Jerry Spinelli

As Palmer comes of age, he must either accept the violence of being a wringer at his town's annual Pigeon Day or find the courage to oppose it.

Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee might have lived a normal life if a freak accident hadn't made him an orphan. After living with his unhappy and uptight aunt and uncle for eight years, he decides to run--and not just run away, but run. This is where the myth of Maniac Magee begins, as he changes the lives of a racially divided small town with his amazing and legendary feats.

Shows the milkweed as a beautiful weed.

From renowned Newbery-winning author Jerry Spinelli comes a powerful story about how not fitting in just might lead to an incredible life. This classic book is perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Carl Hiaasen. Just like other kids, Zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. But Zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips over his own feet, and falls down with laughter over a word like "Jabip." Other kids have their own word to describe him, but Zinkoff is too busy to hear it. He doesn't know he's not like everyone else. And one winter night, Zinkoff's differences show that any name can someday become "hero." With some of his finest writing to date and great wit and humor, Jerry Spinelli creates a story about a boy's individuality surpassing the need to fit in and the genuine importance of failure. As readers follow Zinkoff from first through sixth grade, it becomes impossible not to identify with and root for him through failures and triumphs. The perfect classroom read. (less)

From Tales of a fourth grade nothing / Judy Blume -- From the chalk box kid / Clyde Robert Bulla -- From Ramona forever / Beverly Cleary -- From fourth-graders don't believe in witches / Terri Fields -- From the adventures of Ali Baba / Johanna Hurwitz -- From Pippi Longstocking / Astrid Lindgren -- From skylark / Patricia MacLachlan -- From fourth grade is a jinx / Colleen O'Shaughnessy McKenna -- Being nine is just fine / Patricia C. McKissack -- From the Hoboken chicken / Daniel Pinkwater -- From the flunking of Joshua T. Bates / Susan Shreve -- From fourth grade rats / Jerry Spinelli.

Now a seventh grader, Jason finds out the hard way just how different things are where ninth graders are the kings.

A fast, fun friendship read from the Newbery-award winning author of Maniac Magee. It's football season at Plumstead Middle School, and everything is up in the air. Sunny has become a cheerleader--the first ever to wear a frown and beat up fans who refuse to cheer. Eddie has gone out for football to prove that he's grown up despite his superhero underwear--and to try to impress a certain cheerleader. Salem has become the football team's manager, and she's starting a new time-out tradition that the team will never forget. And Pickles is leading Plumstead's pathetic marching band...to a very unusual beat.

"Mama Seeton's simple and comforting whistle calls her family home, no matter how far away they may be"-- Mama Seeton's simple and comforting whistle calls her family home, no matter how far away they may be.

What is stargazer, skateboarder, chess champ, pepperoni pizza eater, older brother, sister hater, best friend, first kisser, science geek, control freak Will Tuppence so afraid of in this great big universe?Jerry Spinelli knows.

On the first morning of the first day of their summer vacation, J. D. Kidd and his best friend resolve to have an absolutely perfect day before the summer ends.

Crash Coogan is cool. He's the star of the school football team ... and he's a bully. Penn Webb is small and weedy. Penn Webb hates violence. He's a 'Peace' badge-wearing vegetarian ... and he wants to try out for the cheerleading team. Crash and Penn are not destined to get along. From the day Penn moves into the neighbourhood, Crash torments him mercilessly. But no humiliation seems to bring Penn down. Could it be that in some way he is actually stronger than Crash?

Four school stories by Newbery award winning author. Follow Sunny, Salem, Eddie and Pickles in a year full of adventures as they take on the hilarious halls of Plumstead Middle School.

A young boy describes the things he likes to do with his father, including making music, baking cookies, and fixing things.

Six rowdy high school seniors staying at a beach house for the summer are determined to devote themselves to partying until the night they encounter a group of beached whales.

Like most girls and boys, Zoe enthusiastically embraces the wonders of our world and its infinite possibilities. "I can be anything I want to be!" she tells us, presenting herself in a range of careers. "But what if you fail?" asks a voice of doubt that attempts to undermine her confidence.

Ever since they were Snotsippers, Jack and the girl have fought, until one day she steals his bike and as he and the Amigos try to recover it, Jack realizes that he is growing up and must eventually leave the "goodlands and badlands of Hokey Pokey."

Bertie comes up with a surefire strategy to get the Bathwater Gang's pet-washing business off the ground: they will get the neighborhood pets dirty and then offer to wash them.