They say a lot of things about the Schwa, but one thing’s for sure: no one ever noticed him. Except me. My name is Antsy Bonano—and I can tell you what’s true and what’s not, ’cause I was there. I was the one who realized the Schwa was “functionally invisible” and used him to make some big bucks. But I was also the one who caused him more grief than a friend should. So if you all just shut up and listen, I’ll spill everything. Unless, of course, "the Schwa Effect" wipes him out of my brain before I'm done....

    In fact, getting sick and dying can be a big, ugly mess-especially before the modern medical care that we all enjoy today. How They Croaked relays all the gory details of how nineteen world figures gave up the ghost. For example:It is believed that Henry VIII's remains exploded within his coffin while lying in state. Doctors "treated" George Washington by draining almost 80 ounces of blood before he finally kicked the bucket. Right before Beethoven wrote his last notes, doctors drilled a hole in his stomach without any pain medication.Readers will be interested well past the final curtain, and feel lucky to live in a world with painkillers, X-rays, soap, and 911.

    Heroes of America is a series especially written for younger readers. These biographies are set in large type for easy reading with more than 100 illustrations in each book.

    Grace becomes a local celebrity, and all the attention is a lot of fun for Kit--until the night Grace mysteriously vanishes. But who would take Kit's dog, and why? At the end of the story, the Looking Back section provides interesting facts about pets during the Great Depression.

    Everyone's talented and determined, and their new quarterback, Aaron Corbin, throws bullets... so why are the Otters struggling to win games? Steve Michaels, one of the team's receivers, notices that Aaron seems to be afraid of getting hit. With a little help from his teammates, Steve goes to great lengths to toughen up Aaron only to discover that toughness isn't the quarterback's actual problem...

    . . and counting. But it's finally time for readers to hear directly from Rowley in a journal of his own. In Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid, Rowley writes about his experiences and agrees to play the role of biographer for Greg along the way. (After all, one day Greg will be rich and famous, and everyone will want to know his life's story.) But Rowley is a poor choice for the job, and his "biography" of Greg is a hilarious mess. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal offers readers a new way to look at the Wimpy world--one fans won't want to miss!

    Recounts the adventures of an unusual guinea pig that specializes in tall tales.

    JohnsonWhen Jason meets his mom’s billion-dollar invention, an artificial intelligence device named Proto, he accidentally gets caught up in a mysterious adventure. Proto goes missing, and then people go missing. Now Jason and his coolest-neighbor-ever Maya must risk their lives to prevent global mayhem. But who is behind this devious plot? Is it another AI? The FBI? Or any other abbreviation with an I? What exactly is there to learn about artificial and human intelligence while fighting for your life against a legion of furry puppies or a battalion of drones? A lot— if you live to tell about it. The Proto Project Designed to be read independently by young readers, boys and girls, ages 8-12 (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th grade) Best for kids who have outgrown chapter books / leveled readers and are ready for middle-grade books A wonderful gift for anyone looking for fun and funny reading with content that is age-appropriate for kids at home and in school Best for kids who ... Adore contemporary realistic fiction combined with fantasy and science fiction, told with humor and tall-tale flair Love fast-paced novels filled with humor, mystery, suspense, and adventure Ideal for readers who enjoy popular series books like I Survived, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, Babysitters Club, Mysterious Benedict Society, National Geographic Kids and love books by top authors like James Patterson, Kate Dicamillo, and Dav Pilkey. Great for gift-givers, parents, and educators looking for ... An entertaining and educational novel for upper-elementary and middle school tweens Upholds strong values, encourages intellectual curiosity with a growth mindset, and inspires social and global responsibility Encourages interest in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and math) Incorporates potential real-world applications of modern developments in Artificial Intelligence in concert with Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Emphasizes collaboration and teamwork to benefit the greater good Available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle. "Johnson (Code 7, 2017) offers a well-calculated balance of suspense and humor for middle school readers .... Action sequences are exciting and dramatic. The novel also provides food for thought in considering how AI could help or hurt humanity. Although the villains are over the top, they do give voice to some of the forces that might want to use AI for selfish, grandiose reasons. A well-written, fast-paced and thoughtful adventure.

    Bruce Cameron, the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel A Dog's Purpose, which is now a major motion picture!Bailey's Story is a heartwarming illustrated novel adapted for young readers from the beloved and New York Times bestselling A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron.Every dog has work to do. Every dog has a purpose.When Bailey meets eight-year-old Ethan, he quickly figures out his purpose: to play with the boy, to explore the Farm during summers with the boy, and to tidy the boy's dishes by licking them clean (only when Mom isn't watching). But Bailey soon learns that life isn't always so simple--that sometimes bad things happen--and that there can be no greater purpose than to protect the boy he loves.Bailey's Story is a moving tale about a dog and his boy for young animal lovers by W. Bruce Cameron, bestselling author of the acclaimed novel A Dog's Purpose. Adorable black-and-white illustrations by Richard Cowdrey bring Bailey and his world to life. A discussion and activity guide at the end of the book will help promote family and classroom discussions about Bailey's Story and the insights it provides about humankind's best friends.

    In later years, the island was deserted, the buildings decaying. Ellis Island was not restored until the 1980s, when Americans from all over the country donated more than $150 million. It opened to the public once again in 1990 as a museum. Learn more about America's history, and perhaps even your own, through the story of one of the most popular landmarks in the country.

    She swallows her contacts, throws up on the boy she likes, and looks like a dork in front of Sara, the girl she wants to be friends with most. Nicole faces one horrible (but funny!) problem after another. Then, right when Nicole is finally making friends and fitting in at her new school, a mean trick is played on a girl in her class—starting the Slumber Party Wars.Funny 20,000-words middle-grade novel. For girls ages 9-12.Includes The Christmas Wars story as well.Twelve-year-old Nicole discovers she’s part of a bet involving a very cute boy! Of course Nina wants to have that very cute boy for Christmas! And Matt wants to sock that very cute boy in the nose. (Christmas Wars is based off Melanie’s short story “The Bet” found in Middle School Crushes.)

    Over one billion people tuned in worldwide to watch the final game of the 2014 competition, making the World Cup the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, exceeding even the Summer Olympics! This book takes a look back at what has changed since the first tournament in 1930 and what lies ahead for the most popular sport in the world.

    But something is missing. He doesn't know what it is until he goes to the zoo and sees a walrus. What a splendid creature! Surely it could bring joy to his life. With happiness just a walrus away, the baseball player sets out to create the perfect enclosure for his new friend. He's even willing to give up his job to be with the walrus. But without a job, he won't be able to afford his new friend's care and keeping. And without the walrus, he won't be able to smile. Luckily, there's a compromise to be had and a walrus just waiting to be reunited with his resourceful friend.Age Range: 5 - 8 yearsGrade Level: Kindergarten - 3Illustrated by Alex Latimer

    . . but not for Gianna Z. With less than one week to collect twenty-five leaves for a science project, her spot at cross-country sectionals is in serious peril. Plus with a dad who runs a funeral parlor out of the basement, a grandma who keeps losing her teeth, and a rival trying to steal her spot on the team, Gee just wishes life could leave her alone to finish her project. But when Nonna disappears one afternoon, suddenly some things seem more important than projects and races.Gianna Z. will have readers rooting for her-and maybe even for science projects-from the very first page of this funny and poignant novel about family, friendship, and being true to yourself.

    It's a town with a deadly history . . . but nobody ever talks about it.Kimberly thinks there might be something strange going on. She's not sure what - until the menacing doll appears with two words written across its clothes:BURY MEKimberly and her friends try to destroy the doll . . . but every time they think it's gone, it comes back again. Is there any way to rid themselves of the evil once and for all?