Author Antoinette H. Jones

Author of The Independents

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Independents Unite!

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"A fun, thoughtful story about making friends and adjusting to change." - Kirkus Review

Twelve-year-old Avery figures that learning to make friends, keeping big secrets, and getting homework turned in on time should be no problem – just like leaving elementary school and going to junior high is no big deal. Kids do this stuff every day.

But 7th grade is a lot to deal with, and starting Kentland Junior High School is only the first thing on the list. Avery and her new friends Christopher, Skylar, Damien, and Natalie have to learn to navigate new teachers and new friends, deal with family stuff, keep big secrets, and find a missing journal - and that’s all before Thanksgiving!

A middle-grade chapter book

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“The subject matter - tweens adjusting, looking for friends and balancing how to blend-in and stand out, all while trying to triumph over everyday realities - hits squarely where my 6th grader currently finds herself.”
— Parent Reviewer
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  • The Independents is for kids who crave realistic fiction. It's full of heart, humor, and just the right hint of mystery. Set in a suburban neighborhood in the late 1980s, twelve-year-old Avery is on a quest to find her missing journal while adjusting to her new neighborhood and starting junior high school. The mystery includes four diverse characters - Chris, Skylar, Damien, and Natalie - all facing life’s challenges. They’re all different, but they stick together. Along the way, Avery and her friends search for clues and navigate middle school challenges - in less than 200 pages.

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