Awkward

As of 2022, the Berrybrook Middle School Series has five published books and is under contract for at least two more. The series is made up of single-word titles in alphabetical order: Following Awkward are Brave (2017), Crush (2018), Diary (2019), and Enemies (2022). Each installment takes place at Berrybrook Middle School and follows new and existing characters. The series has received both popular and critical acclaim, with individual installments often ending up on best-of lists for libraries.

The series is directed at middle grade audiences and deals with the day-to-day issues of readers in this age group. Though Awkward’s plot is fueled by Peppi’s internal conflict and the feud between the art and science clubs, it also touches on the teasing that can happen among mixed-gender friends, the parental pressure to excel at school, and the way that pranks can escalate into feuds.

Similarly, other novels in the series also use the daily struggles students face as starting points for their plots. Brave follows Jensen, a minor background character in the art club, whose real life pales in comparison to his fanciful daydreams. He struggles with being picked last for teams and making friends. Crush follows a new character, Jorge, as he navigates having his first crush.