CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN A THAI RESTAURANT

by Christina Soontornvat

THE COOLNESS EQUATION

by Adam Gidwitz

THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING TO GORDON KORMAN

by Gordon Korman

I AM THE GREATEST

by James Bird

BONES

by J.C. Cervantes

THE DAY THE HOT DOG TRUCK CAME TO TOWN

by Max Brallier

SWEET SURPRISE

by Hena Khan

LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER ON HER EIGHTH-GRADE GRADUATION

by Pablo Cartaya

HOPE IN THE HALLS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL

by Karina Yan Glaser

HELPFUL TIPS FOR THE WORST WEEK OF YOUR LIFE

by Stuart Gibbs

THE ADVENTURES OF ME AND SUPERSQUIRT

by Sarah Mlynowski

PANIC! AT THE MOVIES

by Julie Buxbaum

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

by James Ponti

COLORS OF JUNE

by Rex Ogle

ON HOPES AND DREAMS

by Janae Marks

MAJOR MALFUNCTION

by Tom Angleberger

HOPE I DON’T SEE A GHOST

by R.L. Stine

VICTORY AFTER DEFEAT

by Soman Chainani

MY FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH

by Veera Hiranandani

THE BOY IN THE BACK OF THE CLASS

by Ronald L. Smith

THE FRIEND WHO CHANGED MY LIFE

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

THERE’S MORE TO PLAYIN’ BALL THAN JUST PLAYIN’ BALL

by Matt de la Peña

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS