5 1/2 x 8 1/4

Di sney Hyperion Books

Los Angeles New York
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 2-3 3/7/14 11:50 PM
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Text copyright

2014 by Robin Mellom

Illustrations copyright

2014 by Stephen Gilpin

All iigLLs ieseived. PublisLed by Pisney Bypeiion Books, an impiinL of Pisney
Book 0ioup. uo paiL of LLis book may be iepioduced oi LiansmiLLed in any foim oi
by any means, elecLionic oi mecLanical, including pLoLocopying, iecoiding, oi by
any infoimaLion sLoiage and ieLiieval sysLem, wiLLouL wiiLLen peimission fiom LLe
publisLei. Ioi infoimaLion addiess Pisney Bypeiion Books, 125 UesL nd Avenue,
uew oik, uew oik 10023.
Printed in the United States
IiisL diLion
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
0475-5664-5-14091
Iibiaiy of Congiess CaLaloging-in-PublicaLion PaLa
Hellom, Robin.
The classroom : trick out my school! / directed by Robin Mellom ; lmed by Stephen
Gilpin.First edition.
pages cm
Summaiy: ULen a second documenLaiy ciew aiiives aL UesLside Hiddle ScLool Lo hlm
a ienowned Bollywood designei's ienovaLions, sevenLL-giadei Iievoi Jones is cLosen Lo
join LLe design Leam and faces a makeovei of Lis own.
ISBu 978-1-4231-5065-7
[1. Hiddle scLoolsIicLion. 2. ScLoolsIicLion. 3. InLeiioi decoiaLionIicLion.
4. PopulaiiLyIicLion. 5. BesL fiiendsIicLion. 6. IiiendsLipIicLion.
7. PocumenLaiy hlmsPioducLion and diiecLionIicLion.|
I. 0ilpin, SLepLen, illusLiaLoi. II. IiLle. III. IiLle: Iiick ouL my scLool!
PZ7.H16254Clu 2014
[Iic|dc23 2013029133
Reinfoiced binding
Visit www.DisneyBooks.com
Ioi Jayson & Iuke.
ILanks foi hlling oui Lome wiLL laugLLei.
R.M.
For my mom and dad.
I'm soiiy foi LLose Leenage yeais.
I gured you guys needed a
public acknowledgment.
S.G.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 4-5 3/7/14 11:50 PM
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 6-7 3/7/14 11:50 PM
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
>>Production: THE CLASSROOM
Over on Miller Street, behind the brick walls of
Westside Middle School, there are desks. There are
lockers. There are worksheets, textbooks, pencils,
pens, and squeaky hallway floors that are buffed
clean every Friday, right around four or so.
But they werent cleaned this past Friday,
since Wilson, the janitor who shall not be called
the janitor, ran out of replacement filters for
his floor buffer. Just thought you should know.
Now!at Westside Middle School there is a vice
principal, counselors, lots of teachers, and, of
course, students.
One of those students is Trevor Jones, your
average, normal seventh grade student who ended up
on a reality TV show.
Sort of.
This documentary crew set out to show what hap-
pens when a renowned Hollywood designer comes to
trick out Westside Middle School.
And also what happens when two film crews cross
paths at the same place and same time. So weird.
Westside is their middle school.
These are their stories.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 8-1 3/7/14 11:50 PM
3
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
No, I wouldnt say seventh grade has been FUN
so far. Thats a stretch. I would say this year
has been . . . EVENTFUL. And weird. And cool. And
bizarre. And epic. This year has been a lot of
adjectives.
Ever since Libby was elected class president
last fall, Ive been busy helping her with all her
presidential projects. And there have been many.
But let me be clear: when I say PROJECTS, I
really mean DANCES. The girl is obsessed. Shes
managed to convince Vice Principal Decker to let
us have a dance for virtually every occasion.
We had a Halloween dance. A Thanksgiving dance.
A Leftovers from Thanksgiving dance. A Lets Hope
for a Snow Day dance. (That one took place right
after the Weather Seems Sorta Crummy dance.)
Libby was able to get approval for all these
dances by including a fund-raiser. Decker, appar-
ently, will agree to anything as long as you raise
money for school equipment.
Trevor Jones
7th grader
Outside homeroom,
a little perplexed
8:25 a.m.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 2-3 3/7/14 11:50 PM
4 5
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Weve held bake sales, sold some of our school
art projects, and even raised money by making
puppets from old socks. Stuff a sock, call it a
monkey, and bam! Youve got yourself a moneymaker.
Our new dodgeballs are AMAZING. But Wilson
keeps asking when hes going to get replacement
filters for his floor buffer.
I told him Id ask Libby if we could have a
Spring Pollen dance to raise money for his fil-
ters. So I asked her . . . this morning.
Libby told me shes done with dances for now.
And thats when I saw it: a twinkle in her
eye. I know what a twinkle like that means. A new
presidential project. I always tell her to think
big. So Im guessing shes come up with something
HUGE.
But if its not a dance, then what is it?
No, no. Im keeping this project a secret. At
least until later this morning when Vice Principal
Decker makes the announcement.
Yep, were having an all-school assembly just
to announce this project. And its not even a
fund-raiser. Ive moved on to The Big Time. Soon,
all of America will know about Westside Middle
School.
Decker and I have been working on this for
WEEKS. Planning meetings. Getting administrative
approval. Signing contracts. Its been endless.
So I cant believe this day is FINALLY here!
[bounces on toes]
Dont ask me how Ive managed to keep all this
a secret from Trevor. But he is going to love this
project . . . I just know it!
Libby Gardner
7th grader
Strangely excited,
even this early in
the morning
8:26 a.m.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 4-5 3/7/14 11:50 PM
6 7
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Yeah, I already know about the secret project.
Since Decker is my dad, it wasnt hard to acciden-
tally eavesdrop.
But Im going to have to talk Dad out of this
one. It is . . . oh, whats the word?
RIDICULOUS.
Wait till Trevor hears about this. Hes going
to FREAK.
But if anything, its going to get interesting
around here again. Because that Leftovers from
Thanksgiving dance? Total snore.
L
IBBY GARDNER ENTERED MR. EVERETTS HOMEROOM
class with a clipboard in one hand and a stress ball
in LLe oLLei. ven LLougL sLe was exciLed abouL LLe
announcemenL Vice Piincipal Peckei was abouL Lo make,
sLe was also sLiessed. Uould eveiyone be ecsLaLic: Uould
LLey LLink sLe was cool foi puLLing LLis LogeLLei: 0i was
LLis abouL Lo demolisL Lei iespecLable level of populaiiLy:
Leeping a secieL LLis big iequiied loLs of sLiess ielief.
nfoiLunaLely, LLe ball was noL enougL. Iibby Lad moved
on Lo cLewing Lei pencil eiasei. Belpful, buL also a Lad
gross.
All the students were seated and ready to start class.
Cindy ApplegaLe, LLe ofhcial scLool gossip, was Lo Lei
lefL, sciuncLing Lei Laii Lo make iL cuiliei. Iibby's besL
Molly Decker
7th grader
Bored, as usual
8:27 a.m.
! #$%&'(
)(
*
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 6-7 3/7/14 11:50 PM
8 9
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
fiiend, Iievoi, was seaLed in LLe back iow, doodling in Lis
notebook. Molly had her head buried in her hands. And
Hi. veieLLwLo was decoiaLing Lis bulleLin boaidwas
currently tangled up in crepe paper.
Libby glanced up at the intercom.
Click.
Here we go.
0ood moining, UesLside. ILis is Vice Piincipal Peckei.
I have a very important announcement to make.
Libby turned around and caught Trevors eye. She gave
Lim a LLumbs-up, and Le ieLuined wiLL a LLumbs-up.
But Trevor had no idea what he was thumbing up.
Suiely LLis was jusL anoLLei cai wasL oi baibecue. ULy
was Iibby so amped:
SLudenLs, youi sevenLL giade class piesidenL, Iibby
0aidnei, Las enLeied oui scLool inLo a conLesL. SLe wioLe
a fabulous essay, and now"Peckei Look a deep bieaLL
renowned designer Kip Lee will be giving our school a
makeovei. Ue aie going Lo be on Lis LiL IV sLow, Trick Out
My School!
The class erupted in squeals and claps. Libby could
even Leai LLe cLeeiing fiom oLLei classes down LLe Lall.
They love it! Theyre excited! Popularity maintainedmaybe
even increased!
It was understandable that the students would be
exciLed, since Trick Out My School was LLe LigLesL-iaLed
school makeover reality show on TV. Everyone knew about
iL, mosLly foi iLs signaLuie wild cLanges.
Fish tanks in the locker room.
See-LLiougL walls in LLe LeacLeis' lounge.
Recliner chairs in Language Arts class.
ILe sLow always did someLLing diffeienL, and iL was
always over the top.
FOUND IN LIBBYS SKETCHPAD
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 8-9 3/7/14 11:50 PM
10 11
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Iypically LLe pioduceis of LLe sLow selecLed wLicL
scLools would geL a makeovei based on LLe ciiLeiia of a)
ieally needing a makeovei and b) being locaLed veiy close
Lo LLeii Buibank sLudio. (I.A. Liafhc is miseiable, espe-
cially wLen dealing wiLL a looming IV deadline.)
But once a year they would hold a contest and allow
sLudenLs fiom all ovei LLe sLaLe Lo wiiLe essays in oidei Lo
win a makeovei foi LLeii scLool. Lip and Lis Leam would
then load up their trailers and travel to the winning school
to renovate and shoot the show in two weeks.
It was not known yet what Kip and his crew had in store
foi UesLside, buL all would be ievealed aL LLe assembly.
ILougL LLeie weie many cLeeis and squeals, LLey weie
noL coming fiom Lwo people in paiLiculai: Holly and Iievoi.
Holly did noL like LLe idea of a Bollywood LoLsLoL
doing a makeovei foi fiee. uo one does good woik foi free.
In Lei woids: RIPICI0S.
Trevor also wasnt excited about this news. He didnt
Lave a pioblem wiLL Bollywood LoLsLoLs. 0i people doing
LLings foi fiee. 0i even LLings LLaL weie iidiculous.
Trevor had a problem with change. Any kind of cLange.
Lip Iee is on Lis way fiom Bollywood," Peckei con-
tinued. The crew is already here and will begin doing prep
woik. Please look as if you'ie enjoying LLe Lammeiing and
diillingLLey will be hlming oui ieacLions, and I wanL you
all looking Lappy. ULen Lip aiiives, I will call an all-scLool
assembly. nLil LLen, Lave a gieaL day, UesLside!"
Cindy ApplegaLe Luined Lo Iibby. PieLLy cool move, Iib."
Iibby Lwiiled Lei Laii aiound Lei hngei. Really: ou
LLink:" SLe was veiy inLeiesLed in Leaiing Cindy say sLe
liked Lei idea. AfLei LLeii giueling campaign iace eailiei in
LLe yeai, noLLing was moie saLisfying.
IL's a good idea," Cindy said as sLe smacked Lei gum.
I jusL Lope Lip hxes LLe scLool's ligLLing. IL's Leiiible foi
ieapplying lip gloss. ILink you could menLion LLaL Lo Lim:"
Sure. Libby then pressed her lips together and stared
sLiaigLL aLead. ILe LLougLL of meeLing Lip Iee laLei Loday
was causing her insides to twist.
Lip Iee was Lei idol. Uell, one of LLem.
Libby decided to note this momentous day in her
calendar.
FOUND IN LIBBYS CALENDAR
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 10-11 3/7/14 11:50 PM
12 13
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Can you believe it? I won our school a makeover!
Were going to be on TV!
See, at first I was just going to hold a car
wash fund-raiser, but it was Trevor who convinced
me to think BIG. When I saw a commercial on TV for
a contest to be on the show Trick Out My School,
I knew I had to go for it!
All I had to do was write a ten-thousand-word
essay and send in photographic evidence of how
dilapidated our school is. One of the pictures
I sent was of the cafeteria. Also, the inside of
Trevors locker. Also, everything else.
So I put together the whole thing in a Power-
Point 3-D slide show, and we won! That means new
chairs, good lighting, and a much better color
scheme. No more walls the color of turkey gravy!
And Ive watched EVERY episode of Trick Out My
School. Its possible well also get a shark tank.
Or neon lights in the cafeteria. Or maybe even
hammocks in place of desks!
But the best part? Its Kip Lee. KIP. LEE. Hes
simply awesome. And as everyone knows . . . hes
my IDOL. Well, actually, Barbara Boxer, senator
from California, is my top idol, but hes totally
in second place!
[shakes with excitement]
Oh my gosh, look at me! Im shaking! Or maybe
I forgot to eat breakfast? Im not sure! But I DO
know that I cant wait to meet Mr. Lee.
And this HAS to be exciting for Trevor, too,
since he was the one who inspired me to enter the
contest. He must be ECSTATIC!!
Libby Gardner
Outside homeroom,
super chatty
8:50 a.m.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 12-13 3/7/14 11:50 PM
14 15
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Obviously telling Libby to think big was a mis-
take. I just meant stuff like better art supplies.
Or maybe even electric pencil sharpeners. Those
are awesome.
But no, apparently when you tell Libby Gardner
to think big, you end up with a big, loud,
pounding monster truck of an idea.
[rubs temples]
This is all too much. I should have take some
vitamins this morning.
I dont get it. A makeover? What is a MAKEOVER?!
Naw, Ive never heard of the show. If it isnt
on the Discovery Channel or Animal Planet, Ive
never seen it.
Id be much more excited if we were getting
visited by that reality show Duck Quackers. Making
our own duck call would make way more sense than
getting a disco ball in the cafeteria or whatever.
But then again . . . the floors in the boys
locker room could use some attention.
I might give the guy a chance. MIGHT.
Trevor Jones
In the hallway,
super stunned
8:51 a.m.
Marty Nelson
8th grader
By the water
fountain, super
confused
8:52 a.m.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 14-15 3/7/14 11:50 PM
16 17
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
T
REVOR JONES TOOK TWO VITAMINS AND WISHED NIGHT-
fall would come eaily. BuL iL was only 10:27 in LLe
moining, and LLe Lammeiing and diilling Lad jusL
begun. ILe piep ciew was demolisLing cabineLs, pulling
up oois, and iipping ouL ligLL hxLuies. 0L, LLe LeadacLe.
ILeie was no way Le could acL as if Le weie Lappy
abouL LLis makeovei, noL wiLL Lis Lead pounding like LLis.
So befoie LLiid peiiod, Iievoi found Limself seaLed on a
gieen mesL coL in LLe nuise's ofhce.
It was a cot he knew well.
ILe hisL week of scLool Le was in LLeie because of
a love puncL Lo LLe sLomacL fiom uancy Polanski. ILen
LLeie was LLe bump on LLe Lead fiom a dodgeball inci-
denL. And, of couise, LLe nevei-Lo-be-foigoLLen CafeLeiia
IncidenL, wLicL involved an unfoiLunaLe Langled LaiineL.
(Iong sLoiy.) BuL Loday iL was jusL a sLiaigLLfoiwaid Lead-
ache caused by irritating hammering and drilling noises.
As always, uuise 0uincy was weaiing Lei comfoiLable
wLiLe sneakeis and Lei Laii in a LigLL ponyLail. ULen
Iievoi enLeied Lei small ofhce, sLe iesponded swifLly, wiLL
LLe same hisL-aid LecLnique sLe used foi viiLually eveiy
ailment.
Iie down and puL LLis cold wasLcloLL on youi foie-
head. She kindly pointed toward the rickety green mesh
cot.
Trevor was convinced you could go into the nurses
ofhce wiLL piacLically any pioblem, and uuise 0uincy
would always offei Lei exacL same go-Lo iemedy.
BuL as sLiange as iL was, Iievoi Lad Lo admiL . . .
LLe cold-wasLcloLL-on-LLe-foieLead LecLnique: Totally
woiked. veiy. Single. Iime.
Ioi all Le knew, public scLools weie LLe only places on
earth you could nd such magic washcloths.
JusL ielax," uuise 0uincy said in a singsongy voice.
Your headache will be gone soon. She stood at the counter
and sLiaigLLened Lei jais of Longue depiessois. SLe nevei
used the tongue depressors; she just arranged them nicely
like they were decorations. So I guess the banging is too
"#$%&'
()
&
*
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 16-17 3/7/14 11:50 PM
18 19
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Liicked ouL foi you, Loo:" sLe asked wiLL a smiik.
Way Loo mucL foi me." ILen Iievoi iealized sLe Lad
said you, too." Confused, Le lifLed Lis Lead, leLLing LLe
wasLcloLL fall Lo Lis side. Po you mean I'm noL LLe only
one:"
uuise 0uincy Look a few sLeps acioss LLe ioom, and
wiLL a quick sweeping moLion, sLe pulled back a cuiLain
to reveal another student lying on a cot with a wet cloth
coveiing Lei foieLead. Iievoi insLanLly iecognized Lei.
Ripped iainbow LigLLs. Clunky booLs. A Loin jean jackeL
Leld LogeLLei wiLL safeLy pins.
Molly Decker.
ULaL was Holly doing in Leie: SLe was LLe mosL LougL-
minded giil Le knew. BuL appaienLly even a LougL-minded
girl could be brought down by school renovations.
Iievoi walked ovei and saL down on LLe edge of LLe coL,
iigLL nexL Lo Lei. Holly, aie you okay:"
She kept her eyes covered with the cloth as she spoke
in a weak voice. ULaL's Lappening: Pid I die:" SLe blindly
waved her arms around like she was lost.
uope. ou'ie in LLe nuise's ofhce. AL scLool. ILey Lave
tongue depressors.
uuise 0uincy Landed Iievoi a couple, and Le sLuck
one in eacL of Holly's Lands Lo ieassuie Lei. SLe squeezed
LLem LigLLly, and wiLLin momenLs sLe calmed down. uuise
0uincy folded Lei aims, looking conLenL LLaL sLe'd acLually
found a use foi Lei Longue depiessois oLLei LLan decoia-
tion.
Holly used Lei pinkie hngei Lo lifL LLe wasLcloLL above
one eye Lo look aL Iievoi. Bow did I geL Leie:"
FOUND IN TREVORS NOTEBOOK
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 18-19 3/7/14 11:50 PM
20 21
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
ILe ienovaLions, iemembei: ILey sLaiLed Lammeiing
on the
Do not use the word hammer, oi I sweai, Iievoi, I will
take this tongue depressor and
0kay! uo LammeI mean . . . Low do you feel now: Is
LLe wasLcloLL woiking yeL:" Be hguied iL sLould be woik-
ing foi Lei because Lis Lead was alieady feeling beLLei.
Holly saL up and Look LLe wasLcloLL off. ou know
wLaL: IL is beLLei. xcepL LLaL annoying makeovei ciew is
still here. I kinda wish my headache would come back.
Smiling as if sLe knew iL would all woik ouL peifecLly,
uuise 0uincy Lapped Lei waLcL. ou Lwo need Lo Luiiy on
Lo class now. ILe bell's abouL Lo iing foi LLiid peiiod."
They handed back their washcloths and headed out the
dooi. As LLey exiLed, LLey passed by Uilson, senioi Lead of
custodial support. Hed been promoted to senior status due
to his hard work on nding and eradicating the horrible
sLencL LLaL Lad oveiLaken LLe scLool lasL fall. uoL even
LLe scienLisLs fiom LLe CenLei foi Pisease PievenLion could
locate the smellwhich was actually just a rotten tuna
sandwicL sLuck in Iievoi's lockei. BuL Uilson Lad been LLe
successful one, and Vice Piincipal Peckei asked Holly Lo
peisonally Land-sew a new badge foi Lis unifoim.
Holly Lad nevei sewn anyLLing befoie, sLe jusL puL
LLings LogeLLei wiLL safeLy pins. BuL Vice Piincipal Peckei
was Liying Lo geL Holly moie involved in scLool, and
Le hguied LLis would be a sLaiL. Holly Lad seveial life
moLLoes, and one of LLem was: Just keep to yourself; people
are weird. BuL Lei dad wanLed Lei Lo be moie fiiend-like."
And every once in a while shed give it a shot.
SLe'd Liied veiy Laid on Uilson's badge. SLe ieally did.
L, nice badge, Uilson," Iievoi said as Uilson blew
past.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 20-21 3/7/14 11:50 PM
22 23
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
BuL Uilson kepL focused on LLe piize aLead: LLaL magic
wasLcloLL. Be, Loo, suffeied fiom Liicked-ouL-iLis. Soiiy,
Iievoi. Can'L Lalk now."
ILey Leaded down LLe Lall, wLicL was cLaoLic and busy
with students going to third period. Molly turned to Trevor
and said, Pid you ieally like Uilson's badge: IL wasn'L as
easy as it looks.
Molly was LLe one wLo'd made iL: Iievoi swallowed. Be
wasnt sure what to say. It . . . um . . . looks like you tried
hard.
ILanks. I could sew someLLing foi you. 0i Liy Lo."
Holly was pioud of Leiself foi sLowing sucL fiiendly beLav-
ioi, especially LLis eaily in LLe moining. ULen iL came Lo
Iievoi, LLougL, being fiiendly seemed Lo come easily. Ioi
eveiyone else: uoL so mucL.
Uh . . . Trevor looked up and was relieved to see Libby
sLanding ouLside class, moLioning foi LLem Lo come ovei.
A cLange of LopicjusL wLaL I need iigLL abouL now,
Trevor thought.
In one Land, Iibby cluLcLed a clipboaid, and in LLe
oLLei sLe was vigoiously squeezing Lei sLiess ball. SLe
iusLed up Lo LLem, looking panicked.
Very panicked.
I have this problem with getting headaches when
IM not the one doing the hammering or drilling.
I also have this problem with other people com-
ing into the school and taking over.
I have OTHER problems, but thats not impor-
tant right now. What IS important is keeping this
school exactly the way it is. Westside has managed
just fine for years. I dont understand why anyone
would want to trick out a school. And I dont
understand what trick out even means.
Plus!and no offense or anything!having ONE
documentary crew here has been enough. Now were
going to have TWO crews?! What a mess. Id better
find a way to get replacement filters for my floor
buffer.
[leans in, lifts a brow]
And if they touch my Supply Containment Unit . . .
THEY are going to be the ones with a problem.
Wilson
Totally unimpressed
10:35 a.m.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 22-23 3/7/14 11:50 PM
24 25
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Sure, Im excited about Kip Lee coming to our
school. I follow him on Twitter, and yesterday he
put up a picture of his puppy. And also one of his
half-eaten veggie burrito. So cute!!!
Being accessible to your fans I think is what
you call it.
Anyway, I cant wait to meet him and tell him
how skilled I am at using ribbon and glitter. This
could be it, you know . . . the day I get DISCOVERED.
Toodles!
|skips o0, unaware of the pink ribbon stuck to
the bottom of her shoe]

H
AVE YOU SEEN HIM YET? HES HERE!
Holly wiinkled Lei foieLead and ciossed
Lei aimsLei geLLing-annoyed sLance.
ILeie aie loLs of 'Lims' Leie. ULo aie you Lalking abouL:"
LIP. LIP I!" Iibby said, as if LLis sLould be obvious.
Be diove up in a black SV, pulling a fancy Liailei. Some
people biougLL Lim a laLLe, some fiesLly squeezed juice,
and Le was even hLLed foi a new paii of sandals . . . ILalian
leaLLei, I believe. I'm noL suiemy binoculais sLaiLed Lo
fog up. Lip sLould be in Leie any minuLe. Bave you seen
Lim:" SLe squeezed Lei sLiess ball, popped up on Lei Loes,
and scanned the busy hallway.
Iievoi ciossed Lis aims, annoyed. SLe'd nevei even Lold
Lim abouL LLe conLesL, LLougL sLe knew AII I00 UII
Cindy Applegate
7th grader
Bouncing on her toes
10:36 a.m.
! #$%&'(
$!((
'
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 24-25 3/7/14 11:50 PM
26 27
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
that he was allergic to change. And now all she could talk
abouL was Lip LLis, Lip LLaL. Be Ladn'L even meL LLe guy
and Le was alieady Liied of Lim. ULo caies if Lip is Leie
yeL: Poes iL maLLei:" Iievoi asked.
Libby gaspeddramaticallythen took three hard
steps closer to him so that they were practically nose to
nose. AcLually, foieLead Lo nose, since Iibby was a Lad
taller. Does. It. Matter? She ipped her clipboard around
Lo sLow a lisL of all LLe facLs sLe Lad gaLLeied on Lip
and Lis IV sLowwLeie iL was hlmed, Low many vieweis,
numbei of sponsois, and so on. IL was LoLally LLoiougL.
ILis was Iibby 0aidnei, afLei all.
ALLacLed Lo LLe Lop of Iibby's clipboaid was a picLuie of
Lip Iee. Some would desciibe Lim as iaLLei dasLing." 0i:
handsome. Also: Hottie McHotster.
ULen Holly goL a glimpse of Lim, all sLe could do was
ioll Lei eyes. InLiigued, Iievoi also Look a quick peek. Be
wondered how the guy could get his hair to look that per-
fecL wLile simulLaneously looking that messy. Probably
very expensive gel and way too much time available in the
morning.
Molly elbowed Libby to get her attention. Its a TV
sLow. Be's some Bollywood LoLsLoL. Be' ll only come ouL of
his trailer when theres a camera around.
Iibby blinked a couple of Limes, Laking LLis in. BuL.
Youre probably right. See you guys at the assembly. Then
sLe slowly Luined, no longei squeezing LLe life ouL of LLe
sLiess ball, and calmly sLiolled on Lo Lei nexL class.
Uow. ou calmed Lei down in a Luiiy."
Molly shrugged. Theres really nothing to get excited
about.
Iievoi LilLed Lis Lead. ou aie veiy Laid Lo hguie ouL,
Molly Decker.
And wLy's LLaL:"
Isnt having our school on a reality show at least
interesting: ou'ie the one who always says its too boring
around here.
FOUND ON LIBBYS CLIPBOARD
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 26-27 3/7/14 11:50 PM
28 29
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Molly planted her hands on her hips and looked at him
like what she was about to say was as easy as changing the
coloi of youi Laii LigLligLLs. IisLen caiefully. IL's simple.
There are two kinds of inLeiesLing. ILeie's actual interest-
ing, and LLen LLeie's annoying interesting.
Hmm-Lmm," Iievoi said in an agieeable Lone as if Le
weie agieeing, buL ieally Le was bafedLe was alieady
Lwelve yeais old, and Le Lad no idea LLeie weie Lwo diffei-
enL kinds of inLeiesLing. Uow.
So actual inLeiesLing," Holly conLinued, is wLen
LLings Lappen like you iun foi class piesidenL buL Liy Lo
throw the race.
Iievoi nodded. ep, I guess LLaL was acLually inLei-
esLing." ILougL Le also ciinged aL LLe memoiy of Lim
LLiowing LLe sevenLL-giade-class-piesidenL elecLion. 0L,
the drama.
0kay, so LLings LLaL aie annoying inLeiesLing:" Holly
counLed LLem on Lei hngeis. ILe smell of gasoline. Cai
alaims. ILaL Liail LLaL snails leave beLind." ULen LLey
ieacLed LLe dooi of Hs. Ieiiell's maLL class, sLe sLopped
and Luined Lo Lim. And also: IL's annoying inLeiesLing
wLen some Bollywood dude comes Lo 'Liick ouL' youi scLool
and all the hammering and drilling gives you a headache.
SLe looked aiound and loweied Lei voice, Lo make suie no
one else could Leai. And if LLey daie mess wiLL my ILink-
ing SLall, LLey'ie going Lo pay."
Iievoi sciaLcLed Lis Lead. ou Lave a ILinking SLall:"
0iils' baLLioom, fouiLL sLall down. ILaL's wLeie I geL
my besL LLinking done. And my besL diawings, Loo. I say
save LLe ILinking SLalls. And eveiyLLing else," Holly said.
Ue don'L need cLange."
FOUND ON BATHROOM WALL
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 28-29 3/7/14 11:50 PM
30 31
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Iievoi was sLaiLing Lo see Lei side of LLings. I'm noL a
Luge fan of cLange."
And Le wasn'L. uoL aL all. In facL, ovei LLe yeais, Le'd
hardly changed anything about his bedroom: not the
iug, noL LLe painL coloi, noL even LLe aiiangemenL of LLe
fuiniLuie.
ILe only cLange Le did agiee Lo: ULen Lis mom Liied
Lo geL Lim Lo give away Lis old Loys, Le agieed Lo puL LLem
away in Lis closeL, ouL of sigLL. Be simply wanLed LLem
available in case they had a visitorperhaps someone with
a small son wLo needed Loys foi Lim Lo play wiLL. IL could
happen. No sense in being unprepared.
So fai, Iievoi's no big cLanges" life iule Lad woiked
ouL quiLe well, so Le ieally didn'L see wLy LLey needed Lo
suddenly make all these big changes at school.
Be leaned in closei and wLispeied, Io be LonesL, I don'L
like cLange aL all. In facL, I sLill Lave my sLuffed animals."
Holly Leld a Land up. ULoa. uo need Lo oveisLaie."
Be swallowed Laid, iealizing Le needed Lo cLange LLe
subjecL befoie Le sLaiLed Lalking abouL all LLe I00 boxes
Le kepL in Lis closeL, Loo. (Ioi emeigencies!)
A ciowd of people pusLed pasL LLem, and one of LLem
called ouL, See you aL luncL, Iievoi!"
Iooking up, Le iealized iL was Hi. Jeffiies, LLe aiL
LeacLei. PeifecL Liming, Iievoi LLougLL. A disLiacLion fiom
my continuing all this oversharing.
Iievoi waved aL Lim. ep. See you aL luncL, Hi. J!"
ULaL was LLaL abouL:" Holly asked.
I've been Lelping Lim oiganize LLe aiL supplies a few
days a week duiing luncL, and in ieLuin Le's been giving
FOUND IN TREVORS NOTEBOOK
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 30-31 3/7/14 11:50 PM
32 33
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
me drawing lessons. Hes awesome. You should come with
me! Then we wont hear all the hammering and drilling.
ILe aiL ioom aL UesLside was LLe peifecL place Lo escape,
since iL also doubled as LLe band ioom, wLicL meanL iL was
lined wiLL soundpioof walls LLaL would diown ouL all LLe
Lammeiing sounds. (BuL, in LLe inLeiesL of full disclosuie,
LLe aiL ioom Liipled as a meeLing spoL foi LLe PIA, so iL was
ofLen liLLeied wiLL mufhn wiappeis.)
Come on, Holly. Ue could Lang ouL aL luncL and diaw.
IL may even be beLLei LLan sLall numbei foui."
Holly Lugged on LLe ends of Lei Laii wLile sLe LLougLL
this over. But isnt Libby going to be mad that we arent
Lappy abouL LLe makeovei:"
Ue don'L Lave Lo tell her we arent excitedit ll hurt
Lei feelings. Ue' ll jusL Lide ouL in LLe aiL ioom and sLay
away. Besides, once sLe meeLs Lip Iee sLe' ll be so dis-
LiacLed, sLe won'L even LLink abouL us."
Molly nodded. A pretty good plan. And heyI know I
say I don'L geL exciLed veiy ofLen. And do noL iepeaL LLis
ouL loud oi I' ll deny iL and piobably sLiangle you, buL . . .
I am excited about taking drawing lessons.
Holly!" Be poked Lei on LLe aim. ou'ie . . . exciLed:"
Settle down. Molly smiledit was slight but it was
there.
Trevor liked it when Molly Decker smiled. It was like a
sLooLing sLai, if you caLcL a glimpse of iL, considei youiself
lucky.
ILe bell iang, and Iievoi and Holly Leaded inLo class
and seLLled in LLeii seaLs. ILen once again, LLe inLeicom
clicked on. I need youi aLLenLion, sLudenLs. IL's Lime foi
LLe assembly," Vice Piincipal Peckei said wiLL unusual pep.
Theres someone very important I want you all to meet.
IibbyseaLed in LLe veiy fionL iow of Lei class
squirmed in her chair with excitement. She knew the wait
was oveiLLis was iL. SLe was abouL Lo meeL Lei second-
place IP0I.
Kip Lee.
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 32-33 3/7/14 11:50 PM
34
5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh. Kip Lee . . . is . . .
HERE. Oh, wow . . .
[clutches stomach, bends over for a few seconds]
Hang on, gotta catch my breath.
Maybe you should go interview someone else
first!no. Wait! The feeling is starting to come
back in my fingers. Im OKAY!
Anyway, I cant wait to meet him. Maybe hell
talk to me after the assembly or something. I want
to tell him how much I admire his design work and
how much I LOVED the organizational cabinets he
installed on episode twelve of season two. Theyre
my DREAM cabinets. I mean, no one can design as
well as Kip . . . oh, sheesh . . .
[bends over]
Yeah, you should probably just interview some-
one else. I cant feel my toes now.
Libby Gardner
Outside the gym,
pacing, rather
giddy
10:50 a.m.

!"#$%&$'
(") %+$
CLASSROOM3_5thTX_ag_.indd 34-35 3/7/14 11:50 PM