As Allie Kimball starts sixth grade, she discovers that middle school is a very different world, populated with glommers -- those girls who cling to each other in groups; norks -- a combination of a nerd and a dork; and worst of all, squashes -- crushes that make you feel like your heart has been stepped on. Keeping a journal of words that help define her world, Allie tries to navigate through the strange land of sixth grade. With the help of her...

"Mackenzie Miler has big goals. For instance, conquering seventh grade--with projects. There's the Mom Project (finding her mom a boyfriend--even if she says she's not interested), the Friend project (win back the BFFs who dumped her and make a new friend), and the Band project (so what if she's never planned a fundraiser? How hard can it be?). But finding real-life romance is a lot more complicated than her mom's favorite movies make it look. And...

Seventh-grader Amy Flowers is not happy that she is stuck teaching health to first-graders for her service project while her best friends get to help at the community garden, specially since her partners are the Queen of Mean Fiona and preppie Preston.