At the beginning of eighth grade, learning disabled Max and his new friend Freak, whose birth defect has affected his body but not his brilliant mind, find that when they combine forces they make a powerful team. An established writer of adult suspense makes a stunning entry into children's literature with this extraordinary novel about two boys--a slow learner too large for his age, and a tiny, crippled genius--who pair up to create on formidable...

Stuck in summer school while his friends enjoy a "Passport to Hawaii, " nearly-eleven-year-old Hank needs to earn an A on an oral report about Einstein in order to participate in Magik 3's talent show act at the luau extravaganza.

Fifteen-year-old Macy, officially labeled "disturbed" by her school, records her impressions of her rough neighborhood and home life as she tries to rescue her brother from Child Protective Services, win back her overachieving best friend after a fight, and figure out whether to tell her incarcerated father about her mother's cheating.

Hank's cousin Judith Ann is an excellent cook, and does not let Hank forget it, but when Hank enters a cooking competition with her he finds out that she has trouble in school, just like Hank.

"Years ago, a picnic basket brought two hearts together. For Rachel and Mike, history may be about to repeat itself. Rachel Fisher is devastated when the young man she's loved for years leaves her to date her best friend. Her heart is broken, and she has all but given up on love. Rachel is determined to keep her mind off the pain, and she starts teaching at an Amish school for children with learning disabilities. Since his father became ill, Mike...

After successfully hiding her learning disability problems from her Australian pen pal, Jennifer becomes very apprehensive when her friend announces she is coming for a visit and wants to spend a day at her school.

"Nelson use to think school was all about playing around and talking with his friends. When Nelson learns that he has been placed in Special Education, he fears being teased. Consequently, he keeps his learning disability and ADHD diagnosis a secret. With the encouragement of his parents and assistance from Mrs. T., his Special Education teacher, Nelson pushes the boundaries and discovers his potential"--Page 4 of cover.

Eleven-year-old Mary Ella, ashamed that her older brother Morton is a slow learner and longing for a friend of her own, is astonished when the flamboyant new girl on the block picks Morton for a friend.

Adonis is smart, intellectually gifted and born without legs; Autumn is strong, a great wrestler, and barely able to read in ninth grade--but Autumn is attracted to Adonis and determined to make him a part of her life whatever he or her best friend thinks.