Why am I passionate about this?

Middle school was a particularly difficult time for me, a lonely outsider often buried in a book. I didn’t expect to become a comic writer but I fell in love with them in college when my roommate came home with piles of indie books every Wednesday. Now I write comics and adapt stories for Scholastic, including Lauren Tarshis's popular disaster series I Survived


I wrote

Clifford the Big Red Dog

By Georgia Ball,

Book cover of Clifford the Big Red Dog

What is my book about?

Emily Elizabeth is struggling to fit in at home and in school when she meets Clifford, a tiny red puppy…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Twins

Georgia Ball Why did I love this book?

Twins is an original story that features the conflict between twin sisters as they both run for school president. There’s no simple or quick resolution to family disagreements and this book doesn’t try to give it one. The sisters learn from their parents, learn from each other, and ultimately learn more about themselves. I love honesty and complexity; this graphic novel doesn’t avoid either one.

By Varian Johnson, Shannon Wright (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Twins as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

A heartfelt and delightful middle-grade graphic novel,
from the award-winning author Varian Johnson and rising cartoonist
Shannon Wright.
Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best
friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods and are partners
on all their school projects.

But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes
Fran - a girl who wants to join the chorus, run
for class president and dress in fashionable outfits that set her
apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two
classes with her sister!

Maureen and Francine are growing apart and…


Book cover of Nat Enough

Georgia Ball Why did I love this book?

My writing class encourages us to write memoirs about that time we were “the worst person in the room.” Mistakes make main characters vulnerable and relatable. As Nat pursues her first crush and alienates her friends, she turns into the kind of person you wish you could take aside for harsh truths before she ruins her life. Nat bumbles her way to better choices and there’s nothing more relatable than that.

By Maria Scrivan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Nat Enough as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

For fans of Dork Diaries and Wimpy Kid comes a funny,
heartfelt story about friendship!
Making friends isn't easy, but losing them is even harder!

Natalie has never felt that she's enough - athletic enough, stylish
enough, or talented enough.

And on the first day of middle school, Natalie discovers that
things are worse than she thought: now she's not even cool enough
for her best friend, Lily!

As Natalie tries to get her best friend back, she learns more
about her true self and natural talents.

If Natalie can focus on who she is rather than who she
isn't,…


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Book cover of Haven

Haven By Valerie Biel,

Taking only what they can quickly pack, 11-year-old Mardella and her mom secretly move away from their abusive home to start a fresh life in Haven, MN. But Mardella’s sure she's to blame—if only she hadn’t dialed 911, her dad wouldn’t be in jail, her mom wouldn't have been fired,…

Book cover of All's Faire in Middle School

Georgia Ball Why did I love this book?

I used to love going to the Texas Renaissance Fair with my family every year and often imagined what it would be like to work the booths. I also used to tutor homeschooled kids when I was in high school and this graphic novel is a fascinating cross-section of those two worlds. Imogene struggles to fit in with the standards of a new school, something that happens to many kids who aren’t even part-time knights.

By Victoria Jamieson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked All's Faire in Middle School as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

Calling all Raina Telgemeier fans! The Newbery Honor-winning author of Roller Girl is back with a heartwarming graphic novel about starting middle school, surviving your embarrassing family, and the Renaissance Faire.

Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she's eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she'll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind—she'll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it's not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a…


Book cover of Drama

Georgia Ball Why did I love this book?

I admire honesty in storytelling and Drama stuck with me long after I’d put it down. While I don’t recommend it for very young readers who might have been fans of Smile, it’s a poignant story for 7th to 8th graders who might be in the middle of their first crush. There is all kinds of drama behind the scenes, especially in theater; sometimes the boy doesn’t like you and sometimes it’s because he likes another boy. It happens, and Callie learns to accept that, remain friends and move on.

By Raina Telgemeier,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Drama as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

Raina Telgemeier, the author of the award-winning SMILE, brings us
her next full-colour graphic novel . . . DRAMA!

Callie loves theatre. And while she would totally try out for her
middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi, she's a terrible
singer. Instead she's the set designer for the stage crew,
and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway
on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know
much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members
are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage
AND offstage drama that…


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Book cover of Wand

Wand By Landra Jennings,

Eleven-year-old Mira wishes everything could go back to the way it was. Before she changed schools and had to quit gymnastics. Especially before Papa died. Now she spends her days cooking and cleaning for her stepsisters and Val—who she still won’t call mom and still won’t forgive for the terrible…

Book cover of Real Friends

Georgia Ball Why did I love this book?

Friendships are messy and Real Friends tackles that fact head-on. Shannon’s best friend turns vicious and impossible to please when their status with the in-crowd is at stake. Having gone through my own tumultuous friendships growing up, it’s easy to imagine how readers can get involved in the arguments and take sides.

By Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Real Friends as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Following little Shannon's life from kindergarten through fifth grade, Real Friends captures the emotional roller coaster ride of friendship, from navigating the tricky waters of cliques and bullies to her never-ending struggle to stay in "The Group." Shannon's honest and heartfelt story reminds us of how hard it was to learn what real friends are-and why finding them is worth the journey.


Explore my book 😀

Clifford the Big Red Dog

By Georgia Ball,

Book cover of Clifford the Big Red Dog

What is my book about?

Emily Elizabeth is struggling to fit in at home and in school when she meets Clifford, a tiny red puppy who is destined to become her best friend. But when Clifford undergoes a magical growth spurt overnight, he attracts the attention of a genetics company looking for a way to supersize animals. With the help of her Uncle Casey, the people in her neighborhood, and some new friends made along the way, Emily Elizabeth and Clifford have to go on the run across New York City!

This graphic novel adaptation features original illustrations and exclusive new scenes and stories not seen in the movie.

Book cover of Twins
Book cover of Nat Enough
Book cover of All's Faire in Middle School

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