About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their middle schooler feels trapped by a specific social reputation or is struggling to reconcile who they are at home with who they are perceived to be at school. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels like a 'clown,' a 'loner,' or a 'jock' and wants to break free from those limiting labels. The story follows four very different students who discover that none of them are exactly who the school thinks they are. Through a mix of humor and poignant social observation, Tommy Greenwald explores the weight of peer pressure and the courage it takes to be authentic. Written for the 10 to 14 age range, the book serves as a gentle mirror for the messy, often confusing social hierarchies of middle school. Parents will appreciate how it validates the internal lives of children while encouraging them to look past the surface of their classmates to find common ground.
