Call Me Brave is a middle-grade leadership novel about friendship, courage, and the small choices that shape who we become. It follows five students at Live Oak Middle School who learn that leadership is less about being in charge and more about how you treat the people around you.
Twelve-year-old Jace Thompson makes a daring jump at a friend's birthday party - just to be seen and admired. He isn't thinking about leadership or courage - only about surviving sixth grade as the new kid in town. But the school year unfolds in ways Jace would never have expected.
He meets three classmates - Naomi, Liam, and Ava - who each navigate life differently. Naomi is observant and empathetic. Liam is analytical and thoughtful. Ava is organized and responsible but feels pressure to meet expectations. And Eric, the new foster kid, is first seen as someone to avoid, but becomes a friend once the others learn what he's facing. He doesn't want to be forced to move again. He wants to stay in Frisco, which becomes a major challenge.
When the friends are assigned to the same team during a leadership scavenger hunt at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, frustration shows up fast. They don't think alike or solve problems the same way. For a while, the day feels like a disaster. Then something shifts.
Jace steps in when a younger student is pushed around. Naomi spots a clue everyone missed. Liam notices a detail that keeps the team moving. Ava asks for help. Eric shares part of his story and why belonging matters so much. These moments are quiet but meaningful. Their differences become strengths. What seemed like conflict becomes cooperation-the beginning of something larger-the start of the Vanguards.
Call Me Brave opens the Rise of the Vanguards series with themes that matter to middle-grade readers: standing up for others, navigating peer pressure, handling uncertainty, and finding confidence. The story introduces the PACE color personalities-Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow-to help kids understand how they think and connect with others. Call Me Brave gives young readers examples of courage, friendship, decision-making, and personal growth through believable school situations.
Leadership Elements appear at the end of each chapter to help readers reflect on decisions and character. Parents and teachers can use them to spark conversations without adding pressure. The book supports social-emotional learning, character development, and resilience.
The Rise of the Vanguards series fits readers who enjoy realistic fiction, friendship stories, and narratives about responsibility and confidence. It works well in classrooms, counseling programs, homeschool settings, leadership clubs, and youth groups. Call Me Brave helps kids see that leadership grows in honest conversations, brave choices, and caring for others.
If you want a middle-grade novel that encourages courage, integrity, teamwork, and steady character in ordinary moments, Call Me Brave is a meaningful place to begin the journey.
