Double Fudge is narrated from the perspective of Peter Hatcher, a pre-teen whose life is constantly complicated by the antics of his much younger brother, Farley Drexel Hatcher, better known as Fudge. In this fifth installment, six-year-old Fudge develops an intense obsession with money. He begins printing his own currency, which he calls "Fudge Bucks," and tries to spend them everywhere, creat…
A Single Shard is set in 12th-century Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty, a time renowned for its exquisite celadon pottery. The story follows Tree-ear, a young orphan boy who lives under a bridge with his aging friend, Crane-man. Fascinated by the beautiful pottery made by the local master potter, Min, Tree-ear accidentally causes damage to one of Min’s delicate pieces. To repay his debt, Tree-…
Seesaw Girl is set in 17th-century Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, a time governed by strict Confucian rules dictating social behavior, particularly for women of the noble class. The protagonist, Jade, is a young girl living a completely sheltered existence within the high, protective walls of her family compound, forbidden from being seen by any man outside her immediate family. Jade is fierc…
Bad Girls tells the story of Mandy White, a ten-year-old girl who endures relentless and severe bullying from the older, popular girls at school. Desperate for refuge and friendship, Mandy escapes to a foster home near her own house. There, she forms an unlikely and intense friendship with Tanya, an older teenager who is currently in the foster care system and is considered rebellious and a "ba…
Blubber is an unflinching look at the brutal dynamics of group bullying among fifth-grade girls. The story centers on Linda Fischer, who is cruelly nicknamed "Blubber" after giving a class report on whales. The harassment quickly escalates from minor teasing to severe, orchestrated persecution led by the popular and manipulative Wendy. The cruelty includes public humiliation, demanding that Lin…
The Dare Game continues the turbulent life of the imaginative and rebellious protagonist, Tracy Beaker, now living with her foster mother, Cam. Tracy initially believes her life will be perfect but soon clashes with Cam over boundaries and materialism, leading Tracy to seek escape by playing "The Dare Game"—a series of increasingly reckless challenges with other children. The central confl…
The Madison Finn series follows the daily life and internal struggles of Madison Finn, a contemplative and slightly shy seventh-grader living in upstate New York. Madison, who claims to be "allergic to change," finds her greatest solace and means of expression in her anonymous online journal kept on her signature orange laptop. The narrative revolves around her navigating the high-stakes emotio…
"The Night I Flunked My Field Trip" follows the chaotic adventures of fourth-grader Hank Zipzer, who is known for his creative mind but constant struggles with reading, writing, and schoolwork due to his undiagnosed dyslexia. Hank is thrilled about his class field trip: a sleepover aboard an old-fashioned, three-mast sailing ship called The Pilgrim Spirit in New York Harbor. His excitement g…