Itch, Farquhar Polly

After a tornado tears the roof of the school cafeteria, and Itchs mother goes on a two-month business trip in China, Itchs sixth grade year begins badly--particularly because he cant do fractions. At least he has his job at the pheasant farm, and the guys at school and Sydney to hang out with when hes not working. But when trading school lunches goes wrong and Sydney gets rushed away in an ambulance, Itch thinks its his fault. When you suddenly dont have any friends, would you do anything--even things that are wrong--to get them back?

This novel by a debut author, set in the Ohio heartland, captures the issues and feelings of being in middle school in a warm, humorous, and above all, recognizable, way.