Shana Gorian's Children's and Middle Grade Books
Messy Week
Student of the Mess
For Ethan, every school day is another chance for something to go hilariously wrong… and another chance to prove he deserves Student of the Month.
Ethan has never won Student of the Month, and he’s in fifth grade already. Now September is ticking down, and this is his last shot before the title slips away again.
Too bad his week starts with a bang. His alarm doesn’t go off, his backpack explodes, his homework is stepped on, and by recess, he’s yelling at the sky. From there it only gets worse with library mayhem and cafeteria catastrophes.
But even the messiest days don’t stay messy forever. With a little help from his teacher, his best friends, and a lot of trial and error, Ethan discovers that every disaster can be flipped around if he finds a better way to look at it.
Student of the Mess is the first book in the Messy Week series, a funny and fast-paced chapter book series for reluctant readers ages 6–9 about resilience and friendship. With spot illustrations, quick laughs, and plenty of school-day drama, it’s perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Judy Moody, and My Weird School.
The Presentation of Doom
For Ethan, October is one long, spooky disaster… and it all ends with the one thing he dreads most: a class presentation.
Winning Student of the Month in September felt amazing, but keeping his reputation intact is harder than he thought. Too bad everything keeps going hilariously wrong—whether it’s gym class, the cafeteria, or even his Halloween costume.
But with his best friends at his side and a little grit (and glitter) along the way, Ethan learns that courage isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up, even when you’re scared silly.
The Presentation of Doom is the second book in the Messy Week series, a funny and fast-paced chapter book series for readers ages 6–9 about resilience and friendship. With spot illustrations, quick laughs, and plenty of school-day drama, it’s perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Judy Moody, and My Weird School.
Mayhem on the Farm
For Ethan, this fifth-grade field trip to Maple Grove Farm is supposed to be educational, but mostly, it’s mayhem.
He’s determined to make it through the day without causing a disaster. But when a sneeze spooks a cow, an egg slips through his fingers, and a very grumpy turkey decides Ethan looks suspiciously like lunch, things start to spiral out of control. Then Clucky the chicken shows up, braver than any bird has a right to be, and suddenly, Ethan’s day takes a turn for the better.
With help from his best friends (and a feathered sidekick who refuses to quit), Ethan learns that teamwork, gratitude, and laughter can turn even the messiest day into one worth remembering.
Mayhem on the Farm is the third and VERY SHORT book in the Messy Week series, a funny and fast-paced chapter book series for readers ages 6–9 about resilience and friendship, with a nod at gratitude for the month of November. With spot illustrations and plenty of school-day drama, it’s perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Judy Moody, and My Weird School.
A Very Merry Mess
Helping at the community center’s gift-wrapping fundraiser should be easy: wrap a few presents, raise money for the children’s room, and ride through town in the Christmas parade.
Ethan even has an elf hat.
Then his brilliant wrapping system scrambles the gift tags. The wrong presents end up with the wrong people. And an important gift goes missing. Now Ethan, Jada, Leo, and Bryce have a growing list of mistakes to fix and a parade that won’t wait for them to get organized. Can Ethan deliver one very important present before his week becomes a very merry disaster?
With expressive black-and-white illustrations and Ethan’s funny take on the world, this short Christmas chapter book brings readers ages 6-9 a story full of friendship, tangled ribbon, and the courage to make things right. Perfect for a holiday classroom read-aloud or independent reading.