Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat by Gary Paulsen

Jordan is in the bathroom after school trying to stop his latest nosebleed when the loudspeaker crackles and announces a storm warning.  All kids are to take shelter.  Five other boys quickly gather in the bathroom to wait out the storm.

Six boys are in the bathroom -- talking and passing the time.

Jordan, who has social anxiety and gets nosebleeds when he has to deal with more than a couple of people at a time.

Avery, the new kid, who hid and slept through his entire first day of school.

Taylor, the kid who is struggling and takes out his frustrations on others.

Mason, the smart kid without friends who is tutoring Taylor.

Reagan, the overachiever who has so many extracurriculars he doesn't have a free moment.

Dylan, who spends all his time in his own world rocking out and playing air guitar.

And then there is the stuffed cat . . . .


This is a great story for kids.  While it is short without a lot of action, it does contain a lot of character development.  You really get to know the six boys as they spend the afternoon in the bathroom.  As an added bonus, the story was turned into a short one-act play that is included in the book.