The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. Aka Houdini

When an author comes to speak to his class in a rundown area of Providence, Houdini decides to make money by writing his own novel.Rule #8 for Writing a Kid's Novel: Try to include a few lists in your novel. Kids like lists. After all, Houdini's life is way more interesting than the kid the author wrote about.Houdini chronicles his life as he and his friends start a leaf-raking business; befriend Old Man Jackson, a Vietnam War veteran with a seriously scary dog; and get even with the neighborhood bully, Angel. But it's hard to find a way to write about his dad losing his job or his brother, Franklin, who is reported missing in action in Iraq.No matter what, Houdini and his friends will have to stick together to figure out how to do the right thing.