Middle School English

Gewgaws are worthless trinkets . . . or are they? Perry Dobbs is a 13-year-old boy who only wants to play video games, never go outside, and avoid ‘The Dragon’ downstairs. Arvin Pewter’s smart, witty, and loves science and girls in equal proportions. He left for two years to live with his grandmother in Ireland, and he hasn’t seen Perry since. When a mysterious object pulls Perry and Arvin into a magical portal, they’re unwittingly thrust into a whirlwind adventure across time and space. The journey home will show the best and worst of each other and test the limits of their ...

In Because My Destiny Awaits, readers will step into the compelling world of Jojo, a young girl admired for her radiant kindness. Next door resides Ruby, an insightful elder who navigates life from a wheelchair. As their story weaves together, Ruby unveils to Jojo that kindness is more than simply a virtue--it's a transformative force linked to the energy that pervades us in nature, air, and within animals. With its heartfelt characters, the book serves as a reminder that even the smallest gestures of kindness can shape our destiny, guiding us toward a future enriched by mutual respect and ...

It's Halloween: Candy-snatching time. For the past few years, twelve-year-old Jonas and his friends have competed to see how much candy they can snatch from unsuspecting trick-or-treaters. No one’s supposed to get hurt. So Jonas is taken by surprise when one of his smaller targets fights back against his candy-snatching attempt. He’s even more surprised when he starts to receive anonymous notes from someone who seems to know what happened that night.

From fourteen-year-old author Brayden Harrington, the young boy who electrified the nation when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2020, comes a fictional middle grade contemporary story about a boy named Jayson who stutters and the challenges he faces and the obstacles he must overcome as he campaigns for student-body president.

Fourteen-year-old Amaris McGuire feels and senses things that nobody else can. She’s an outcast at school where the students call her a freak. She wishes she could spend every day alone, locked inside her room. She dreads going to sleep because it only leads to a new day of the same old things. Unable to take it anymore, she is ready to give up, but her parents refuse to let her. That’s when they come across Prater Hall. Established in 1892, Prater Hall is a school for gifted students, where they can learn about, harness, and grow their unique abilities. Reluctant but hopeful, and ...

The story of a girl determined to do anything to discover the truth about herself and the planet she lives on. PRAISE FOR THIS STORY ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A perfect example of the need for a bonus sixth rating-Star. It is exceedingly rare to find a story that I enjoy quite this much. Elias’ language, writer’s voice, is addictive, and the characters who take part in this novella are unforgettable. I promise that if you take a chance on this story, you will not only love it thoroughly, you will also–like me–have discovered a new favorite writer.” — Goodreads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The ...

Pearl and her brother, Frances, go on summer vacation each year with their adventurous grandparents. This year, they’re going to Alaska. The only glitch, if that is what it can be called, is that CJ is going too. He is the foster kid their grandparents are taking care of until his father gets well. After hiking along the historic Chilkoot Trail, Pearl, Frances, and CJ have no choice but to rely on each other when they are taken astray by a gruegle, a keeper of the forest. They work to help all the gruegles save the trees from sickness and escape from the tyrannical Grand Gruegle. In the ...

Delight in intriguing, thought-provoking conversations about ethics, philosophy, and social issues! After Dinner Conversation is a monthly literary magazine publishing short fiction. Each issue features both established writers and up-and-coming authors who contribute fascinating philosophical insights on controversial topics like marriage equality, assisted suicide, the meaning of death, animal rights and defining your "purpose." It's time to go deep in search of truth! If you love reading imaginative short stories on hot topics that make your brain think deeply but also have you laughing ...

The Reddy Boys, Fred and Ned, were looking forward to the traveling fair coming to their town. After dealing with vampires and ghosts, they just wanted to have some fun. No such luck. Mysterious murders start to happen in their town. The victim’s bodies are shriveled up and partially frozen. The Chiller Killer was on the loose! With their friend, Nora Dale, they can’t resist trying to solve the bizarre deaths. The more they look into it, the stranger the case becomes, and the more danger they find themselves in.

Sienna Woods is a magical creature expert. There's only one problem: she's never actually met one. When Fergus, an ancient dragon, shows up in her backyard, her excitement is only equalled by the trouble his presence causes.

After scoring big on national TV in the semifinals contest, everyone back home is jumping on the Jamie Grimm bandwagon, and all the attention might be going to his head. Not only are his friendships starting to suffer, but the pressure of coming up with his best material ever for the ultimate standup act to snag the final win in Hollywood is pushing Jamie to the brink.

In many ways, Frank Fratello is a typical teen. He plays baseball, hangs out with his friends at the mall and gets in trouble at home. But there’s something very different about this sixth-grader—he can read minds. And reading minds can cause problems. Like when Frank says what someone is thinking before they say it. Or answers a question before they ask it. Despite being telepathic, Frank must deal with everyday middle school life, which includes battling a bully who hates him. Nasty Nate and his flunkies live to get others in trouble—especially Frank. But Frank and his friends ...

Sometimes following your dreams isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…. When I decided I’d stop at nothing to become a Vampire Hunter, even though my older sister and her teammates knew I wasn’t ready, I got myself into trouble—a whole lot of trouble. Now, I’ll never be exactly what I wanted to be—and I’ll never be the same as I was before either. There’s a dangerous Vampire on the loose, and I know I’m the only one who can stop him from continuing to prey on the innocent. But since I’ve already broken my sister’s trust, how can I prove to her that I’m more than just ...

Walking around in other people's heads can get messy... especially if those people are vampires. Learning that I have the powers to read vampires' minds might make me an invaluable part of the LIGHTS team, but it's a lot to swallow, especially now that I've moved to Kansas City full-time. I miss my friends, my parents, my old life, but I'm also excited about what's to come. Sometimes, it's hard for me to tell which of my sides is the true me--the hunter or the vampire--and it just takes one tricky hunt to get me all off kilter. Can I get myself back together again before my sister Cadence ...

Why fear the Vampire Queen when I'm my own worst enemy? Most people avoid trouble at all costs, but I seem to be seeking it out. While the rest of the team is content to let Holland keep building her army while we essentially do nothing, I'm determined to track her down. But I can't do that unless I can find a way to enhance my powers. When that opportunity presents itself, I know I shouldn't take the risk--it's going against orders and will break my poor mother's heart. Do you think that'll stop me? My name is Cassidy Findley, and this is my life as a teenage Vampire Hunter. The Chronicles...

In the uncharted depths of space, challenges await that will push them beyond their limits… After testing their new ship the Hermes, gifted to them by an advanced species from the distant planet Pandooma, charismatic teenage adventurer Samantha and her multi-talented young crew head back out into space, hungry for new discoveries. However, attacked by pirates determined to resume their reign of terror, the crew has to flee the planet they were exploring—leaving two of their number behind. When two more crew members disappear, the priority of those left on the Hermes has to be to save ...

"When courage takes shape, even the smallest hero can make a giant impact." Step into the world of Herman Gonzalez, a middle schooler navigating friendships, family drama, and unexpected superpowers in Hermandible by Evan Jacobs. Herman's life takes a wild turn when he's stung by a bee, awakening mysterious mandible-like powers. As he grapples with his newfound abilities, Herman finds himself facing school bullies, participating in hot dog-eating contests, and learning what it truly means to be a hero—just like the Knights of the Round Table he admires. Packed with heart, humor, and ...

Poindexter Chu is an ordinary middle schooler with a love for skateboarding, a knack for speed, and a life that’s about to take a sharp turn into the extraordinary. During a family hike, he gets bitten by a mysterious bat, and everything changes. Suddenly, Poindexter can skate faster, smell sharper, and even… fly! But his newfound powers come with a catch—he might just be turning into a vampire! As Poindexter struggles to balance his regular life, his growing fame at the skatepark, and the strange transformations happening to him, he must navigate friendship, rivalry, and his own ...

Here are 35 stories of life’s ups and downs, and family, mentors and doing what’s right for younger teens. Topics include "Tough Times", "That's My Family", "The People Who Are There for Us" and "Doing What's Right".

This action-packed sequel finds middle school band geeks Dev, Isaiah, Tessa, Maeve, and Lewis trapped in a parallel version of Earth as they fight to save their families—and the entire rest of the multiverse—from the villainous Empyrean One. Far from home and running out of options, it will take everything they have to get back to Earth and preserve humanity once and for all. The startling revelation that they are their own worst enemies forces a painful decision: Will they forsake the lives they once knew for an uncertain future?