He was listening now as kids in the class spoke up about biographies. "I think it's good when the writer lets you get to know the person in a new way," said Austin Bentley. "Showing you what Martin Luther King was like as a little kid, or something like that." "Good," said Ted. "Anybody else?" "It should be fun to read," volunteered Cokie Mason, who is one of my not favorite people in the world. "Almost like a soap opera." Ted nodded. "Sure," he said. "A biography is a story, after all." This boy named Jeremy spoke up. "But not everybody's life is all that interesting," he said. "So a good biography should also be about a special per- son." Ted considered that. "I'm not sure I agree with you there, Jeremy. I happen to think everybody's life is interesting. Which leads me to your next assign- ment." We groaned. Not because we hate the assignments Ted gives us. Actually, he usually assigns projects and homework that seem more like fun than schoolwork. But face it. In middle school, when a teacher mentions work, everybody groans. It's practically a tradition.

    Ted just smiled. "Our next unit is called Fact and Fiction," he said. "Over the next few weeks, you'll each complete two projects. Your grade will reflect how well you complete them." Cokie raised her hand.

    "Yes?" Ted asked.

    "What are the projects, and what percentage of the grade will each of them count for?" Ted smiled again, though this time he tried to hide it. "I was just about to tell you that," he said. "The two projects, each of which will count for half of your grade, are a biography project and a fiction-reading project." He held up a hand and ticked off fingers as he spoke.

    Just then the bell rang.

    "Oops, time's up," said Ted. "I'll give you the details tomorrow." Cokie looked disappointed. She'd had her pen out, ready to write down the assignments. Slowly she put it away and closed her notebook.