{"product_id":"home-games-isbn-9780062742308","title":"Home Games","description":"\u003cp\u003eAward-winning adult author Benjamin Markovits delivers a poignant coming-of-age middle grade story that will give comfort to anyone feeling like a small fish in a Texas-size sea. Perfect for fans of Kevin Henkes, Rebecca Stead, and Kate DiCamillo.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwelve-year-old Ben is a shy, quiet kid. His life isn’t perfect, but he feels at home in his New York City apartment. Then his dad takes a job in London, and everything changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis parents separate, and Ben’s mom moves them back to her hometown of Austin, Texas. Ben’s simple life is suddenly complicated. He misses his apartment, his best friend, Jake, and his dad. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen he meets Mabley, who becomes a bright spot to Ben’s day. But when his mom starts working at his new school and making friends with his teacher, Ben finds himself at the center of all the problems the adults around him can’t resolve—and even some of his own. That includes joining the school’s basketball team, where Mabley’s best friend is the star player.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter being pushed around, looking for his place, Ben will have to learn how to stand his ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow does a quiet kid find his voice when his whole world is turned upside down?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMoving to a New City:\u003c\/b\u003e Follow Ben as he leaves behind his life in New York City for the unfamiliar streets of Austin, Texas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMaking New Friends:\u003c\/b\u003e Navigating a new school is tough, but a friendship with the energetic Mabley offers a glimmer of hope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFamily Problems:\u003c\/b\u003e With his dad in London and his parents separated, Ben is caught in the middle of grown-up issues he can’t solve.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFinding Your Voice:\u003c\/b\u003e From the basketball court to the classroom, this is a heartfelt story about a shy kid learning to stand his ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“Markovits nails the feelings of this awkward tween as he navigates his parents’ impending divorce while discovering where he belongs.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An honest portrayal of a family in transition.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Spot on and often quite funny observations of parental bumbling and middle-grade folkways. Readers will appreciate [Ben’s] growing realism about the complicated dynamics of families.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children’s Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The author paints a realistic picture of a family in transition and their nuanced emotions as they figure out a new normal. A moving coming-of-age story that will bring hope to those going through times of transition.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888932516069,"sku":"NP9780062742308","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062742308.jpg?v=1730230127","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/home-games-isbn-9780062742308","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}