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Explore SCBWI Portfolio Showcase

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Deep Dive Into Nonfiction

2024

Kansas, Missouri (KS/MO)

After Graces mom died, she and her Dad grew extra close. They have special nicknames, projects, and share a love of presidential history! Grace thinks her little family of two is perfect.
      Then some committee members at church suggest it’s time of Dad to start dating again. And Dad agrees! Grace knows that adding a new member to the team will end in disaster. 
     No problem! She and her best friend have a plan: Operation: Stepmom Shake Up! 
      But what if a little shake-up is exactly what Grace’s family needs?

The Stepmom Shake-Up

Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen is a humorous contemporary middle grade novel pitched as “Honey Boo Boo meets Sister Act.” Bernice Buttman is the biggest bully in the 5th grade. She loves pounding puny kids and eating cheese balls till her fingers turn orange. Her latest and greatest ambition is to attend the Hollywood Hills Stunt Camp, where she can learn to crash cars and punch people harder. All she needs are a few generous strangers to donate to the cause.  She sets up a fake “Letsfundthis” website, and the cash starts flowing. But when Bernice’s mom discovers what she’s done, she takes the money for herself and sends Bernice to live with her Aunt Josephine- who happens to be a nun. Bernice tries to make a new start in the town of Halfway, but she immediately locks horns with the school’s most perfect student, Emogene. If Bernice can’t stay out of trouble and manage to raise a whole ton of money, she can kiss her stunt camp dreams goodbye.  

Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen

Niki Lenz

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The Stepmom Shake-Up

Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen

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