Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Books

Includes a reading group guide for the Alice series.

Billie Tommie, a ten-year-old Seminole Indian, navigates life between his traditional heritage and modern society as he becomes the first in his family to attend school. Guided by his grandfather's teachings, Billie grapples with his identity and the choices he faces between two cultures.

The story follows Marty and his best friend Shiloh as they embark on a new adventure, confronting the challenges of keeping a dangerous secret. Through their journey, Marty discovers the destructive nature of hate and its ability to spread uncontrollably. Themes of friendship, courage, and the importance of honesty are central to their experiences, highlighting the impact of choices on their lives and relationships.

Often left alone on their five-acre Mississippi farm by her traveling-salesman father, Ellen learns, through a terrifying experience, to distinguish between real and false fears.

Alice embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting the challenges and lessons life has to offer. As she navigates her experiences, she uncovers valuable insights and personal growth, highlighting the importance of resilience and understanding in the face of life's complexities. This repackaged installment in a cherished series promises to engage readers with its relatable themes and character development.

Thirteen! It's finally happening. Alice McKinley is an actual, official teenager. But the problem is, she still sort of feels like a kid. Wasn't being a teenager supposed to feel different? Turning thirteen happens overnight, but the teenager stuff takes time—and a little more patience than Alice has at the moment! Still, being thirteen does have its advantages, she decides. Alice is allowed to do more exciting things, like take a trip to Chicago with her two best friends. And when she takes a good look at all the relationship problems her older brother has, she realizes that in-between can sometimes be the perfect place.

The adventure begins when Marco and Polo, tired of their indoor life, escape into the outside world. They soon meet Carlotta, who introduces them to Texas Jake, the charismatic leader of the Club of Mysteries. Together, they embark on a journey filled with friendship and exploration, discovering the secrets of their new surroundings.

In a quest to prove their loyalty to their injured leader, Texas Jake, Marco and Polo embark on an adventurous mission to locate a medicinal plant. Their journey takes them into the perilous territory controlled by the notorious Steak Knife and his gang, presenting challenges that test their courage and resourcefulness. This tale combines elements of mystery and camaraderie as the feline duo faces danger in their pursuit of healing and loyalty.

Competition drives the narrative as Eddie, the first girl to try out for the school baseball team, faces off against Jake for a coveted position. Meanwhile, Caroline and Wally are embroiled in their own rivalry for the class spelling bee championship, with Wally eager to prove himself against Caroline's showy confidence. The dynamic between the Hatford boys and Malloy girls showcases their determination and competitive spirit in various school events.

Life, Alice McKinley feels, is just one big embarrassment. Here she is, about to be a teenager and she doesn't know how. It's worse for her than for anyone else, she believes, because she has no role model. Her mother has been dead for years. Help and advice can only come from her father, manager of a music store, and her nineteen-year-old brother, who is a slob. What do they know about being a teen age girl? What she needs, Alice decides, is a gorgeous woman who does everything right, as a roadmap, so to speak. If only she finds herself, when school begins, in the classroom of the beautiful sixth-grade teacher, Miss Cole, her troubles will be over. Unfortunately, she draws the homely, pear-shaped Mrs. Plotkin. One of Mrs. Plotkin's first assignments is for each member of the class to keep a journal of their thoughts and feelings. Alice calls hers "The Agony of Alice," and in it she records all the embarrassing things that happen to her. Through the school year, Alice has lots to record. She also comes to know the lovely Miss Cole, as well as Mrs. Plotkin. And she meets an aunt and a female cousin whom she has not really known before. Out of all this, to her amazement, comes a role model -- one that she would never have accepted before she made a few very important discoveries on her own, things no roadmap could have shown her. Alice moves on, ready to be a wise teenager.