Frank Carlson Library

As Bridge makes her way through seventh grade on Manhattan's Upper West Side with her best friends, curvacious Em, crusader Tab, and a curious new friend-- or more than friend-- Sherm, she finds the answer she has been seeking since she barely survived an accident at age eight: "What is my purpose?"

Sixth grader Abigail, assigned a different homeroom than her two best friends and made only the alternate on the pom-pom squad, learns a lot about popularity and true friendship when paired with unpopular Gabby for a year-long "Friendly Letter Assignment."

Seventh-grader Zoey Albro focuses on caring for three younger siblings and avoiding rich classmates at school until her fascination with octopuses gets her on the debate team and she begins to speak out.

"Herc Beal knows who he's named after - a mythical hero - but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod, and not a single Hydra in sight. Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc...

Greg records his sixth -grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive. But when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.

Six misfits get stuck together in a middle school restroom and discover friendship. Includes playscript of the story.

"Five diverse middle school students join forces to take on their school's bully and his father, a corrupt school principal"--

Twelve-year-olds Kate and Marylin, friends since preschool, draw further apart as Marylin becomes involved in student government and cheerleading, while Kate wants to play guitar and write songs, and both develop unlikely friendships with other girls and boys.

Mira Ravi is the first-seed singles star on Hilltop Middle School's tennis team, but her life off the court is a much harder match to win as she juggles tough responsibilities at home, in school, and with her team.

1987 brings more changes for April Grace when Myra Sue starts acting very sneaky, her new baby brother comes home, her neighbor Isabel becomes her gym teacher, and a long-lost relative suddenly appears.