THE (ALMOST) PERFECT GUIDE TO IMPERFECT BOYS

A laugh out loud, razor-sharp new 'tween novel from the author of JUST ANOTHER DAY IN MY INSANELY REAL LIFE, SOLVING ZOE, THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON, and TRAUMA QUEEN.

All middle school boys can be easily classified into three clear stages of male evolution: Tadpoles, Croakers or Frogs. At least, according to Finley Davis and her best friend, Maya Lopez. They’ve written a “guide” to the boys of Fulton Middle School that they call the “Amphibian Life Cycle.” It’s hilarious and (if they say so) brilliant—full of detailed observations about the silly, immature Tadpoles, the awkward Croakers with their changing voices, and, of course, the Frogs, those rare, more evolved boys who’ll look you in the eye and have an actual conversation.

Finley thinks she has boys figured out perfectly, until Zachary Mattison, a Tadpole who made an abrupt exit from seventh grade last year, re-enters the picture—as a Frog. Zachary's surprising re-appearance causes Finley to question everything: the “Life Cycle,” her friendship with Maya, even herself. And when the “Life Cycle” falls into the wrong hands, it causes a battle between the boys and the girls that no one, not even Finley, could have predicted.

Barbara Dee's fourth novel for tween readers, TRAUMA QUEEN (Aladdin MIX/Simon & Schuster) was published in April, 2011. Barbara is also the author of JUST ANOTHER DAY IN MY INSANELY REAL LIFE (Publishers Weekly starred review), SOLVING ZOE (2010 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year), and THIS IS ME FROM NOW ON. She lives with her family in Westchester County, New York.