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Readalikes · October 20, 2020

7 Books Like The Babysitters Club Books

So you read the series of books by Ann Martin, now you’re on the hunt for books like The Babysitters Club books? Welcome!

Recommending readalikes can be a tricky process, but as I said in the first post in this series, I enjoy the process of finding similar threads running through even books that appear different on the surface. Today’s pick is a much-loved series — a classic, if I do say so myself — following a group of friends who start a babysitting club. I loved the female friendship, the occasional mystery, and the entrepreneurial and goal-oriented nature of the characters in this series.

Here’s my readalike criterion: Each book I recommend must have at least three strong similarities with the beloved title. For each recommended book, I’ll also highlight major differences to keep in mind, just in case they might put you off. If you or your kids loved this book, here are more books like The Babysitters Club.

Ready? Let’s go.

Books Like The Babysitters Club Books

Best Babysitters Ever

best babysitters ever - books like the babysitters club books

Similarities

  • Three friends start a babysitting service
  • Lots of hijinks, drama, crushes, and actual babysitting
  • Parents and siblings also play roles in these books
  • The original BSC books are actually mentioned in this book
  • Part of a series of three books

Differences

  • More comedy than the original BSC books
  • Set in present day, complete with technology and social media

Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers

strange birds: a field guide to ruffling feathers - books like the babysitter's club series

Similarities

  • Four girls of diverse ethnicities become friends
  • The story is told from all four perspectives (third person POV)
  • The girls band together with a mission to stop the scouts group in their community
  • No shortage of wit, fun, and drama

Differences

  • Not part of a series
  • No babysitting involved

The Prettiest

the prettiest - books like the babysitter's club books

Similarities

  • Three girls form a friendship when their they’re are ranked on a “prettiest” list
  • The girls band together to find the list makers
  • Story is told from each of the girls’ perspectives in first person
  • Two of the girls have little sisters who are a small part of the plot
  • Lots of drama, crushes, and emotion

Differences

  • Not part of a series
  • No babysitting involved

The Amelia Six

the amelia six - books like the babysitters club books

Similarities

  • Six girls from diverse background become friends in the course of a night
  • The girls band together to solve a mystery
  • Plenty of drama and fun in one night

Differences

  • No babysitting involved
  • Not part of series

The Mother-Daughter Book Club

the mother-daughter book club - books like the babysitters club books

Similarities

  • Five girls become part of a mother-daughter book clubs their mothers started
  • The girls eventually become friends too
  • A fair amount of fun and drama
  • Part of series of about 7 books

Differences

  • More bookish that the BSC books
  • No babysitting involved

CAMP

camp - kayla miller -

Similarities

  • Set in a camp reminiscent of the BSC summer stories
  • Two girls navigate their friendship issues when one gets a bit too clingy
  • The girls also make new friends in camp
  • Friendship-focused with plenty of middle-school drama
  • Part of a series

Differences

  • Graphic novel, not prose
  • Focuses on two girls, not a big group of friends

The Babysitters Club Graphic Novels

kristy's great idea - graphic novel (books like the babysitters club books)

Similarities

  • Essentially the BSC books

Differences

  • Comics, not prose

You can hear for yourself how The Babysitters Club series got me into reading middle-grade books on this episode of Anne’s Bogel’s podcast What Should I Read Next? Another great option is checking out the Netflix series based on the books. I enjoyed the show for the most part and liked that it stayed close enough to the original story lines.

Your turn! Which books like The Babysitter’s Club series would you recommend and why? I’d love to hear from you. Also, I would love your help with this series. Which middle-grade, chapter books, or picture books, or even YA books would you love readalikes for? Let me know!

More Readalikes

  • 6 Books like Save Me a Seat
  • 9 Books like From the Desk of Zoe Washington
  • 10 Books like Americanah
  • 6 Books like Yaa Gyasi’s Transcendent Kingdom

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✨how ‘bout a little virtual reality?✨

☀️ Addie has reluctantly moved across the country with her dad for his summer job in the virtual reality industry. He's working on research to use VR for therapeutic purposes, such as helping people cultivate empathy. Addie is not into VR, but that starts to change when she meets Matteo another kid on campus, and tries out VR on her own. Eventually, the two find a helpful use for VR that helps other people.

🥽 I loved the illustration style in this one and while I found the VR setting a bit disorienting, I appreciated the unique lens of the story. The graphic novel format works brilliantly for helping readers appreciate the power of VR. I think with text, it would have just been too much “world-building.” This is more engaging and exciting for kids.

🐢 Lo and Behold is a clever middle grade graphic novel about virtual reality, grief, and parental addiction. Readers who enjoy VR will love this one, but as the Author's Note mentions, it will also be a fantastic introduction for those who, like me, aren't familiar with it. A fun summer read with hints of serious themes.

#mglit #middlegrade #bookstagram
✨surprisingly heartwarming middle grade✨ 🗺 ✨surprisingly heartwarming middle grade✨

🗺️ Ginny’s summer is thrown off when her dad gets a surprise redeployment in the middle of their family’s moving to another city. Then, her geography camp gets canceled. Her sister seems to be making new friends, but no one appears to like Ginny–even when she starts her own geography camp. 

❤️ I loved this book way more than I thought I would (from the synopsis). Ginny has such a great voice and she isn’t always the most likable character but she’s always real. I loved watching her grow throughout the story.

📍This sweet, unique young middle grade book made my heart grow and ache for Ginny and her family as they navigated a season of change. Features illustrations and a new geography fact in each chapter.

#amreading #mglit #middlegrade
My current adult reads! HAPPY TRAVELER is a non- My current adult reads! 

HAPPY TRAVELER is a non-fiction title about making travel work for you and creating enjoyable, memorable experiences. So far, I’m enjoying the author’s musings on travel.

HELLO BEAUTIFUL is a bookstagram darling (need I say more?) and I already know I’ll be reading it for a while. It’s one of those books that really forces you to slow down. The writing is so tender; it feels like the author loves her characters ❤️

#bookstagram #amreading #readersofinstagram
✨growing up is full of bumps on the way✨ 🤓 ✨growing up is full of bumps on the way✨

🤓 Sixth grade is off to a rocky start for Rex. His district moved most of his elementary school to another middle school, his best friend ditches him for the popular crew, and his blurry vision means he has to get clunky new glasses–the only kind his family can afford. 

❤️ This sweet graphic novel for fans of Telgemeier is an ode to middle school, family, and finding your people.

#graphicnovel #middleschoolbooks #kidlit
Do you like to hop on the “buzz train”? I find Do you like to hop on the “buzz train”? I find that buzzy books are often worth the hype. Even the few people who dislike them tend to have STRONG feelings about them 👀 which to me is a sign that the story got to you somehow. Of course, not every book is for every reader — hype or not. I share my tip for finding a hyped book that matches your reading tastes.

Which hyped books did you love? And which ones missed the mark for you?

#reader #bookstagram #unpopularopinions
✨a different kind of sunshine✨ I loved this g ✨a different kind of sunshine✨

I loved this graphic memoir about the author’s time as a counselor at a camp for kids with cancer. It was my first time reading anything by this author and I totally get the appeal.

This one didn’t end up being as sad as I thought it would be but it was very moving, especially because Krosoczka shares newspaper clippings and pictures of one the families with whom he forged a particularly close relationship even until his college years.

If you’re looking for an engaging graphic memoir for older kids ages 11+ this is a great choice.

#graphicnovel #kidlit #yareader
✨a devastating debut✨ This book! Brilliantly ✨a devastating debut✨

This book! Brilliantly written, impressive characterization, and a plot so unexpected. It left me physically shaken (it's not feel-good), but it feels so necessary, so timely. A solid debut about the search for the great American Dream, familial sacrifices, and confronting our ugly inner selves -- all in less than 300 pages. 

You'll like this if you like:

Multiple perspectives (3 perspectives, 3rd person POV)
Character-driven stories
Time-jumping plots
Devastating endings

If you prefer straightforward, plot-rich, fast-paced stories, you might struggle a bit with this one at the start. But it's worth it!

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☀️ Meet the Bookstagrammer ☀️ Hi, new fol ☀️ Meet the Bookstagrammer ☀️

Hi, new followers! It’s such a pleasure to have a few new faces around. I love finding new readers to follow on the gram. 

My name is Afoma and I run a book blog called Reading Middle Grade. I also run a Facebook Group and newsletter related to my blog. In my day job, I’m a freelance writer and editor, with a degree in medicine.

I’ve lived in three continents (born in Nigeria, med school in Ukraine and the Caribbean). I live in Nigeria now with my husband and many, many books 🤭 I love to cook and travel and run. This year, one of my goals is to become a better runner. I’m currently able to run 2K without stopping. 

Even though we don’t have traditional four seasons in Nigeria, the summer months are my favorite. From childhood, they were the one time when my overachieving, perfectionistic self could RELAX. And do nothing! And even now, I try to take time off in the summer to do nothing.

Some of favorite books this year have been LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU, THE LOST YEAR (I lived in Ukraine for 3 years, so this resonated with me!), and MAAME. 

Thank you so much for following my reading journey! Tell me something about yourself — hobbies, favorite books, anything! ❤️
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