An ALA Notable Book and an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice: Losing your sister can mean losing your best friend too Thirteen-year-old Kate is thrilled for her sister, Joss, when Joss finds out she gets to keep a horse for a week as a birthday present. Then in one tragic moment, all of the happiness is gone, and numbness and grief overwhelm the family. Kate cannot imagine how she’ll survive but knows somehow she must come to terms with her loss. In this heart-wrenching story, Kate strives to find a place where joyful memories and painful loss can coexist.
One boy figures out how to survive New York City, his parents’ divorce, and a new sister named Sproggy Adam is a real New Yorker. He may only be a preteen, but he’s Manhattan through and through, from his boys-only club to his friendship with Charlie, the building’s doorman. And like all real New Yorkers, Adam takes bad news in stride. The night his parents walk into his bedroom to tell him they’re getting a divorce and his father is moving to England for two years is no exception. Adam knows he’ll be OK. After all, he’s got his mother, good friends, and nice teachers. But when his dad returns from Great Britain with a strange wife and a new sister for Adam, he isn’t exactly tap dancing for joy. Especially since his new sister’s name is Sproggy. Even worse, Dad expects Adam to show Sproggy around school. It seems like things couldn’t get any worse. But somehow they do. His friends? They actually like her! His teachers? They think she’s adorable! She’s taking over his comfortable Manhattan life, and everyone expects him to be happy about it. With absolutely no way out of this, it’s up to Adam to make things better. After all, everyone has to grow up eventually.
Grace has two big problems—how will she cope? Grace Schmitt is a bit of a dreamer. In her mind, she’s the most popular girl in school, with flowing golden hair and too many friends to count. And let’s not forget all the boys who admire her perfectly proportioned figure. Everything is, in a word, perfect. Unfortunately, Grace’s life is a bit more complicated than that in reality. Going into tenth grade, her body changes rapidly, leaving her feeling ungainly, awkward, and conspicuous, mostly because of her large bust. It’s become such a problem that she’s begun saving money for breast-reduction surgery. Things come to a head when a circle of cruel classmates, led by Ashley, the actual most popular girl in school, decide to see if Grace’s breasts are real. On the worst day of her life, it takes a miracle (in the form of Ms. Govoni, the gym teacher) to save Grace from life-altering humiliation. Little does she know, the experience will trigger an astounding series of events that test her character, bolster her self-esteem, and turn her life around.
Mark only has one emotion: anger Fourteen-year-old Mark feels betrayed by his father, who has recently remarried. He spends his time feeling resentful and angry, especially after a humiliating experience with a girl. Mark’s mood only worsens until even his best friends have had enough. When he recklessly decides to take his stepmother’s car for a spin, he meets with near-tragic consequences. Can he learn to let go of his anger before things get out of control?
A seventh-grade girl, her slightly fat girl friend, Al, and the assistant superintendent of their apartment building form a mutually needed friendship with the usual--and a few unusual--joys and sorrows.
Two sisters take care of themselves when their mother decides to become an actress When their stage-struck mother joins a summer theater group and leaves home for a few weeks, Jenny and Mary convince their dad that they can take care of themselves. Surprisingly, things are actually working out all right, even if the girls tend to bicker. When a production company comes to town, Mary and everyone else is dying to get a role in the movie. But it’s Jenny who lands the big part. Mary and her friends are furious—especially at Jenny’s nonchalance over getting it. Will Jenny’s new job end up ruining the girls’ summer of freedom?
The tale of a boy, his ears, and one little change that makes a world of difference Louis is a talented kid with many great qualities. He plays a mean hand of poker and can crack his knuckles louder than any other kid in his class. He’s even trusted to walk his kid brother home from school. But looking at Louis, most people don’t notice these excellent qualities. They don’t see his kind eyes or his strong legs. Instead, all they see is two big ears. Louis has been called every insulting name in the book: Dumbo, Elephant Ears, even just plain Ears. He is the target of the school’s worst bullies, especially skinny Ernie. It seems as if every day, Louis flees from one antagonist to another. Then one day, Louis’s poker partner and good friend, Mrs. Beeble, gives him a good-luck charm—and Louis starts to believe it might actually be working. All of a sudden, he doesn’t mind the bullies so much. Could Louis’s transformation be real? Are his ears somehow shrinking? Or is his newfound swagger helping him grow? Constance C. Greene’s heartwarming tale tells the story of one boy’s quest for self-discovery, courage, and happiness—and the ears that make his journey possible.
Fex can’t resist a double dare—even if it means double trouble Eleven-year-old Fex O’Toole can’t say no to a double dare—even when it means trouble with his friends and the principal. But when the same kids who like to test Fex dare a four-year-old to jump into a river, Fex realizes the cost of not being able to say no.
In this funny and uplifting novel, Constance C. Greene brings home the full meaning of family. With compassion and humor, she introduces John, who battles teenage angst with Woody Allen jokes and addresses teenage lust with his sister’s best friend; John’s sister, Leslie, the dynamo whose departure for college has left a hole in the family; and Ceil, their mother, who faces a worse than empty nest when their father learns he has only months to live.
A tale of two brothers, one lucky hat, and a whole lot of style Ben and Charlie are utterly preoccupied with fashion: Older brother Ben thinks he represents the cutting edge of what’s hip, and younger brother Charlie tags along. Chief among Ben’s treasure chest of dapper duds is his good-luck Bogie hat, a fedora that makes him look like Humphrey Bogart. But when Ben starts dating a girl named Penny, his notion of what’s cool and what isn’t gets thrown out of whack. Charlie stands by, indignant and amazed, as Penny wraps his older brother around her little finger. When Ben’s grades start to slip, his parents shake their heads in amazement: Their eldest child has been bewitched! But when Ben spends his own money on a boring white shirt to please his girlfriend, Charlie finally decides to snap his beloved brother out of it. Hijinks ensue as Charlie schemes to save Ben, his sense of style, and even the Bogie hat from certain doom. It’s up to Charlie to remind his sibling that being yourself is infinitely more valuable than trying to impress someone new.
Fex can’t resist a double dare—even if it means double trouble Eleven-year-old Fex O’Toole can’t say no to a double dare—even when it means trouble with his friends and the principal. But when the same kids who like to test Fex dare a four-year-old to jump into a river, Fex realizes the cost of not being able to say no.
One boy figures out how to survive New York City, his parents’ divorce, and a new sister named Sproggy Adam is a real New Yorker. He may only be a preteen, but he’s Manhattan through and through, from his boys-only club to his friendship with Charlie, the building’s doorman. And like all real New Yorkers, Adam takes bad news in stride. The night his parents walk into his bedroom to tell him they’re getting a divorce and his father is moving to England for two years is no exception. Adam knows he’ll be OK. After all, he’s got his mother, good friends, and nice teachers. But when his dad returns from Great Britain with a strange wife and a new sister for Adam, he isn’t exactly tap dancing for joy. Especially since his new sister’s name is Sproggy. Even worse, Dad expects Adam to show Sproggy around school. It seems like things couldn’t get any worse. But somehow they do. His friends? They actually like her! His teachers? They think she’s adorable! She’s taking over his comfortable Manhattan life, and everyone expects him to be happy about it. With absolutely no way out of this, it’s up to Adam to make things better. After all, everyone has to grow up eventually.
Al is finally turning fourteen, and this birthday is going to bring a lot of changes—starting with a new name! Al has reached the most important point in her life: her fourteenth birthday. Her biggest worry is how boring her life has been so far—nothing exciting has ever happened to her. What if nothing ever does? What’s more, she no longer feels like an Al, but she still hates her real name, Alexandra. She needs to find a more dignified name—and fast—so that she can unveil the new her in time for her birthday. With her new name and her newfound adulthood, Al wants to start leading a meaningful life. But it turns out that saving the world is a little harder than it sounds—even for a girl like Al.
An exciting summer with Al’s father awaits—but when her mom gets sick, Al has to decide what’s most important Al can’t wait to visit her father’s family for an entire month. They’ve promised her homemade ice cream and a barn dance that even the boy she likes is coming to! Nothing can stop her from having the best summer of her life—that is, if she can quit worrying about leaving her mother, who hasn’t been feeling well for weeks. Al wants to be a good daughter to both parents, but who will take care of her mother while she’s gone? Life is about to get a little complicated, but deep down, Al knows what she has to do.
It’s up to Isabelle, Guy, and Herbie to show Little “Norphan” Frannie why reading is so much fun Meet Frannie, a “norphan.” It’s what Frannie says you call a kid who lost her daddy and then her mommy (when mom left to go find a new dad). Frannie is staying with her “aunt,” a waitress at the local café who brings home leftover pancakes for dinner. When Isabelle the irrepressible itch discovers that Frannie can’t read, she gets right to work. Reading is her favorite thing in the world, and she’s pulling out all the stops to help her new friend learn how to do it. With familiar characters like Guy and Herbie as well as the perennial antagonist Mary Eliza along for Isabelle’s continued adventures, Isabelle and Little Orphan Frannie, the third book in Constance C. Greene’s Isabelle series, offers a fun, engaging read for Isabelle’s young fans.
Meet Isabelle, the original itch Isabelle is an itch. She can’t sit still and is always jumping from one thing to another. Being an itch means that she plans, jokes, plots, and schemes her way through life. Isabelle fights her best friend, Herbie, every day after school, and she’s probably the fastest girl in her class, especially now that she has her new Adidas sneakers. Isabelle’s dad says she could climb a mountain if she could just focus on one thing at a time. But why do one thing when you could do ten? When her older brother needs a substitute for his morning paper route, Isabelle has a chance to prove to everyone, especially herself, that she can channel her energy into something useful. In this, the first in Constance C. Greene’s rollicking Isabelle series, readers will discover that a little determination can make all the difference.
Tim wants to pen the ultimate love letter—who better to teach him how than classic writers? When sixteen-year-old Tim meets Sophie and discovers One Hundred of the World’s Best Love Letters on the very same day, he is sure he has stumbled on true love. Determined to have the ultimate romantic courtship, he anonymously sends the object of his affection copies ofthe world’s greatest loveletters, word for word, by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Lord Byron, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. It turns out that asking his “angel Sophie” if her heart has been “touched by the passion” of his doesn’t bring him the results he expected. Instead, he is rewarded with humiliation and heartache. But true romantics die hard, and Tim refuses to give up. If his favorite authors didn’t succumb to the cruel fate of unrequited love, then neither will he.
Her name is Al, not Alexandra! Al’s real name is Alexandra, but she hates it. She has always considered herself a nonconformist—she is the only girl in the entire school who wears pigtails, and when all the other girls take the cooking and sewing class, Al wants to take shop. There’s just one problem: Girls aren’t allowed. Al is determined only to learn useful things, like making bookshelves. With the help of her new best friend, a seventh grader who lives down the hall from her, and their building’s kind superintendent, Mr. Richards, she just might get her wish.
Grace has two big problems—how will she cope? Grace Schmitt is a bit of a dreamer. In her mind, she’s the most popular girl in school, with flowing golden hair and too many friends to count. And let’s not forget all the boys who admire her perfectly proportioned figure. Everything is, in a word, perfect. Unfortunately, Grace’s life is a bit more complicated than that in reality. Going into tenth grade, her body changes rapidly, leaving her feeling ungainly, awkward, and conspicuous, mostly because of her large bust. It’s become such a problem that she’s begun saving money for breast-reduction surgery. Things come to a head when a circle of cruel classmates, led by Ashley, the actual most popular girl in school, decide to see if Grace’s breasts are real. On the worst day of her life, it takes a miracle (in the form of Ms. Govoni, the gym teacher) to save Grace from life-altering humiliation. Little does she know, the experience will trigger an astounding series of events that test her character, bolster her self-esteem, and turn her life around.
A tale of two brothers, one lucky hat, and a whole lot of style Ben and Charlie are utterly preoccupied with fashion: Older brother Ben thinks he represents the cutting edge of what’s hip, and younger brother Charlie tags along. Chief among Ben’s treasure chest of dapper duds is his good-luck Bogie hat, a fedora that makes him look like Humphrey Bogart. But when Ben starts dating a girl named Penny, his notion of what’s cool and what isn’t gets thrown out of whack. Charlie stands by, indignant and amazed, as Penny wraps his older brother around her little finger. When Ben’s grades start to slip, his parents shake their heads in amazement: Their eldest child has been bewitched! But when Ben spends his own money on a boring white shirt to please his girlfriend, Charlie finally decides to snap his beloved brother out of it. Hijinks ensue as Charlie schemes to save Ben, his sense of style, and even the Bogie hat from certain doom. It’s up to Charlie to remind his sibling that being yourself is infinitely more valuable than trying to impress someone new.
The tale of a boy, his ears, and one little change that makes a world of difference Louis is a talented kid with many great qualities. He plays a mean hand of poker and can crack his knuckles louder than any other kid in his class. He’s even trusted to walk his kid brother home from school. But looking at Louis, most people don’t notice these excellent qualities. They don’t see his kind eyes or his strong legs. Instead, all they see is two big ears. Louis has been called every insulting name in the book: Dumbo, Elephant Ears, even just plain Ears. He is the target of the school’s worst bullies, especially skinny Ernie. It seems as if every day, Louis flees from one antagonist to another. Then one day, Louis’s poker partner and good friend, Mrs. Beeble, gives him a good-luck charm—and Louis starts to believe it might actually be working. All of a sudden, he doesn’t mind the bullies so much. Could Louis’s transformation be real? Are his ears somehow shrinking? Or is his newfound swagger helping him grow? Constance C. Greene’s heartwarming tale tells the story of one boy’s quest for self-discovery, courage, and happiness—and the ears that make his journey possible.
Schuyler Sweet is anything but. Schuyler Sweet’s parents have recently divorced after a fifteen-year marriage, and Schuyler has no intention of living up to her name. Angry and confused, she feels like no one understands her. Then she meets an eccentric new neighbor named Nell. With her green nails and wild hair, Nell is bold and brash and makes Schuyler feel included. But as Nell’s behavior becomes increasingly odd—even dangerous—Schuyler begins to question whether she wants to be like Nell after all.
Officially grown up and ready for her first blind date, Al and her best friend, Thelma, go to great lengths to make themselves beautiful for the big night out with Thelma's cousin Harry and his friend.
Can Oliver become a hero—even when no one needs saving? Oliver knows he’s destined for greatness. Deep in his bones, he feels his courage growling like a lion, just waiting for a chance to prove itself. As for a Boy Scout or a firefighter, the trick is to always be prepared. Oliver’s only problem is that he’s already finished the fourth grade and might be running out of chances to show his stuff. But don’t bet against him. The odds are that when he’s tested, Oliver will be ready to save the day. In a series of wacky misadventures spanning a day of fishing turned shark attack and an evening at a red-hot Tex-Mex restaurant, Oliver does his best to be heroic.
Can the ghost of Nora’s mother help her stop her dad from getting remarried? It’s been three years since Nora’s mother died, and while she and her sister, Patsy, want her father to be happy again, they’re not ready for him to remarry. They especially don’t want him to marry “the Tooth”—the woman with the overbite who could soon be their stepmother. While the girls try to upend their dad’s relationship, they soon find themselves competing for the new guy at school. As Nora begins to feel more and more alone, she senses something strange . . . a laugh, a touch, even a kiss. And she knows exactly who they are coming from—her mother.
Mark only has one emotion: anger Fourteen-year-old Mark feels betrayed by his father, who has recently remarried. He spends his time feeling resentful and angry, especially after a humiliating experience with a girl. Mark’s mood only worsens until even his best friends have had enough. When he recklessly decides to take his stepmother’s car for a spin, he meets with near-tragic consequences. Can he learn to let go of his anger before things get out of control?
Tibb is a Leo—and Leos are as fierce as they come Thirteen-year-old Tibb knows she has the best sign of the zodiac. People born under the sign of Leo the Lion are strong and forceful, and Tibb more than lives up to the reputation. Her aversion to “phonies” makes her question her sister’s sudden obsession with boys. And now it’s happening to her best friend, Jennifer, too. Tibb couldn’t care less—a lioness like her doesn’t need boys or phonies to get by. But when even her beloved babysitter seems to be falling below Tibb’s standards, she starts to think that maybe no one can measure up to her ideals.
The irrepressible Isabelle is back, teaching new friends old tricks No one warned the new kid on the block, third grader Guy Gibbs, to watch out for a spirited, newspaper-delivering fifth grader named Isabelle. But as he helps the movers get his family’s piano through the front door, there she is: the original itch herself. Before long, Isabelle makes Guy her protégé. Suddenly she’s introducing him to the thrills of fighting with your best friend and wearing your mother’s pantyhose while robbing a bank. Isabelle’s energy is infectious, and Guy is having fun. But soon, stirring up trouble starts to feel like more effort than it’s worth, and Guy must decide between being a tough kid and being himself. Isabelle Shows Her Stuff, the second in Constance C. Greene’s boisterous Isabelle series, is an entertaining and lively follow-up tale for the itch’s young fans.
Unwilling to wait for a boy to write to her, Al takes the reins Al has two big problems in her life, and both have to do with her mailbox—or more specifically, her empty mailbox. A few months ago, her father’s new wife promised that Al could spend the summer with them, but Al still hasn’t received a written invitation. Even worse, the cute boy she met at her father’s wedding said he would write, but Al hasn’t even gotten a short note from him. What’s a girl to do when she’s waiting to hear from a boy? For a girl like Al, it’s easy: She’ll write to him! But writing a letter to a boy turns out to be harder than she thought. She can’t let him know that she likes him, so signing the letter Your old pal, Al should do the trick, right? Now if she could only work up the courage to send the letter . . .
Al has not one but two blind dates—what if they both go terribly wrong? When it comes to boys, fourteen-year-old Al is the first to admit she isn’t exactly an expert. Even Brian, the boy she met at her father’s wedding, has only ever sent her one letter. Just when she’s starting to wonder if any boy could ever really like her, she suddenly finds herself with two blind dates in one week. Al isn’t sure if she’s ready to take this next step. What if the boys are boring, or strange, or really short? Or what if they abandon her to dance with other girls? The more Al thinks about her upcoming dates, the worse they sound. Dating is scary enough, but blind dating? That’s enough to terrify even a girl as brave as Al.
Can the ghost of Nora’s mother help her stop her dad from getting remarried? It’s been three years since Nora’s mother died, and while she and her sister, Patsy, want her father to be happy again, they’re not ready for him to remarry. They especially don’t want him to marry “the Tooth”—the woman with the overbite who could soon be their stepmother. While the girls try to upend their dad’s relationship, they soon find themselves competing for the new guy at school. As Nora begins to feel more and more alone, she senses something strange . . . a laugh, a touch, even a kiss. And she knows exactly who they are coming from—her mother.
Can Oliver become a hero—even when no one needs saving? Oliver knows he’s destined for greatness. Deep in his bones, he feels his courage growling like a lion, just waiting for a chance to prove itself. As for a Boy Scout or a firefighter, the trick is to always be prepared. Oliver’s only problem is that he’s already finished the fourth grade and might be running out of chances to show his stuff. But don’t bet against him. The odds are that when he’s tested, Oliver will be ready to save the day. In a series of wacky misadventures spanning a day of fishing turned shark attack and an evening at a red-hot Tex-Mex restaurant, Oliver does his best to be heroic.
In Dotty’s world, excitement is as scarce as money—and her desire to escape is bottomless During the Great Depression, twelve-year-old Dotty dreams of traveling far away—maybe even to Africa to see crocodiles along the Nile. But first she needs luggage. If she wishes hard enough, she knows she’ll get it. When a bag full of money nearly lands in Dotty’s lap, adventure awaits. She and her neighbor Jud quickly discover that danger and heartbreak travel with that suitcase, and Dotty realizes that the reality of getting away from her small town may not be all that she imagined.
A lonely boy learns to come to terms with the challenges in his life Eleven-year-old Paul tells himself that it doesn’t matter that the kids call him Rabbit, or that he doesn’t have any real friends. He’s been living with his grandmother, but one day soon, he knows his mother will call and tell him to come live with her, and then his life can really begin. But somehow it looks more and more like that call may never come. When the opportunity arises to make some friends, Paul is thrilled—unless it means he’ll have to do something he knows is wrong. But when the unexpected happens, Paul decides it’s time for him to takes charge of his life, no matter what the cost.
An ALA Notable Book and an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice: Losing your sister can mean losing your best friend too Thirteen-year-old Kate is thrilled for her sister, Joss, when Joss finds out she gets to keep a horse for a week as a birthday present. Then in one tragic moment, all of the happiness is gone, and numbness and grief overwhelm the family. Kate cannot imagine how she’ll survive but knows somehow she must come to terms with her loss. In this heart-wrenching story, Kate strives to find a place where joyful memories and painful loss can coexist.
In this funny and uplifting novel, Constance C. Greene brings home the full meaning of family. With compassion and humor, she introduces John, who battles teenage angst with Woody Allen jokes and addresses teenage lust with his sister’s best friend; John’s sister, Leslie, the dynamo whose departure for college has left a hole in the family; and Ceil, their mother, who faces a worse than empty nest when their father learns he has only months to live.
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