Katie's reasons why it's better to be Melody: -She's a boy magnet. I'm more like a boy repellent. -Her parents never make her do any chores. Meanwhile, I get stuck babysitting almost every day. -Melody's parents are still married. Mine are, too . . . to other people. 
Why Melody thinks Katie has the ideal life: -Her house is fun and lively. My house is empty and lonely. -They have family dinners practically every single night. My dad almost never comes home. -Everyone always talks about how pretty I am, like that's the most important thing, like that's all I am . . . 
Twelve-year-old Katie is insanely jealous of her best friend, Melody. Turns out Melody is jealous of Katie, too. When they both wish for the exact same thing at the exact same time, to redo summer as each other, their wishes come true. Katie is Melody and Melody is Katie and neither one has the experience she expected. In this be-careful-what-you-wish-for tale, two best friends learn that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

If I Were You

Teen & Young Adult

Margolis, Leslie

Literature & Fiction

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Leslie Margolis's We Are Party People is sweet, brave, and laugh-out-loud funny, as Pixie Jones learns that stepping out of her comfort zone might not be so scary after all.
"I am the opposite of a mermaid and that’s exactly the way I like it." Shy and quiet, Pixie does everything she can to fade into the background. All she wants is to survive middle school without being noticed. Meanwhile, her parents own the best party-planning business in town. They thrive on attention, love being experts in fun, and throw themselves into party personas, dressing as pirates, princes, mermaids, and more. When her mom leaves town indefinitely and her new friend Sophie decides to run for class president, Pixie finds herself way too close to the spotlight. How far is she willing to go to help the people she loves?

We Are Party People

Children's Books

Growing Up & Facts of Life

Ellie Charles ghosted her best friend―and her actions come back to haunt her. A heartwarming and funny middle-grade story of redemption from Leslie Margolis.
Thirteen-year-old Ellie Charles has everything going for her: she’s the smartest, prettiest, best-dressed, and most popular kid at Lincoln Heights Middle School. She’s also the meanest, by design. Ellie’s got sharp edges, which she uses to keep herself at the top of the social food chain. But one night, hours before her school’s winter dance, a frightening accident leads her to encounter a ghost who just might change everything. This ghost, of a girl dressed all in black, makes Ellie visit her own past, present, and future―reliving her parents’ divorce, her struggles in school, and worst of all, her massive falling-out with her best friend, Marley. Can what Ellie sees inspire her to change her ways? And is a new perspective enough to save her life?

Ghosted

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Boys Are Dogs

Scholastic. Inc.

Be careful what you wish for. A refreshing twist on the Freaky Friday set-up, If I Were You by Leslie Margolis is a fun, touching middle-grade story about friendship, family, and overcoming jealousy. 
Katie is jealous of her best friend, Melody. Turns out that Melody is jealous of Katie, too. It's the end of what was supposed to be the best summer of their lives, before they start middle school, and the girls aren't on speaking turns. They've had a big fight over-what else?-a boy. When the two girls wish for the exact same thing at the same moment-to redo the summer as each other-their wishes are granted. But, as the girls will learn, sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Square Fish

In this middle-grade contemporary novel, a shy girl with party-planner parents learns that stepping out of her comfort zone might not be so scary after all.
"I am the opposite of a mermaid and that’s exactly the way I like it." Shy and quiet, Pixie Jones does everything she can to fade into the background. All she wants is to survive middle school without being noticed. Meanwhile, her parents own the best party-planning business in town. They thrive on attention, love being experts in fun, and throw themselves into party personas, dressing as pirates, princes, mermaids, and more. When her mom leaves town indefinitely and her new friend Sophie decides to run for class president, Pixie finds herself way too close to the spotlight. How far is she willing to go to help the people she loves?
Sweet, brave, and laugh-out-loud funny, We Are Party People by Leslie Margolis is a story of quiet triumph.
Also by Leslie Margolis: We Are Party People Ghosted
Praise for We Are Party People:
“The strongest chapters are the lively accounts of how Pixie and Dan organize and run parties without Mom . . . Middle school angst tempered by humorous insights.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Pixie’s friends, Lola and Sophie, provide an excellent example of what good friends should be, and their relationship will show young readers that good friends help and support each other . . . A fun, fast-paced read.” ―Booklist
“Shy middle schoolers who tend to downplay their talents will find inspiration to be brave and maybe ideas for planning an amazing party as well.” ―VOYA

Ellie Charles ghosted her best friend―and her actions come back to haunt her. A heartwarming and funny middle-grade story of redemption from Leslie Margolis.
Thirteen-year-old Ellie Charles has everything going for her: she’s the smartest, prettiest, best-dressed, and most popular kid at Lincoln Heights Middle School. She’s also the meanest, by design. Ellie’s got sharp edges, which she uses to keep herself at the top of the social food chain. 
But one night, hours before her school’s winter dance, a frightening accident leads her to encounter a ghost who just might change everything. This ghost, of a girl dressed all in black, makes Ellie visit her own past, present, and future―reliving her parents’ divorce, her struggles in school, and worst of all, her massive falling-out with her best friend, Marley. Can what Ellie sees inspire her to change her ways? And is a new perspective enough to save her life?

As the daughter of one of Hollywood's hottest producers, Jasmine is shocked when her secret screenplay becomes one of the biggest properties in town and puts the spotlight on many things that should have been kept secret, including Jasmine's affair with her boyfriend's brother. Original.

Price of Admission

Simon Pulse

It hurts to be beautiful. Pretty, blond, popular Cameron Beekman has it all -- lots of girlfriends, a hot boyfriend, and a successful family. She's perfection. Gone are her days as the outcast, huge-nosed "Beakface." Which, as it turns out, was nothing a good nose job couldn't fix. While her little sister, Allie, struggles with doubts about her own approaching "procedure," Cameron wants more. She's headed to UC "Santa Barbie" and needs to look the part. After all, why settle for smart and pretty when smart and drop-dead gorgeous is just a surgery away?

Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

That’s what Annabelle discovers on her first day in her brand-new life. Birchwood Middle School is totally different from her old all-girls elementary. In fact, lots of things in Annabelle’s life are totally different now that she’s back from summer camp. There’s mom’s new boyfriend, a new house, new friends ― even a new puppy that likes to chew on Annabelle’s clothes. Well, at least the puppy comes with a leash and a training manual! If only she could say the same for the boys... Featuring Annabelle’s hilarious take on friendship, boys, and her all-new life, this novel-slash-survival guide perfectly captures the joy - and agony ― of junior high school. And it might just teach you how to tame the wildest beast of all: the teenage boy. "Fresh, fun, and full of heart, BOYS ARE DOGS will empower girls while giving them the giggles at the same time." -- Meg Cabot, author of the PRINCESS DIARIES and ALLIE FINKLE'S RULES FOR GIRLS series "Sweeties, you must read this wonderful book. IT HAS SO MUCH GREAT ADVICE ABOUT BOYS IN IT!!! All that, and a fabulous, funny, warm-hearted story, too. Read! Read! Read!!!!" -- Lauren Myracle, bestselling author of ELEVEN, TWELVE, and THIRTEEN

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See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Margolis, Leslie. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Margolis, Leslie

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Margolis, Leslie. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

If I Were You

We Are Party People

Ghosted

Boys Are Dogs

If I Were You

We Are Party People

Ghosted

Price of Admission

Fix

Boys Are Dogs