About This Book
Reach for this book if you have a child who is a chronic people-pleaser, a straight-A student, or someone who feels paralyzed by the need to follow every rule perfectly. This story addresses the secret burden of being a 'good kid' and the anxiety that comes with maintaining a flawless reputation. Jasper is a high-achieving sixth grader whose world is turned upside down when he is seated between the Cootch cousins, Butch and Spike, the school's most notorious troublemakers. Through their irrepressible energy and disregard for social norms, Jasper begins to question the rigid structures of school life and discovers a sense of personal agency and creative freedom he never knew he was missing. It is a humorous and insightful look at the middle school transition, perfect for children ages 8 to 12 who need to see that it is okay to be a little messy, a little loud, and entirely themselves.
