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Description
Margot Button starts seventh grade determined to fit in after her best friend moves away, but her attempts to appear normal quickly spiral when she falls in with Em, a bold new girl from New York who dresses like a rock star and isn't afraid to challenge the school's social hierarchy. As Margot tries to navigate the pressures of popularity and the mean-streak of the most popular girl, Sarah J., she makes a series of choices that threaten her friendships and her sense of self. The story follows her struggle to balance the desire for acceptance with staying true to who she really is.
Quick Summary
When you're trying to figure out who you are in seventh grade, sometimes you make choices that seem like a good idea at the time but turn out to be total disasters and that's exactly what happens to Margot in Mission (Un)Popular. She's starting a new school year without her best friend and is desperate to be seen as cool, so when a confident new girl pays attention to her, Margot ignores all the warning signs because being noticed feels so much better than being invisible. The book perfectly captures that painful middle school experience of wanting so badly to fit in that you compromise who you are, and kids will absolutely recognize themselves in her messy attempts to impress someone who isn't worth the trouble. It's funny and awkward in all the right ways, with real heart underneath the cringe-worthy moments, making it a great pick for anyone who's ever struggled with friend drama or tried too hard to be something they're not. If you've got a reader who enjoyed "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" but wants something with a bit more emotional depth, this one hits that sweet spot of humor and heart that middle graders love.