Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer

With equal parts humor and heart, Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer tells the story of twelve-year-old Micah as she embarks on the summer before middle school. More than anything, Micah hopes to undergo a miracle transformation. One that will bring with it new friends, a fresh start, and boobs . . . preferably the round kind. If that happens, then maybe she can finally forget about what happened in the past. About losing her mom, about losing her best friend, and about the disaster she became in sixth grade, when everything fell apart. She and her dad have just moved away from their old neighborhood, and Micah's childhood home, to put some space between themselves and the secret burden they both bear, one that's already changed their lives and has the power to do even more damage. On her first day in her new neighborhood, Micah is greeted by the Water twins, Luke and Megan. Micah is surprised to find herself caught between their two worlds. In one world, there's Luke and his band of neighborhood boys, who challenge Micah in feats of strength, crowning her The Big Kahuna at the local pool, and vying for her attention, even though she doesn't quite understand why. And then there's Megan, whose world is full of lip gloss and padded bras, where Micah dabbles in the fine art of being a girl. As Micah awkwardly navigates her way through crushes, friendship, and budding boobies, she discovers that the real transformation that needs to take place is in how she sees herself.

For ages 9-14.

About the Author: Nina Chapman spends her days teaching middle school where she has discovered a talent for thriving in the awkward. This career path was chosen by design in order to provide her the opportunity to marinate in pre-teen voices on a daily basis. When she's not gathering feedback from her student test audience, she's reading books or playing outside. Her favorite activities include hot air balloon gazing, barefoot bike riding, and getting lost in the woods. Nina took the scenic route to teaching by first obtaining a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing at CU Denver. A member of RMC- SCBWI, she currently resides in the Denver area with her husband and two daughters.