Middle School Friendship

Rachel Brooks is excited for the new school year. She's finally earned a place as a forward on her soccer team. Her best friends make everything fun. And she really likes Tate, and she's pretty sure he likes her back. After one last appointment with her scoliosis doctor, this will be her best year yet. Then the doctor delivers some terrible news: The sideways curve in Rachel's spine has gotten worse, and she needs to wear a back brace 23 hours a day. The brace wraps her in hard plastic from shoulder blades to hips.

In the high-stakes world of a middle school science fair, Marie Lane has one goal: to win first prize. Her ambitious project—a self-sustaining ecosystem that could survive in any environment—pushes her to the edge of possibility. With her supportive mother by her side and her inspiring teacher, Mrs. Thompson, guiding her every step, Marie is determined to take on the ultimate challenge. But the path to success is far from easy. Her first attempt ends in spectacular failure, leaving her questioning everything. Yet, with each setback, she discovers something even more valuable—...

They say that mayhem can't buy love, but it can break it apart. Or at least they should say that, because with Valentine's Day rapidly approaching at Cherry Avenue Middle School, relationship trouble is brewing like a volcano about to erupt. When Austin and Sophie set their sights on winning Cupid's Cutest Couple Contest, a series of challenges and a secret admirer will put their relationship to the test. And they're not the only ones with their eyes on the love prize.

Lily is the smallest puppy in her litter and the only girl. Her brothers are bigger and stronger and like to push her around. When Lily meets a girl named Maggie Rose at the animal shelter, Lily discovers things are not so bad. Lily's size means that she can help other animals who are in trouble. It's Lily to the rescue!

From a new coach's flagrant racism to a teammate's endless sabotage, best friends Andi Carillo and Jeff Michaels start basketball season mired in controversy. To make matters worse, the local media smells more than one juicy story. Will Andi and Jeff be able to help each other power through and find a way to put both their teams back on track?

One snowstorm. One Golden Retriever. One unforgettable week of tech glitches, talent shows, and digital mayhem. Seventh-grader Marie Lane thought a week of virtual school would be easy—until the internet crashed, the chat exploded, and her Golden Retriever, Max, became the most chaotic Zoom Bomber the class had ever seen. Thrown into a whirlwind of frozen screens, mystery guests, and surprise breakout room disasters, Marie and her classmates scramble to make their snowbound week count. With a mismatched team of brainiacs, artists, and accidental comedians (plus one extremely determined ...

GAVIN's days of football glory have arrived, but an accident on the home front upends his family. Ever enterprising, NATALIE anchors a morning news broadcast at school - where she's unafraid to tackle big issues. Being on the outs with his best friend sucks, but the more TREVOR tries to patch things up, the worse things get. Sidelined with a gymnastics injury, RANDI develops a bad attitude and worries that her mom's new boyfriend means changes she won't like. SCOTT discovers hidden talents...and becomes a secret weapon on and off the football field.

Norma Elliot is back with more wit, heart, and lessons to learn in her secret journal. This spring, she tackles her first job, grows a garden, and even deals with an annoying drunk slug—all while navigating life’s challenges with humor and faith. Filled with warmth and relatable adventures, Spring Fever is the perfect sequel to 'Tis the Season. Join Norma as she discovers that life, like spring, is full of surprises. With humor and heart, Victoria Simcox brings Norma’s springtime adventures to life, reminding readers that God’s love isn’t just for the flawless. It’s in the ...

Peace always comes at a cost. The Execution Fleet of the R’armimon has arrived and the annihilation of the Tansian system seems inevitable. Hope rests on Maia finding the artifacts which, if the seer of the R’armimon is to be believed, will give her a chance to save her planet. But her quest seems near impossible. With only her friends to rely on, Maia fights hard, hoping to deliver a miracle to Tansi. Against all odds and in the unlikeliest of places, she finds faith, happiness, and love. But will it lift her up and make her dreams of peace come true? Or will it only leave her broken ...

Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez and his "bro-bot", E, are making new friends every day as E works as his bedridden sister Maddie's school proxy. But disaster strikes when E malfunctions just in time to be upstaged by the super-cool new robot on the block - and loses his ability to help Maddie. Now it's up to Sammy to figure out what's wrong with E and save his family!

A collection of 20 short "flash fiction" romance stories by Ruby South. Do you remember your first kiss? The rush of emotions, the anticipation, the fear of getting it wrong? It's a moment you never forget. In this collection, we explore the unforgettable experiences of teens and young adults as they navigate the ups and downs of falling in love. From awkward encounters to unforgettable romance, these stories will make you laugh, cry, and remember the heart-pounding thrill of a first kiss. Love and Allergies Aiden and Hannah attend their school dance as friends, but Aiden longs for ...

Scanner in My Neighborhood: My Years in Middle School This is Book No. 3, entitled Scanner in My Neighborhood, in the six-part series My Years in Middle School. Follow the adventures of Nancy Jane and her two best friends, Helen Schunter and Karen Stamm, as they experience school, boys, bullying, getting even, dealing with Nancy Jane's nemesis, Lois Talker, and more. Other titles in this series include: Book #1: The Summer Before Book #2: Is This Love? Book #4: Summertime Memories Book #5: Girl's Revenge Book #6: Lookout High School, Here We Come! Following is an excerpt from Book #3, ...

When Zack’s younger sister dies in a tragic accident, his family moves to a small town in the Northwest to try and heal from all the pain. Eleven-year-old Zack blames himself for his sister’s death, and he struggles to find any comfort in his new surroundings. Zack, at first, feels lost in Vista Point. Until he meets Ann, a girl who lives in the area and shows Zack all the special places to be discovered. But there’s something that seems a bit strange about Ann - and perhaps a secret she is keeping from him.

When a new student comes to Broomsfield Academy, Mrs. Kettledrum informs the students she is an extra-talented witch-in-training. At first Heidi is intrigued and wants to be friends, but when Jodi tells Heidi she intends to be the best witch ever, a competition brews between them and bubbles over while on a field trip to a museum—which becomes more dangerous than either could have imagined!

Lookout High School Here We Come!: My Years In Middle School This is Book No. 6, entitled Lookout High School Here We Come!, in the six-part series My Years in Middle School. Follow the adventures of Nancy Jane and her two best friends, Helen Schunter and Karen Stamm, as they experience school, boys, bullying, getting even, dealing with Nancy Jane's nemesis, Lois Talker, and more. Other titles in this series include: Book #1: The Summer Before Book #2: Is This Love? Book #3: Scanner In My Neighborhood Book #4: Summertime Memories Book #5: Girl's RevengeFollowing is an excerpt from Book #6: ...

A timely, accessible, and beautifully written story exploring themes of food, friendship, family and what it means to belong, featuring sixth graders Sara, a Pakistani American, and Elizabeth, a White, Jewish girl taking a South Asian cooking class taught by Sara’s mom.

Raam Patel is eager to prove himself ever since he didn't make the middle school's basketball team. So, when Hoop Con comes to town he is determined to be there and take his shot. His big moment proves to be unforgettable . . . but not in the way he'd hoped. Raam gets schooled by the camp's golden boy right in front of his NBA idol. To make matters even worse, this fail goes viral.

Rylee Swanson is beginning eighth grade with zero friends. A humiliating moment at the end-of-seventh-grade pool party involving a cannonball, a waterlogged updo, and some disappearing clothes has Rylee halfway convinced she’s better off without any friends—at least friends like those. The one question Rylee can’t shake is . . . why? When a group assignment in journalism pairs Rylee with science geek DeNia Alonso, DeNia’s annoyingly know-it-all, nerdy personality is both frustration and fuel to Rylee’s search for answers.

Charlotte Andrews is perfectly fine being quiet - in fact, she prefers it. When she doesn't speak, people can't make fun of her stutter. But when she witnesses bullying on the school bus and doesn't say anything, her silence comes between her and her best friend. As if that wasn't bad enough, her parents signed her up for musical theater. Charlotte doesn't want to speak onstage, but at least she doesn't stutter when she sings. Then, just as she starts to find her voice, the arts program is cut. Charlotte can't stay silent anymore.

Marie Lane has always been the girl with a wild imagination, but when the annual school talent show is announced, her daydreams take a turn for the nerve-wracking. With everyone buzzing about their acts, Marie can’t shake the feeling of stage fright creeping up on her. She loves making people laugh and has the perfect idea for a quirky act with her mischievous dog, Max—but the thought of standing in front of a sea of expectant faces makes her stomach twist into knots. As her friends eagerly prepare for their performances, Marie finds herself torn between her fear of failing and her ...