Cheesie Mack is Cool in a Duel by Steve Cotler

Cheesie Mack is back and he's really looking forward to camp.  He and Georgie will be in the oldest group of younger kids and he should be able to lord it over all the younger ones.  Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room in the cabin for all of them, so he and his buddy get put with the big boys.  All of sudden, he's the smallest again...

Random House Children's Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  Adam McCauley illustrated it.  It is available now and can be found at your local bookstore.

This series is written for middle graders and the author obviously remembers the embarrassing moments of his youth.  Cheesie is always exchanging insults with his sister (I had a brother like that).  He wants to be popular but isn't sure how to do it.  He also isn't sure about girls in general.

His big challenge this year at camp is to survive being with the older boys.  When it comes down to a direct challenge of a duel, he decides to make it a battle of who is the coolest.  The boys in the cabin vote.  The one with the most votes will win. What little boys think is cool might not appeal to you...

This is a book that will make you laugh and make you groan both.  Why not share it with your middle schooler?  Even if they aren't great readers, I bet they'd read this series and enjoy it.

Happy reading.