West Creek Middle School Series

Ethan Winfield may not be a star student or athlete like his brother, but he's determined to make his mark when he falls for the new student teacher.

Ethan Winfield has never been an academic or athletic standout like his older brother, Peter. But that doesn't make him a failure. Ethan and his best friend, Julius Zimmerman, even decide to found an exclusive club: Losers, Inc.

Everything changes when both boys fall for the new student teacher, Ms. Gunderson. Ethan realizes that to impress her, he needs to excel. He tackles the longest book for his report and aims to make the best science fair project—alone.

But it's not Ms. Gunderson who falls for Ethan; it's Lizzie Archer, class nerd. Embarrassed by the teasing, Ethan hatches a hurtful plot to prove she's not his girlfriend. Even as he strives to succeed in school, Ethan feels undeserving of anyone's love—not Ms. Gunderson's, Lizzie's, Julius's, or his own.

In Losers, Inc., Claudia Mills, creator of overachiever Dinah Seabrooke, portrays a boy seeking a reason to thrive, only to learn that success alone isn't enough. This smart, funny, down-to-earth story follows a relatable hero as he struggles to grow up.