Double-click for Trouble by Chris Woodworth

Eddie McCall and his mom live in Chicago. His best friend Jared (Whip - he puts Miracle Whip on everything) lives in the same building. One day Jared finds a picture of a naked girl on the computer and talks Eddie into signing up for an online dating service. Eddie's mom, Linda, finds out and ships him off for vacation to Uncle Peaveys. Uncle Peavey is an old bachelor with some very strange habits. He eats standing up, out of the pan, puts newspapers on the floor so he doesn't have to sweep, and fixes lawn mowers and tractors for a living. He has no computer and lives in the little town of Sheldon, Indiana, which has a Corn Festival. Ronnie (Veronica) helps Uncle Peavey fix things and is a real tomboy. Her sister Erin works at the convenience store and is beautiful. Eddie falls for Erin, but is embarrassed around her. He finds out that the library has internet access and goes there to check out his online dating service. When he prints a picture of a topless girl, he gets into trouble and Uncle Peavey finds out. Ordella Mae (Della), Peavey's friend, brings food over for them and becomes Eddie friend. When Old Mrs. Daly dies, her family comes back to town. Erin falls for Isaac, the oldest son, and Eddie finds out who his father is - not someone he is proud of. Eddie learns that although Uncle Peavey is strange, he is a very special person and cares more for his mother and him than he realized. He and Ronnie become better friends and decide to get Uncle Peavey together with his old girlfriend - who is not who they think she is.

This is a light hearted romance that deals with first love, teen curiosity, internet safety; told from a boys point of view.

Bonechiller by Graham McNamee

Danny and his father live in Harvest Cove in far northern Canada. One night after Danny and his friends, Pike, Howie, and Ash (short for Ashley - a girl) start home for the night, Danny is attacked by a huge monster animal. It's white, larger than a polar bear, with rows of razor sharp teeth. The monster stings Danny with its tongue, then let's him go. Danny comes to realize that the sting has affected him. He starts having dreams about the monster. His friend Howie is also attacked. As the boys start researching, they find that many teenagers have disappear suddenly from the area through the years. They come to realize that the monster is the Bonechiller of ancient Indian legend and has been killing young people for hundreds of years. Danny and Howie's dreams become stronger and stronger. The monster is pulling them to himself. As Danny and Ash's relationship develops, Howie and Pike come up with a plan to kill the monster, with Danny as bait. Will their plan work or will the monster kill them all?

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Capricorn (Cap) Anderson - 13 year old boy raised on a commune and home schooled who knows nothing about today's life
Rain - Cap's hippie grandmother who has lived on a commune for 40 years and breaks her hip
Garland - the hippie commune where Cap and Rain live
Claverage Middle School - nicknamed C Average - the public school where Cap is sent when his grandmother goes to the hospital
Zach Powers - the most popular boy at Claverage (C Average) Middle School, who always nominates the biggest nerd for class president
Hugh Winkleman - the nerdiest kid at Claverage Middle School and target of all of Zach's jokes until Cap shows up
Lena Young - cheerleader and Zach's girl friend
Mrs. Donnelly - the social worker who takes Zach in while Rain is in the hospital. She used to live at the commune herself
Sophie - Mrs. Donnelly's beautiful daughter who hates Cap until she finds out what he is really like
Mr. Kasigi - principal of Claverage Middle School who gives Cap the check book for the student activity fund without explaining to him how money works
Naomi Erlanger - a girl who likes Zach and is helping him with his pranks until she discovers that she likes Cap
Darryl Pennyfield - best tackler on the football team who creams Cap during one of Zach's pranks and sends Cap to the hospital
Halloween - the night of the dance Cap has planned that becomes his memorial service, even though he's not dead

A funny story about a young man who jumps from the 1960s life style into the 21st century. Because of his caring about others, the students learn to respect him.

You Hear Me? ed. by Betsy Franco

Poems and writings by teenage boys.  Some have language and sexual references, also drugs.  Written by teenagers 12-19.  Very honest and forthright.  Strong emotions.  Suggested poems to read to middle school - Does My Mother Look Like This? p. 48 and Dear God, p. 100.  These are two of the poems written by younger boys.