Spring Break-Up

Reach for this book when your preteen is navigating the high-energy social landscape of friend groups, competitive spirits, and the early flutterings of romantic interest. Based on the popular Nickelodeon series Zoey 101, this story follows Zoey and her classmates from Pacific Coast Academy as they head to a beach house for spring break. What they expect to be a relaxing vacation turns into a high-stakes battle of the sexes for a new reality show called Gender Defenders. Throughout the competition, the characters deal with the anxiety of public perception and the vulnerability of keeping secrets. It is a lighthearted, age-appropriate exploration of teamwork, loyalty, and the classic middle school fear of having your private feelings accidentally broadcast to everyone. Parents will appreciate how it models problem solving within a tight-knit friend group while keeping the tone fun and adventurous.