Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Thirteen-year-old Kenny secretly calls himself "Cricket Man" after a summer of rescuing creatures from his family's Bethesda, Maryland, pool, which gives him more self-confidence and an urge to be a hero, especially for his depressed sixteen-year-old neighbor, Jodie.

First semester of 11th Grade Alice sheds her "good girl" image by taking risks and considers becoming sexually involved with her boyfriend. 1. List item

Who will win as the curtain closes on the war between the girls and the boys?Summer vacation is almost over and after one year in Buckman it looks like the Malloy girls will be going home to Ohio. The Hatford boys are relieved to finally be rid of Eddie, Beth and Caroline, also known as the Womper, the Weirdo and the Crazy. As the clock ticks away at their final days, Jake and Eddie keep up the competing, tricking and scheming until Eddie puts Jake up to the biggest dare of the year. She wants to prove once and for all that the girls are in charge. Jake can't back away and let the girls declare victory. The wacky war that began the day the girls arrived isn't over yet!From the Hardcover edition.

Second semester of 10th Grade (Alice struggles with issues of sex, commitment, and responsibility. She also tries to get a driver's license

Sarah longs to find a way to be someone special, and when her friend's Chinese restaurant needs customers, she finds a special way to save it.

Wally Hatford dreams of long lazy days far away from school and Caroline Malloy. But Wally, the best speller among the Hatford brothers, gets roped into helping them with a summer newspaper project that will earn the twins school credit.What does that get Wally? When he hears scratching noises coming from Oldakers' bookstore cellar, Mr. Oldaker trusts him to keep a secret that could turn into a scoop for their newspaper. Wally worries that the secret may be too scary to keep to himself. What's worse, the Malloy girls have horned in on the newspaper. If there's one person Wally won't spill his secret to, it's nutty Caroline Malloy. No matter what it is!From the Hardcover edition.

Fifth grade is tumultuous for Alice as she tries to help others through the many changes occurring at home and in school, including learning about sex when Rosalind gets her period and shares a book that explains what is happening.

First semester of 10th Grade (Sylvia and Ben get married. Alice contemplates the value of social customs.)

It's the summer after Alice's freshman year, she's survived her breakup with Patrick, and she and her friends are looking forwards to their jobs as assistant camp counselors. Alice feels as if she's finally gotten a handle on life. But Alice soon learns that the only thing she can count on is change. Pamela's mother is contemplating coming home, Lester is contemplating leaving home, and even Alice's father's romance with Miss Summers hits and unexpected snag. But most surprising of all are the shocking revelations about some of Alice's closet friends. Can Alice keep up with all the changes around her?

Alice's first year in high school gets off to a difficult start when she and her boyfriend Patrick break up, but with the help of her father, older brother, and best friends, she gains a better sense of her own self-worth.

Percy almost ruins the family picnic at the beach when he insists on bringing all his large teddy bears along, but his ingenuity saves the day.

While trying to survive seventh grade, Alice discovers that turning thirteen will make her the Woman of the House at home, so she starts a campaign to get more appreciated for taking care of her father and older brother.

After she, her older brother, and their father move from Chicago to Maryland, Alice has trouble fitting into her new third grade class, but with the help of some new friends and her own unique outlook, she survives.

In her freshman year, fourteen-year-old Alice experiences changes and challenges with friends, family, and school activities, which leave her feeling better about herself than ever before.

Dead bodies which appear and disappear mysteriously are threatening to cost Sam's father his job as manager of the Bessledorf Hotel. What can be done? How do you find a ghost?

Living at the Bessledorf Hotel, where his father works as the manager, Bernie tries to solve the mystery of a troubled, young ghost who wanders the halls of the hotel at night.