Kids Books / Young Adult
Date Published: 01-14-2026
Amazing Amanda and the Crazy School Carnival includes comedy and yet realistic
life issues. Readers will laugh, giggle, worry, and cheer Amanda's attempts at
growth. Amanda is a pre-adolescent girl who deals with body issues,
middle-school drama, angst with new girls, coming of age issues such as seeing
beyond the surface, handling responsibilities of leadership, and questions
about faith. Set in a mid-size central Minnesota town, the story is told
exclusively from Amanda's point of view. Amazing Amanda is a clean, family
friendly story.
This is Abear's debut novel.
Coming soon: Book 2 Amazing Amanda and the Mystery of the Black Cat and
Book 3 Amazing Amanda and Her Bright New Day. The series takes readers
through Amanda's entire sixth-grade experience.
Excerpt
Amanda lurched down the hall, flapping her arms like a pelican
trying to dry her armpits, and flew past the locker area and into her homeroom
class. As sunshine streamed through open windows, she hoped a breeze reached
her soon.
She shrank down when she got into her seat, the last desk in
the middle row of five. Head and shoulders taller than most students and twice
as wide, she preferred the back. That was better than hearing, “Amanda
scrunch down so I can see,” or “Amanda, could you move a bit to
the left?” and other—not so nice—comments.
When the
bell rang, she punched out her left arm. “Yay! I made it on
time.”
“Watch it,” Charlie Piggott said in the row to
her left. His blue eyes widened. “Almost got me that time.”
“Sorry.”
Amanda grimaced. “Really.”
“It’s okay. Better
luck next time.”
“Huh?”
“To hit your
target.”
She frowned. “I don’t want to hit
you.”
He broke out in a grin. “Amanda, I’m just
kiddin’ ya.”
Amanda grinned back. “You’re a
pal.” After she dragged her science stuff from the book bag, she kicked
the bag under the desk. Tucking her thatch of brown hair behind her ears, she
wiped sweat from her forehead and closed her eyes to slow her breathing. She
sensed the noise and chatter fading away…
“Before you get
too settled, Amanda.” Miss Holter’s voice pierced through
Amanda’s mist of serenity. “Please close the door.”
Amanda
scrambled to her feet, smacking her thighs against the desk. “Ow!”
She gritted her teeth and lumbered to the door.
As she started to close
it, Miss Holter said, “Then come to the front of the class.”
Amanda
jerked, slamming the door.
“Uh Oh’s” escaped from
several students as heads swiveled toward her.
Confused, Amanda stumbled
over a bookbag on her way to the front, mumbling, “One more thing and
I’m going to scream.”
Standing beside Miss Holter made Amanda
feel almost petite.
When the teacher turned, she whispered to Amanda,
“Go ahead and sit in the chair there beside my desk.”
Amanda
glimpsed the corners of her teacher’s mouth turn up ever so slightly and
wondered what she wanted.
If I’m not in trouble, why am I here? Miss
Holter, her favorite teacher, had never done anything to embarrass her
before.
The teacher motioned for their full attention. “In faculty
meeting this morning, Principal Primson announced we’re having a
carnival fundraiser. The sixth grade will be putting on the event. A student
representative will help organize the students as we work on the carnival. The
four homeroom teachers each nominated one student who must accomplish three
challenges.”
“Sounds like too much work,” Mark Nelson
said, scrunching his face.
The teacher nodded. “It will be. But a
student with real leadership potential should not find the challenges too
difficult. The tasks may even be invigorating for him or her.”
A
zing of excitement crept up Amanda’s spine.
The teacher crossed her
arms with a smug look. “My nominee—no, pardon me—our section
6B nominee is the very best.”
About the Author
As a teacher for almost thirty years, Beverly Abear enjoys writing for
middle-grade and young adult readers. She has several stories in progress that
she hopes to finish and get published. The Amanda stories are mostly set in a
k-6th elementary school like the one the author attended in northern
Minnesota. Because her faith has greatly affected her life, Beverly's passion
for her readers is that they grow to trust in the Lord and enjoy an abundant
life in Him.
Amazing Amanda and the Crazy School Carnival is Beverly's debut novel.
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