Slouch

Ages 8 to 12

This standalone follow-up to the USA Today Bestseller Jawbreaker features the same program look and spot-on middle-grade humor and heart, with an all-new story about a tall girl navigating friendship, family, and boundaries.

Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly 5’10” in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height—even Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something—maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw even more attention to her lanky frame.

A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it—until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too—which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all.

About the Author

Christina Wyman is a teacher and writer living in Michigan with her husband and silly rescue cats named Alfred and Greta Cannoli—not to mention the raccoons, owls, and hummingbirds that occupy a tree outside their bedroom window. She grew up in a tiny apartment with her family in Brooklyn, New York, where she dreamed of becoming a writer. Her work has been published in New York Magazine, The Washington Post, Elle, Ms. Magazine, The Independent, and other outlets. When she’s not writing, you can find her stocking up on chocolate or trying to convince her husband to adopt more cats. Most recently, she’s developed a passion for eating strawberry jam straight out of the jar. Christina is the author of the middle grade novels Jawbreaker—a USA Today bestseller, Kids' Indie Next Pick, and "best books of the year" selection by Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon—and Slouch. christinawymanbooks.com