Is your middle schooler reluctant to read? In his twenty years as an educator, David Paris has encountered middle schoolers from all walks of life. He has also encountered the many reasons that his students are reluctant to read. They believed it had no intrinsic value in their lives, and they didn't understand its future importance. Paris spent his career helping students work past this reluctance and experience the joy of a good book. His latest project is Laughable Legends of M.S. 99, a series of short stories that address the realities of adolescence and school in fun and fulfilling ways. His collection includes tales of a student dedicated to failing every class he takes, a girl obsessed with circles who meets a boy who loves lines, a fight between a busy graffiti artist and the school custodian, a mean bully cursed by the school witch, and other unique and hilarious situations. Even the most hesitant reader will find something to love about Paris's work, and middle schoolers will discover that they're not alone. In this crazy world of hormones, gossip, and gamers, the power of books brings everyone together.