THE CONTENDERS

THE CONTENDERS ILLUSTRATED EDITION IS HERE!

When I wrote THE CONTENDERS, I never thought that it could look like the novels that I read growing up like Ramona the Pest, Harriet the Spy, Charlotte’s Web, and Little House on the Prairie. In those middle-grade books, and many others like them, the illustrations were as important as the story itself.

Now, thanks to the amazing illustrator, Erin Kubo, and the 64 kind humans that backed our Kickstarter, THE CONTENDERS looks like the middle-grade novel of my dreams with 20 fun, engaging, and emotionally-truthful pictures!

Kickstarter backers who pledged for the paperback will receive their books by December 2019.

For everyone else, CLICK HERE to buy your copy from our Plaid Frog Press shop on Etsy.

Can enemies become friends? That’s the question at the heart of THE CONTENDERS, a middle-grade novel featuring two fifth graders who couldn’t be more different or hate each other more.

THE CONTENDERS is the middle grade novel you’ve been waiting for: diverse characters who are funny and real. Highly recommended for every middle school collection.
— Lizz Zitron, Librarian & Adjunct Professor, Pacific Lutheran University

What a sweet and uplifting story about learning to understand your enemies. A pitch perfect and timely tale that is certainly about bullying, but also gives young readers a deeper message about the way we all feel like outsiders. — Sandra Evans, Author, This is Not a Werewolf Story

This is a great coming of age story that anyone can enjoy. I got sucked in and couldn’t put it down. — Matthew

The Contenders by Peg Cheng is the kind of story I sift through libraries to find. Cheng’s portrayal of girls, people of color, single-parent and lower-income families, recluse introverts, and the kids who act out in class are positive and fair-minded–encouraging young readers to really get to know others and to look beyond the perceptible, seemingly insurmountable, differences between themselves and those around them. — Noell

I couldn’t put it down. I really connected with the characters…I hope there is a sequel! — Leah

What an awesome book. I gave this book to my ten year-old niece, after checking out the synopsis and liking what I read about the story’s themes. To my complete surprise, my niece finished the book quickly, and was very excited to tell me about Eunice’s story. — Patrick