Negron, Chris

Thirteen-year-old Dan blames himself when his best friend Nate is hit in the head by a baseball during practice--desperate to help, Dan seizes on the suggestion that even in a coma Nate may be able to hear him, and sets out to read to Nate from the superhero comic books that both boys love.

"It seems like everything in his life is changing for the worse. After his own much-loved dog dies, he can't bring himself to carry on with his dog-walking business; there's a strange new girl who's moved into the house next door; and suddenly there's a buzzing feeling of anxiety in his head and heart when he's faced with something new. His neighborhood, Townsend Heights, used to feel like the most comfortable place in the world. But lately, it seems like everyone is arguing, and there's uncertainty around every corner. The neighborhood's only vacant lot is somehow behind it all, Mortimer is sure of that much. If he can unearth the lot's secret history, he just might stop the Heights from unraveling completely. Mortimer can't save Townsend Heights on his own. But when it comes to community, you're never truly on your own--not as long as you're willing to learn from the past, in order to do better in the future"--Provided by publisher.

"For as long as he can remember, Curtis Pith has been obsessed with becoming a chef like Lucas Taylor, host of Super Chef. And Curtis has a secret: Taylor is actually his long-absent father. So when Taylor announces a kids-only season of Super Chef, Curtis finally sees his chance to meet his dad. But after Curtis wins a spot in the competition and arrives in New York to film the show, nothing goes as smoothly as he expected. It's all riding on the last challenge. If Curtis cooks his heart out like he knows he can, he just might go home with the top prize--and the truth"--Provided by publisher.

"For as long as he can remember, Curtis Pith has been obsessed with becoming a chef like Lucas Taylor, host of Super Chef. And Curtis has a secret: Taylor is actually his long-absent father. So when Taylor announces a kids-only season of Super Chef, Curtis finally sees his chance to meet his dad. But after Curtis wins a spot in the competition and arrives in New York to film the show, nothing goes as smoothly as he expected. It's all riding on the last challenge. If Curtis cooks his heart out like he knows he can, he just might go home with the top prize--and the truth"--Provided by publisher.

Thirteen-year-old Dan blames himself when his best friend Nate is hit in the head by a baseball during practice--desperate to help, Dan seizes on the suggestion that even in a coma Nate may be able to hear him, and sets out to read to Nate from the superhero comic books that both boys love.