This is a standout pick for kids who have already burned through the Wimpy Kid or Big Nate series and need a new obsession. It swaps the usual middle-school snark for a protagonist who is genuinely earnest and hilariously literal.

Ben Yokoyama is a refreshing character because his 'doom' leads to productivity and kindness rather than just chaos. It's a high-energy read that manages to sneak in some pretty solid life lessons about living intentionally without ever feeling like a lecture. If your kid likes a 1,000-piece Taj Mahal model and the idea of eating an entire cake in one sitting, they'll be in.