Dan Quixote: Boy of Nuevo Jersey — Shevi Arnold

Dan Quixote: Boy of Nuevo Jersey is a funny and touching middle grade novel about friendship, bullying, school pressure, first love, and learning to appreciate the differences that make us special.

Daniel Tyler and Sandra Day Goldberg are opposite sides of the same coin. Dan is an artist and a dreamer who believes everything he reads in books, and Sandy is a practical girl with a strong sense of justice. Yet despite their differences, Dan and Sandy have been best friends since kindergarten.

Now they are in eighth grade, and they must deal with pressure from both their teachers and their peers. Their history teacher, Mrs. Fallon--also known as "The Dragon"--seems to enjoy belittling and failing her students. And Jade, the school bully and class queen bee, is trying to pressure Dan to do something he knows is wrong. What's more, Dan is in love with Gwen, and Sandy is beginning to wonder if she still has a place in her best friend's life. Things go from bad to worse when Jade labels Dan the "Dork King of New Jersey" and spreads vicious gossip about him.

Can Dan and Sandy defeat the Dragon? Can they stop the bullying and gossip? Will Dan win Gwen's heart? And how will Dan and Sandy's friendship survive it all? Find out by reading Dan Quixote: Boy of Nuevo Jersey.