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    Maya's Story
    Maya's Story
    Maya's Story
    Ebook158 pages1 hour

    Maya's Story

    By Christine Heppermann, Deborah Marcero and Ron Koertge

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    About this ebook

    The third book of the Backyard Witch series stars a spelling bee almost-champion, an imaginary chicken, and Ms. M, the mysterious witch who always appears when you need her.

    From acclaimed authors Christine Heppermann and Ron Koertge, this fun-filled friendship story is just right for fans of Ivy + Bean, Dory Fantasmagory, and Clementine.

    Maya has been preparing for the school spelling bee F-O-R-E-V-E-R. She spells every unusual word she hears and even enlists her best friends, Sadie and Jess, to help her practice. But on the day of the bee, something terrible happens—Maya loses. To Sadie.

    Enter Ms. M, who is substituting for the school librarian. Ms. M always knows just how to make everyone feel better . . . but she also always brings a little mischief. This time it involves a library poltergeist and an imaginary chicken!

    Short chapters filled with illustrator Deborah Marcero’s striking, lively black-and-white illustrations make the Backyard Witch series a must-have for young middle grade readers.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJun 27, 2017
    ISBN9780062338464
    Maya's Story
    Author

    Christine Heppermann

    Christine Heppermann is the author of Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty, which received five starred reviews and was named to five best of the year lists in 2014, and Ask Me How I Got Here. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Highland, New York.

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      Book preview

      Maya's Story - Christine Heppermann

      Dedication

      For my sister, Ann,

      and her invisible chicken,

      both uniquely inspirational birds—C. H.

      For my wife, Bianca, and her invisible

      kitten, which has her eye on Ann’s

      chicken—R. K.

      For Danette,

      my very first best friend —D. M.

      Dedication

      CHAPTER 1: Intergalactic Spelling Champion

      CHAPTER 2: Unbelievable

      CHAPTER 3: Now You’ve Done It

      CHAPTER 4: The Substitute Librarian

      CHAPTER 5: Spontaneous Psychic Activity

      CHAPTER 6: Making a Snow Angel

      CHAPTER 7: A Possible Explanation

      CHAPTER 8: Bookhenge

      CHAPTER 9: Emerald on the Inside

      CHAPTER 10: Not a Game for Babies

      CHAPTER 11: Imaginary Eggs

      CHAPTER 12: Thanks for the Help

      CHAPTER 13: One Codfish and Two Sharks

      CHAPTER 14: C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e

      Quiz: What’s Haunting You?

      Fun with Mnemonics, by Ms. M

      Back Ad

      About the Authors and Illustrator

      Credits

      Copyright

      About the Publisher

      Chapter 1

      Intergalactic Spelling Champion

      "Unstoppable," said Jess.

      Maya didn’t hesitate. U-n-s-t-o-p-p-a-b-l-e. Like she would be tomorrow.

      Marvelous, said Sadie.

      M-a-r-v-e-l-o-u-s. Exactly how she would feel tomorrow.

      I have a great word, said Jess. O-u-t-d-o-o-r-s. As in, let’s get out of your boring basement and go outdoors. She vaulted from the flowered couch, where she had been sitting beside Sadie, and stretched her arms over her head.

      Too easy, Maya declared. She spelled it backward.

      Now I’m really dizzy. Sadie flung her copy of the practice list onto the rug. I can’t read anymore. My eyeballs are spinning. She got up from the couch, too. I vote for a break.

      Maya didn’t budge from her beanbag chair. We can’t take a break. There are barely— she squinted over at the clock on the cable TV box—twenty-three hours and fourteen minutes left before the spelling bee.

      I don’t know why you’re nervous, said Jess. She crumpled her copy of the list into a ball, tossed the ball in the air, caught it on the laces of her sneaker, catapulted it almost to the ceiling, and let it drop into her outstretched hand. You win every year.

      True, but you know fourth grade is different. It’s not just us. It’s the fifth graders, too. And if I win—

      "When you win," Sadie said.

      Maya smiled at her and continued, When I win, I get to move on to the district bee. I’ll be competing against the best spellers from every school.

      Jess pretended to shoot a basket with the ball, sinking the shot into Maya’s lap. You’d win anywhere. Against anybody. If Martians had a spelling bee, you’d go to Mars and beat them. Jess folded her arms across her chest. When’s the last time you got less than a hundred percent on a spelling test?

      Okay, it was true. Maya had always loved school. She was the best speller in her class, in her grade, in all of Piper Creek Elementary, probably. Now she had the chance to be the best in the city, and after that, who knows— the state, the country, the universe?

      Maya Russell, Intergalactic Spelling Champion. She pictured herself holding an enormous trophy that reflected the sun.

      Look, Jess. Maya tried a different approach. You’re really good at sports, but I would never tell you to skip practice before a tournament. And, Sadie, I’d never tell you to stop learning about birds.

      I still have a lot to learn about birds, Sadie pointed out. You haven’t missed a word all afternoon.

      Maya uncrumpled the balled-up list and smoothed it against her leg. Just a little while longer, okay? We can at least be as diligent as Ms. M.

      Ms. M, said Jess. I wonder if she found Ethel?

      Ms. M was their friend. She was also a witch. That made her extra-fun to be around. Except they hadn’t seen her for a while. She had gone off to search for her best friend, Ethel, who—here it gets complicated—had accidentally turned herself into a bird. A yellow warbler, to be exact.

      If Ms. M hasn’t found her yet, she will, Maya assured Jess. She’s d-i-l-i-g-e-n-t.

      Just then Maya’s mother appeared on the stairs in her police uniform. I’m off to protect and serve. Your father’s responsible for feeding you. She blew a kiss in Maya’s direction. Oh, and be patient with your brothers.

      They’re not coming down here, are they? Maya whined. As if on cue, Victor and Barnabas clattered past their mother. Actually, only Victor clattered. He wore cowboy boots. Barefoot Barnabas thumped from step to step like a giant rabbit.

      Oh no. Maya sat up taller in the beanbag chair. They can play in their room. Or the yard. Or Alaska.

      Her mother laughed. Honey, they’ve been waiting all weekend to play with their Lego village. You’ve been working hard. Go get some fresh air. She left the basement door open on her way out.

      The twins stepped carefully into the Lego village and began to build.

      What are you guys making? asked Sadie, squatting down next to Victor.

      A barn for Caitlyn, said Barnabas.

      "Who is

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