DORK DIARIES CRUSH CATASTROPHE

From The Booklist

The Dork Diaries series continues with this installment, in which diarist Nikki takes action when her arch nemesis, the bratty Mackenzie Hollister, gets in her face several times too many. Encouraged by her BFFs, Nikki joins the school newspaper staff and carries out—with great flourish—the assignment to be its secret advice columnist. Russell continues to get a nuanced story across in the words of Nikki’s diary, while the illustrations lend even more substance to Nikki’s character. An easy place to enter—or continue—a sweet series featuring credible, although not traumatic, middle-school angst. Grades 4-6. --Francisca GoldsmithRachel Renee Russell serves up more laughs and adorable illustrations in the next installment of the bestselling DORK DIARIES series.

Nikki Maxwell has been doing everything she can to keep everyone at school from learning the truth--that she's there on scholarship in exchange for her Dad working as the school's exterminator. The last thing Nikki needs is having her friends and--worst case scenario--her crush, Brandon, associating her with the humongous roach on top of her Dad's van! Now it looks like her secret could be about to come out, and Nikki's willing to go to any zany and wacky length to prevent that from happening. The timing seems perfect when a major talent competition is announced with a school scholarship offered as the top prize. Nikki loves to sing and dance and now she gets to have tons of fun with her friends while competing for a chance to free her Dad from his obligation! (And free herself from all that potential damage to her reputation . . .) Once again, hijinks and misunderstandings aplenty ensue, as well as more hilarious and heartwarming moments with Nikki and