Mission (Un)Popular

Twelve-year-old Margot Button describes herself as "mostly a total social dork," but she still aspires to become popular despite such obstacles as having a tarot card%E2%80%93reading mother, being the older sister of locally famous identical triplet sisters, and starting seventh grade without her best friend, Erika, who is attending a different school. After a fashion mishap leaves her looking like a "poodle with a human face," Margot is rescued by a new student%E2%80%94rich, sassy Em, who seems to know as much about popularity as she does about fixing bad hair. Unfortunately, following Em up the social ladder means leaving some old friends behind and surviving some dangerous situations, like getting pushed down the stairs by her rival, Sarah J. In this tale of making new friends and losing old ones, Humphrey (Rhymes with Cupid) introduces a cast of convincing characters, quirky enough to hold middle schoolers' interest, and accurately depicts how the quest for popularity can sometimes lead to compromised values. Insecure and self-deprecating, Margot has a hyperbolic, sarcastic sense of humor that will draw readers in%E2%80%94and win them over. Ages 10%E2%80%93up. (June)