Two False Moves — Ted Staunton

In Two False Moves Nick can't shake off classroom competition from Lindsey, who soon becomes his arch enemy. For one thing, she hogs all the show-and-tell time. Not only that but she gets to be message monitor and she's chosen to sit with Ralph the bear for silent reading time. Far worse, however, is the fact that Lindsey's family might just buy the house Nick's family is renting. The final stroke comes when their teacher decides on partners for science projects and pairs him off with you guessed it Lindsey. It takes a series of hilarious misunderstandings to shake Nick's preconceptions about Lindsey. By the time it's all over, Nick realizes that, despite Lindsey's planned family holiday in Florida and all the advantages she seems to have, he may have a few blessings of his own.

"A cast of dynamic, memorable characters, plenty of humor (a Staunton trademark) and well-paced plots with believable school-age conflicts and satisfying endings. . . . Highly recommended."
-Canadian Materials

"Staunton's strength is that he uses humor to engage the reader while exploring problems that loom large on the pre-teen radar."
-City Parent