On Dead Wednesday, every eighth grader in Amber Springs is assigned the name and identity of a teenager who died a preventable death in the past year. The kids don black shirts and for the whole day everyone in town pretends they're invisible--as if they weren't even there. The adults think it will make them contemplate their mortality. The kids know its a free pass to get away with anything. Worm Tarnauer feels invisible every day, so he's not expecting...

Seventh-grader Jason narrates the memorable events of his school year highlighted by hair problems, pimples, mothers, little brothers, and a special girl.

George 'Suds' Morton competes with his third-grade classmates to earn the first 'halo' of the year for good behavior, but being good turns out to be more stressful than he anticipated.

Four new students at Plumstead Middle School--unhappy Sunny, Eddie, who just wants to survive, Salem, the writer, and the inimitable Pickles--must adjust to a new environment and each other with nothing in common but Humphrey the hamster.