• Age: 7 to 9
• Grade: 2 to 4

In Rachel Vail'sJustin Case: Shells, Smells and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom, Justin is going to start fourth grade—but first, he has to survive the summer. He "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 toesandthey'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?

Rachel Vail's profile page

Matthew Cordell's profile page

• Long-listed, Arizona Grand Canyon Young Readers Maste
• Long-listed, Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

Rachel Vail is the author of numerous novels and picture books, includingJustin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters, Piggy Bunny, andFlabbersmashed About You. She lives in New York City with her husband and sons.
Matthew Cordell is the author and illustrator of the picture booksTrouble Gum andAnother Brother,also published by Feiwel and Friends. He lives outside of Chicago with his wife, the author Julie Halpern, and their daughter.

“Vail seems to know exactly what third graders are thinking.” —School Library Journal
“Hilarious, laugh-out-loud fun for middle-grade readers.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“The writing is sharp, unpredictably clever, and establishes third grade as a minefield of the absurd--which is to say, real life.” —Avi, Newbery Medalist on Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters
“Vail employs easy, direct language in a rhythm, and syntax that captures the essence of a charming, lovable, and very believable boy. Readers transitioning to longer fiction will groan, sympathize, and laugh out loud in delight. Absolutely marvelous.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review on Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters
“Honest and full of heart, Justin Case is a story for an oft-ignored segment of kids: the sensitive, introverted, and observant. The format will remind many readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but with fewer illustrations and a more reflective tone than Jeff Kinney's series. This is subtly satisfying storytelling.” —School Library Journal on Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters