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Educators’ Guide for The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter by Barbara Carroll Roberts

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The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter
Author: Barbara Carroll Roberts
Published: July 22nd, 2025 by Margaret Ferguson Books

Summary: Bunny Baxter thinks nothing could be worse than starting seventh grade at a school where she knows no one. But after her first day, she realizes things can actually get much worse.

If Bunny Baxter were an insect, she’d have so many ways to slip through seventh grade unnoticed. But she’s tall instead of tiny, has flaming red Medusa hair instead of camouflage, and she suffers from social anxiety, which makes it hard to be part of a swarm. Worst of all, she’s been redistricted to a new middle school away from her best friend who she could always hide behind when her anxiety got the best of her.

The first day at E.D. Britt Middle School does not go well. Bunny trips on the steps, falls into the cutest boy in the school, and causes a kid domino pile-up. At lunch, she unintentionally causes an uproar in the cafeteria, which lands her and another girl in the principal’s office. Bunny decides there is only one option: to get expelled so she can transfer to the school her best friend attends.

She soon discovers that it isn’t that hard to get in trouble—don’t turn in your homework, walk around the track instead of run in P.E., pretend you deliberately hit someone with a badminton birdie. What isn’t so easy for Bunny is realizing she now has a reputation as a troublemaker. And even more confusing, when it looks like her plan to get expelled might work, she’s no longer sure what to do.

The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter is a heartfelt coming of age story about an insect-loving girl who is learning to grow into herself—quirks and all.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions: 

Please view and enjoy the educators’ guide I created for the author:

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

You can learn more about The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter on its page on Barbara Carroll Roberts’s website.

Recommended For: 

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Author Guest Post: “Activities with Adventures in the City of Stories” by Emma Otheguy, Author of Adventure in the City of Stories

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“Activities with Adventures in the City of Stories”

In Adventure in the City of Stories, cousins Siggy, Camila, and Jorge travel back in time to save historical artifacts: puppets made by librarian and author Pura Belpré. After reading Adventure in the City of Stories, try these creative activities and writing prompts!

  1. Learn more about the historical figures in the book: While visiting the year 1930 in their magic time-travel boat, the cousins meet literary luminaries who shaped the field of children’s literature. The book’s extensive backmatter includes lots of suggestions for further reading. You might want to start with these picture book biographies: My Name is Gabriela by Monica Brown, Miss Moore Thought Otherwise by Jan Pinborough, The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford, and Planting Stories by Anika Aldamuy Denise.
  2. Make a puppet: Librarians like Pura Belpré were famous for their dramatizations of literature and folktales, including pantomimes and puppet shows. Belpré even organized a club of kids to make their own puppets! Try using materials like brown paper bags, toilet paper tubes, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, brads, and of course paper, paint, and crayons to fashion your own puppet inspired by literature or folklore.
  3. Put your puppet in a museum: Imagine it’s a hundred years in the future. What makes your puppet special? Why would someone want to preserve it for history? Use a cardboard box and either saran wrap or the top of a plastic takeout container to put your puppet in a display case. If you’re working with a class or homeschool group, make a museum with all your displays!
  4. Write the wall text for your exhibit: If your puppet were really in a museum display case, what would the wall text say? Tell museum visitors who made your puppet and in what year. Describe the materials you used. Explain why the puppet is important and what visitors can learn from looking at the puppet.
  5. Find the portal: Look around your museum. A portal is a door to a different world–a magical or historical universe separate from ours–and in fiction portals are often found in ordinary places. The rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland and the wardrobe from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe are both examples of portals. In Adventure in the City of Stories, the cousins’ aunt has a large clay pot that acts as a portal. If there were a portal in your classroom, bedroom, or wherever your museum is located, what would it be? How would kids “activate” the portal and reach another world? Have fun writing about your portal!
  6. Share your project with the author!: I love when teachers and parents tell me about the creative activities kids have done with my books, and I always welcome pictures of student work. Educators can contact me through my website.

Adventure in the City of Stories
Author: Emma Otheguy
Illustrator: Poly Bernatene
Published July 21st, 2026 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

About the Book: Cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy never imagined that dusty old puppets and a mysterious book would launch them into a time-traveling adventure. But when they discover their aunt has treasures belonging to Pura Belpré, the trailblazing Latina librarian and storyteller, they’re transported back to 1930s New York City. Their mission? Race against time to return Pura’s puppets and a signed first edition of her book, proving their aunt isn’t a thief.

The past is full of danger, though. A powerful woman will stop at nothing to steal the book, the cousins’ nosy neighbor is snooping around, and the hardship of the Great Depression is all around them. Luckily Jorge, Camila, and Siggy meet Antonia, a fierce Puerto Rican girl fighting injustice against her community.

The cousins will need courage, quick thinking, and a little help from history to protect Pura Belpré’s legacy, clear their aunt’s name, and make it back home. Can they pull it off before time runs out?

About the Author: Emma Otheguy is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture books A Sled for Gabo and Martina Has Too Many Tías, the bilingual picture book Martí’s Song for Freedom, and the middle grade novels Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene, Cousins in the Time of Magic, Silver Meadows Summer, and, with Adam Gidwitz, The Madre de Aguas of Cuba, part of the Unicorn Rescue Society series. Visit her at EmmaOtheguy.com.

Educators, a READING GROUP GUIDE can be found on the book’s Simon & Schuster webpage HERE!

Thank you, Emma, for these fun activities to implement with your book!

Student Voices: The Power of Books from Mina Y. and Mily R.

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The Power of Books

“Books vs. Movies” by Mina Y., 7th grade

The long-time debate is movies vs. books: which one is better? Many people say books are better because they include more details, while others say movies are better because you can actually see what is happening. Both books and movies have good and bad sides, but books usually have more advantages. Books can show characters thoughts, emotions, and backstories, while movies sometimes skip those things to save time. Here are some examples of books that are better than the movies.

1: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief book is better than the movie because it shows Percy’s personality and humor through his thoughts and narration. Like when Percy demonstrates his intense loyalty and protective nature by choosing to send Medusa’s head to Olympus rather than keeping it, specifically to ensure his mother is freed from Gabe, a plot point that is completely absent from the movie. The story also includes more details about Greek mythology and the adventures Percy and his friends go through. The movie removes many jokes and important parts of the story. Because of that, the book feels more complete and exciting.

2: Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters book is better than the movie because it explains the adventure in much more detail and stays closer to the original story. In the book, it demonstrates his intense loyalty and protective nature by secretly taking Tyson on the quest, even defying Chiron’s orders, a deeper emotional connection not fully portrayed in the movie. Readers learn more about the characters and the Greek myths connected to the plot. The movie changes several parts of the story and leaves out important scenes, which makes it feel less exciting and funny than the book. When you read the book, you can imagine the world the way the author described it, but the movie feels more rushed and different.

3: Holes by Louis Sachar
The Holes book is better than the movie because it explains the characters’ thoughts and backstories more clearly. This helps readers understand the story’s mystery and connections. The book also gives more details about the setting and the events that happen at Camp Green Lake. While the movie shows the main parts of the story, it misses some of the deeper emotions and clever storytelling in the book. Stanley’s deep insecurity and struggle with his weight are prominently shown through his initial inability to defend himself against bullying by a much smaller kid, Derrick Dunne, that makes the book so interesting.

4: Wonder by R. J. Palacio
The Wonder Book is better than the movie because it tells the story from different characters’ points of view. In the book, Auggie jokes that if he were born in medieval times, he would have been roasted on a spit, showcasing his sharp, defensive humor that isn’t in the movie. This helps readers understand how each character feels and what they are going through. The book also shares Auggie’s thoughts and challenges in a deeper way, which helps readers connect with him. The movie shows the main events, but it leaves out some details and emotions that make the book so meaningful and inspiring.

5: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is better than the movie because it shows Greg’s funny thoughts in his diary entries. In the book, Greg often treats Rowley more like a project to be managed for his own personal gain, including having Rowley carry his backpack, which contrasts with the movie,ff where they often appear as more equal friends. The drawings and writing style make the story feel more personal and entertaining. Readers get to see Greg’s awkward and hilarious moments exactly how the author wrote them. The movie is still funny, but it leaves out some jokes and small details that make the book more fun to read.

6: The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Giver book is better than the movie because it shows Jonas’s thoughts and emotions more clearly. In the book, readers learn more about the rules of the society and how everything works in that world. It also explains the themes of freedom and choice in a deeper way. The movie shows the main events, but it misses some of the ideas and emotions that make the book so powerful. When Jonas accidentally hoards an apple, he immediately feels deep remorse and apologizes to his community, rather than challenging the rules as he does in the film.

7: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games book is better than the movie because it shows Katniss’s thoughts and feelings throughout the story. Readers get to understand her fears, choices, and struggles more clearly. The book also gives more background about the world and the other characters in the book. When Peeta admits his crush during the first interview, book-Katniss is furious and pushes him into a vase in the heat of the moment, whereas the movie plays this moment much more calmly, making her seem colder and more manipulative in the text. The movie has exciting action scenes, but it cannot show all the emotions and themes that the book explores.

8: Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
The Harry Potter books are better than the movies because they include much more detail about the magical world and the characters. Readers get to learn more about the friendships, challenges, and mysteries in the story.in The books In Order of the Phoenix, while being interviewed by Rita Skeeter, book Harry shows his rebellious side by quibbling with her and displaying a fiery temperament that contrasts with the often quiet, also explores deeper themes about bravery and growing up. The movies show many important moments, but they cannot include all the details and emotions that make the books so memorable.

In conclusion, while movies can be exciting and entertaining, books usually tell the story in a deeper and more detailed way. Books allow readers to understand the characters, thoughts, emotions, and backgrounds better than movies can. Many movies also remove or change important parts of the story because of time limits. Because of this, books often give readers a richer and more complete experience than movies.

“Hyperactivity, Reading, and Literacy” by Mily R., 7th grade

Hyperactivity can make everything harder, even reading. Although people may like books, hyperactivity can really put a strain on their reading. Sometimes not being able to sit still, or not being able to focus on the words can really make that difference. With this, it makes people with hyper activity prefer to read shorter chapters or quicker paced stories.

Some things that can happen are that they lose focus or they might have to re-read parts that they missed the first time, and it can bring frustration and anger which does not let the reader enjoy the book. Although other times they can hyperfocus that means that they can get really intrigued into a book and read big chunks at a time without losing focus because the book has captured their attention.

Over time reading is good with making good concentration and keeping their attention centered on the book. Having good concentration also helps with school work and a lot of other things. So some books that help grab attention are usually graphic novels and mangas because the type of story telling and illustrations help keep the readers attention on the book instead of having it jump the focus on something else. Next, audio books also help because the reader does not have to stress about the struggle of skipping a word or missing a line because it is simply being played in the reader’s ear. Also they can listen to the book while they do something else like cleaning or cooking because it helps boost their concentration by giving them something else to focus on so their attention spam lasts longer 

Last off is most people find ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and hyperactivity as the same thing when it’s not. The biggest difference is hyper activity is just hyper activity and adhd attention deficit hyper activity which focuses more on the lost atention. Although they can have a lot of the same skills they are not exactly the same. But if you need to, most of the time you can use helping tips from adhd on hyper activity. 

So after all of this, just because you have hyper activity doesn’t mean you can’t read. And I know that it’s gonna be hard, but hopefully you can take some tips and be able to better understand this condition. Now let’s take this as a sign to continue reading.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at books and reading in their life and the world!

Author Guest Post: “Ancient Setting, Modern Issues (Carefully Concealed)” by Anthony Peckham, Author of Children of the Black Glass Series

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“Ancient Setting, Modern Issues (Carefully Concealed)”

I have a 15 year old son with a finely tuned ear for any attempt to instruct, improve or enlighten him. The slightest hint and he will bolt for the hills (or basketball court), leaving an unread book in his wake. I remember being exactly the same. Perhaps we all  were like that.  

As a teenager, I wanted tense, twisty and dark. I wanted characters to love and characters  to fear and despise. I wanted fast pace, action and surprises. I wanted some form of  magic. I still do.  

But as a writer and a parent, I also wanted to explore some of the serious issues and concerns facing our children right now.  

So I hid them in the past. I set my Black Glass trilogy in an unstable time long ago, somewhere between the end of the age of stone and the beginning of the age of metal.  

This propulsive sibling saga covers just a year in the life of a family, a village and a city. Brother and sister are trying to deal with the disappearance of their mother two years  before. The remote village they live in is known for its rigid rules and ruthless attitude to  the outside world. The vast trading city they journey to is being ripped apart by a sorcerer’s coup.  

To survive, sister and brother have to rely on their formidable mountain skills and toughness, on strangers who become allies, and a sorcerer who is friend to nobody.  

Clearly, this is not a modern story in any way.  

However, the books explore contemporary issues like the processing of loss and grief, and the recovery of joy and purpose. They explore the idea of resilience. They explore  self determination for youth. They model and valorize competence. They engage with  environmental degradation and rehabilitation. They speak to our loss of faith in  institutions at a time of economic instability and uncertainty. They even explore  collective action against cultural and physical oppression … 

… without ever using any of the words and phrases I just laid upon you. These things are  all just an organic part of the story and action. If discussed at all, the words used are  appropriate to that time, not our time. And everything is processed through the minds,  hearts and souls of four teenagers of that ancient time.  

It turns out they’re much like our own teenagers.  

It seems to have worked. So far my son hasn’t bolted for the hills.  

The Black Glass trilogy is Children of the Black Glass, Winter’s Fire and The Law of  Solitude.

Children of the Black Glass Series
Author: Anthony Peckham

Book #3 The Law of Solitude Publishing July 28th, 2026 by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

About the Book: Tell and Wren face a wraith—a sorcerer gone rogue—in this third and final book in the Children of the Black Glass middle grade fantasy series that’s Howl’s Moving Castle meets Christopher Paolini!

Now a captive in Desert’s house, Wren learns the evil sorcerer has melded herself into a human body to become a wraith. Wielding even more power, more strength, and more magic than ever before, Desert’s still not satisfied…not until she consumes Wren’s too.

Tell will stop at nothing to save his sister, and while he lacks magic himself, he discovers one of their friends has mystical powers and is as determined as Tell is to save Wren—the girl who once saved him.

Separated for the first time, Tell and Wren are both left to rely on their quick wits, mountain training, and allies old and new to vanquish Desert once and for all. As desperate sorcerers prepare to battle the twisted wraith, they know losing would mean losing the city of Halfway…and each other.

About the Author: Anthony Peckham is an award-winning screenwriter and novelist. His movie credits include Invictus, Sherlock Holmes and Don’t Say A Word. He was awarded the Christopher Award and Paul Selvin Award by the Writers Guild of America for Invictus, and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Anthony was also awarded the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Spotlight Award in 2016. His Children of the Black Glass middle grade fantasy trilogy is published by Simon & Schuster.

Tony was born and raised in South Africa and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Cape Town in English and Classical History. He moved to California to attend film school at San Francisco State University and earned a M.A. in Film. He now lives in Hawaii with his family.

Thank you, Tony, for this post looking at how stories from all time periods can connect with teens of today!

Author Guest Post: “The Secret Map to Guiding Reluctant Readers” by Jessica Khoury, Author of Monster and Apprentice

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“The Secret Map to Guiding Reluctant Readers”

As much as we may debate causes and solutions, there is one grim fact all educators, parents, and publishers can agree on: Kids need to be reading more. With screens permeating every hour of our daily lives, constantly offering faster, easier dopamine hits, shortcuts, and distractions, the question comes up over and over:

“How do we make kids want to read?”

Having written for teens and kids for over fifteen years, seeing the market change dramatically in that time, and having become a parent myself, I’ve asked these questions repeatedly of both myself and the educators I meet. How do we help reluctant readers discover that “one right book” which will, rumor has it, ignite in them a lifelong love of reading?

Every reader, reluctant or not, is unique, and requires unique encouragement. There’s no “one size fits all” tactic for encouraging reluctant readers just as there’s no one book that will appeal to each of them. But throughout my years meeting readers at schools, festivals, libraries—and my own experience raising a reluctant reader—I’ve learned there is a secret map that helps us guide reluctant readers to just the right books.

The key to that map is surprisingly simple: Ask the right questions. Then listen without judgment.

When I meet a reader, I want to find out A) what they like, and B) why they like it. “Do you like video games? You do? Well, what do you like to play? What’s your favorite TV show? Do you play a sport?”

And while, yes, I hear a lot of “Dog Man, Fortnite, and Demon Slayer,” I never get tired of seeing their faces light up as they describe what they love. When a kid tells me what they like, they’re offering me something enormously valuable: a precious, precise manual of how to get their interest.

And that’s completely changed how I write books and how I connect them with young readers.

From the time I start a new story to the time the finished book finally hits store and library shelves, I’m thinking about my reader: What is she watching on TV? What is video game is he obsessed with? What is it about those stories that captures her imagination? How will my story fit into the cultural map of their lives? How can I connect it with what they already know and love?

“Oh, you like the intense battles in Demon Slayer? Me too! Hey, you should try reading Monster and Apprentice. It’s also about kids who fight monsters and use cool battle magic!” or “You play a lot of Fortnite battle royale, huh? Imagine if battle royales were real, and kids had no choice but to fight in one. That’s exactly what happens to this girl named Katniss in The Hunger Games!”

Of course, being able to make these connections requires us adults to cultivate awareness of what kids are into these days. That helps us know whether it’s the intense battles in Demon Slayer they like—or if it’s the brother-sister bond at the heart of the story, or the unique art style of the manga, or the hilarious friendship dynamic between the main characters. That’s where the “Why do you like it?” question becomes important, helping us create deeper connections between the concepts they’re drawn to and the books that will best reach them.

I do find this easier now that I’m a parent, I’ll admit. There’s no ignoring K-Pop Demon Hunters blasting on my TV for the thousandth time this year! But even if I didn’t have that immediate insight at my fingertips, the great thing about kids is they love to tell you all about what interests them. We just have to be curious and, it must be stressed, nonjudgmental.

I think there’s a part of us adults, born from good intentions, that can’t resist correcting a kid’s interests, to redirect them to what they “should” like. After all, don’t we know better? Isn’t it our job to help them grow and make better choices?

Well, maybe. But the fastest, surest way to discourage a potential reader is to dismiss their interests out of misguided didacticism. They hear us say graphic novels aren’t “real books,” that they should try reading something either easier or more challenging, or that books are better for them than video games—and they feel belittled and rejected. A negative judgment of what they enjoy will feel like a negative judgment of them. A book then becomes not an enticing story, but a punishment. Of course that will be met with reluctance, if not downright resistance!

Setting aside our own opinions and judgments long enough to see the reader in front of us is the first step to real connection. Once we know who they are and what they like, we can thoughtfully introduce books that will most naturally fit into the cultural map of their lives. We can know that this reader will like this book, not because we told them they must—but because we’ve taken the time to understand them and respect their interests. Kids know what they want. We just have to listen!

Monster and Apprentice by Jessica Khoury
Published July 14th, 2026 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

About the Book: After a life on the streets Rolan is chosen to apprentice under a feared monster hunter to slay Cryptics—deadly magical creatures born of secrets in this middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of Witcher and Demon Slayer.

Rolan Strider has never belonged—not at school, not in the city of Crisanth, and definitely not in the life of his crime-lord father. So when he’s caught vandalizing one of the city’s lanterns—a serious offense in a world where darkness breeds monsters—he expects prison. Instead, he’s claimed by the Arcanist, a legendary warrior who hunts Cryptics: terrifying creatures born from the secrets people hide.

Dragged beyond the safety of the city, Rolan is forced to train under Luc’s harsh guidance—learning to read, fight, and wield Arcana, the strange power drawn from slain Cryptics. And for the first time, Rolan begins to feel at home.

But the beast Luc has been hunting for years is closer than Rolan ever imagined—and tied to his own past in ways that could destroy them both.

To survive, Rolan must face the truth, wield the power of the very secrets he fears, and decide who he wants to be in this action-packed adventure: an outlaw, a hero…or something else entirely.

(For the first printing only! This hardcover features sprayed stenciled edges while the special edition supply lasts.)

About the Author: Jessica Khoury is an acclaimed author whose books for teens and young readers have been translated into over a dozen languages and recognized by awards like the South Carolina Junior Book Award and the Ignyte Award. Her bestselling middle grade debut, The Mystwick School of Musicraft, was named one of Audible’s Best Audiobooks of 2019 and is among the Top 20 Most Listened To Children’s Books ever. Also, a fantasy cartographer and illustrator, Jess’s artwork has appeared in New York Times bestsellers, games, and her own books. Drawing inspiration from her Scottish and Middle Eastern heritage, childhood, and the world around her, she lives in Greenville, South Carolina, with her husband and daughters, spending free time hiking, gaming, and creating new stories.

Thank you, Jessica, for the reminder to LISTEN because if we listen to kids, they will tell us!

Author Guest Post: “Why Simple Stories Aren’t Really Simple” by Brad Barkley, Author of The Reel Life of Zara Kegg

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“Why Simple Stories Aren’t Really Simple”

When handed a novel or short story to read, students are quick to make decisions about the characters. She’s the hero. He’s the villain. One character is a jerk. Another gets angry, so they must have anger issues. End of story. It’s a clean way of seeing things, and for a while, it works.

They do the same thing in real life (most of us do), so that’s what they’re bringing to the story. It’s just easier that way. But fiction gives us a place to slow that down a little, to see how quickly our judgments start to break apart, and how much more complicated—and more interesting—things usually are once you get close enough to someone on an emotional plane to start looking inside them.

In my YA novel The Reel Life of Zara Kegg, Zara lives in that same space for most of the book. The big line in the sand for her—there are people who tell the truth, and people who don’t. For the ones who don’t (including her mother’s doctors and nurses and, for a time, her father and boyfriend), you keep your distance. They are liars, so you don’t let them in. And that’s not just a rule, but a way of holding things together when everything around you is falling apart.

During all of this, she’s doing her job in the projection booth at the Palace Theater, showing old black-and-white movies—B movies, ’50s and ’60s sci-fi and horror. The kind with low budgets, bad rubber masks, and worse dialogue. In almost every cheap film of that era, a UFO falls out of the sky or a hidden monster crawls up from the swamp, and everyone—the military, the local science teacher, a few kids from the high school—spends the rest of the movie trying to figure out what it is and how to stop it. On the surface, these stories seem simple. A threat shows up, but in the end, it’s handled and order is restored.

But those movies were never so simple, never really just about the monster. Not exactly. They expressed Cold War fears of invasion, of annihilation, of something coming from above that you couldn’t defend against. In the movies, it’s a creature or a spaceship. In real life, at that time, it was nuclear weapons or foreign invaders. The movies gave those fears a shape, and, for a while at least, a way to contain them and make them manageable.

Watching them over and over, Zara starts to see that the lines we draw in real life aren’t as clear as she thought. There’s a movie she shows one night, The Hideous Sun Demon, where a scientist exposed to radiation turns into a monster, kills a few people, and terrorizes a lot more. On the surface, he’s exactly what you’d expect—a threat, something that has to be stopped. But as the movie goes on, that begins to shift. None of it was really his fault, and he spends most of the film trying to manage what’s happening to him by staying out of the sun, staying away from other people, doing what he can not to hurt anyone. By the end, Zara finds herself crying in an empty theater, because all he really wanted was to live his life in the dark, to be left alone.

It’s not hard to see why that resonates with her. She’s up in that booth most nights, by herself, working in the dark and trying to hold her life together in the wake of her mother’s death. The monster isn’t just a monster anymore, and the lines she’s been drawing—about who people are, what they’ve done, what that means—don’t hold in quite the same way.

I see other versions of that in the classroom. Students read a story or novel and want to put the entire work inside boxes with labels—who’s right, who’s wrong, what the story is “about.” And I get it. Our brains crave that kind of black-or-white thinking. But that’s also where much of the life of the story gets flattened. As teachers we start looking for theme, or symbols, our own labels, so we can name them and move on, instead of staying with the character long enough to understand what’s actually going on with them, what motivates that person, what their interior life is like.

What tends to matter more is slowing that down. Not asking what the story means, exactly, but what this person is doing, what they’re feeling, why it doesn’t always line up. That kind of attention—trying to understand before you label—goes a long way, not just with literature, but with people. It’s more interesting to stay with the character a little longer. To get students to ask what they’re doing, what they’re not saying, what doesn’t quite add up. Not to excuse it, necessarily, but to understand it. That shift—from labeling to paying attention—changes the conversation along with our own understanding. It changes how we read and how deeply the right book can resonate. It also changes how we read and understand people, even those we are quick to label. And that’s a life skill that will stay with us always, making our lives that much deeper and richer.

The Reel Life of Zara Kegg
Author: Brad Barkley
Published June 16th, 2026 by Regal House

About the Book: 16-year-old Zara still feels like an outsider in Carolina Beach. Working during the beach’s off-season as the lone projectionist at the Palace—a rundown retro cinema that shows only vintage ’50s sci-fi and horror flicks, including a major Godzilla marathon—she spends her nights in a dusty booth, fueled by coffee, pushups, and the occasional existential crisis. Then she meets Zachary, who might be the most interesting person she’s ever met. As their friendship deepens into something more, Zara learns about the struggles Zachary hides beneath his charm and wonders if trust is possible.

About the Author: Brad Barkley is the author of the novels “Money, Love” and “Alison’s Automotive Repair Manual,” named as Best Books of the Year by The Washington Post and Library Journal. He has published two story collections, and his short work has appeared in 40+ magazines including The Southern Review, The Georgia Review, Oxford American, and Virginia Quarterly Review, which twice awarded him the Emily Clark Balch Prize for Fiction. He’s also the co-author of three YA novels — Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, Dream Factory, and Jars of Glass — recognized by the American Library Association and the New York State Reading Association. Before becoming Professor of Creative Writing, he worked a string of odd jobs—from short-order cook and roofer to telemarketer, dairy bottling line worker, and even hang-gliding instructor—work that keeps his fiction grounded in real places and people. He has received multiple Maryland State Arts Council awards and a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Find out more about him at www.bradbarkley.com.

Thank you, Brad, for this reminder that there is more to stories than what is first seen!

Student Voices: Books and Characters We Love from Abigail D., Ranim A., Nicolle D., and Aseel H.

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Books and Characters We Love

“Books with a Meaningful Quotes and What They Mean to Me” by Abigail D., 8th grade


The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

“Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold”
What this quote means to me is that the love and care Jonny was giving to Ponyboy even when he was in his last few moments he still made sure that his last words were meant for Ponyboy. This story line has impacted me in so many ways where it’s not even describeable to explain how much this book changed me but in the best way possible.


It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

“And no matter what you do or how hard you try, you can’t stop yourself from dreaming.”
What this quote means to me is that there is always still hope and faith at the end even when it gets tough there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. You just need faith and believe in yourself that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.


Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

“Peter and Lara Jean will always tell each other the truth even if it’s hard.”
What this quote means to me is that their love is so strong and they know it may be hard but they’ll get through it together because they have earned trust in each other that makes their relationship so strong. Their bond is something unbreakable and to cherish every moment of. 


The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

“Drawing some kinds of feelings might mean mixing in both facial expressions and body language.”
What this quote means to me is that they are showing feelings in many different forms which shows creativity which I admire so much. Finding your interest through many styles is something that is hard but is something that is capable of achieving.


Guts by Raina Telgemeier

“It takes guts to face your fears.”
What this quote means to me is that you may be scared or afraid to face things you may be scared, anxious, or nervous about but you need to have faith in yourself that you can do it. Trust your gut. I believe that you never know until you try and what this book shows is that you have to trust yourself and give things a try.


Real Friends by Shannon Hale

“Growing up means things change.”
What this quote  means to me is that as you grow, things can’t always stay the same forever. Change in people’s life can be handled in multiple ways but that’s how you move forward in life. You have to take risks to know what is the right thing to do and if it ends in the other direction, you always learn from your mistakes.


When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

“Those who are lost look to the stars that lead them home.”
What this quote means to me is that home doesn’t always have to be a place, it could also be a person. Having your home as a person can mean multiple things such as family, friends, etc.


Smile by Raina Telgemeier

“Something happens when you smile at people. They smile back.”
What this quote means to me is that showing kindness to people can make someone’s whole day brighter. Having something so little just as a friendly smile can impact a lot more than you know.


Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

“Be yourself and people will like you.”
What this quote means to me is that people have to learn and acknowledge you to know the true you, not just the image you show but the other factors you have. Being your true self is a way to find people with the same interest you do.


All Summer Long by Hope Larson

“Okay, but do you know that feeling when you hear a great song, and it’s like the song knows you? That’s what music is for.”
What this quote means to me is that when I listen to something that I enjoy, it’s relaxing and makes me feel more at peace. Finding something that makes you feel so relaxed and calm is so nice, especially with music. With music you listen to a sound or beat and it’s all you can hear in the world.

“Thriller Books That Are Actually Good For Middle Schoolers” by Ranim A., 8th grade

If you think thriller books are all super scary or violent or just “ too much “, that’s not really true. There are actually a lot of thriller and mystery books that are really good for middle schoolers. They still have suspense, and plot twists, but without anything too inappropriate.

In my opinion, thriller books are some of the best books to read at this age because they keep you interested. Like, instead of forcing yourself to read something you don’t like, you actually want to know what happens next.

Why Thriller Books Are Actually Good For Middle Schoolers

Thrillers aren’t just for entertaining, they’re actually pretty helpful too.

  • They make you think and solve clues 
  • They improve problem solving skills
  • They keep you interested in reading
  • They help you understand characters and decisions

A lot of middle grade thrillers are written specifically for ages 11-14, meaning they avoid graphic content and keep things appropriate while still being exciting.

Also these types of books usually focus more on mystery, puzzles, and adventure instead of anything too intense or mature.

What Makes A Thriller “Age Appropriate?”

Before recommending books, it’s important to understand what makes them okay for middle schoolers : 

  • Language is appropriate 
  • Romance ( or if any it would be pretty limited )
  • Focuses on mostly mystery and adventure 

This is why middle grade thrillers are different from older teen thrillers. They’re exciting but not overwhelming.

Best Thriller Books For Middle Schoolers

Here are some really good options that are popular and are actually pretty enjoyable:


Framed! by James Ponti

  • About a kid who solves mysteries using observation skills
  • Feels like a detective story but fun and recent
  • Easy to read but still really interesting 

This book is great because it focuses on solving puzzles instead of anything scary or inappropriate 


Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

  • Set in a boarding school 
  • Two girls start a detective club
  • They investigate a suspicious death

Even though it sounds pretty intense, it’s written in a lighter, more “ cozy mystery “ way so it’s still appropriate for younger readers.


The Jumbies by Tracie Baptiste 

  • Super creepy but also really fun 
  • Based on Caribbean folklore
  • A girl has to face mysterious creatures 

This book is a perfect example of a thriller that’s scary but not too scary. It’s described as having “ just the right amount of scary for middle schoolers “.


Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

  • A spooky mystery involving a strange book and a creepy farm
  • Strong main character 
  • Lots of suspense 

It’s popular because it mixes mystery and horror in a way that’s still appropriate for middle school readers.


Swipe by Evan Angler

  • Set in a futuristic world 
  • Kids have to decide whether to follow a strict system 
  • Includes mystery and rebellion 

This one is more of a thriller with action and deeper ideas, but it’s still written for middle grade readers.


Mostly Ghostly series by R.L. Stine

  • About a boy who can see ghosts 
  • Mix of mystery, humor, and suspense
  • Not too scary, more fun than terrifying

This series is actually made for ages 11-14 so it’s right in the middle school range.

Why These Books Work

All of these books have something in common : 

  • They keep you guessing 
  • They’re exciting but not appropriate 
  • They focus on story not shock 

Thriller books for middle schoolers are designed to build interest in reading. They give you that feeling like “ what happens next? “ without crossing content that’s too mature.

Final Thoughts

Overall, thriller books are honestly one of the best genres for middle schoolers. They’re not boring, they’re not too childish, and they actually make reading fun.

If someone says “ they don’t like reading “ I feel like they just haven’t found the right thriller yet. Once you find a good one, it’s really hard to stop.

So yeah thrillers aren’t just for adults. There are tons of age appropriate ones out there that are exciting, interesting, and are actually worth reading.

“Ten Book Characters I Would Want to Be Friends With” by Nicolle D., 6th grade

My New Life As a Cat: A character I would want to be friends with in My New Life as a Cat is Chika because she’s so sweet she’s so gentle with Nao. And her friends seem so cool. I hundred percent want to be friends with Chika and her friend group her friends seem so cool and nice.

Phoebe And Her Unicorn In The Magic Storm: A character I would want to be friends with in Phoebe and Her Unicorn in the Magical Storm is the dragon. The reason I would want to be friends with the dragons is that the dragon was so gentle and sweet and had to have someone understand her.

Places We’ve Never Been: A character I would want to be friends with in Places We’ve Never Been. He cared for Norah so much but Norah was already interested in Skyler. Tyler helped her out so much he was so sweet. Tyler understood her and that’s a good friend even if she doesnt like him he still understood her.

Take a Chance On Me: A character I would want to be friends with in Take a Chance on Me is Poppy. Poppy was Evie’s dads ex ex-girlfriend but she cared about Evie like she was her own daughter and talked to her when things were going down for Evie and I would want to be friends with someone who will be there for me. 

Dork Diaries: I Love Paris!: A character I would want to be friends with in Dork Diaries is Nicky. I would like to be friends with Nicky so I can go to Paris with her and Nicky is very sweet so she would be nice to hangout with especially in Paris.

Ghoulfriends Forever: A character I would like to be friends with in Ghoulfriends Forever is Frankie. I would want to be friends with Frankie because she’s so cool and I would love to join her on her adventures.

Invisible: A character I would want to be friends with is all of the characters. I want to be friends with all of them because I can help them help Lisa and her mom. Plus everyone in that group is so nice.

The Dot: I would want to be friends with the girl in the end of The Dot to teach her about art in the most creative ways. She had the same story as the main character she thought she could never draw, but I could be friends with her and show her. 

Dog Man: Dog Man is a really nice guy and I would want to be friends with him because I’d love to help the world with him. He has saved so many lives and i could join him with his adventures.

Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess: I would like to be friends with the famous dog. She was such a classy girl, and I would love to gain fame. Maybe we can make an account together and post together. We could go on little trips!

“My Top 5 Books and Why” by Aseel H., 6th grade


Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson

Why I personally chose this book as my favorite of all time is because it was one of the first books that I actually really loved and couldn’t wait to keep reading and reading,  that book was probably the only thing I even wanted to do and the first book that took me only 3 days to finish and its actually rare for that but for this book I don’t even know how to describe it cause I haven’t always been a fan of books but if I can I would make all my books that I read be like this one because my actually love for this book  is crazy and shocking especially for me I mean I didn’t really expect it to be this good but it really is and I  just have no words to describe how much I enjoyed reading this book 


All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Why I like this book is because basically Grace is a complex, often nervous and, at times, unreliable narrator who is dealing with trauma, making her journey to find her mother’s killer deeply compelling and “unflinching”. The plot is full of twists and turns, often leaving readers guessing about the truth of Grace’s claims and the true nature of the characters around her. Its kinda basically A strong, eclectic group of teenagers aids in breaking down the mystery, and that’s why I love the book so much


The Miscalculations Of Lighting Girl by Stacy McAnulty

Why I like this book a lot  is because like basically its about a girl named Lucy Callanan that was struck by lighting but instead of dying she survived and also got genius level math skills, and ever since that day she has been home schooled, (I mean she’s 12 but she could actually go to college for how smart she is so yeah), and I just loved the book because of everything that happened and just the book in general, I mean I just have no wards to describe how much I enjoyed reading this book and for a fact that’s kinda rare for me to say.


Jacky Ha Ha by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Why I enjoyed reading this book is because I read this book in my summer before middle school and then I really had no interest in books then but that was the first book that I actually enjoyed for a long time ( that was probably the only one I enjoyed cause like i said before i had no interest )  and just me waiting to open the book without someone forcing me to is also one of the reasons I really enjoyed this book cause I wanted to open the book and read I wanted to finish it nobody made me I wanted and that is just rare for me to want that so that’s probably why I really enjoyed this book.


Dork Diaries Crush Catastrophe by Rachel Renée Russell

Why really liked this book is because like basically its like it has so many things stuff happening in the story like high-stakes romantic drama, relatable middle-school stuff and with her having to go through a love triangle and that without all this stuff in the story it wouldn’t be as good and why I choose this book out of the whole series is like that it was hard but because there’s so many stuff in the story that make the story really amazing and thats why I choose this one for the one I enjoyed a lot . 

“My Top 10 Characters and Why” by Aseel H., 6th grade


Jacky Hart

Why I choose this character as my favorite is because I like the way she lives life, her personality, her style for life and how she growing beyond her need to make others laugh, and that she’s funny, relatable , and that she learns how to be more than just the class clown and that without her I feel like the story wouldn’t be amazing.


Grace, Noah, and Alexei

Why I liked this character is because Grace isn’t a typical girl; she struggled with trauma because of her mothers death and  because she thinks it was a murder. Even though everyone around her believes she’s “ crazy “ she still tries to find the truth about her mother. She’s determined, reckless, emotionally scarred, fearless and brave and that without her the story wouldn’t be how it is.

Why I liked this character is because Noah is described as an engaging and enthusiastic person who quickly bonds with grace, and when everyone else wants to avoid grace he becomes a loyal “best friend”, even while grace is surrounded by danger and Noah is still here and always tries to cheer grace up. He is hilarious, charming, and fiercely loyal character, cheerful and supportive and without him the story wouldn’t be that good.

Why I liked this character is because Alexei is fiercely protective of Grace, stemming from his loyalty to her family and their shared childhood friendship. He acts as a “sworn watcher,” keeping a close eye on her, often acting as an older brother figure. He is the charming, protective, and mysterious Russian “bad boy” who provides intense romantic tension and is very loyal to grace even though he provides a “brother-sister” bond that adds depth to their romance, and that the story wouldn’t be the same if he wasn’t in it.


Chadwick and Miles

Why I liked this character is because for chadwick in the story Blood in the Water, we didn’t really have much of him because he was murdered but while he was in the story he was really charismatic, popular, and welcoming teenage boy who helps protagonist Kaylani fit in, making his shocking death pivotal to the mystery ,  As Chadwick whose death drives the investigation, his charm is remembered throughout the story, highlighting the tragedy of the event. He is kind and welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable, and popular, and that even though he was barely in the story the parts he was in did really impact the story in a great way.

Why I liked this character is because Miles  is the brother of Chadwick and he has to navigate through trauma while giving comfort to kanlani and also that miles isn’t snobby like most of the kids at that place. Throughout all of that Miles was a heartwarming friend, relatable, resilient, supportive, emotionally deep and most importantly, a loyal friend.


Stacy

Why I liked this character is because Stacy moved to Stoneybrook from New York City but didn’t take too long of time to make friends, but other than that Stacy wasn’t a normal teenage girl, she had type 1 diabetes, but that didn’t stop her from doing the amazing stuff she did, though what i like about her is her style and that in the stories manly some new york kids are like snobby but shes not shes a really nice person . She is mature, slightly sassy, she’s someone who brings a bold, cheerful energy to the group while managing Type 1 diabetes, she also a math whiz, resilient, responsible and most importantly she’s a loyal friend.


Nikki

Why I liked this character is because Nikki isn’t your normal school girl; she’s more of a down to earth person. Nikki represents the “everygirl” who is not in the popular crowd, making her experiences with insecurity and navigating school life feel real. She often puts everything she does in her diary, although she struggled with confidence she was able to stand up for herself. While she goes through all the drama at school that goes with her bully her friends, her home  and most importantly her crush Brandon. She is highly relatable, artistic, kind, imaginative, a talented artist, self-proclaimed “dork,” over-dramatic, emotional, thoughtful, and, most importantly, a caring friend.


Nico

Why I liked this character is because Nico Pineda, one of the five kids in the book. He is a Venezuelan American boy who initially presents as a “stuck-up rich kid,” but proves to be a caring and empathetic friend.  At the beginning of the story, Nico appears to be lazy and arrogant, acting indifferent to the mandatory community service work and sometimes acting like a bully to deflect attention away from himself, though by the end He moves beyond his selfish persona to become instrumental in helping others, such as helping Celeste find a job and get necessary aid. 

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at books and characters they love!