NOW A FEATURE FILM! (co-starring Superman's David Corenswet)

"Our parents just said we had to get summer jobs. They didn't say what summer jobs!"

Dave and his two best friends, Hannah and Curtis, are looking forward to a summer of complete freedom, but their parents have another idea: they insist that the three teenagers get summer jobs.

But the friends come up with a plan: Why not invent fake jobs to get their parents off their backs? The trouble is, their parents are going to want to see them bringing in real money. And that means finding a way to get-rich-quick, but without breaking the law, and without doing any actual work.

The summer passes and Dave, Curtis, and Hannah try a long list of schemes: trying to catch bank robbers to win the reward; scientifically calculating the "correct" number of jelly beans in a contest jar; finding and exploring a network of underground smugglers' tunnels; and even diving for sunken treasure.

But "Project Pay Day" never quite goes according to plan, and they don't make the money they need.

Soon summer is almost over, and they have no choice but to solve a big local mystery -- or face the consequences of their actions, which includes their parents breaking up the trio for good!

(For readers age 10 and up. An early version of this book was published under the title Project Sweet Life.)

REVIEWS

"An ingenious plot with a little Tom Sawyer, a little Homer Price, and a lotta laughs! That's what I call 'sweet!'"
- Michael Cart, Booklist

"A hilarious story filled with mishaps, close calls, and outrageous adventures."
- School Library Journal

"The friendship, lightly and expertly depicted, drives the book, while their smartly plotted moneymaking schemes are creative, highjinks-filled, and hilariously almost effective."
- Horn Book Review

"Lovable, flawed, and genuinely charming, Hartinger's characters drive the story... [It's'] funny, realistic yet whimsical story delivered up with loving care."
- CLCD

PRAISE FOR BRENT HARTINGER

"Hits the narrative sweet spot."- NPR's All Things Considered

"Downright refreshing."- USA Today

"I really think this guy could be the next Judy Blume." - Pop Candy

• We started tracking this book on January 30, 2025.
• This book was $4.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 3 times in the past 331 days.
• The current price of this book is FREE last checked 16 minutes ago.
• The lowest price to date was FREE last reached on December 26, 2025.
• This book has been FREE one time since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $5.99 last reached on August 23, 2025.
• This book has been $5.99 one time since we started tracking it.
• This book is currently at its lowest price since we started tracking it.

• Children's eBooksLiterature & FictionHumorous

• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 219 Pages