Ever since he was little, Jake Green has longed to be a soldier and a hero like his grandpa, who died serving his country. Right now, though, he just wants to outsmart�and outrun�the rival cross country team, the Palmetto Bugs. But then the tragedy of September 11 happens. It�s quickly discovered that one of the hijackers lived nearby, making Jake�s Florida town an FBI hot spot. Two days later, the tragedy becomes even more personal when Jake�s best friend, Sam Madina, is pummeled for being an Arab Muslim by their bully classmate, Bobby. According to Jake�s personal code of conduct, anyone who beats up your best friend is due for a butt kicking, and so Jake goes after Bobby. But soon after, Sam�s father is detained by the FBI and Jake�s mom doubts the innocence of Sam�s family, forcing Jake to choose between his best friend and his parents. When Jake finds out that Sam�s been keeping secrets, too, he doesn�t know who his allies are anymore. But the final blow comes when his grandpa�s real past is revealed to Jake. Suddenly, everything he ever knew to be true feels like one big lie. In the end, he must decide: either walk away from Sam and the revenge that Bobby has planned, or become the hero he�s always aspired to be. A gripping and intensely touching debut middle grade novel by Kerry O�Malley Cerra, Just a Drop of Water brings the events of September 11, which shook the world, into the lens of a young boy who is desperately trying to understand the ramifications of this life-altering event. Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers�picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
(less)Ever since he was little, Jake Green has longed to be a soldier and a hero like his grandpa, who died serving his country. Right now, though, he just wants to outsmart�and outrun�the rival cross country team, the Palmetto Bugs. But
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