Overview

"Inner city middle school student Kenny Wright imagines himself as a superhero-but when he faces peer pressure and bullying, can he find his strength in real life? Kenny Wright is a kid with a secret identity. In his mind, he's Stainlezz Steel, super-powered defender of the weak. In reality, he's a chess club devotee known as a ""Grandma's Boy,"" a label that makes him an easy target for bullies. Kenny wants to bring a little more Steel to the real world, but the question is: can he recognize the real strength and goodness inside himself? Or will peer pressure force him to make the worst choice of his life? Interspersed with fantastic illustrations and comic-book panels, this book aims to both entertain and to provoke dialogue about identity, belonging, and doing the right thing."

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9781478953852

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Reviews

Will be enjoyed by middle-grade boys, particularly reluctant readers. VOYA Short chapters and a partially graphic format are sure to appeal. Booklist Praise for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life A 2012 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers titleA 2013 ALSC Summer Reading List BookA 2013 Hawaii's Children's Choice Award Winner A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel. Los Angeles Times Cleverly delves into the events that make middle school so awkward: cranky bus drivers, tardy slips, bathroom passes and lots of rules.... Hopefully, this isn't the last we hear from Rafe Khatchadorian. The Associated Press It's a chatty, funny, engaging book, one that often addresses the reader directly. It's filled with energetic cartoons... that will appeal to your little rebel, depicting teachers as dungeon-keepers, matadors and flying dragons. Patterson... knows how to structure a plot and builds in some surprising--even touching--twists.... Rafe is the bad boy with a heart of gold. The New York Times The book's... dynamic artwork and message that 'normal is boring' should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit the mold that there's a place for them, too. Publishers Weekly Incredibly detailed and imaginative illustrations . . . add depth and humor. . . . an enjoyable story that even the most reluctant readers should enjoy. Library Media Connection There is substance as well as appeal here.... Patterson deftly manages the pace of revelations that take readers deeper into Rafe's fragile trust.... Readers ready for something else in the same vein but more substantive than Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Peirce's Big Nate should be introduced to Rafe. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books * As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters. School Library Journal, starred review Praise for Middle School: Get Me out of Here! A #1 New York Times BestsellerAn Indiebound BestsellerOne of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2012 Patterson and Tebbetts have created strong characters and relationships throughout the novel. Rafe has his triumphs and failures, but he's a realistic kid whom readers would want as a friend and coconspirator. School Library Journal

The book's... dynamic artwork and message that 'normal is boring' should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit the mold that there's a place for them, too. --Publishers Weekly A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel. --Los Angeles Times Praise for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life A 2012 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers titleA 2013 ALSC Summer Reading List BookA 2013 Hawaii's Children's Choice Award Winner Praise for Middle School: Get Me out of Here! A #1 New York Times Bestseller An Indiebound Bestseller One of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2012 Patterson and Tebbetts have created strong characters and relationships throughout the novel. Rafe has his triumphs and failures, but he's a realistic kid whom readers would want as a friend and coconspirator. --School Library Journal There is substance as well as appeal here.... Patterson deftly manages the pace of revelations that take readers deeper into Rafe's fragile trust.... Readers ready for something else in the same vein but more substantive than Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Peirce's Big Nate should be introduced to Rafe. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Incredibly detailed and imaginative illustrations . . . add depth and humor. . . . an enjoyable story that even the most reluctant readers should enjoy. --Library Media Connection It's a chatty, funny, engaging book, one that often addresses the reader directly. It's filled with energetic cartoons... that will appeal to your little rebel, depicting teachers as dungeon-keepers, matadors and flying dragons. Patterson... knows how to structure a plot and builds in some surprising--even touching--twists.... Rafe is the bad boy with a heart of gold. --The New York Times Cleverly delves into the events that make middle school so awkward: cranky bus drivers, tardy slips, bathroom passes and lots of rules.... Hopefully, this isn't the last we hear from Rafe Khatchadorian. --The Associated Press * As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters. --School Library Journal, starred review Short chapters and a partially graphic format are sure to appeal. --Booklist Will be enjoyed by middle-grade boys, particularly reluctant readers. --VOYA

There is substance as well as appeal here.... Patterson deftly manages the pace of revelations that take readers deeper into Rafe's fragile trust.... Readers ready for something else in the same vein but more substantive than Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Peirce's Big Nate should be introduced to Rafe. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books The book's... dynamic artwork and message that 'normal is boring' should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit the mold that there's a place for them, too. --Publishers Weekly Cleverly delves into the events that make middle school so awkward: cranky bus drivers, tardy slips, bathroom passes and lots of rules.... Hopefully, this isn't the last we hear from Rafe Khatchadorian. --The Associated Press * As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters. --School Library Journal, starred review Praise for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life A 2012 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers titleA 2013 ALSC Summer Reading List BookA 2013 Hawaii's Children's Choice Award Winner Will be enjoyed by middle-grade boys, particularly reluctant readers. --VOYA Incredibly detailed and imaginative illustrations . . . add depth and humor. . . . an enjoyable story that even the most reluctant readers should enjoy. --Library Media Connection It's a chatty, funny, engaging book, one that often addresses the reader directly. It's filled with energetic cartoons... that will appeal to your little rebel, depicting teachers as dungeon-keepers, matadors and flying dragons. Patterson... knows how to structure a plot and builds in some surprising--even touching--twists.... Rafe is the bad boy with a heart of gold. --The New York Times A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel. --Los Angeles Times Short chapters and a partially graphic format are sure to appeal. --Booklist Praise for Middle School: Get Me out of Here! A #1 New York Times Bestseller An Indiebound Bestseller One of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2012 Patterson and Tebbetts have created strong characters and relationships throughout the novel. Rafe has his triumphs and failures, but he's a realistic kid whom readers would want as a friend and coconspirator. --School Library Journal

Praise for Middle School: Get Me out of Here!: A #1 New York Times Bestseller An Indiebound Bestseller One of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2012 Patterson and Tebbetts have created strong characters and relationships throughout the novel. Rafe has his triumphs and failures, but he's a realistic kid whom readers would want as a friend and coconspirator. --School Library Journal * As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters. --School Library Journal, starred review A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel. --Los Angeles Times Cleverly delves into the events that make middle school so awkward: cranky bus drivers, tardy slips, bathroom passes and lots of rules.... Hopefully, this isn't the last we hear from Rafe Khatchadorian. --The Associated Press It's a chatty, funny, engaging book, one that often addresses the reader directly. It's filled with energetic cartoons... that will appeal to your little rebel, depicting teachers as dungeon-keepers, matadors and flying dragons. Patterson... knows how to structure a plot and builds in some surprising--even touching--twists.... Rafe is the bad boy with a heart of gold. --The New York Times Short chapters and a partially graphic format are sure to appeal. --Booklist The book's... dynamic artwork and message that 'normal is boring' should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit the mold that there's a place for them, too. --Publishers Weekly There is substance as well as appeal here.... Patterson deftly manages the pace of revelations that take readers deeper into Rafe's fragile trust.... Readers ready for something else in the same vein but more substantive than Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Peirce's Big Nate should be introduced to Rafe. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Will be enjoyed by middle-grade boys, particularly reluctant readers. --VOYA Library Media Connection Praise for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life: A 2012 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers titleA 2013 ALSC Summer Reading List BookA 2013 Hawaii's Children's Choice Award Winner

Praise for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life A 2012 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers titleA 2013 ALSC Summer Reading List BookA 2013 Hawaii's Children's Choice Award Winner--- Praise for Middle School: Get Me out of Here! A #1 New York Times Bestseller An Indiebound Bestseller One of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2012 Patterson and Tebbetts have created strong characters and relationships throughout the novel. Rafe has his triumphs and failures, but he's a realistic kid whom readers would want as a friend and coconspirator. --School Library Journal * As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters. --School Library Journal, starred review A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel. --Los Angeles Times Incredibly detailed and imaginative illustrations . . . add depth and humor. . . . an enjoyable story that even the most reluctant readers should enjoy. --Library Media Connection It's a chatty, funny, engaging book, one that often addresses the reader directly. It's filled with energetic cartoons... that will appeal to your little rebel, depicting teachers as dungeon-keepers, matadors and flying dragons. Patterson... knows how to structure a plot and builds in some surprising--even touching--twists.... Rafe is the bad boy with a heart of gold. --The New York Times Short chapters and a partially graphic format are sure to appeal. --Booklist The book's... dynamic artwork and message that 'normal is boring' should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit the mold that there's a place for them, too. --Publishers Weekly There is substance as well as appeal here.... Patterson deftly manages the pace of revelations that take readers deeper into Rafe's fragile trust.... Readers ready for something else in the same vein but more substantive than Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Peirce's Big Nate should be introduced to Rafe. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Will be enjoyed by middle-grade boys, particularly reluctant readers. --VOYA Cleverly delves into the events that make middle school so awkward: cranky bus drivers, tardy slips, bathroom passes and lots of rules.... Hopefully, this isn't the last we hear from Rafe Khatchadorian. --The Associated Press

There is substance as well as appeal here.... Patterson deftly manages the pace of revelations that take readers deeper into Rafe's fragile trust.... Readers ready for something else in the same vein but more substantive than Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Peirce's Big Nate should be introduced to Rafe. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Incredibly detailed and imaginative illustrations . . . add depth and humor. . . . an enjoyable story that even the most reluctant readers should enjoy. --Library Media Connection The book's... dynamic artwork and message that 'normal is boring' should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit the mold that there's a place for them, too. --Publishers Weekly It's a chatty, funny, engaging book, one that often addresses the reader directly. It's filled with energetic cartoons... that will appeal to your little rebel, depicting teachers as dungeon-keepers, matadors and flying dragons. Patterson... knows how to structure a plot and builds in some surprising--even touching--twists.... Rafe is the bad boy with a heart of gold. --The New York Times Cleverly delves into the events that make middle school so awkward: cranky bus drivers, tardy slips, bathroom passes and lots of rules.... Hopefully, this isn't the last we hear from Rafe Khatchadorian. --The Associated Press A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel. --Los Angeles Times * As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters. --School Library Journal, starred review Praise for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life A 2012 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers titleA 2013 ALSC Summer Reading List BookA 2013 Hawaii's Children's Choice Award Winner Short chapters and a partially graphic format are sure to appeal. --Booklist Will be enjoyed by middle-grade boys, particularly reluctant readers. --VOYA Praise for Middle School: Get Me out of Here! A #1 New York Times Bestseller An Indiebound Bestseller One of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2012 Patterson and Tebbetts have created strong characters and relationships throughout the novel. Rafe has his triumphs and failures, but he's a realistic kid whom readers would want as a friend and coconspirator. --School Library Journal

Author Information

James Patterson is the world's bestselling author. The creator of the Max Einstein and Middle School series, he founded JIMMY Patterson to publish books that young readers will love. He lives in Florida with his family.

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