Books with author Laura Dower

Lindsay is down in the dumps, and it’s up to Maddie to save her New York City birthday celebrationMadison, Aimee, and Fiona are invited to celebrate Lindsay’s birthday in New York City! Bright lights, fancy restaurants, shopping—Lindsay’s fabulous aunt Mimi will make it a weekend no one will forget. But Lindsay is having a rough time dealing with her parents’ divorce and isn’t in the celebrating spirit. Maddie knows all about being in the middle of the Big D. Can she help Lindsay see the light when her family situation seems a bit dark? It’ll take a lot of BFF love to help Lindsay enjoy her special day.

Hey, Girls!Wanna have some fun?Here is a collection of everything great about being a girl! Are you ready to give the best sleepover party ever? Or the best pedicure? Make fortune-tellers, friendship bracelets, and collages? You'll learn about the coolest women in history, sports, and science. The greatest chick flicks to watch with your girlfriends and the best girl songs for dancing. Plus, there's real-life advice: how to be a responsible baby-sitter, get a summer job, remember your locker combo, and . . . save the world (as only a girl could do).You go, girl!

It’s Madison vs. Egg when the school computer contest turns competitive!Madison assumes that she and her best guy friend, Egg, will partner up for the “I Can Do That!” computer contest to create a web page for homework help. So when Egg chooses Chet as his partner, Maddie feels hurt. Their love of computers has always bonded them together. Fiona offers to be Madison’s partner, and Egg throws down a challenge: He double dares the girls to try to win against the boys. Madison embraces the challenge—she really wants to show off her computer skills. Or does she just want to beat Egg at his own game?

When Madison’s friends become the victims of online gossip, Maddie must find the culprit—before she’s blamed for telling secretsMadison seems to be out of the loop these days. News travels so fast around school and online, and Madison is the last to know anything. A new online bulletin board called The Wall has captured the attention of Maddie and her friends. On The Wall, anonymous postings about people keep popping up—and they can be pretty mean. When secrets told in confidence appear on the site under a fake screen name that looks like Madison’s, she finds herself in the hot seat. Who could be so deceptive and hurtful? Maddie is determined to find the culprit and give her a taste of her own medicine.

Madison’s dad is getting remarried, but it’s Maddie who has cold feet!Madison’s dad has dropped some big news: He and Stephanie are getting married. In Texas. In two weeks! Maddie’s head is spinning as the plans and the guest list for the big day keep growing. She’s not sure how she feels about being in the wedding, much less about having a stepmother. There’s a lot to stress about, like finding the perfect dress and reading a poem at the ceremony. And there’s a lot to think about, like what life will be like after her dad gets married. Maddie should be happy for him, but she’s totally confused. Good thing she has her BFFs and the Files of Madison Finn to get through the trip!To Have and to Hold takes place after the Files of Madison Finn, Book 15: Off the Wall and before the Files of Madison Finn, Book 16: Three’s a Crowd.

Hey, Girls!Wanna have some fun?Here is a collection of everything great about being a girl! Are you ready to give the best sleepover party ever? Or the best pedicure? Make fortune-tellers, friendship bracelets, and collages? You'll learn about the coolest women in history, sports, and science. The greatest chick flicks to watch with your girlfriends and the best girl songs for dancing. Plus, there's real-life advice: how to be a responsible baby-sitter, get a summer job, remember your locker combo, and . . . save the world (as only a girl could do).You go, girl!

Madison is tired of all the secrets—why can’t everyone just keep it real?Madison’s not sure if her imagination is working overtime. Everyone—including her mom—is acting different! When Maddie checks out a new feature on TweenBlurt.com, she finds out her keypal, Bigwheels, has been keeping things from her. And then Hart sends a mean email about Madison—is he keeping secrets too?The truth is not always obvious, and Maddie isn’t sure how to get the answers she wants. When her mom tells her a secret about Poison Ivy’s family, Maddie knows it’s serious news, and she’s tempted to share it—especially when Ivy is acting mean. But some information is not ours to share . . .

Maddie has the red, white, and blues this Fourth of July!The Fourth of July is super special in Far Hills. Everyone goes to the carnival, parade, and fireworks display—including all of Madison’s BFFs. Even her crush, Hart, is going. But Maddie’s excitement deflates when she learns she will have to spend the holiday week at Gramma Helen’s house on Lake Michigan. Maddie adores her gramma, but missing out on all the fun back home has her feeling the blues. When she meets a new boy at the lake, she feels fireworks—even though it’s not yet the Fourth of July! Maybe this summer won’t be so bad after all.

Meet a spunky preteen who uses her online journal to cope with her feelings—from junior high friendship drama to her parents’ divorce to her first crush. Twelve-year-old Madison Finn has found the perfect outlet for her worries about school and friendships and her mom and dad’s divorce: She’s started an online journal on her beloved orange laptop. For a girl who claims she’s allergic to change, this digital diary is the perfect way to sort out her feelings . . . Only the Lonely: Summer seems to be going by way too fast as Madison worries about starting seventh grade. Boy, Oh Boy!: Madison must balance a confusing class election with her feelings around her first crush. Play It Again: When Far Hills Junior High puts on a play, can Madison survive the drama? Caught in the Web: Forget ghosts—this Halloween, seventh grade is frightening enough. Thanks for Nothing: On her first Thanksgiving since her parents’ divorce, Maddie finds gratitude helping animals at a shelter. Lost and Found: On a snow day, Madison digs up some old—and surprising—memories. Save the Date: The Far Hills Junior High war of the sexes is on—and Madison is teamed up with her nemesis, Poison Ivy. Picture-Perfect: Madison and her friends are going to see their favorite singer in concert—but her friend Aimee is having a hard time. Just Visiting: Maddie has the red, white, and blues this Fourth of July when she learns she’ll be spending the holiday away from her friends, at her grandmother’s house on Lake Michigan. Give and Take: Will Maddie’s Christmas break be a total bust when her dad cancels a father-daughter ski trip?

Maddie’s ski vacation is shaping up to be a disaster—can she catch a break?A surprise ski trip with her dad is just what Maddie’s winter vacation needs. And when Dad says she can bring along her BFF Aimee and her pug, Phinnie, it’s guaranteed to be the best week ever. But things keep going wrong: First the group gets a flat tire, and then there’s snow in their hotel room. It seems like Maddie has the most terrible luck ever—and to make matters worse, she and Aimee can’t stop fighting. Can a ski class full of cute boys turn this vacation around?

Maddie has turned super sleuth!Every week, Madison can’t wait for her favorite show, Crime Time—she loves mysteries and knows she would make a great detective. So when her flute teacher’s priceless sheet music goes missing, Maddie decides to solve the case. As she collects the clues and compiles the list of suspects, Maddie realizes that the thief could be anyone! But soon, playing detective starts to get in the way of Maddie’s friendships, and snooping around takes her to places she doesn’t belong. Is there even a real crime to be solved, or is this just Maddie’s overactive imagination running wild?

Will Madison’s summer be a total bummer?Everyone seems to have summer plans except Madison. None of her choices seem to be the right fit. So when the opportunity to babysit for a nearby family presents itself, Maddie surprises herself by jumping at the chance. Watching a two-and-a-half-year-old shouldn’t be that hard—especially when their activities include going to the pool where her friends are junior lifeguards. But soon the job takes Maddie away from her friends and her summer fun, and, worst of all, the little boy doesn’t seem to like her. This may be the worst summer ever. Madison needs to find a way to bond with her babysitting charge—and fast!