When Jerome was alive, he kept his head low. He had troubles, but he didn’t get into trouble. There was a big difference. He would walk his little sister to school – not too fast, like they were running, but not too slow, like they were daring someone to stop them. He avoided bullies at school by eating lunch in Read More …
There are three kids in the Greystone family: a second grader named Finn, a fourth grader named Emma, and a sixth grader named Chess (short for Rochester). Normally when the kids arrive home from school, their mom is eager to see them. She takes a break from her work and asks them about their day. She might bake chocolate chip Read More …
Arthur Bash makes himself look tough and dangerous because he knows if you show fear, you’re dead meat. He’s so good at being menacing, kids at school pay him—in candy bars—to scare off anyone they don’t want around, like Darius Drake: tall, skinny orphan kid who always has the answers in class. One day—not long after Arthur has booted him Read More …
Melissa isn’t in the honors classes. She hasn’t joined any after school clubs. She doesn’t plan on a sports teams. So everyone is surprised when she gets selected as one of only three middle school students in the entire city of Chicago to compete for a prestigious $10,000 scholarship. Melissa knows she probably has no chance of winning (the school Read More …
Nosewise is a good dog. He was rescued from the streets by the famous wizard Merlin. His master has taught him how to Sit! and Lie Down! and even Shake! But Nosewise wants to learn the tricks his pack mate Morgana knows. She’s Merlin’s young apprentice, and she can do things like shoot beams of light out of a stone. Read More …
Nicki Demere is 13 years old. She’s street savvy, book smart, and still keeps her giant stuffed animal, Ms. Fancypaws McKittenfluff on her bed. She’s also a seasoned pick-pocket, and she’s lived with five foster families in the past five years. Now she’s back at the Center again, waiting for her next placement. When the coordinator tells Nicki there are Read More …
Undertaking a big project can lead to a dazzling success…or an epic fail. There are plenty of books about great achievements. This one is about messy mistakes. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, up near Seattle, was considered to be a marvel of modern engineering when it was built in 1940. It was the third longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. Just Read More …
Sugar and her mom, Reba, live in a house with a white fence, green front door, and lilacs in the back yard. Sugar has two best friends and the world’s greatest 6th grade teacher, Mr. B. And now she has the cutest puppy, too, a little rescue dog named Shush. But she also has some serious problems at home. Her Read More …
Bethany’s parents have been acting really anxious lately, but they won’t tell her what’s wrong. Then one day they hustle her into the car. Her dad drives, and her mom cries. For 15 hours straight. When they finally stop, it’s late at night, and they’re in some random town four states from home. They pull up to a house, and her Read More …
Mason is the biggest kid in 7th grade. He’s always sweaty. And when he tries to read, the words just seem to slip off the page. His family has had some rough times lately. His mom died six years ago, hit by a car. Since then, instead of working, Uncle Drum has been selling off portions of the family’s apple Read More …