Olivia Bean: Trivia Queen

Olivia Bean is one stressed-out 12-year-old. Despite having inherited her father’s knack for trivia retention, she’s miserable at geography: an upcoming test has her tied up in knots. Dad’s no help—he moved to California with the mother of Olivia’s best friend (taking the best friend away, too). Now her mother’s boyfriend has moved in, and Olivia is being pestered by Tucker, the boy next door. Things begin to turn around for Olivia when Tucker (of all people) tells her that Jeopardy! is looking for kid contestants. Watching Jeopardy! with her father was a nightly ritual before he split, and if Olivia can ace the online test and the in-person audition to get on the show, she’ll be flown to California where her father will realize what he’s missing. Readers will figure out long before Olivia does that her father is a complete loser. The real draw in this tender, triumphant novel from Gephart (How to Survive Middle School) is Olivia’s successful progression through Jeopardy!’s hoops and the happy ending for one particularly deserving contestant. Ages 8–12. Agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. (Mar.)