Works by
Julie Anne Peters
(Writer)

Younger Readers (Age 6 and Up)

• The Stinky Sneakers Contest  (1992) with Cat Bowman Smith
  Earl wishes he could beat his best friend Damian at something. Anything. Whether they're playing Nintendo or racing their bikes, Damian always wins. The two boys' friendship is put to the test when they both enter the Feetfirst factory's Stinky Sneakers Contest. While Earl tries to work up a sweat and stink up his shoes the natural way, Damian has other plans: He'll outsmart and outsmell everyone in the contest (including Earl) by cheating to win. Will the Stinky Sneakers contest be the end of Earl and Damian's friendship?

• B.J.'s Billion Dollar Bet  (1994)
  It all started with an innocent bet: B.J. Byner’s Micro Machines for his friend Mavis Mae's Tootsie Roll Pops. But one bet leads to another, and soon B.J.'s gambling spins out of control. In a last ditch effort to win his most prized possessions back from Mavis Mae, B.J. bets his mother's weekly lottery ticket—and loses. He doesn't realize how much he's lost until his mother gets home and announces, "I won the lottery. We're rich." Will B.J.'s mother go berserk when she learns he bet away her ticket? Or can B.J. figure out a way to get that ticket back before Mavis Mae discovers she's a multi-millionaire?

Snob Squad Series (Ages 9 and up)

1. Revenge of the Snob Squad (1998)
   It starts in gym, when the four of them--the worst athletes in school--are forced to become a relay race team. Jenny is more interested in eating candy; Prairie has a bad leg; Lydia is a complete klutz; and Max is, well, Max. They call themselves the "Snob Squad," because they have to choose a name--and, to their surprise, as they practice, they find themselves becoming friends. So when they vow revenge on their archenemies, the Neon Nikes, headed by the principal's bratty daughter, it's time to watch out!

2. Romance of the Snob Squad (1999)
   Love is in the air. The Snob Squad—Jenny, Max, Prairie, and Lydia—cook up an outrageous scheme to ignite a romance between Prairie and the object of her affection, Hugh Torkerson (otherwise known as "Tork the Dork"). How do a lab rat, a set of embarrassing glamour photos, and a mysteriously disappearing notebook all play a part in their matchmaking? And the bigger question: Is there more than one romance in the works?

3. A Snitch in the Snob Squad (2001)
   There are mysterious goings-on at Montrose Middle School. Someone has been snitching money from teachers' desks. Who could it be? Max, whose bad-girl reputation seems to stick to her like slime? Our heroine Jenny's new boyfriend, Kevin, who all of a sudden has money enough to shower Jenny with expensive gifts? Or Ashley, the snotty principal's daughter, who's been acting awfully suspicious lately (so what else is new)? Maybe it's all of them. Or none of them. Whoever the thief is had better take cover because the Snob Squad is on the case.

Middle Readers (Age 9 and Up)

1. Risky Friends (1993)
   Kacie Shannon's life is changed forever when she helps Skye Cunningham cheat on a test. Even though she doesn’t get caught, Kacie suddenly has a new best friend. Skye isn't all that she appears to be, though, and soon Kacie finds her life spiraling out of control. Is staying friends with someone you like worth risking your own self respect? Where does a friendship begin and end?

2. How Do You Spell Geek? (1996)
   Best friends Ann and Kimberly both dream of making it to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Eighth grade is the last year they can qualify, so they're practicing day and night. When Ann is assigned to sponsor geeky new student Lurlene Brueggemeyer, she discovers Lurlene is an amazing speller. Suddenly Ann's relationship with front-runner Kimberly and her own chances of winning the competition are in jeopardy. The three girls end up competing against each other and that can spell only one word:  T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

3. Love Me, Love My Broccoli (1999)
   Chloe, an avowed vegetarian and animal rights activist, is determined to rid the world of animal abuse. When the guy she is secretly in love with, football jock and confirmed carnivore Brett Ryan actually falls for her, Chloe can’t believe it. At first, Brett finds Chloe interesting because she's different from all the other girls. But soon he realizes she doesn't fit in with his group of friends and he wants her to change. How much of herself—her philosophies and beliefs—is Chloe willing to sacrifice for love?
   
   See also Amours & Brocolis (2002) with Emmanuelle Pingault

Older Readers (Age 12 and Up)

• Define "Normal" (2000)
  Now in its fourth hardcover printing, Define "Normal" has become a word-of-mouth phenomenon. This is a thoughtful, wry story about two girls-a "punk" and a "priss"-who find themselves facing each other in a peer-counseling program, and discover that they have some surprising things in common.

• Keeping You a Secret (2003) -- Finalist 2003 Lambda Literary Award for Children/Young Adult)
  Expectations. A girl meets a guy, falls in love, gets married, has sex, not necessarily in that order. Holland Jaeger is living up to the expectations. But when she meets Cece, the course of her life is changed forever. She falls in love with this girl—this out-and-proud lesbian. Holland's awakening to her own sexuality is the key to setting her free. Can Holland trust that the people she counts on most in her life will accept and embrace her newfound identity? Keeping their relationship a secret may prove to be the worst mistake Holland and Cece could ever make.

• Luna (2004) --  Finalist 2004 Lambda Literary Award for Children/Young Adult); Finalist 2004 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender/Bisexual Awards
  From as early as she can remember, Regan O’Neill has known that her brother, Liam, was different. That he was, in fact, a girl. Transgender. Having a transgender brother has never been a problem for Regan — until now. Liam (or Luna, as she prefers to be called by her chosen name) is about to transition. What does it mean, transitioning? Dressing like a girl? In public? Does Liam expect Regan to embrace this decision, to welcome his sex change? She’s always kept her brother’s secret, always been his confidante, but now Regan’s acceptance and love will be put to the test.

• Far from Xanadu (20005 release)
  Isolation. Abandonment. Death. Too much pain in Mike Szabo’s life. Add to it the futility of unattainable goals and Mike’s future seems bleak. But the confines of a small Kansas community are exploded when Xanadu, an exotic newcomer, arrives in town. Xanadu is a light, a candle, a glimmer of hope in Mike’s heart.  There are barriers between Mike and Xanadu.  Can a gay person love a straight person? And will the love be returned? Or are there physical and emotional distances that can never – and should never – be crossed?

• Between Mom and Jo (2006) -- Co-Winner 2006 Lambda Literary Award for Children/Young Adult
  Jo promised Nick they’d always be together.  So did Mom.  When you’re a stupid little kid you believe what your parents tell you. You want to believe that your life will be good and nothing will change and everything—everyone—goes on forever.  It’s not until later you find out people are liars, forever is a myth, and a kid with two moms should never be put in the position of having to choose between them.

• grl2grl: short fictions (2007 release)