Dina is used to being popular but starting a new school in eighth grade is difficult, especially where cliques rule, and although working with "queen bee" Chelsea on a video project should help, Chelsea is hiding huge family problems that could mean trouble for both girls.

When thirteen-year-old San Lee moves to a new town and school for the umpteenth time, he is looking for a way to stand out when his knowledge of Zen Buddhism, gained in his previous school, provides the answer--and the need to quickly become a convincing Zen master.

Spurred by a special project from her social studies teacher, seventh-grader Bethesda Fielding uncovers the secret identity of her music teacher, which leads to a most unusual concert performance and a tutoring assignment.

Kaylan and Arianna are new to middle school, and when they decide to make a list of eleven things that they want to accomplish before they turn twelve, including getting detention and helping humanity, they start to lose sight of their friendship.

Looking to propel her into the spotlight at her middle school, thirteen-year-old Tig Ripley starts an all-girl rock band with her cousin and two school friends.

Best friends and seventh graders Sophie Young and Grace Yang have made a game out of spying on their neighbors. On one of their midnight stakeouts, they witness a terrifying, bloody scene at the home of their bizarre middle-school counselor, Dr. Charlotte Agford (aka Dr. Awkward). At least, they think they do. The truth is that Dr. Agford was only making her famous pickled beets! But when Dr. Agford begins acting even weirder than usual, Sophie and...

"Told in alternating voices, the teacher and students in room 117 find their lives changed over the course of a school year"--WorldCat.

Natty copes with her parents splitting up, moving in with her grandparents, and starting a new school by maintaining and spreading a positive attitude, but she soon realizes it is more important to feel her feelings than it is to be eternally peppy.

"Eleven-year-old Cyrus knows he is not cut out to be a football hero or fireman like his adopted father, but it takes a skittish stray dog to teach him that he, too, can be brave"--Title verso page.

Thirteen-year-old Jemma, her best friends Kate and Piper, and new student Bet are invited to join a secret society at school meant to help other girls with their problems, but membership brings many complications.