Anyone who’s ever argued with a young teen knows there are many sides to a debate. In Zero Tolerance (Macmillan, 2013), Claudia Mills presents the nuances of a zero-tolerance weapons policy at a middle school.

Seventh-grader Sierra Shepard has always been the perfect student, so when she sees that she accidentally brought her mother's lunch bag to school, including a paring knife, she immediately turns in the knife at the school office. Much to her surprise, her beloved principal places her in in-school suspension and sets a hearing for her expulsion, citing the school's ironclad no-weapons policy. While there, Sierra spends time with Luke, a boy who's known as a troublemaker, and discovers that he's not the person she assumed he would be—and that the lines between good and bad aren't as clear as she once thought.

SLJ said,“Sierra is a realistic and appealing character whose experiences will resonate with readers.” A Common Core-referenced discussion guide on the author’s website gives activities for classroom exploration.

Five lucky winners will receive Zero Tolerance by Claudia Mills. To enter, send an email to ZeroToleranceGiveaway@gmail.com with your name, shipping address, and email address. Email entries must be received by midnight (PDT) on September 19, 2013. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on September 20, 2013 and notified via email. One entry per person, please; prizes will only be shipped to U.S. addresses.