Middle School Friendship

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?

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.

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!

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 ...

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 ...

Twelve-year-old thieves Arthur and Wally are determined to steal their way up the ranks of the notorious Black Feathers gang. With loan sharks chasing after Arthur’s father and Wally’s brother’s hospital bill due, they’re in need of serious cash. Fast. When Arthur spots some wealthy strangers exiting a seemingly deserted mansion, he smells an opportunity for a big score. Little do the boys realize, they’ve stumbled upon Weirdwood Manor, the headquarters of a magical order who protect the Balance between the Real and Imaginary worlds.

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.

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—...

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 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.

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: ...

Get ready for a magical adventure that’s as wild and unpredictable as Isla Thornheart herself! On her twelfth birthday, Isla discovers a mysterious gift that unlocks her hidden powers—and opens the door to a world bursting with talking animals, cheeky faeries, and the mysterious Witching Academy. But magic is never as simple as it seems. From turning frogs into something far more mischievous to an entire castle breaking into song, Isla’s new life is a whirlwind of surprises. As she learns to master her chaotic magic, Isla discovers that true magic isn’t about control—it’s about ...

The Land of Oz, decades before Dorothy, held many cities and many heroes. After the devastation of the Witch Wars, the stony North is now under the protection of the Good Witch. Hewing a new life out of the ruins challenges the survivors, including the Bandersnatch family. HE’S NOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE A HERO…YET. Ten-year old Candor wants to be strong, like the way he remembers his father before the accident, but instead of honor, all his attempts at bravery only earn him more bruises. Chased by bullies into the mountains, Candor discovers a gateway to a faraway place where no one can ...

Run with Your Heart follows Holly, a shy 12-year-old who moves from a bustling city to a small town where running is everything. At first, she struggles to fit in, unsure of her place in this new world. But with the help of a new friend and a local running club, Holly discovers not only her talent for cross-country running but also the strength to overcome her self-doubt. As she trains for the season’s championship race, Holly navigates friendships, rivalries, and personal growth, learning that sometimes, the most important race is the one you run with your heart. This inspiring story of ...

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, ...

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.

Enter the world of Ajay, Karan, and Sanjay, also known as AKS - the child prodigies and detectives of Great Mountain International School! Awarded by the Chief Minister of Karnataka for their thrilling adventures and maze-like case solving, these inseparable friends thrive on challenges. In "The Sivamudra Ghost Dance," the trio embarks on a seemingly ordinary school excursion to a power station near the small town of Sivamudra. But Sivamudra holds secrets, and what starts as a simple trip soon plunges AKS into a perplexing mystery. Whispers of ghosts and strange incidents surrounding the ...

Seeds: Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead. Roots: Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a busgirl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer.

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.