Published: April 01, 2012
Words: 58,466 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9780985387815

Short description

Derek Dawson has big plans for the summer after 8th grade, but things don't fall into place quite like he expected.

Extended description

Sleeping late. Hanging with friends. Freedom.
Ah, Summer…

Derek Dawson couldn’t wait to finish middle school. Unfortunately, a heroic attempt to impress his classmates on the last bus ride home sends him right back to the principal’s office. He’s been in trouble before, but nothing like this. (Read more) Sleeping late. Hanging with friends. Freedom.
Ah, Summer…

Derek Dawson couldn’t wait to finish middle school. Unfortunately, a heroic attempt to impress his classmates on the last bus ride home sends him right back to the principal’s office. He’s been in trouble before, but nothing like this.

Working for free. Musty books. Grounded.
Summer Ruined!

Derek's summer leaves him stuck at home, working at the family store, and “volunteering” at a library. Torture, until he meets a colorful crew of kids in the next town that help him uncover his hidden talents. Will Derek finally be able to prove to his parents that he’s more than just a trouble-maker?

I’ve never fit in before. Football’s not my thing, video games aren’t my thing.
But now…now I’ve found my thing
(Less)

Tags

performance, middle school, community, library, summer vacation, vaudeville, juggling, talent show, juggler, perserverance, friendships changing

Available ebook reading formats

Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.

Format	Full Book	Sample First 10%
Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser)	Buy	View sample
Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)	Buy	No sample available
Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	No sample available
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)	Buy	No sample available
RTF (readable on most word processors)	Buy	No sample available
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	No sample available
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)	Buy	No sample available

Reviews

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Review by: Diana Thomsen on April 18, 2013 :
I enjoyed this book! While it took me a little time to get into the story, I found the characters enjoyable and the story engaging. By the end I really was having difficulty putting it down, as I really wanted to see how it all worked out. I'm glad I took the time for this one.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Ellen Fleischer on July 10, 2012 :
Excellent. Derek has an authentic voice, and it's great to see him mature over the course of the summer. His conflicts are realistic and, while it's easy to understand the issues he has with his family, they too come across as believable.

The story covers a lot of familiar YA ground, but the narrative is fresh and engaging. Or, to put it a different way? I read the last 20% at 3 a.m. because I just couldn't put it down.

Also, I'll admit that when it comes to downloading free e-books, I've sort of accepted that there will be more mechanical (SPaG) issues. Not here. I'm not sure whether the author engaged the services of a professional editor, has a very good beta, or just reviewed carefully before uploading, but the text is polished and professional.

I'm eagerly awaiting her next book, and while I'd like to read more about Derek, I'll probably be just as happy if she introduces someone new next time around. Kudos!
(review of free book)

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