![Awkward (Berrybrook Middle School Book 1) by [Svetlana Chmakova]](https://i0.wp.com/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/510gwpaBkyL.jpg?w=723&ssl=1)
Summary
I’ve been wanting to read this book for quite awhile. I thought the concept was interesting and it definitely didn’t dissapoint. Penelope–Peppi–Tores has some basic rules for surving at a new school. The first is not to get noticed by the mean kids, but when she drops her backpack on the first day and quiet boy Jamie helps her up the mean kids start calling her ‘nerder girlfriend’. She’s already broken the first rule! How does she handle it? By pushing Jamie and running away. Her second rule is to seek out groups with similar interests and join them, so she ends up in art club with new friends, but she still can’t help feeling bad about the way she treated Jamie. She agonizes over apolizing to him, but the timing never seems to be right.
Things get even more awkward when he becomes her science tutor and she learns more about Jamie. However art club and science club which Jamie is a part of are archrivals. When the two clubs go to war will it cut off any chance at a friendship between Peppi and Jamie. Or will the two be able to show there isn’t that much difference between science and art and that the two clubs might just get along if they are willing to drop their rivalry and work together.
Review
This was cute, loved the friendship between Peppi and Jamie but I also loved the positive portrayal of disability with Jamie’s mom. I liked the diverse students in both clubs. The author did a good job of making everyone in a large ensemble cast seem unique something that isn’t oftentimes easy to do. I also loved Miss T, and her making Peppi diagram the mermaid drawing. It’s just such a teacher move. Anywany very cute and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.