Synopses & Reviews
A story about small acts of courage from the author of A Crooked Kind of Perfect. Do not let a mop sit overnight in water. Fix things before they get too big for fixing. Custodial wisdom: Mattie Breen writes it all down. She has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potlucks apprentice, shell have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth graders. But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Matties plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true.
Review
Readers will cheer on Emma-Jean as she begins to see more clearly and enter more fully the world around her.
Publishers WeeklyReview
* "This outstanding, emotionally resonant effort will appeal to middle-grade readers."—Kirkus, starred review
* "Urban (A Crooked Kind of Perfect) traces a highly self-conscious child's cautious emergence from her shell in this tender novel about new beginnings and "small brave" acts... Urban's understated, borderline naïf narrative gives voice to Mattie's many uncertainties ("Always Mattie has been shy. Always school had made her feel skittish and small") while expressing the quiet yet significant moments in her day-to-day life. Mattie's growing trust of others and her attempts to be "bold and friendly" lead to gratifying rewards for Mattie and poignant moments for readers."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Internal drama, compelling characters, and Matties strong voice propel the story of learning to do "a small brave thing."—Booklist
* "There are many books that offer adventure and twists and unusual story lines. Most of them do not offer young readers such fine writing and real characters. That is hook enough."—School Library Journal, starred review
Review
"Another rewarding chapter book from the Lemonade War series."
and#8212;Booklist
"A terrific tie-in to Valentine's Day, but a good anytime school story for boys and girls alike."
and#8212;Read Kiddo Read
Synopsis
Emma-Jean Lazarus is a lovable oddball who thinks she can use logic to solve the messy everyday problems of her seventh-grade peers. Its easyshe just follows the example of her late father, a brilliant mathematician. Of course, the more Emma-Jean gets involved, the messier her own life gets. Suddenly shes no longer the person standing on the outside of all social interactions. But perhaps thats a good thing?
If you took "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" and "Ida B . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World" and put them in a middle-grade blender, you would have the book "Emma- Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree." Quirky, honest, and written by first-time author Lauren Tarshis, this is a tender story about what happens when a girl who has long stood in the social shadows gets a taste of what its like to connect with kids her own age.
Synopsis
A heartwarming story from the author of the I SURVIVED series.Emma-Jean Lazarus is the smartest and strangest girl at William Gladstone Middle School. Her classmates don't understand her, but that's okay because Emma-Jean doesn't quite get them either. But one afternoon, all that changes when she sees Colleen Pomerantz crying in the girl's room. It is through Colleen that Emma-Jean gets a glimpse into what it is really like to be a seventh grader. And what she finds will send her tumbling out of a tree and questioning why she ever got involved in the first place.
Synopsis
Quirky, honest, and written by a first-time author, this tender story telle what happens when a girl who has long stood in the social shadows gets a taste of what it's like to connect with kids her own age.
Synopsis
From a debut author comes a heart-warming novel about a unique girl and her seventhgrade experiences.
Emma-Jean Lazarus is the smartest and strangest girl at William Gladstone Middle School. Her classmates don?t understand her, but that?s okay because Emma-Jean doesn?t quite get them either. But one afternoon, all that changes when she sees Colleen Pomerantz crying in the girl?s room. It is through Colleen that Emma-Jean gets a glimpse into what it is really like to be a seventh grader. And what she finds will send her tumbling out of a tree and questioning why she ever got involved in the first place.
Synopsis
The unforgettable Emma-Jean from the award-winning "Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree" is back and experiencing something new and unsettling, but not entirely unpleasant. It's a fluttering in her heart for Will.
Synopsis
Acclaimed author Linda Urban captures the sweet humor and tenderness of finding one's voice and making a friend, even when that seems impossible.
Synopsis
Poignant and funny, theand#160;fourth book in theand#160;best-selling Lemonade War series explores the distinctive power of poetry and loveand#8212;fourth grade style.
Synopsis
Jessie and Evan Treski have waged a lemonade war, sought justice in a class trial, and even unmasked a bell thief. Now they are at opposite ends over the right to keep secrets. Evan believes some things (such as his poetry) are private. Jessie believes scandal makes good news. When anonymously sent candy hearts appear in Class 4-0, self-appointed ace reporter Jessie determines to get the scoop on class crushes. and#12288;
About the Author
Linda Urban's debut novel, A Crooked Kind of Perfect, was a BookSense pick, a New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing, and was nominated for twenty state awards. A former independent bookseller at Vroman's in Pasadena, California, she now writes full time in Montpelier, Vermont, where she lives with her family. Visit her website at www.lindaurbanbooks.com