Alibi Junior High by Greg Logsted

Summary: Cody has lived a life that many kids would think is really cool; travelling the world as his dad’s partner in undercover CIA operations. He speaks multiple languages, can defend himself whether armed or unarmed, and knows how to handle himself under pressure. Then everything changes….


The danger surrounding Cody & his dad gets to be too much and Cody is sent to stay with his Aunt Jenny, who he hardly knows,  in a small town in Connecticut. Cody may know how to blend in and survive in many situations, but Junior High isn’t one of them. He’s never had a normal friendship with anyone his age, never had a crush on a girl, never had to follow a class schedule. In short, he’s never been prepared to lead a “normal life.”

After some missteps, Cody starts to make friends and even becomes a sort of mentor within his school, his love of and talent for martial arts serving as a tool to help him overcome the "new kid" stigma.

Just as he starts to feel like he is getting the hang of being a suburban teen, he begins to fear that his father’s problems have followed him – he is sure he is being watched. With the help of a disabled vet, Cody has to face this challenge to save the life he has come to enjoy and to protect the people he has come to love.

Alibi Junior High is a 2011-2012 Sunshine State Book. I really wish I had read it sooner. I truly enjoyed it. It was sometimes funny and sometimes tense, striking the balance between the two in a way that made me want to keep reading about Cody even after the story was over.

Themes:
Courage
Responsibility
Family
What is normal?

Age Appropriateness:
11 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: mild
Violence: moderate