Eighth-grader Jack Lerner relies on pitching fast balls until a young college coach teaches him that throwing the heat may not be the best way to win games.

"Jen is just getting used to her life on Peapod Farm with her new stepsisters, Andy and Reese, but when the school year starts, there are even more changes in store for her."--

Allie West finds it challenging to make new friends and stay true to old ones as she navigates fifth grade at a school run by her mother.

"Crushes. Humiliation. Drama. MIDDLE SCHOOL. This is the story of two totally different girls--quiet, shy, artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie--and how their lives unexpectedly intersect one day, when an embarrassing note falls into the wrong hands. . . . All the crushes, humiliation, boredom, and drama of middle school are compressed into one surprising day" --

Middle schooler Charlie Joe is proud of his success at avoiding reading, but eventually his schemes go too far.

Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison still finds it hard to believe that she's a real live Princess of Genovia. Not only does she get to live in an actual palace with her newly discovered family and two fabulous poodles (who all love her and think that she's anything but ordinary!) but she also gets her very own pony. Of course, things aren't going exactly like she imagined. Her half-sister Mia is very busy learning how to take over the country...

"[This is] the third book in this laugh-out-loud series about two BFFs who master middle school with a list of thirteen goals they MUST achieve before their first summer apart. With winter break almost over and seventh grade spinning beyond their control, best friends Kaylan and Ari write a new list of 13 resolutions to make the New Year, middle school, and their friendship even more amazing before they go to separate camps next summer. But what happens...

Twelve-year-old Kate becomes the face of an anti-bullying movement after a heroic act goes viral, but her world is turned upside-down when the truth about her involvement is revealed.

Eighth grade turns out to be an eventful year for Ginny and her family, as notes, lists, report cards, doctor bills, and other "stuff" reveal that the family moves to a big new house, Brian starts to be more than just a friend, Ginny's mother has a baby, and her stepfather loses his job.

Big Nate, a.k.a. middle schooler Nate Wright, is 11 years old, four-and-a-half feet tall, and the wunderkind creation of cartoonist Peirce. "Big Nate Out Loud" collects Peirce's Big Nate strips, originally published only in newspapers and online at comics.com.