It’s the start of the school year, and nothing feels right to Justin. He didn’t get the teacher he wanted, he’s not in the same class as his best friend, and his little sister, Elizabeth, is starting kindergarten at his school. Elizabeth doesn’t seem nervous at all. Justin is very nervous about third grade. And to top it off, he’s lost his favorite stuffed animal, but he can’t tell anyone, because technically he’s too old to still have stuffed animals. Right?

2013 Kentucky Bluegrass Award -- Grades 3-5 (Nominee)

Junior Library Guild Selection

2017 Bluestem Volunteer Award Master List

South Carolina Children's Book Award Master List

Tennessee Intermediate Volunteer State Book Award Master List

2011 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

2011 Read Kiddo Read Editors' Choice Award

2010 Kirkus Review - Children — Starred Review (*)

2011 Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens — Seven to Ten (Recommended)

2012 Volunteer State Book Award — Intermediate (Runner-Up)

Justin “gets” to go to camp every day on a bus. He “gets” to experience all sorts of new things: Bugs. Mess hall food. Flip-flops (they hurt the space between his toes and they’re hard to walk in). And (gulp!) swimming.

Justin’s little sister, Elizabeth, seems to deal with camp just fine. So do his friends. Justin is trying very hard not to be a worried kid anymore, especially when it comes to making friends at camp, including a new kid who is kind of . . . rough. After all, Justin is going to be in fourth grade. It’s time to be brave. Right?

2012 Kirkus Reviews -- Starred Review (*)

2015 Grand Canyon Reader Award -- Intermediate (Nominee)

Junior Library Guild Selection

Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

Justin Case made it through third grade and summer camp in the previous two books. Now he’s in fourth grade, and there’s even more to worry about: friends, bullies, grades, tests — and did we say bullies?

Junior Library Guild Selection

Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens

South Carolina Children's Book Award Master List

Tennessee Intermediate Volunteer State Book Award Master List

Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

South Carolina Children's Book Award ML

Kentucky Blue Grass Award Master List