About the Book What if Louis Sachars Wayside School were a little less wacky - but just as funny - and centered on a young Black boy who IS going to be the great inventor of all time, and set in the top STEM middle school in the country, oh and it was written by someone who worked for years in independent schools, and it also tackles what its like to live in a blended family and to stand up to a parent whos not being so great and to truly work together with your peers? Book Synopsis BEST OF THE BEST, BLACK CAUCUS OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION One week. One prize. Seven really weird challenges. The kids at Benjamin Banneker College Prep are a little... competitive. Okay. Theyre a LOT competitive. The minute Principal Yee announces an epic competition for the golden B-B trophy, seventh-grader Frederick Douglass Zezzmer knows he has to win. But it wont be easy. The competition doesnt just include science, technology, engineering and math. It also has arts and sports. Not Dougs best subjects. Even worse, its a TEAM competition. Instead of being in a superstar group, Doug gets paired with four middle school misfits no one else wants. Worst of all, Dougs dad has a horrible backup plan. If Doug doesnt win, he has to forget about becoming The Worlds Greatest Inventor and spend the summer in sports camp, with his scary stepbrother. With only a week to go, Doug launches a quest to turn his team of outcasts into winners... and maybe even friends. P R A I S E Thomas strews the increasingly suspenseful competition with teachable moments and traces learning curves not only for the students but for teachers and parents, too. Reminiscent of E. L. Konigsburgs The View from Saturday. -- Booklist (starred) Creative and hilarious...the novels narration shifts among many perspectives, giving a rich, panoramic view of how stressful yet ultimately rewarding these learning experiences are for the overachievers, the socially awkward, the kids with complicated home lives, and all those who just need to see each other a little differently. -- Kirkus ...Witty competition drama... a telling that prioritizes characters interiority as well as their impact on each others lives. While Dougs determined voice is the primary focus, the rotating narratives showcase each of the racially diverse characters individual stressors, delivering a well-rounded accounting that is better for its multiplicity. -- Publishers Weekly Review Quotes Thomas uses wacky humor to deliver a light but laudable message about teamwork and friendship being more important than placing first. -- School Library Journal Being a middle school kid is... Complicated. And author J.E. Thomas knows how to show readers just how much is going on in a tweens world, in a fun and engaging way. Rich characters, realistic portrayal of middle school life, and action surrounding a STEAMS Competition makes CONTROL FREAKS a perfect book for kids, parents, and educators alike. - Fleur Bradley, author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel Thomass debut novel is a refreshing take on middle-school life--smart kids who know they are going places but learn to take care of one another along the way. -- Horn Book A People Magazine Must-Read of Summer 2023 Witty - Publishers Weekly [STAR] [A] warm and funny debut... reminiscent of E.L. Konigsburgs The View From Saturday -- Booklist (starred) Creative and hilarious. -- Kirkus About the Author J.E. Thomas grew up near Colorados Front Range mountains. She spent her early summers stuffing grocery bags with books at the local library, reading feverishly, then repeating the process week after week. J.E. has bachelors degrees in Mass Communications and Political Science, as well as a masters degree in Public Communications. She wrote Control Freaks while working as an administrator at the same independent school she attended as child.