In a story told from different viewpoints, five sixth-graders, facing various challenges and under pressure to do well on statewide assessment tests, agree to a plan for acing the tests.

"As his school's centennial is coming up, Big Nate is stuck showing the dorky new kid around"--

"Dark times have fallen on McQuarrie Middle School. Dwight is back--and not a moment too soon--as Kellen, Sara, and the gang face a new Menace: the FunTime Educational Program. FunTime is supposed to raise students' standardized test scores. Instead, it's driving everyone crazy. The students turn to Origami Yoda for help"--Provided by publisher.

Retired scientist Miss Tracy comes to Ella Mentry School to teach about the planets and the solar system and casts A.J. as Uranus in the school play.

The class bully loves to tease Katie Woo until she decides to ignore him.

After years of attending a school for gifted children, Noah finds himself at a normal school where he immediately ends up on the wrong side of a cheerleading captain and a jock.

Sixth-grader Stuart Truly has confusing feelings about new student Becca, and it does not help that he, the son of a butcher, told her his family, like hers, is vegetarian.

After learning that her deep voice is keeping her from being cast in plays at her exclusive performing arts school, Jordan Sun, junior, auditions for an all-male octet hoping for a chance to perform internationally.

Seventh-grader Ben, always an outsider, is led into a deep friendship with Halley, who is being treated for cancer, by the special dog he and his adoptive mother take in.

Nikki's diary describes a frightful Halloween, on which she helps with her sister's ballet class party at the same time she is Brandon's date for their middle school Halloween dance, where she has promised to spend the evening with her two best friends.