Made into movie

Perennial new kid Roy Eberhardt is trying to survive middle school in Coconut Grove, Florida, when he spots a strange boy running through the neighborhoods of his bus route.
Corrupt developers, bullies, and child abuse all play a part in this ecological mystery.  

When Brad asks someone else to the senior prom, Nicole resorts to a desperate measure - she decides to make her next-door neighbor over into a dream date.