Troublemakers

"We hate school, but trust me, it doesn't like us either."
- Carlos in "Troublemakers" There's the athletes, the straight-A students, the jazz band, the computer club... and then there's these kids. Meet Carlos, Tina, and Byron, three sixth graders who have two objectives in life: to avoid homework at all costs and to make lots of money so they can buy a sweet car and learn to drive it. Their knack for get-rich-quick schemes and clever methods of cheating are only surpassed by their failure to notice how badly most of their plans blow up in their faces. Gregg Maxwell Parker's first title for middle grade and young adult readers will take you on a side-splitting, rude, and somehow encouraging ride through the perils of middle school with three kids who absolutely refuse to be told what to do. Whether dreaming up ways to con classmates out of their allowances, going to incredible lengths to jump on a trampoline, or navigating the ins and outs of snack-based time travel, they've always got something up their sleeves, even if it usually ends up getting them detention. This book is for anyone who knows what the inside of the principal's office looks like, who looks at the happy families on TV like a dog looks at a smartphone, and who can't fathom why any sane person would ever want to become a teacher. Get ready: this one will be a blast for troublemakers of all ages.