The Last Day of Summer (NR, 2007)

For Luke Malloy (Jansen Panettiere, younger brother of Heroes cheerleader Hayden), the start of this particular school year is more than just an end to the fun and freedom of summer. It's the beginning of a whole new list of dreads -- all because he's going to be starting middle school. Based on what he's heard from middle-school veterans -- like big sister Diana (Alexandra Krosney) -- the transition is pretty much a life-or-death battle. At the town carnival on Labor Day (the last day of summer), anxiety-ridden Luke longingly wishes the day would never end. Moments later, a blow to the head knocks him out cold; when he wakes up, it's the morning of Labor Day again. As the day repeats itself over and over, Luke -- like a tweenage version of Bill Murray's character in Groundhog Day -- discovers that he has the power to change its outcome, and he slowly finds ways to conquer his fears: bullies; his secret crush, Alice (Denyse Tontz), and even performing onstage with his buddies in their band, The Steel Monkey. Along the way, he also gets a lesson in the power of friendship and the importance of being honest with yourself and listening to your heart.

THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER combines tween-friendly entertainment (yes, there's some potty humor -- like passing gas and blows to the groin -- to keep the boys interested) with the kind of positive messages that kids need as they embark on the tumultuous years of middle school. And parents can rest assured that there's nothing here their tweens can't handle.