Zach Zinsky's family moves to Granite and Zach dreams of a fresh start, of being, for once, at the front of the line. His hopes are squashed like a bug when he meets Ms. Paradise, his new and perfect teacher. Oh, yeah, perfect . . . and awful. When Zach decides to rattle Paradise, it's really just a silly prank to get her to calm down and maybe lighten up a bit. After he accidentally releases hundreds of praying mantid nymphs into his classroom, three things happen: Emily throws up on the reading rug, the principal faints dead away, and Ms. Paradise shows a side of her that's too shocking to believe. What ensues is energetic, exhilarating-- and horrible. Will Zach find a happy compromise that is less than perfect, but better than last? Will he be able to save the mantids as well as himself?