Johnson, Peter

Thirteen-year-old John "Houdini" Smith tries to write a book about what is happening in his life, from his parents' worries about money and his brother in Iraq, to his new understandings of people while he and his friends rake lawns in their East Side Providence, Rhode Island neighborhood.

As his English teacher focuses on poetry during the month of October, Benny faces down the smartest girl at school while also navigating his friendships and a difficult family life after his grandfather's multiple strokes.

Examines the French Revolution, discussing the history of the Palace of Versailles, the court style of Louis XVI, the storming of the Bastille, and other related topics; and providing profiles of prominent figures, including Marie Antoinette, Maximilien Robespierre, and Voltaire.

Thirteen-year-old John "Houdini" Smith tries to write a book about what is happening in his life, from his parents' worries about money and his brother in Iraq, to his new understandings of people while he and his friends rake lawns in their East Side Providence, Rhode Island neighborhood.

A sixteen-year-old boy tries to come to grips after he and his brother go for a joyride that ends in a hit-and-run.

Finishing their sophomore year of high school, Lucas and four of his closest friends experience a summer filled with laughter, love, tears, and loss, including the devastating aftermath of Derek's appearance on the reality television show, Loserville.