Sixth grade can be a tension convention for Nate Wright.  His baseball team's just been given the lamest name in Little League history; he's on the verge of becoming know-it-all Gina's personal servant for a day; and Spitsy, the closest thing he has to a dog of his own, is in love with a CAT.  Yup, Nate's up to his ears in stress.  Luckily, the perfect remedy is close at hand:  an empty plastic soda bottle.  All Nate has to do is drum it gently...

"Olive wants to get in on the act . . . . . . Any act! Olive 'clicks' with everyone in the fifth grade—until one day she doesn’t. When a school variety show leaves Olive stranded without an act to join, she begins to panic, wondering why all her friends have already formed their own groups . . . without her. With the performance drawing closer by the minute, will Olive be able to find her own place in the show before the curtain comes up?" --publisher's...

"It’s no secret that Olive loves trying new things. Between taking guitar lessons, making a short film, joining Berry Scouts, and leading the charge on her school’s dress code reform, Olive has her hands full! But she enjoys being busy, so staying on track with her jam-packed schedule should be no problem…right? As weeks fly by, it gets harder and harder for Olive to find time for her activities, never mind time for herself. Will she be able...

"Can five overlooked kids make one big difference? There's George: the brain Sara: the loner Dayara: the tough kid Nico: the rich kid And Miguel: the athlete And they're stuck together when they're forced to complete their school's community service hours. Although they're sure they have nothing in common with one another, some people see them as all the same . . . just five Spanish-speaking kids. Then they meet someone who truly needs...

"Rosie Vo is at odds with her dad. He pushes his racquetball hobby on to her to the point that she dreads ever spending time with him. Thankfully, new kid Blair moves to town and becomes fast friends with Rosie. She's cool, a great listener, and even better, the best distraction from the tension Rosie feels at home. Rosie’s convinced Blair is the answer to all her dad-problems. If only Blair could be the racquetball genius Rosie's dad has always...

"Kevin Lee is having a really bad week. Although he lives in a crowded Toronto apartment above the family’s alterations and dry-cleaning store, he mostly goes unnoticed. School isn’t exactly an oasis either—being one of the few Asian kids makes for some unwelcome attention. But when Kevin’s class plans a trip to Thrill Planet, a spectacular theme park, will he finally have a chance to turn his life around, or will it just be another day for...

"Millie is one unusual fox, and she knows it. She comes up with highly unusual thoughts, invents ingenious excuses to get out of her homework, and her classmates are not always sure quite what to make of her. But thankfully she has Ozy, one of the most loyal friends anyone could ask for. Together the two of them, their friends, and Ozy's dad, Llewellyn (who happens to be a red dragon) enjoy various misadventures, whimsical conversations, elaborate...

"Bree can’t wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees—until she’s stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she’s forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help. With...

"At P.S. 38, sixth-grader Nate Wright is known for many things: his knack for mischief; his overstuffed locker that's half garbage dump, half treasure trove; and, of course, his unbreakable school record for detentions. Nate may be a chess phenom, but in the classroom, he's not so masterful--especially compared to Gina, the grade-grubbing brainiac who gives teacher's pets everywhere a bad name. In Big Nate Makes the Grade, follow the hilarious adventures...

"Middle schooler Yuna, born in America to Korean parents, struggles with feeling too Korean to fit in with her American peers at school. Frustrated with her fractured life and desperate to fit in, Yuna makes a wish on paper stars to return to Korea so she might feel normal somewhere. When the unexpected death of her halmoni (grandmother) makes Yuna's wish come true, Yuna is wracked with guilt and feels more fragile than ever as she realizes she also...