Superstar - Mandy Davis

For fans of Fish in a Tree and Wonder, Davis' uplifting debut follows space-obsessed Lester Musselbaum as he experiences the challenges of his first days of public middle school: making friends, facing bullies, finding his thing, and accidentally learning of his autism-spectrum diagnosis.

A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year Lester's first-person narrative is honest and pure.

-- Kirkus (starred review) Perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and Wonder , this uplifting debut novel from Mandy Davis follows space-obsessed Lester Musselbaum as he experiences the challenges of his first days of public school: making friends, facing bullies, finding his thing, and accidentally learning of his autism-spectrum diagnosis.

This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling.

It's a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.

Lester's first days as a fifth grader at Quarry Elementary School are not even a little bit like he thought they would be -- the cafeteria is too loud for Lester's ears, there are too many kids, and then there's the bully.

Lester was always home-schooled, and now he's shocked to be stuck in a school where everything just seems wrong.

That's until he hears about the science fair, which goes really well for Lester This is it.

The moment where I find out for 100 percent sure that I won.

But then things go a bit sideways, and Lester has to find his way back.

A touching peek into the life of a sensitive autism-spectrum boy facing the everydayness of elementary school, Superstar testifies that what you can do isn't nearly as important as who you are.

A lovely, heartfelt narrative about the things we've lost, and the things we've found again.

-- Gary D.

Schmidt, Newbery Honor winner for The Wednesday Wars I LOVE LESTER.

--Linda Urban, author of Milo Speck, Accidental Agent and A Crooked Kind of Perfect.