healthy that they have stopped enforcing rules, leading Danielle to engage in dangerous stunts. Jessi must learn that true care doesn't mean indulgence, it means keeping someone safe even when they are resistant. This is an excellent choice for children aged 8 to 12 who are developing their sense of social responsibility and ethics.