Books in Bad News Ballet series

Five young girls are thrust into the Deerfield Ballet's holiday production of The Nutcracker with only one thing in common: they don't want to be there! McGee's busy with her ice hockey team. Zan would rather be reading a good mystery. Mary Bubnik is a total klutz. Gwen prefers Twinkies to plies. And Rocky is just too cool for pink tights. How could their mothers possibly think ballet is good for them? Cast as the Rats and labeled losers by the more serious ballerinas (the Bunheads), in desperation the girls turn to each other, especially after the Bunheads lock the Rats out of the theater. Can they triumph over all the odds and pull off a real ballet in front of an expectant audience? This comic tale of preteen misfits is a wise tribute to the power of friendship and the pleasure of being yourself.

The bad news? Courtney Clay and the Bunheads are in the gang's winter dance class. The good news? World famous ballerina Alexandra Petrovna is coming to dance at the Deerfield Academy. There will be a dance competition to see which student she will select as her flower-bearer during the performance. Courtney, of course, is chosen to compete—she's the best dancer in the sixth grade. Then the Bunheads nominate Mary Bubnik, the worst dancer at the school. Poor Mary doesn't realize she's been set up to fail. The Bunheads have played their last dirty trick on the gang. Now it's time to fight back!

The gang may hate ballet . . . but if they don't take dance class, they'll never see each other again! That's why Rocky, Zan, Mary Bubnik, Gwen, and McGee have to prevent their school from closing. How can five not-so-hot ballerinas raise enough money to save the Deerfield Academy of Dance? Bake sales? Car washes? No way—the girls need big bucks. And if anyone can help Save D.A.D., it's the gang!

Mary Bubnik may be the klutziest ballerina at the Deerfield Academy of Dance, but she loves taking lessons with her best friends McGee, Zan, Gwen, and Rocky. But now that her mom is having money problems, Mary may have to quit ballet. What will the gang do without Mary Bubnik? Luckily, Zan reads about a contest with a cash prize that she’s sure the girls can win. All they have to do is solve a real-live mystery in their town. The girls find one sooner than they planned. Someone’s stealing things from the Academy’s dressing room—and the Bunheads think Mary Bubnik is the thief! Prize or no prize—this is one mystery the gang has to solve!

Valentine's Day is coming up, and the girls at the Deerfield Academy of Dance have boys on the brain. It all starts when a new student enrolls in their ballet class—a boy. And he's not just a good dancer . . . he's mega cute! Then Zan, McGee, Rocky, Mary Bubnik, and Gwen discover that Annie, their favorite ballet teacher, doesn't have a date for Valentine's Day. Now the gang has a mission: Find Annie the perfect boyfriend. Who will they pick to be their teacher's Valentine—Ralph, the janitor? Stan, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do? With cupids like these . . . look out, Annie!