Gary Schmidt

Discover the incredible true story of Sojourner Truth, a woman whose spirit was too strong to be contained! Born into slavery, Sojourner dreamed of a world where everyone was free and treated with respect. This powerful picture book takes you on her journey from hardship to courage, showing how she found her freedom and became a voice for change. Sojourner traveled far and wide, sharing her powerful words and standing up for the rights of both women and African Americans. Her unwavering belief in justice and equality helped to shape history. You'll be inspired by her bravery and learn how one person's determination can make a huge difference in the world. It’s a wonderful way to meet a true hero and understand the importance of speaking up for what is right.

What fills a hand fuller than a skein of gold? By order of the king, two boys, Tousle and Innes, must find the answer to this puzzling riddle within seven days or be killed. A former nursemaid to the queen's child tells the boys that the banished queen may have the answer they seek. Danger presents itself at every turn, for the boys are pursued by the Great Barons, who are secretly plotting against the king. Another pursuer, the greedy King's Grip, reveals a strange story of a little man who once spun straw into gold of incredible beauty for the queen but then disappeared with her firstborn son. Tousle realizes that the man he calls Da is the strange little man and, even more amazing, that he himself may be the lost prince. Or could it be Innes, who although cruelly blinded can hear the music of the dawn?

This skillful blend of fantasy and adventure reveals what might have happened before the queen makes her third and last guess and the story of Rumpelstiltskin--as we know it--ends.

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As they are pursued by greedy villains, two boys on a quest to save innocent lives meet the banished queen whose son was stolen by Rumpelstiltskin eleven years earlier, and she provides much more than the answer they seek.

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Pursued by greedy villains, two boys on a quest to save innocent lives meet the banished queen whose son was stolen by Rumpelstiltskin eleven years earlier, and she provides much more than the answer they seek.

“Henry Smith’s father told him that if you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.” But Trouble comes careening down the road one night in the form of a pickup truck that strikes Henry’s older brother, Franklin. In the truck is Chay Chouan, a young Cambodian from Franklin’s preparatory school, and the accident sparks racial tensions in the school—and in the well-established town where Henry’s family has lived for generations. Caught between anger and grief, Henry sets out to do the only thing he can think of: climb Mt. Katahdin, the highest mountain in Maine, which he and Franklin were going to climb together. Along with Black Dog, whom Henry has rescued from drowning, and a friend, Henry leaves without his parents’ knowledge. The journey, both exhilarating and dangerous, turns into an odyssey of discovery about himself, his older sister, Louisa, his ancestry, and why one can never escape from Trouble.

National Book Award Finalist "[A] stealthily powerful, unexpectedly affirming story of discovering and rescuing one's best self."--"Booklist," starred review In this companion novel to "The Wednesday Wars," Doug struggles to be more than the "skinny thug" that some people think him to be. He finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer, who gives him the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.

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Fourteen-year-old Doug Swieteck has just moved to a new town. With all of the odds stacked against him, Doug finds the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a whole town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from V

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good book for middle schoolers. really enjoyable

From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill a seemingly impossible school assignment—and learns about friendship, community, and himself along the way.

Herc Beal knows who he's named after—a mythical hero—but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod—and not a single Hydra in sight.

Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc figures out how to take his first steps along the road that the great Hercules himself once walked. Soon, new friends, human and animal, are helping him. And though his mythical role model performed his twelve labors by himself, Herc begins to see that he may not have to go it alone.

Can a kid who feels anything but heroic tackle a legendary challenge and find his own strength along the way?

• A Modern Retelling of Myths: Herc has to trade battling hydras for navigating the challenges of seventh grade, from impossible teachers to feral cat colonies.
• A Heartfelt Story of Healing: Still grieving the loss of his parents, Herc finds an unexpected path forward through his legendary assignment and the community that rallies around him.
• Unlikely Friendships: From his tough-as-nails teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer, to new classmates and a one-eyed cat, Herc learns he doesn’t have to face his challenges alone.
• The Perfect Cape Cod Setting: Set in the beautifully rendered town of Truro, this is a story about finding your way home, even when you think you’re already there.

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From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill a seemingly impossible school assignment—and learns about friendship, community, and himself along the way. Herc Beal knows who he's named after—a mythical hero—but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod—and not a single Hydra in sight. Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc figures out how to take his first steps along the road that the great Hercules himself once walked. Soon, new friends, human and animal, are helping him. And though his mythical role model performed his twelve labors by himself, Herc begins to see that he may not have to go it alone.

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Seventh-grader Hercules Beal has to figure out how to fulfill his teacher's assignment of performing the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life, and discovers important things about friendship, community, and himself along the way.

Gary Schmidt's First Boy fast-paced political thriller will have the reader turning the pages in anticipation of the next clue.

"You're my first boy, Cooper, my first boy," grandfather says just before he dies. All alone in the world, without even a dog, the only thing that keeps Cooper going is running the dairy farm.

Suddenly, black sedans are swarming all around Cooper's small New Hampshire town, driven by mysterious men in dark suits. Cooper's barn is burned to the ground, and his house is broken into and searched during the night. The President of the United States calls on Cooper for a visit, and her opponent wants Cooper to join him on the campaign trail.

Who exactly is Cooper Jewett, and what does the government want with him?

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He was just a farm boy. Why was someone out to get him?

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Dragged into the political turmoil of a presidential election year, fourteen-year-old Cooper Jewett, who runs a New Hampshire dairy farm since his grandfather's death, stands up for himself and makes it clear whose first boy he really is.

In this Newbery Honor-winning novel, Gary D. Schmidt tells the witty and compelling story of a teenage boy who feels that fate has it in for him.

Seventh grader Holling Hoodhood isn't happy. He is sure his new teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates his guts. Throughout the school year, Holling strives to get a handle on the Shakespeare plays Mrs. Baker assigns him to read on his own time, and to figure out the enigmatic Mrs. Baker. At home, Holling's domineering father is obsessed with his business image and disregards his family.

As the Vietnam War turns lives upside down, Holling comes to admire and respect both Shakespeare and Mrs. Baker, who have more to offer him than he imagined. And when his family is on the verge of coming apart, he also discovers his loyalty to his sister, and his ability to stand up to his father when it matters most.

Each month in Holling's tumultuous seventh-grade year is a chapter in this quietly powerful coming-of-age novel set in suburban Long Island during the late '60s.

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In this Newbery Honor-winning novel, Gary D. Schmidt tells the witty and compelling story of a teenage boy who feels that fate has it in for him, during the school year 1968-68. Seventh grader Holling Hoodhood isn't happy. He is sure his new teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates his guts. Holling's domineering father is obsessed with his business image and disregards his family. Throughout the school year, Holling strives to get a handle on the Shakespeare plays Mrs. Baker assigns him to read on his own time, and to figure out the enigmatic Mrs. Baker. As the Vietnam War turns lives upside down, Holling comes to admire and respect both Shakespeare and Mrs. Baker, who have more to offer him than he imagined. And when his family is on the verge of coming apart, he also discovers his loyalty to his sister, and his ability to stand up to his father when it matters most.

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During the 1967 school year, on Wednesday afternoons when all his classmates go to either Catechism or Hebrew school, seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood stays in Mrs. Baker's classroom, where they read the plays of William Shakespeare and Holling learns much of value about the world he lives in.

When Jack's P.E. coach pairs him up with Jay Perkins for the cross-country team, neither of them is happy about it. Jack is grieving the loss of Joseph, his foster brother, and adjusting to his role as big brother to Jupiter, Joseph's orphaned daughter. Dealing with Jay Perkins--who'd once ganged up with his buddies to jump Joseph in the locker room--is the last thing he wants to do. But then Jack realizes that Jay is grieving too--the loss of his cousin Maddie, Jupiter's mom. As Jack's relationships with both Jay and Jupiter grow and his running improves, he starts to feel more like himself than he has since Joseph died. He's finding his stride . . . until Maddie's parents, who have never shown interest in their granddaughter before, decide to claim Jupiter as their own, blocking Jack's family from adopting her. And suddenly Jack's past and present smash together, threatening to dissolve both his newfound confidence and his friendships. This poignant, powerful companion to Orbiting Jupiter is Gary D. Schmidt at his best. He is the author of the Printz Honor and Newbery Honor Book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; Okay for Now, a National Book Award finalist; and The Wednesday Wars, a Newbery Honor Book, among many acclaimed novels for young readers.

The pilgrim Christian undertakes the dangerous journey to the Celestial City, experiencing physical and spiritual obstacles along the way.

Great middle greats fiction.

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Great middle greats fiction.

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In 1911, Turner Buckminster hates his new home of Phippsburg, Maine, but things improve when he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a girl from a poor, nearby island community founded by former slaves that the town fathers--and Turner's--want to change into a tourist spot.

Discover the incredible power of storytelling to bring light into the darkest of places. In the bleak and terrifying reality of a concentration camp barracks, a woman named Mara gathers the children around her as night falls. Through her voice, the barbed wire and the despair fade away, replaced by tales of hope, freedom, and unexpected miracles. For a fleeting moment, the listeners are transported far from their grim surroundings. Mara shares stories of deep sorrow and profound joy, drawing on ancient folklore and the shared resilience of her people. Masterfully woven by acclaimed author Gary D. Schmidt, these tales are inspired by real historical accounts, Jewish folklore, and the testimonies of Holocaust survivors. This moving collection serves as a powerful testament to the human spirit's ability to endure and find beauty in the face of unimaginable hardship. It is a haunting, unforgettable journey that honors a time in history that must never be forgotten, reminding us all that even in the deepest darkness, a single story can spark a glimmer of light.

Born early in the sixth century, Ciaran was called to bring the light of God's name to Ireland. While few facts are known of Ciaran's life, author Gary Schmidt here tells the tale that lives on, a tale which is "as true as any story ought to be."

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This beautiful book weaves together faith and wonder, miracles and mystery, to tell the little-known story of Saint Ciaran of Ireland.

Korean edition of the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor winning book LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY by Gary D. Schmidt illustrates the beautiful friendship between a minister's son Turner Buckminster and Lizzie Bright Griffin. Translated by Cheon Mi Na. In Korean. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.

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In 1911, Turner Buckminster hates his new home of Phippsburg, Maine, but things improve when he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a girl from a poor, nearby island community founded by former slaves that the town fathers--and Turner's--want to change into a tourist spot.

Sixth-grader Carter must adjust to the unwelcome presence of a know-it-all butler who is determined to help him become a gentleman, and also to deal with burdens from the past.

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Sixth-grader Carter must adjust to the unwelcome presence of a know-it-all butler who is determined to help him become a gentleman, and also to deal with burdens from the past.

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This book is very good so far! It is about a strange butler showing up and the rest will follow! Make sure to read it!

Simon expected a lot more from life than being orphaned in ancient Greece and trapped in the Underworld for all of eternity. Determined to remember his true identity, he spends centuries trying to escape the clutches of Hades. After facing down the terrifying monster Cerberus and befriending the doomed Sisyphus, Simon finally manages to break free. But instead of returning to the ancient world, he is thrust directly into modern times, landing completely naked in a middle school bathroom stall. With the help of Zeke, a wealthy but socially awkward student, Simon must learn to navigate the bewildering landscape of the twenty-first century. As the two boys bond, Zeke begins to question his own comfortable life and discovers the true meaning of loyalty. But their fun comes to a crashing halt when the god of the Underworld sends a fierce demon girl to drag Simon back. Now, the boys must fight to protect Simon's freedom and save their entire school from mythological destruction. This hilarious, high-stakes adventure blends ancient myths with a heartwarming story about courage and true friendship.

Do you know about Martin de Porres, a kind boy who grew up to be an amazing helper in Peru? Even though he faced many challenges, Martin always showed love and care to everyone he met, no matter if they were rich or poor. He had a special way with animals, too, sharing his food and looking after them with a gentle heart. This inspiring story tells you all about Martin de Porres, who lived many years ago. Discover how his kindness bloomed like a beautiful rose, even in difficult times, and how he spent his life serving others and showing great compassion. You'll learn how one person's loving actions can make a huge difference in the world. Get ready to be inspired by this true tale of a gentle soul!

A tender story of a father-son adventure with themes of community and kindness, in short chapters with vivid full-color illustrations, by bestseller and Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt and acclaimed artist Eugene Yelchin.

In a story of perseverance and determination told with warmth and sparkling with humor, a short winter day finds Samuel and Papa walking a long road on Samuel's first trading trip. Meeting strangers, practicing good manners, and proud to be in Papa's company, Samuel watches and learns as Papa trades up from almost nothing to the milk cow Mama is yearning for. Simple text combines with vivid illustrations for a satisfying tale that will resonate with readers who enjoy an adventure with dad.

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On a short winter day, Samuel and his father enter into a series of trades with neighbors and strangers until they come home with a brown-eyed milk cow for Mama.

A tender father-and-son story about the passage of time, the change of seasons, and the excitement of reaching a goal.

Eager for maple syrup, Ethan can't wait till sugaring time rolls around. And he can't wait till his loose tooth falls out. But his father keeps telling him it's not time yet, and no matter how hard he tries, he can't make time pass more quickly. The closeness of father and son is evident throughout as they wait and then celebrate the end of waiting. The brief, lyrical text is illuminated by G. Brian Karas's beautifully composed, evocative illustrations.

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Ethan eagerly anticipates making maple syrup with his father, but it will not be time until the days are warmer, the nights shorter, and Ethan's loose tooth falls out.