Laurie B Friedman

Young Percy Isaac Gifford provides a list of ten rules for getting the most out of Thanksgiving Day, especially how best to enjoy the buffet.

Simon Lester Henry Strauss is not in the least afraid of any haunted house, but there is something else that terrifies him.

"Now that April is officially going out with hot-boy-next-door Matt, she's head over heels. She loves how he makes her feel . . . most of the time. But one minute he's sweet and attentive, and the next, it's as if he's forgotten they're together. April just wants things to be great between them, like when they started going out. Now as summer approaches, she has to decide if she'll go to camp with her best friends, Billy and Brynn, or stay home and...

Diary entries chronicle April's woes during the first few months of high school as romantic problems--hers and others'--complicate her life.

"April Sinclair just wants what any normal thirteen-year-old would want: to disown her parents and obnoxious little sisters; to escape to summer camp ASAP with her two best friends, Billy and Brynn; and to make a good impression on Matt Parker, the hot new boy next door. Unfortunately, Matt witnesses April's utter humiliation at her birthday party. Then Billy kisses her. Just as April is trying to figure things out, her parents cancel her camp plans...

"April Sinclair has always looked forward to high school. But with a jealous BFF, fighting parents, and self-doubt about romance, ninth grade may be more than April bargained for"--

"When Mallory wins Fashion Fran's design contest, she and Mary Ann are headed to New York City! But as they share the sights, sounds, and tastes of New York, there's just one problem. Only Mallory gets to appear on the Fashion Fran show, even though she pinky-swore with Mary Ann that they'd both go on. Can Mallory find a way to share the spotlight with her best friend before the pinky-swear she made ruins the trip of a lifetime--and their friendship?"--...

When Mallory cannot decide what to be on Career Day, it makes her feel like she is not good at anything and she ends up telling a lie that quickly gets out of control.

After moving to a new town, eight-year-old Mallory keeps throwing stones in the "Wishing Pond" but things will not go back to the way they were before, and she remains torn between old and new best friends.

After moving, eight-year-old Mallory struggles with being new at school, especially because her mother is now the music teacher and director of the third grade play.