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When socially awkward seventh grader Mindy Bright relocates from Chicago to her dad’s small country hometown of Oglesby, she leaves behind the familiar order and structure of her private school, St. Mary’s Academy. Accustomed to school uniforms, challenging academics, and extravagantly themed school socials, Mindy is anxious about fitting in at her new school, Korn Wotel, where the highlight of the academic year seems to be the Fall Carnival with homemade games. Although disappointed by Korn Wotel’s shabby condition and limited resources, Mindy is determined to use her abundant imagination and knack for building things to create a fantastic carnival game guaranteed to help her make new friends. But from the very first day, everything goes horribly wrong. It seems the harder Mindy tries, the less popular she becomes.
This book has a simple plot that makes it a wholesome work of middle-grade fiction. Many young readers will identify with Mindy’s feelings of isolation and desperation for friendship, as well as her difficulty expressing herself. The author also explores profound themes such as the pain of grieving lost loved ones and the sense of neglect felt by children of hard-working, single parents. Pashley uses humorous anecdotes to demonstrate how the lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities. Most importantly, the book provides a clear depiction of the main character’s personal growth. Initially, Mindy is slightly condescending and self-centered, looking down on her rundown new school and solely focused on her goal of becoming popular. But as the story unfolds, Mindy comes to appreciate Korn Wotel’s sense of community and learns that teamwork and loyalty (not popularity) are the foundation of true friendship.