Maniac Magee

Everyone says that middle school is awful, but Trent knows nothing could be worse than the year he had in fifth grade, when a freak accident on Cedar Lake left one kid dead, and Trent with a brain full of terrible thoughts he can't get rid of. Trents pretty positive the entire disaster was his fault, so for him middle school feels like a fresh start, a chance to prove to everyone that he's not the horrible screw-up they seem to think he is. 

If only Trent could make that fresh start happen.

It isnt until Trent gets caught up in the whirlwind that is Fallon Little—the girl with the mysterious scar across her face—that things begin to change. Because fresh starts arent always easy. Even in baseball, when a fly ball gets lost in the sun, you have to remember to shift your position to find it.

Advance praise for Lost in the Sun:

“In Lost in the Sun, Trent decides that he will speak the truth: that pain and anger and loss are not the final words, that goodness can find us after all—even when we hide from it.  This is a novel that speaks powerfully, honestly, almost shockingly about our human pain and our human redemption.  This book will change you.”—Gary Schmidt, two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The Wednesday Wars and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

“Lisa Graff crafts a compelling story about a boy touched with tragedy and the world of people he cares about.  And like all the best stories, it ends at a new beginning.”—Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago

Lisa Graff's Awards and Reviews:

Lisa Graff's books have been named to 30 state award lists, and A Tangle of Knots was long-listed for the National Book Award.

Praise for Absolutely Almost:

* "Albie comes through significant emotional hardship to a genuine sense of self-worth."--School Library Journal  *STARRED*

* "A perfect book to share with struggling readers."--Booklist  *STARRED*

* "Achingly superb, Albies story shines."--Kirkus Reviews  *STARRED*

* "Graffs...gentle story invokes evergreen themes of coming to appreciate ones strengths (and weaknesses), and stands out for its thoughtful, moving portrait of a boy who learns to keep moving forward, taking on the world at his own speed."--Publishers Weekly  *STARRED*

Praise for A Tangle of Knots:

"[A] blithe magical puzzle."--Meghan Cox Gurdon, The Wall Street Journal

"Lisa Graff has created a beautiful world of deliciously interconnected stories that draw you in."--Abby West, Entertainment Weekly [A-]

* "Subtle and intricate, rich with humor and insight, this quietly magical adventure delights."--Kirkus Reviews  *STARRED*

* "Combining the literary sensibility of E. B. White with the insouciance of Louis Sachar, Graff has written a tangle that should satisfy readers for years to come."--Booklist  *STARRED*

“In Lost in the Sun, Trent decides that he will speak the truth: that pain and anger and loss are not the final words, that goodness can find us after all—even when we hide from it.  This is a novel that speaks powerfully, honestly, almost shockingly about our human pain and our human redemption.  This book will change you.”—Gary Schmidt, two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The Wednesday Wars and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

“Lisa Graff crafts a compelling story about a boy touched with tragedy and the world of people he cares about.  And like all the best stories, it ends at a new beginning.”—Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago

From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

“Told with wry humor, this fast-paced novel will appeal to fans of Louis Sachars Holes and Gary D. Schmidts Okay for Now.”

From KIRKUS REVIEWS:

“Theres a real cinematic feel here—Pitchford also writes for the screen and stage . . . . Sams a great, well-realized kid, and readers will root for him every step of the way. A surprising, poignant twist at the end explains Mr. Wells true motives for involving Sam and brings about a satisfying, uplifting finale. Crime does pay off—to the benefit of others—in this enjoyable novel.”

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Praise for Dean Pitchfords CAPTAIN NOBODY:

From KIRKUS REVIEWS:

“…the humor and compassion are sure to appeal to reluctant readers.”

From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:

“Pitchford builds suspense adeptly . . . the young narrators earnest voice—and his raw sense of helplessness—are real and affecting.”

From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

“[Captain Nobody] reads like a summertime feel-good movie. Kids who have longed for their own superhero powers will eat this up.

To celebrate the publication of the paperback edition of Maniac Magee, we have decided to repackage the other wildly popular Spinelli novels on our list. Look for new covers on Space Station Seventh Grade, Jason and Marceline, and Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? These new covers will attract a whole new generation to the novels of one of the most engaging talents writing for young people today.

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.

Eleven-year-old Sam Brattle is already having the worst Christmas ever – his dads bakery is going bankrupt and his mom is spending the holidays with her new family. To make things worse, Nickel Bay Nick, the anonymous Good Samaritan who leaves hundred-dollar bills around Nickel Bay at Christmastime, is a no-show, so this year the rest of the town is as miserable as Sam. When he stumbles upon the secret identity of this mysterious do-gooder, Sam is stunned to learn that he might now be his towns only hope. But before he can rescue Nickel Bay, Sam has to learn the skills of a spy and unravel some even darker secrets that will change his life forever.