{"product_id":"sidetracked-9781419731396","title":"Sidetracked","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eSidetracked\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003c\/b\u003e\"\u003cb\u003eDiana Harmon Asher tells an entertaining story about a boy picking his way through the potholes and pitfalls of puberty, with a little help from his friends\" (Richard Peck, Newbery Medal winner).\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn ABA Indies Introduce Book\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn ALA\/ALSC Notable Children's Book\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eParents' Choice Award, Fiction, Recommended\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e If middle school were a race, Joseph Friedman wouldn't even be in last place--he'd be on the sidelines. With an overactive mind and phobias of everything from hard-boiled eggs to gargoyles, he struggles to understand his classes, let alone his fellow classmates. So he spends most of his time avoiding school bully Charlie Kastner and hiding out in the Resource Room, a safe place for misfit kids like him. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e But then, on the first day of seventh grade, two important things happen. First, his Resource Room teacher encourages (i.e., practically forces) him to join the school track team, and second, he meets Heather, a crazy-fast runner who isn't going to be pushed around by Charlie Kastner or anybody else. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e With a new friend and a new team, Joseph finds himself off the sidelines and in the race (quite literally) for the first time. Is he a good runner? Well, no, he's terrible. But the funny thing about running is, once you're in the race, anything can happen. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"This is a splendid novel that I read in one sitting. . . . You will cheer when this kid embraces 'Do your best' and shows it to be a ringing call to nothing less than Triumph.\" --Gary D. Schmidt, Printz Honor winner and two-time Newbery Honor winner\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDiana Harmon Asher\u003c\/b\u003e is the mother of three sons and is deeply immersed in reading and writing programs at the nonprofit organization the Children's Village and at Blythdale Children's Hospital, both in Westchester, New York. \u003ci\u003eSidetracked\u003c\/i\u003e is her debut novel for middle-grade readers. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Amulet Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50618688635154,"sku":"9781419731396","price":6.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_c37aa3f9-5b9e-42f9-958c-77f9f6dce9ed.jpg?v=1732540061","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/sidetracked-9781419731396","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}