Main Street

Series · 10 books · 2007-2011

By Ann M. Martin

Books in series

Welcome to Camden Falls

2007

Combining the heart of her Newbery Honor-winning fiction and the spirit of her legendary Baby-Sitters Club series, Ann M. Martin introduces a timeless new series for girls. Flora and Ruby do not want to move to Camden Falls. But they don't really have a choice—their parents are dead and their grandmother, Min, is taking them in. It's strange to be in a new place. But luckily, it's a very welcoming place. Min runs a sewing store, Needle & Thread, at the heart of Main Street in Camden Falls. There, Flora and Ruby become friends with Olivia, who likes to organize things, and Nikki, who lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Even if Flora and Ruby never expected it to, Camden Falls becomes their home . . . and its stories become a part of their stories.

Needle and Thread

2007

Autumn comes to Camden Falls—bringing new friends, new teachers, new worries, and new challenges. It's autumn in Camden Falls, and Flora and Ruby are just starting to settle into the town. Flora is worried about spending the first Thanksgiving without their parents. Ruby is worried about getting a part in her school musical. And their new friends, Olivia and Nikki, are facing problems of their own. But the friendship that ties them together will also give them the strength to work things out—one stitch at a time.

'Tis the Season

2007

An unforgettable holiday story in Ann M. Martin's timeless new series Format: 4 CDs, Unabridged It's looking to be a hard holiday season for the girls of Main Street. For Flora and Ruby, it's the first Christmas without their parents around. For Olivia, gift giving and tree decorating must be balanced with the fact that both of her parents need jobs. And for Nikki, there's the presence of her mean, angry father to reckon with. Luckily, the girls have each other—and the community around them. As Camden Falls prepares for its annual festivities, Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki all find that the hard things become easier when there are family, friends, and neighbors to share things with.

Best Friends

2008

Friendship is forever in the fourth book of Ann M. Martin's heartwarming new series, Main Street Spring has arrived in Camden Falls, and with it have come many joys and challenges. As Flora and Ruby near the first anniversary of their arrival in town, Flora prepares for a visit from her old best friend. She's excited . . . but her new best friend, Olivia, isn't. Olivia's afraid she won't measure up, and that Flora will regret ever coming to Camden Falls. It's a very big reunion set for a very big day—Camden Falls' 350th birthday celebration. Does one best friend truly have to be the best . . . or can they find a way to get along?

The Secret Book Club

2008

Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki start their own summer book club when well-loved books start appearing on their doorsteps in the fifth of Ann Martin's wonderful Main Street books. Flora and Ruby are about to start their second summer in Camden Falls. An element of mystery is instantly added when someone—the girls don't know who—leaves copies of a very special book on their doorstop, with instructions to read and discuss it. Olivia and Nikki also get books, and soon the girls are starting their own book club—with some very interesting ties between the books they're reading and the things they're facing over the summer. But who's their literary benefactor? The girls don't need to read Nancy Drew to track down the answer....

September Surprises

2008

It's back to school time for the kids of Camden Falls ... and for Flora, Olivia, and Nikki, that means a new school—and new challenges. It's September in Camden Falls . . . and it's time for Flora, Nikki, and Olivia to move up to the Central School from their old elementary school. As seventh graders, they'll be sharing the halls with kids from other towns—and from grades as high as twelfth. Flora and Nikki are excited . . . but Olivia isn't at all. She's always been the youngest girl in her class. Now she's the youngest girl in the whole school—and plenty of kids, both friends and bullies, are noticing. When Olivia runs afoul of a popular girl, she realizes she has to grow up fast ... or get left behind.

Keeping Secrets

2009

A new girl moves to Camden Falls . . . and brings some secrets with her.Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki are sad that the Willets have moved out of the Row Houses - but they’re excited when they hear the new neighbors will have kids nearly their age. One of them, Willow, seems like a natural fit for their group of friends. The only problem? Willow doesn’t seem eager to be a part of life on Main Street. Evenutally, Flora discovers that Willow has a secret - a secret tied to the often erratic behavior of her mother. What’s a good neighbor - and a new friend - to do?

Special Delivery

2009

There's a new member of the family in this touching new Main Street story... Flora and Ruby's Aunt Allie has always wanted to have a baby . . . and now, suddenly, it's happening! Allie's adopting—and the baby is on its way. Suddenly, a quiet neighborhood Thanksgiving has turned into a huge event—and Flora and Ruby are about to get their first cousin!

Coming Apart

2010

When Nikki's father left her family, she thought all the trouble would be over. No more screaming. No more fighting. No more rages. But now he's coming back one last time, and Nikki isn't sure what's going to happen. Luckily, she has good friends like Flora, Ruby, and Olivia to stand behind her—and a mom who cares about her kids enough to pull them through a hard time.

#10

Staying Together

2011

After a big fight, sisters Flora and Ruby must come together in this stirring installment of Main Street Flora and Ruby have always gotten along as sisters, but now they're coming apart. They're starting to fight all the time and nobody—not their friends, not their grandmother—knows what to do. It's all a part of growing up, but it's not an easy part. And Flora and Ruby are going to have to learn how to stay together... with a little help from their friends.

Author

Ann M. Martin

Author · 457 books

Ann Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer. Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes. Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself. Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s. After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children. http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...