Their eighth grade was the best, and the worst. Then, on the last day of school, a high school student showed up with a gun.

"Mark Binder's THE WORST is a captivating young adult novel that treats the triumphs and tribulations of middle school with complete respect.... Overall, the book captures a beautiful sense of community that keeps the reader smiling through the lighter chapters and leaning in close during the intense final moments." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Readers Favorite 

"...eighth-grade misadventures with some ripped-from-the-headlines drama... THE WORST excels at portraying the dynamics of this group of friends. Young readers will enjoy spending time with these characters and seeing how they support each other... For lovers of fun but honest storytelling for kids..." - Publishers Weekly

Fast-paced, funny, and unforgettable, THE WORST explores the moments that define who we become when things fall apart. 

For the boys and girl in "Team Bomb Shelter," their final year at Jerome Marco K-8 was packed with disasters, inside jokes and a talent show. They called the daily chaos of middle school "the worst" - and somehow meant it as a compliment. 

It should have ended with a celebration.Instead, everything changed.

"Nobody and nothing prepared us to deal with what happened when our middle school was attacked by a school shooter. We never saw it coming."

THE WORST spins stories of friendship, joy, courage, and choosing hope when fear takes over. Fast-paced, funny, and unforgettable, it explores the moments that define who we become when things fall apart. 

"Binder is a skilled writer and performer..." -USA TODAY NETWORK

THE WORST is the thrilling stand-alone conclusion to the Team Bomb Shelter Series. New readers can jump right in.

Mark Binder is the Audie Award nominated author and storyteller of more than two dozen books. He tours the world telling stories to readers and listeners of all ages.