'You'll love this new favorite about being the new kid at school, and dealing with bullies, and becoming something different.'- Romper 'An inspirational story about finding your place in an unfamiliar community and learning that normal is not always better.'- The Denver Post 'A middle school story to top all middle school stories.' 'Wise and funny.'- The Wall Street Journal 'Takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery.'- School Library Connection 'Benjamin strikes a nice balance of goofy, often physical comedy.with introspection.for a look at shifting middle-school identities and the strange chaos they bring.' * 'A beautiful, powerful novel about embracing one's own great self, even-or especially-in middle school.'- Shelf Awareness, starred review

* 'Genuinely original, the novel offers thoughtful perspectives on friendship, accepting change, and the many rewarding guises of storytelling, as well as a fully gratifying ending that the characters don't see coming.'

* 'A witty, tender, and utterly engaging modern school story that draws on the wisdom of the ages.'- School Library Journal, starred review A book to make readers think, question, reach, laugh, and strive harder.' Told in multiple voices, interviews, and documents, this funny, thought-provoking novel from the bestselling author of The Thing About Jellyfish is a memorable exploration of what makes a hero-and if anyone, or anything, is truly what it seems.Ī Parents Magazine 30 Best Kids' Books of 2019A LAPL Best Books of 2019A NYPL Best Books of 2019A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books of 2019Ī Publishers Weekly Most Anticipated Children's Book of Spring 2019Īn Amazon Best Book of the Month for April 2019 With each challenge, Caitlyn struggles to understand a person she never met.but it's what she discovers about herself that most surprises her. Now he's disappeared, and Caitlyn finds herself leading a reality-show-style competition to find the school's next great Paulie Fink. One thing's for sure, though: The kid was totally legendary. When Caitlyn Breen begins her disorienting new life at Mitchell School-where the students take care of real live goats and study long-dead philosophers, and where there are only ten other students in the entire seventh grade-it seems like nobody can stop talking about some kid named Paulie Fink.ĭepending on whom you ask, Paulie was either a hilarious class clown, a relentless troublemaker, a hapless klutz, or an evil genius.

In this acclaimed novel by the author of the award-winning, bestselling The Thing About Jellyfish, being the new kid at school isn't easy, especially when you have to follow in the footsteps of a legendary classroom prankster.

The great paulie fink