middle-born children

Soccer is the new craze at Bennett Elementary School, and fourth grader Jim Nasium wants to join in the game--but first he must overcome the natural tendency to use his hands instead of his feet.

It is hockey season at Bennett Elementary School, and Jim's grandfather has bought all the equipment he needs, so if he can practice hard and ignore the taunts of the school bully, the team should be ready for the game with the rival Gators.

For their first assignment in fourth grade Finley has to think of an invention that will help the world--but when her Supersonic Sibling Sublimator appears to work too well, and her annoying older brother vanishes, only to reappear laughing at the trick he played, Finley comes up with a new invention she is sure will be a hit.

After a class field trip to the art museum, fourth-graders Finley, Henry, and Olivia are assigned a project that is supposed to define art, which is difficult, because they all liked very different paintings--but for their group project they come up with a presentation that captures their combined vision.

"An adopted middle child receives an unexpected package on an otherwise unremarkable birthday inviting her to join a super-secret division of the CIA"--Provided by publisher.

Victoria Torres is the fifth chair out of nine flutes in her middle school band, so when the director asks for a someone to play the new piccolo, Victoria sees it as her chance to stand out--but her best friend Bea has also volunteered, and their friendship may not survive the competition when they audition for the part.

Victoria Torres has always had a family birthday party that she shares with her beloved grandmother, but this year she is so impressed by her classmate's birthday party at GlamaRama, the mall's newest spa store, that she decides that she wants to celebrate her twelfth birthday there--and her mother refuses to do both.

Zeke's third grade class is putting on a play and Zeke is unhappy and annoyed with what he sees as too small a role--until his mother teaches him the meaning of the saying "there are no small parts, only small actors.".

When his little sister's friends cannot go with her to the Princess Sing-Along concert, Zeke feels he has to go to cheer her up on her birthday--but on Monday morning he has to give a report in class about what he did on the weekend.

Zeke's school is having a fund-raiser and the student who sell the most cake mix will get four tickets to Thrillsville Amusement Park, but Zeke is not having much luck until his great-grandmother gives him a lesson in salesmanship--and he takes his little sister with him.