"Uneasy about her new substitute teacher, Susan Simmons' suspicions about Mr. Smith are confirmed when she discovers he is an alien determined to bring some sixth-grade specimens back to his planet." --

Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and weaves them into one funny, poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life.

"Sixth-grader Ally excels at covering the fact that she cannot read, but at her seventh school in as many years she is challenged to admit she needs help." --

Peter Thompson, a typical seventh-grader, finds himself touring the planet with his friends Susan Simmons and Duncan Dougal, and three aliens in disguise! Their mission? To file the final report that will determine Earth's future in the universe. As the clock ticks away the hours before their meeting in space, the tour becomes weirder and weirder. The three friends come face to face with a plague of poots and "Big Julie"--The weirdest alien yet! Meanwhile,...

"Trying to figure out their relationship status when they return to boarding school after one magical Christmas Eve kiss, Finley and Arthur are faced with old enemies who add to the confusion, putting what could be love in jeopardy"--Provided by publisher.

When she wakes up in the body of her cat, Mitten Man, bullied fifth-grader Poppy attempts to navigate the world as a cat, while Mitten Man, tired of his owner's timidity, is out to take over middle school--as Poppy.

Thirteen-year-old Conor awakens one night to find a monster outside his bedroom window, but not the one from the recurring nightmare that began when his mother became ill--an ancient, wild creature that wants him to face truth and loss.

"When Professor Pippy P. Poopypants comes to Jerome Horwitz Elementary School to teach science, and he goes off the deep end because students make fun of his name, only Captain Underpants can save the school from the professor's perilous plot." --

"Althea and Oliver, who have been friends since age six and are now high school juniors, find their friendship changing because he has contracted Kleine-Levin Syndrome"--Provided by publisher.

A backpack deals with first-day-of-school jitters and feeling out of place.