Great writing advice suggests taking a problem and turning it on its head. Moreover, ask the invaluable "What if?" question. Anna Myers has done just that in her comical adolescent tale, Confessions from the Principal's Chair.
Robin Miller is a 13 year old girl whose mother is abruptly moving her to a small town in Oklahoma because she has gotten herself in trouble by hanging with the wrong crowd and bullying another student. Determined to prove to her mother that her life is ruined, she dresses in a business suit on her first day, figuring that her fellow students will reject her outright because of her odd choice in apparel. Imagine her surprise when she enters the office and is mistaken for the young, expected, interim principal, who happens to share her name.
As Robin plays along, she gets the rare opportunity of sitting on the other side of the desk and sees her problems in a new light. She is determined to make a difference during her two day stint as principal. If she can secure the attention of the cutest boy in 8th grade at the same time, well then that is just a perk of the job.
This delightful romp of a read is sure to appeal to middle schoolers across the board, whether they've ever been summoned to a principal's office or not. It would also serve as an excellent read aloud for classes where cliques rule and unpopular students feel singled out. Besides that, what kid hasn't dreamed of an opportunity to be in charge and call the shots.
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