Jake and Lily [Paperback]

Beloved Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli, author of Maniac Magee and Wringer, addresses issues of identity, belonging, family, and bullying in this humorous and heartfelt novel about twins. 

Jake and Lily are twins. Despite their slightly different interests and temperaments, they feel exactly the same—like two halves of one person.

But the year they turn eleven, everything changes. Their parents announce it’s time for separate bedrooms. Jake starts hanging out with a pack of boys on the block. And Lily is devastated, not to mention angry. Who is she without Jake?

And as her brother falls under the influence of the neighborhood bully, he also must ask himself—who is the real Jake?

In a starred review,Publishers Weeklypraised this smart and funny story. The New York Times Book Reviewextolled Jerry Spinelli as a poet of the prepubescent and added: Nobody is better than Spinelli when it comes to creating the grade-school world of qualified innocence—and treading a fine line between challenge and reassurance.”

Praise for Wringer: Deeply felt. Presents a moral question with great care and sensitivity. -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Spinelli understands some aspects of childhood better than anyone else since Beverly Cleary. -Washington Post

Praise for Smiles to Go: Spinelli employs a fresh voice and honest perspective to mine the prickly intersections of family, friendship, and growing up, with emotionally resonant results. -ALA Booklist

Spinelli, the accomplished author of Maniac Magee and many other books for YAs, has a knack for creating offbeat characters readers will root for, and all the characters in this novel will win your heart. -KLIATT

Praise for Loser: Spinelli demonstrates the differences belƒù