Somebody on This Bus Is Going to Be Famous! - Hardcover

Cheaney, J. B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 140229297X ISBN 13: 9781402292972

Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2014

Synopsis

Who's it going to be?

Spencer's the smart kid. Shelly's the diva. Miranda's the scaredy-cat. Matthew's just average (so far). In fact, there's nothing about any of the nine middle-schoolers on Mrs. B's bus route that screams "fame." But before the end of the year, somebody on this bus is going to be famous.

Every morning, their school bus waits at an empty bus stop. Nobody ever gets on. Nobody ever gets off.

And Mrs. B refuses to answer questions about it. Strangest of all, it's Bender the bully who decides to investigate the mystery. But it will take all nine students to find out the truth, for each of them has a clue to the mystery that will change their lives forever.

Award-winning author J.B. Cheaney's new middle grade novel weaves nine distinctive narratives into one fascinating read. Part detective story, part tale of self-discovery, this funny and touching novel is destined to be a modern classic.

Praise for J.B. Cheaney
"Twists and turns will keep readers in suspense throughout the tale." -School Library Journal on The Playmakers

"The main characters are particularly well drawn and believable..[for] fans of Jack Gantos' Joey Pigza series." —Booklist on Middle of Somewhere

About this title

Review

"Cheaney effectively combines multiple layers of mystery with an uplifting message about resilience." - Kirkus

"A heartwarming story of discovery, hope, humor, and mystery - you're in for a fun ride!" - Karen Harrington, Author of Sure Signs of Crazy and Courage for Beginners

"A cast of charming, complicated characters whose lives intertwine in a series of surprising twists of fate. My only fault with this book was that it had to end." - David L. Harrison, award winning author of The Book of Giant Stories

"Cheaney uses language that is simple enough to appeal to all readers... A great and fast read about finding yourself and making friends, that will be enjoyed by even reluctant readers." " - School Library Journal

"I highly recommend Ms. Cheaney's Somebody on This Bus Is Going to Be Famous for middle grade readers who enjoy suspense and family/school stories. The plot and the writing remind me of authors such as Caroline B. Cooney (The Face on the Milk Carton) and Margaret Peterson Haddix (Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey), so I would recommend it as a read alike for those, maybe for a slightly younger crowd, say fifth through seventh graders. " - Semicolon Blog

"...the overall story will draw readers in with the different narratives." - Mom Read It

"Weaving humor, family tragedies, former rivalries, misunderstandings, and childlike hopes and dreams together, Cheaney uses her characters' backstories to illuminate stereotypes and remind readers that each person around us is an individual who can make valuable contributions in life. Each person is unique, and it is that very uniqueness that makes teamwork both challenging and rewarding. " - Redeemed Reader

"It seems so real and the author really captured what the neighborhood would be like." - San Francisco Book Review

"The benign but sufficiently interesting mystery plays second fiddle to author Cheaney's detailed portrayals of her diverse cast of characters; sympathetic to the complex home and inner lives of children, she renders them with realism, respect, and even judicious tenderness." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Knowing there will be a bus wreck doesn't prepare readers for the final twist. So, who becomes famous? Few will be able to guess." - Booklist

About the Author

J. B. Cheaney was born in Dallas, Texas, sometime in the last century. In school her favorite subject was making up parts for herself in imaginary movies and plays. Too bad they don't give grades for that. Fortunately, her second-favorite subject was history. All that daydreaming and history-loving finally paid off with five published novels, the latest of which is Somebody on This Bus Is Going to Be Famous. She has won numerous awards for her children's books:: Booklist TopTen Best YA by debut authors, NYPL's Best Books for Teens; Texas Bluebonnet nominee, the Florida Sunshine State Young Readers award, the Indiana Young Hoosier list, and a Kansas Notable Book. She lives and daydreams in Missouri with her husband.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 140229297X
• ISBN 13: 9781402292972
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 296