Off and Running (Hardcover)

The biggest race of the school year is on! Fifth-grader Miata Ramirez is running for class president. Her best friend, Ana, is her running mate. The girls are stunned when they learn they are running against class clown Rudy Herrera and his friend Alex.

At first Miata is certain she will win the election. She has big plans to make the school a better place. She'll clean up the graffiti, plant flowers and trees, and get computers.

Rudy's confident he'll get votes by promising longer recess periods and selling the students ice cream every day.

Miata is serious and means business. But the boys are funnier and louder. The girls think if they quickly change their image, they'll get those extra votes. But the election is just a few days away.

Readers will catch election fever as the boys square off against the girls in Gary Soto's latest novel featuring Miata Ramirez from The Skirt and Rudy Herrera from The Pool Party.