With her mama recently dead and her pa sight unseen since birth, Amelia is suddenly in charge of her younger brother and sister -- and of the family gas station. Harley Blevins, local king and emperor of Standard Oil, is in hot pursuit to clinch his fuel monopoly. To keep him at bay and keep her family out of foster care, Melia must come up with a father -- and fast. And so when a hobo rolls out of a passing truck, Melia grabs opportunity by its beard. Can she hold off the hounds till she comes of age?
Publisher: n/a
|
9781627793902
|
Print book
Free Verse
By Dooley, Sarah
A moving, bittersweet tale reminiscent of Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons set in a West Virginia coal-mining townWhen her brother dies in a fire, Sasha Harless has no one left, and nowhere to turn. After her father died in the mines and her mother ran off, he was her last caretaker. They'd always dreamed of leaving Caboose, West Virginia together someday, but instead she's in foster care, feeling more stuck and broken than ever.But then Sasha discovers family she didn't know she had, and she finally has something to hold onto, especially sweet little Mikey, who's just as broken as she is. Sasha even makes her first friend at school, and is slowly learning to cope with her brother's death through writing poetry, finding a new way to express herself when spoken words just won't do. But when tragedy strikes the mine her cousin works in, Sasha fears the worst and takes Mikey and runs, with no plans to return. In this sensitive and poignant portrayal, Sarah Dooley shows us that life, like poetry, doesn't always take the form you intend.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780399165030
|
Hardcover
Mayday
By Harrington, Karen
Publisher: n/a
|
9780316298018
|
Hardcover
Josh Baxter Levels Up
By Brown, Gavin
Josh Baxter is sick and tired of hitting the reset button. It's not easy being the new kid for the third time in two years. One mistake and now the middle school football star is out to get him. And Josh's sister keeps offering him lame advice about how to make friends, as if he needs her help finding allies! Josh knows that his best bet is to keep his head down and stay under the radar. If no one notices him, nothing can touch him, right? But when Josh's mom sees his terrible grades and takes away his video games, it's clear his strategy has failed. Josh needs a new plan, or he'll never make it to the next level, let alone the next grade. He's been playing not to lose. It's time to play to win.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545772945
|
Hardcover
Sara Lost and Found
By Castleman, Virginia
Sisters Anna and Sara must rely on each other for strength as they face being separated by the foster care system in this heartwrenching tale of sisterhood, family, and survival.Sara and Anna Olsen face an uncertain world. Their mother left home and may - or may not - be coming back. Their father is a drummer in a band and comes home long after the girls go to sleep - if he comes home at all. Too often, ten-year-old Sara and twelve-year-old Anna are left to fend for themselves. Then one night, three loud knocks at the door change everything: their father is in jail and social services has come to take the girls away. Rather than risk being split up, Sara and Anna decide their only option is to run away. But the girls don't get very far, and when the authorities catch up with them, Sara and Anna are forced back into the foster care system. Along the way, the girls encounter good people who want to help them but they also meet people who have no patience for mistakes or accidents. As Anna begins to act out or withdraw completely, Sara knows that it's up to her to take care of her older sister. But what if she can't anymore? What if she finds a forever home that may not include Anna? Will Sara keep the promise she made to her mother to stay with her sister or will she find the courage to do what's best for herself? Inspired by true events, this heartrending and hopeful novel of survival, friendship, and sisterhood, tells the tale of two sisters who must find the strength to face anything that life may throw their way.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781481438711
|
Print book
The last boy at St. Edith's
By Malone, Lee Gjertsen
A fresh and funny debut novel about a seventh grade prankster determined to escape the all-girls academy where he's the only boy - by getting expelled!Seventh grader Jeremy Miner has a girl problem. Or, more accurately, a girls problem. 475 of them to be exact. That's how many girls attend his school, St. Edith's Academy. Jeremy is the only boy left after the school's brief experiment in co-education. And he needs to get out. But his mother - a teacher at the school - won't let him transfer, so Jeremy takes matters into his own hands: he's going to get expelled. Together with his best friend Claudia, Jeremy unleashes a series of hilarious pranks in hopes that he'll get kicked out with minimal damage to his permanent record. But when his stunts start to backfire, Jeremy has to decide how far he's willing to go and whom he's willing to knock down to get out the door.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781481444354
|
Print book
Friends for life
By Norriss, Andrew
A timeless and uplifting book about friendship, filled with humor and heart.When Jessica sits next to Francis on a bench during recess, he's surprised to learn that she isn't actually alive--she's a ghost. And she's surprised, too, because Francis is the first person who has been able to see her since she died.Before long, Francis and Jessica are best friends, enjoying life more than they ever have. When they meet two more friends who can also see Jessica, the question arises: What is it that they have in common? And does it have something to do with Jessica being a ghost?
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545851862
|
Print book
Raymie Nightingale
By Dicamillo, Kate
A 2016 National Book Award Finalist!Two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo returns to her roots with a moving, masterful story of an unforgettable summer friendship.Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie's picture in the paper and (maybe) come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also has to contend with the wispy, frequently fainting Louisiana Elefante, who has a show-business background, and the fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who's determined to sabotage the contest. But as the competition approaches, loneliness, loss, and unanswerable questions draw the three girls into an unlikely friendship - and challenge each of them to come to the rescue in unexpected ways.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780763681173
|
Print book
The Secrets of Blueberries, Brothers, Moose & Me
By Nickerson, Sara
A story infused with warmth and emotion about finding something all your own while the world changes around you.2015 BCCB Bulletin Blue Ribbon SelectionDetermined to make some extra money, twelve-year-old Missy and her older brother Patrick get summer jobs picking blueberries at a local farm. For Missy, though, blueberry picking quickly becomes about more than just money - it's the perfect distraction from the fact that her two best friends have gone off to summer camp without her and that her dad is getting remarried. Why can't everything go back to the way it used to be? Back to normal? Missy soon discovers, though, that the summer is full of secrets: the secrets to making her family feel whole again; the secrets to keeping her two best friends from changing and leaving her behind; the secrets of a local farm's blood feud; and most importantly, the secrets of blueberries."Heart-rendingly unflagging in the face of life-changing events, Missy's a funny, compelling heroine that readers will cheer for." - Kirkus Reviews"[A] quiet, deftly written coming-of-age novel." - School Library Journal"The Secrets of Blueberries is a new twist on growing up." - VOYA
Publisher: n/a
|
9780525426547
|
Print book
Lost in the Sun
By Graff, Lisa
From the author of A Tangle of Knots and Absolutely Almost, a touching story about a boy who won't let one tragic accident define him. Everyone says that middle school is awful, but Trent knows nothing could be worse than the year he had in fifth grade, when a freak accident on Cedar Lake left one kid dead, and Trent with a brain full of terrible thoughts he can't get rid of. Trent's pretty positive the entire disaster was his fault, so for him middle school feels like a fresh start, a chance to prove to everyone that he's not the horrible screw-up they seem to think he is. If only Trent could make that fresh start happen. It isn't until Trent gets caught up in the whirlwind that is Fallon Little - the girl with the mysterious scar across her face - that things begin to change. Because fresh starts aren't always easy. Even in baseball, when a fly ball gets lost in the sun, you have to remember to shift your position to find it. Praise for Lost in the Sun: A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year! * "Graff writes with stunning insight [and] consistently demonstrates why character-driven novels can live from generation to generation."--Kirkus Reviews *STARRED** "Graff creates layered, vulnerable characters that are worth getting to know."--BOOKLIST *STARRED** "[A]n ambitious and gracefully executed story."--Publishers Weekly *STARRED* * "Weighty matters deftly handled with humor and grace will give this book wide appeal."--School Library Journal *STARRED* * "Characterization is thoughtful."--BCCB *STARRED* "In Lost in the Sun, Trent decides that he will speak the truth: that pain and anger and loss are not the final words, that goodness can find us after all - even when we hide from it. This is a novel that speaks powerfully, honestly, almost shockingly about our human pain and our human redemption. This book will change you." - Gary Schmidt, two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The Wednesday Wars and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy "Lisa Graff crafts a compelling story about a boy touched with tragedy and the world of people he cares about. And like all the best stories, it ends at a new beginning." - Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago Lisa Graff's Awards and Reviews: Lisa Graff's books have been named to 30 state award lists, and A Tangle of Knots was long-listed for the National Book Award.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780399164064
|
Hardcover
Best Friend Next Door
By Mackler, Carolyn
Printz Honor and New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Mackler brings honesty and charm to this story of a friendship between two girls. Meet Hannah. Her name is a palindrome. Her birthday is on New Year's. She wishes she had a cat. She's medium height and a little awkward. Her life has NOT been fun lately -- her dad and stepmom are having a baby and, worst of all, her best friend next door just moved away. Now a new girl is here, taking over her best friend's bedroom . . . and her own identity. Meet Emme. Her name is a palindrome. Her birthday is on New Year's. She loves her enormous orange cat. She's so short that last week she was mistaken for a kindergartner. She's found moving hard . . . but at least there's the girl next door, Hannah. Maybe they'll become friends? While Hannah and Emme are alike in so many ways, they're also different in some wrong ways, too. Is this the perfect friendship . . . or a recipe for disaster? From award-winning writer Carolyn Mackler comes a funny, smart story about finding out who your best friends are, in good times and bad.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545709446
|
Print book
Drive Me Crazy
By Mcvoy, Terra Elan
A tween rivalry-turned-friendship story bursting with humor and heart - perfect for fans of Lisa Graff and Lynda Mullaly Hunt.Lana and Cassie have met only once before, at the wedding of Lana's Grandpa Howe and Cassie's Grandma Tess two months ago. The two girls couldn't be more different, and they didn't exactly hit it off - but they're about to spend an entire week together for their grandparents' honeymoon, road-tripping from California to Maine in the backseat of a Subaru.It's going to be a disaster.Told in alternating chapters between Cassie and Lana, Drive Me Crazy shows that even though friendship can be a bumpy road, it just might change your life for the better.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780062322432
|
Hardcover
The Truth About Twinkie Pie
By Yeh, Kat
There's something about asking for Impossible Things. For one little second, they feel Possible. Take two sisters making it on their own: brainy twelve-year-old GiGi and junior-high-dropout-turned-hairstylist DiDi. Add a million dollars in prize money from a national cooking contest and a move from the trailer parks of South Carolina to the North Shore of Long Island. Mix in a fancy new school, new friends and enemies, a first crush, and a generous sprinkling of family secrets.That's the recipe for The Truth About Twinkie Pie, a voice-driven middle-grade debut about the true meaning of family and friendship.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780316236621
|
Hardcover
The Tapper Twins Go to War
By Rodkey, Geoff
This bestselling first book in the Tapper Twins seriesis a hilariously authentic showcase of what it's like to be in middle school in our digitally-saturated world, told as a colorful "oral history" with photos, screenshots, text messages, chat logs, and online gaming digital art. Twelve-year-old twins, Claudia and Reese, who couldn't be more different...except in their determination to come out on top in a vicious prank war. But when the competition escalates into an all-out battle that's fought from the cafeteria of their New York City private school all the way to the fictional universe of an online video game, the twins have to decide if their efforts to destroy each other are worth the price. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly declared "This uproarious series opener... is packed with both laugh-out-loud moments and heart."
Publisher: n/a
|
9780316297790
|
Hardcover
The Meaning of Maggie
By Sovern, Megan Jean
* "Smart, sensitive, sad and funny." - Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewAs befits a future President of the United States of America, Maggie Mayfield has decided to write a memoir of the past year of her life. And what a banner year it's been! During this period she's Student of the Month on a regular basis, an official shareholder of Coca-Cola stock, and defending Science Fair champion. Most importantly, though, this is the year Maggie has to pull up her bootstraps (the family motto) and finally learn why her cool-dude dad is in a wheelchair, no matter how scary that is. Author Megan Jean Sovern, herself the daughter of a dad with multiple sclerosis, writes with the funny grace and assured prose of a new literary star.A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781452110219
|
Print book
The Summer I Saved the World . . . in 65 Days
By Hurwitz, Michele Weber
It's summertime, and thirteen-year-old Nina Ross is feeling kind of lost. Her beloved grandma died last year; her parents work all the time; her brother's busy; and her best friend is into clothes, makeup, and boys. While Nina doesn't know what "her thing" is yet, it's definitely not shopping and makeup. And it's not boys, either. Though . . . has Eli, the boy next door, always been so cute? This summer, Nina decides to change things. She hatches a plan. There are sixty-five days of summer. Every day, she'll anonymously do one small but remarkable good thing for someone in her neighborhood, and find out: does doing good actually make a difference? Along the way, she discovers that her neighborhood, and her family, are full of surprises and secrets. In this bighearted, sweetly romantic novel, things may not turn out exactly as Nina expects. They might be better.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780385371063
|
Print book
Kate Walden Directs
By Mata, Julie
Night of the Zombie Chickens is supposed to be Kate Walden's breakout film. But her supporting actresses-her mother's prize organic hens-are high maintenance, to say the least. Thank goodness Kate's best friend Alyssa is the star. She's great at screaming and even better at killing zombies in creative ways.But when Alyssa turns into a real-life soulless zombie and ditches Kate for the most popular girl in seventh grade, Kate suddenly finds herself both friendless and starless. Now, thanks to Alyssa's new crowd, Kate is the butt of every joke at school and consigned to the loser table at lunch.If movies have taught Kate anything, it's that the good guy can always win-with the right script. And her fellow social outcasts may be the key to her own happy ending. Kate hatches the perfect revenge plot against her former best friend, but even though her screenplay is foolproof, Kate soon realizes that nothing-in filmmaking or in life-ever goes exactly as planned. Especially when there are diabolical hens out to get you.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781423194590
|
Print book
Cool Down
By Waters, Cassie
As summer ends, a new poolside friendship is formed - one that could lead to trouble - in this addition to a tween series that puts drama in the deep end.Labor Day is just around the corner. Swim team is over, and many of the Riverside Swim Club regulars have gone away for the last days of summer. And some kids are returning from their summer vacations - kids like Nikki Angelo. Nikki is just the kind of funny and carefree friend Christina is looking for now that Grace has shown her true colors, and it isn't long before Christina and Nikki become super close. But when Nikki starts bending the rules, Christina starts getting into major trouble. Will Christina realize who her real friends are before it's too late?
Publisher: n/a
|
9781442453777
|
Hardcover
The Detention Club
By Yoo, David
DetentionThe best worst thing to happen to Peter Lee?Peter and his best friend, Drew, used to be so cool (or, at least, not total outcasts) in elementary school. But now they're in middle school, where their extensive mica collection and prowess at kickball have earned them a new label: losers. Then Peter attracts the unwanted attention of the school bullies, and his plan to become popular through his older sister, the practically perfect Sunny, backfires. Things go from bad to worse when Peter gets detention. But what at first seems to spell his utter doom turns into an unlikely opportunity for making friends and influencing people. . . .
Publisher: n/a
|
9780061783784
|
Print book
I Even Funnier
By Patterson, James
In this follow up to the #1 New York Times bestseller I Funny, middle schooler Jamie Grimm has big dreams of being the best stand-up comic in the world--and he won't let the fact that he's wheelchair-bound stand in his way. After winning the New York state finals in the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic Contest, Jamie's off to Boston to compete in the national semi-finals. But when one of his best buddies runs into trouble at school and a sudden family health scare rears its head, Jamie has to put his comedic ambitions on hold and stand by the people he cares about. Can Jamie pass up the big competition for the sake of his friends and family? (Includes more than 175 black-and-white illustrations.)
Publisher: n/a
|
9780316206976
|
Hardcover
Mackenzie Blue
By Wells, Tina
Meet Mackenzie Blue, aka Zee She has it all - smarts, talent, humor, and style. . . . Is it enough to survive middle school? Countdown to a 7th Grade Meltdown 1. Your BFF moves away. 2. Someone steals your diary and reveals your deepest secrets - to the entire class. 3. You have one chance to become a rock star and one chance to totally blow it. Guess what!? All three happened to me! School's a disaster already. Don't get me wrong - I love Brookdale Academy and I have a fabulous crew of friends. (At least, I think I do.) But, if I'm going to survive, I need all the help I can get!
Publisher: n/a
|
9780061583087
|
Book
Middle-School Cool
By Williams, Maiya
"Graduates of Wayside School will fit right in at the decidedly unconventional Kaboom Academy. . . . Middle schoolers will clamor for a transfer." - Kirkus Kaboom Academy, a new and alternative school for middle-grade kids, is chock-full of innovative methods of instruction and discipline that are soon to be tested on the middle-school students of Horsemouth, New Hampshire. Now, meet the class of Journalism 1A. These group of nine misfits are the staff of The Daily Dynamite, Kaboom Academy's quarterly newspaper. As their school year kicks off with a boom, literally, the students of Journalism 1A are about to discover what really goes on at Kaboom Academy and who's really in charge of this groundbreaking school for boys and girls who've fallen out of love with learning.Praise for Middle School Cool: "This amusing and lighthearted story pokes fun at traditional education, while celebrating nonconformity, individuality, and even oddity." - School Library JournalFrom the Hardcover edition.
Lucky Strikes
By Bayard, Louis
With her mama recently dead and her pa sight unseen since birth, Amelia is suddenly in charge of her younger brother and sister -- and of the family gas station. Harley Blevins, local king and emperor of Standard Oil, is in hot pursuit to clinch his fuel monopoly. To keep him at bay and keep her family out of foster care, Melia must come up with a father -- and fast. And so when a hobo rolls out of a passing truck, Melia grabs opportunity by its beard. Can she hold off the hounds till she comes of age?
Free Verse
By Dooley, Sarah
A moving, bittersweet tale reminiscent of Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons set in a West Virginia coal-mining townWhen her brother dies in a fire, Sasha Harless has no one left, and nowhere to turn. After her father died in the mines and her mother ran off, he was her last caretaker. They'd always dreamed of leaving Caboose, West Virginia together someday, but instead she's in foster care, feeling more stuck and broken than ever.But then Sasha discovers family she didn't know she had, and she finally has something to hold onto, especially sweet little Mikey, who's just as broken as she is. Sasha even makes her first friend at school, and is slowly learning to cope with her brother's death through writing poetry, finding a new way to express herself when spoken words just won't do. But when tragedy strikes the mine her cousin works in, Sasha fears the worst and takes Mikey and runs, with no plans to return. In this sensitive and poignant portrayal, Sarah Dooley shows us that life, like poetry, doesn't always take the form you intend.
Mayday
By Harrington, Karen
Josh Baxter Levels Up
By Brown, Gavin
Josh Baxter is sick and tired of hitting the reset button. It's not easy being the new kid for the third time in two years. One mistake and now the middle school football star is out to get him. And Josh's sister keeps offering him lame advice about how to make friends, as if he needs her help finding allies! Josh knows that his best bet is to keep his head down and stay under the radar. If no one notices him, nothing can touch him, right? But when Josh's mom sees his terrible grades and takes away his video games, it's clear his strategy has failed. Josh needs a new plan, or he'll never make it to the next level, let alone the next grade. He's been playing not to lose. It's time to play to win.
Sara Lost and Found
By Castleman, Virginia
Sisters Anna and Sara must rely on each other for strength as they face being separated by the foster care system in this heartwrenching tale of sisterhood, family, and survival.Sara and Anna Olsen face an uncertain world. Their mother left home and may - or may not - be coming back. Their father is a drummer in a band and comes home long after the girls go to sleep - if he comes home at all. Too often, ten-year-old Sara and twelve-year-old Anna are left to fend for themselves. Then one night, three loud knocks at the door change everything: their father is in jail and social services has come to take the girls away. Rather than risk being split up, Sara and Anna decide their only option is to run away. But the girls don't get very far, and when the authorities catch up with them, Sara and Anna are forced back into the foster care system. Along the way, the girls encounter good people who want to help them but they also meet people who have no patience for mistakes or accidents. As Anna begins to act out or withdraw completely, Sara knows that it's up to her to take care of her older sister. But what if she can't anymore? What if she finds a forever home that may not include Anna? Will Sara keep the promise she made to her mother to stay with her sister or will she find the courage to do what's best for herself? Inspired by true events, this heartrending and hopeful novel of survival, friendship, and sisterhood, tells the tale of two sisters who must find the strength to face anything that life may throw their way.
The last boy at St. Edith's
By Malone, Lee Gjertsen
A fresh and funny debut novel about a seventh grade prankster determined to escape the all-girls academy where he's the only boy - by getting expelled!Seventh grader Jeremy Miner has a girl problem. Or, more accurately, a girls problem. 475 of them to be exact. That's how many girls attend his school, St. Edith's Academy. Jeremy is the only boy left after the school's brief experiment in co-education. And he needs to get out. But his mother - a teacher at the school - won't let him transfer, so Jeremy takes matters into his own hands: he's going to get expelled. Together with his best friend Claudia, Jeremy unleashes a series of hilarious pranks in hopes that he'll get kicked out with minimal damage to his permanent record. But when his stunts start to backfire, Jeremy has to decide how far he's willing to go and whom he's willing to knock down to get out the door.
Friends for life
By Norriss, Andrew
A timeless and uplifting book about friendship, filled with humor and heart.When Jessica sits next to Francis on a bench during recess, he's surprised to learn that she isn't actually alive--she's a ghost. And she's surprised, too, because Francis is the first person who has been able to see her since she died.Before long, Francis and Jessica are best friends, enjoying life more than they ever have. When they meet two more friends who can also see Jessica, the question arises: What is it that they have in common? And does it have something to do with Jessica being a ghost?
Raymie Nightingale
By Dicamillo, Kate
A 2016 National Book Award Finalist!Two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo returns to her roots with a moving, masterful story of an unforgettable summer friendship.Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie's picture in the paper and (maybe) come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also has to contend with the wispy, frequently fainting Louisiana Elefante, who has a show-business background, and the fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who's determined to sabotage the contest. But as the competition approaches, loneliness, loss, and unanswerable questions draw the three girls into an unlikely friendship - and challenge each of them to come to the rescue in unexpected ways.
The Secrets of Blueberries, Brothers, Moose & Me
By Nickerson, Sara
A story infused with warmth and emotion about finding something all your own while the world changes around you.2015 BCCB Bulletin Blue Ribbon SelectionDetermined to make some extra money, twelve-year-old Missy and her older brother Patrick get summer jobs picking blueberries at a local farm. For Missy, though, blueberry picking quickly becomes about more than just money - it's the perfect distraction from the fact that her two best friends have gone off to summer camp without her and that her dad is getting remarried. Why can't everything go back to the way it used to be? Back to normal? Missy soon discovers, though, that the summer is full of secrets: the secrets to making her family feel whole again; the secrets to keeping her two best friends from changing and leaving her behind; the secrets of a local farm's blood feud; and most importantly, the secrets of blueberries."Heart-rendingly unflagging in the face of life-changing events, Missy's a funny, compelling heroine that readers will cheer for." - Kirkus Reviews"[A] quiet, deftly written coming-of-age novel." - School Library Journal"The Secrets of Blueberries is a new twist on growing up." - VOYA
Lost in the Sun
By Graff, Lisa
From the author of A Tangle of Knots and Absolutely Almost, a touching story about a boy who won't let one tragic accident define him. Everyone says that middle school is awful, but Trent knows nothing could be worse than the year he had in fifth grade, when a freak accident on Cedar Lake left one kid dead, and Trent with a brain full of terrible thoughts he can't get rid of. Trent's pretty positive the entire disaster was his fault, so for him middle school feels like a fresh start, a chance to prove to everyone that he's not the horrible screw-up they seem to think he is. If only Trent could make that fresh start happen. It isn't until Trent gets caught up in the whirlwind that is Fallon Little - the girl with the mysterious scar across her face - that things begin to change. Because fresh starts aren't always easy. Even in baseball, when a fly ball gets lost in the sun, you have to remember to shift your position to find it. Praise for Lost in the Sun: A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year! * "Graff writes with stunning insight [and] consistently demonstrates why character-driven novels can live from generation to generation."--Kirkus Reviews *STARRED** "Graff creates layered, vulnerable characters that are worth getting to know."--BOOKLIST *STARRED** "[A]n ambitious and gracefully executed story."--Publishers Weekly *STARRED* * "Weighty matters deftly handled with humor and grace will give this book wide appeal."--School Library Journal *STARRED* * "Characterization is thoughtful."--BCCB *STARRED* "In Lost in the Sun, Trent decides that he will speak the truth: that pain and anger and loss are not the final words, that goodness can find us after all - even when we hide from it. This is a novel that speaks powerfully, honestly, almost shockingly about our human pain and our human redemption. This book will change you." - Gary Schmidt, two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The Wednesday Wars and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy "Lisa Graff crafts a compelling story about a boy touched with tragedy and the world of people he cares about. And like all the best stories, it ends at a new beginning." - Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago Lisa Graff's Awards and Reviews: Lisa Graff's books have been named to 30 state award lists, and A Tangle of Knots was long-listed for the National Book Award.
Best Friend Next Door
By Mackler, Carolyn
Printz Honor and New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Mackler brings honesty and charm to this story of a friendship between two girls. Meet Hannah. Her name is a palindrome. Her birthday is on New Year's. She wishes she had a cat. She's medium height and a little awkward. Her life has NOT been fun lately -- her dad and stepmom are having a baby and, worst of all, her best friend next door just moved away. Now a new girl is here, taking over her best friend's bedroom . . . and her own identity. Meet Emme. Her name is a palindrome. Her birthday is on New Year's. She loves her enormous orange cat. She's so short that last week she was mistaken for a kindergartner. She's found moving hard . . . but at least there's the girl next door, Hannah. Maybe they'll become friends? While Hannah and Emme are alike in so many ways, they're also different in some wrong ways, too. Is this the perfect friendship . . . or a recipe for disaster? From award-winning writer Carolyn Mackler comes a funny, smart story about finding out who your best friends are, in good times and bad.
Drive Me Crazy
By Mcvoy, Terra Elan
A tween rivalry-turned-friendship story bursting with humor and heart - perfect for fans of Lisa Graff and Lynda Mullaly Hunt.Lana and Cassie have met only once before, at the wedding of Lana's Grandpa Howe and Cassie's Grandma Tess two months ago. The two girls couldn't be more different, and they didn't exactly hit it off - but they're about to spend an entire week together for their grandparents' honeymoon, road-tripping from California to Maine in the backseat of a Subaru.It's going to be a disaster.Told in alternating chapters between Cassie and Lana, Drive Me Crazy shows that even though friendship can be a bumpy road, it just might change your life for the better.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie
By Yeh, Kat
There's something about asking for Impossible Things. For one little second, they feel Possible. Take two sisters making it on their own: brainy twelve-year-old GiGi and junior-high-dropout-turned-hairstylist DiDi. Add a million dollars in prize money from a national cooking contest and a move from the trailer parks of South Carolina to the North Shore of Long Island. Mix in a fancy new school, new friends and enemies, a first crush, and a generous sprinkling of family secrets.That's the recipe for The Truth About Twinkie Pie, a voice-driven middle-grade debut about the true meaning of family and friendship.
The Tapper Twins Go to War
By Rodkey, Geoff
This bestselling first book in the Tapper Twins series is a hilariously authentic showcase of what it's like to be in middle school in our digitally-saturated world, told as a colorful "oral history" with photos, screenshots, text messages, chat logs, and online gaming digital art. Twelve-year-old twins, Claudia and Reese, who couldn't be more different...except in their determination to come out on top in a vicious prank war. But when the competition escalates into an all-out battle that's fought from the cafeteria of their New York City private school all the way to the fictional universe of an online video game, the twins have to decide if their efforts to destroy each other are worth the price. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly declared "This uproarious series opener... is packed with both laugh-out-loud moments and heart."
The Meaning of Maggie
By Sovern, Megan Jean
* "Smart, sensitive, sad and funny." - Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewAs befits a future President of the United States of America, Maggie Mayfield has decided to write a memoir of the past year of her life. And what a banner year it's been! During this period she's Student of the Month on a regular basis, an official shareholder of Coca-Cola stock, and defending Science Fair champion. Most importantly, though, this is the year Maggie has to pull up her bootstraps (the family motto) and finally learn why her cool-dude dad is in a wheelchair, no matter how scary that is. Author Megan Jean Sovern, herself the daughter of a dad with multiple sclerosis, writes with the funny grace and assured prose of a new literary star.A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The Summer I Saved the World . . . in 65 Days
By Hurwitz, Michele Weber
It's summertime, and thirteen-year-old Nina Ross is feeling kind of lost. Her beloved grandma died last year; her parents work all the time; her brother's busy; and her best friend is into clothes, makeup, and boys. While Nina doesn't know what "her thing" is yet, it's definitely not shopping and makeup. And it's not boys, either. Though . . . has Eli, the boy next door, always been so cute? This summer, Nina decides to change things. She hatches a plan. There are sixty-five days of summer. Every day, she'll anonymously do one small but remarkable good thing for someone in her neighborhood, and find out: does doing good actually make a difference? Along the way, she discovers that her neighborhood, and her family, are full of surprises and secrets. In this bighearted, sweetly romantic novel, things may not turn out exactly as Nina expects. They might be better.
Kate Walden Directs
By Mata, Julie
Night of the Zombie Chickens is supposed to be Kate Walden's breakout film. But her supporting actresses-her mother's prize organic hens-are high maintenance, to say the least. Thank goodness Kate's best friend Alyssa is the star. She's great at screaming and even better at killing zombies in creative ways.But when Alyssa turns into a real-life soulless zombie and ditches Kate for the most popular girl in seventh grade, Kate suddenly finds herself both friendless and starless. Now, thanks to Alyssa's new crowd, Kate is the butt of every joke at school and consigned to the loser table at lunch.If movies have taught Kate anything, it's that the good guy can always win-with the right script. And her fellow social outcasts may be the key to her own happy ending. Kate hatches the perfect revenge plot against her former best friend, but even though her screenplay is foolproof, Kate soon realizes that nothing-in filmmaking or in life-ever goes exactly as planned. Especially when there are diabolical hens out to get you.
Cool Down
By Waters, Cassie
As summer ends, a new poolside friendship is formed - one that could lead to trouble - in this addition to a tween series that puts drama in the deep end.Labor Day is just around the corner. Swim team is over, and many of the Riverside Swim Club regulars have gone away for the last days of summer. And some kids are returning from their summer vacations - kids like Nikki Angelo. Nikki is just the kind of funny and carefree friend Christina is looking for now that Grace has shown her true colors, and it isn't long before Christina and Nikki become super close. But when Nikki starts bending the rules, Christina starts getting into major trouble. Will Christina realize who her real friends are before it's too late?
The Detention Club
By Yoo, David
DetentionThe best worst thing to happen to Peter Lee?Peter and his best friend, Drew, used to be so cool (or, at least, not total outcasts) in elementary school. But now they're in middle school, where their extensive mica collection and prowess at kickball have earned them a new label: losers. Then Peter attracts the unwanted attention of the school bullies, and his plan to become popular through his older sister, the practically perfect Sunny, backfires. Things go from bad to worse when Peter gets detention. But what at first seems to spell his utter doom turns into an unlikely opportunity for making friends and influencing people. . . .
I Even Funnier
By Patterson, James
In this follow up to the #1 New York Times bestseller I Funny, middle schooler Jamie Grimm has big dreams of being the best stand-up comic in the world--and he won't let the fact that he's wheelchair-bound stand in his way. After winning the New York state finals in the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic Contest, Jamie's off to Boston to compete in the national semi-finals. But when one of his best buddies runs into trouble at school and a sudden family health scare rears its head, Jamie has to put his comedic ambitions on hold and stand by the people he cares about. Can Jamie pass up the big competition for the sake of his friends and family? (Includes more than 175 black-and-white illustrations.)
Mackenzie Blue
By Wells, Tina
Meet Mackenzie Blue, aka Zee She has it all - smarts, talent, humor, and style. . . . Is it enough to survive middle school? Countdown to a 7th Grade Meltdown 1. Your BFF moves away. 2. Someone steals your diary and reveals your deepest secrets - to the entire class. 3. You have one chance to become a rock star and one chance to totally blow it. Guess what!? All three happened to me! School's a disaster already. Don't get me wrong - I love Brookdale Academy and I have a fabulous crew of friends. (At least, I think I do.) But, if I'm going to survive, I need all the help I can get!
Middle-School Cool
By Williams, Maiya
"Graduates of Wayside School will fit right in at the decidedly unconventional Kaboom Academy. . . . Middle schoolers will clamor for a transfer." - Kirkus Kaboom Academy, a new and alternative school for middle-grade kids, is chock-full of innovative methods of instruction and discipline that are soon to be tested on the middle-school students of Horsemouth, New Hampshire. Now, meet the class of Journalism 1A. These group of nine misfits are the staff of The Daily Dynamite, Kaboom Academy's quarterly newspaper. As their school year kicks off with a boom, literally, the students of Journalism 1A are about to discover what really goes on at Kaboom Academy and who's really in charge of this groundbreaking school for boys and girls who've fallen out of love with learning.Praise for Middle School Cool: "This amusing and lighthearted story pokes fun at traditional education, while celebrating nonconformity, individuality, and even oddity." - School Library Journal From the Hardcover edition.