Outskirts Press, INC.

I was so embarrassed in school today. My pimple busted on my notebook in homeroom, in front of everyone!!!

Starting middle school was supposed to be an exciting time for Tina Morten, but after losing her best friend to her long time enemy, middle school is nothing but a big headache. Switching classes each hour, having different teachers, daydreaming, forgetting to write in her student planner, mood swings, not to mention she starts her period. Things have definitely changed since elementary. Will Tina ever adjust to middle school?

“Your progress report is bad because you don’t have any organizational skills,” Tina’s mother said.
“I’m trying.”
“No you aren’t. How can you go from all A’s at Kellwagen to the progress report you have now?”
“Because Kellwagen’s work was way easier.”
“All I hear is excuses.”
“But it’s true,” Tina said, with tears filling her eyes. “Middle school is different. It’s like you have to go to your lockers, write in your planner and have your parents sign it every day, and then—”
Her mother interrupted. “Hold up, sign your planner? I don’t remember hearing anything about signing your planner. I know I never signed your planner.”
Tina bit her bottom lip.
“It’s funny because when I asked your dad about your planner, he said he had never seen it, so if he never saw it, he never signed it.”
Tina’s eyes shuffled with nervousness. She silently said to herself, Oh please, oh please, don’t ask Mom.
“So that leaves me with one big question, Tina Kaley Morten. Who signed your planner?”