Meet Derek from the beginning
Start with My Life as a Book, which introduces Derek's reading challenges, family, friends, and visual vocabulary drawings.
Book Series · 10 Books
My Life Books
In order from My Life as a Book to My Life as a Billionaire.
Derek Fallon, a bright middle schooler who struggles with reading, records funny school, family, friendship, and technology mishaps with help from margin drawings.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the My Life Books
Read the ten books in publication order, beginning with My Life as a Book and ending with My Life as a Billionaire. Each novel has a self-contained problem, but Derek's friendships, family life, school years, and changing interests develop across the series.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Derek has a learning disability and often feels embarrassed or frustrated by reading and schoolwork. The books treat those struggles with empathy while showing that visual thinking, humor, persistence, and asking for help are real strengths.
Stories also include teasing, friendship conflict, impulsive schemes, minor accidents, online videos and memes, coding, money, and the responsibilities of caring for a foster monkey. The tone is upbeat, and frequent drawings break the text into approachable sections.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1899
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2010
My Life as a Book
By Janet Tashjian, Jake Tashjian (Illustrator)
A reluctant reader's summer takes a twist with camp, secrets, and unexpected adventures.
224 pages· 24,454 words· Est. 2.5 hour read
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Derek Fallon’s summer plans of mischief are dashed when his parents send him to Learning Camp. Labeled a 'reluctant reader,' Derek must face his aversion to books. Amidst new friendships, he stumbles upon a family secret that could change everything. Will Derek uncover the truth and find adventure in unexpected places? Dive into a summer filled with surprises and self-discovery.
In reading order
My Life Series
10 books · Published 2010–2021
#1
Sale price
$1899
My Life as a Book
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2010
A reluctant reader's summer takes a twist with camp, secrets, and unexpected adventures.
#2
Sale price
$1498
My Life as a Stuntboy
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2011
A boy becomes a stunt double, faces embarrassment, and risks losing his pet monkey.
#3
Sale price
$1348
My Life as a Cartoonist
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2013
Derek's plan to help a new classmate backfires, leading to stolen ideas and school humiliation.
#4
Sale price
$1498
My Life as a Joke
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2014
Twelve-year-old faces mishaps and middle school chaos, seeking to feel grown-up amidst comedic disasters.
#5
Sale price
$1398
My Life as a Gamer
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2015
Derek's dream gaming job turns into a surprising challenge.
#6
#6 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1348
My Life as a Ninja
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2017
Can Derek solve the mystery of the school graffiti and become a hero?
#7
Sale price
$1348
My Life as a Youtuber
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018
Derek juggles Youtube dreams and keeping his monkey, Frank, from leaving. Can he solve both challenges?
#8
Sale price
$1348
My Life as a Meme
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2019
A viral meme turns Derek into the joke. Can he confront the creator?
#9
#9 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1797
My Life as a Coder
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2020
A laptop without Wi-Fi challenges Derek to code his own games. Can he master tech to play?
#10
Sale price
$1797
My Life as a Billionaire
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2021
Winning the lottery brings Derek unexpected challenges and anxiety.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the My Life series?
There are 10 books in the My Life series. It began with My Life as a Book in 2010, and the newest book, My Life as a Billionaire, was published in 2021.
What order should you read the My Life books in?
Start with My Life as a Book and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #10.
What ages are the My Life books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which My Life book is the longest?
My Life as a Stuntboy (Book #2) is the longest book in the series at 28,121 words (272 pages).
Which My Life book is the shortest?
My Life as a Billionaire (Book #10) is the shortest at 20,876 words (224 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring My Life to life.
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