DEDICATION
For my friends who went to
Outdoor Ed with me in 1993:
Blair, Lynne, Randi, Sarah, and Sonia
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
1st Day of 7th Gradeeeeeeeee
Swim Team Woo Hoo
Ummmmmm
Mara, Cecily
FYI
Home Sick
Lunchieeeessssss
OMG Lunch
Prianka, Cecily
Gabrielle, Prianka, Cecily, Victoria
Sage, Prianka
Drama for Real :)
Ingrid, Cecily
Sami, Hannah P., Hannah F., Miriam, Eloise, Gabby
Miriam, Gabrielle
Lunch Updates
Colin, Gabrielle
Sami, Hannah P, Hannah F, Gabrielle, Eloise, Miriam
Phewwwww
OMG
Miriam, Gabrielle
Help Me
OMG
Cecily, Mara;
Miriam, Gabrielle
Ummmm
Prianka, Gabrielle
Vishal, Prianka
Miriam, Gabrielle
Arjun, Victoria
Sami, Gabrielle
Super Secret Stuffffffff
Cecily, Prianka, Victoria, Gabrielle
Wahhhhhhh
Wahhhh
Ummmmmm???
Friends
Gabrielle, Sami
Cecily, Gabrielle
WIGO???
Feeelingssssss
Gabrielle, Mom
Ugggghhhhhh
OMG
Arjun, Victoria
Sage, Prianka
Miriam, Gabrielle
Gabrielle, Miriam
Mama Basak, Mama Anderson, Mamacita, Gabrielle, Prianka, Cecily
Ummm
Kindness Does Rock
Guysssssssss
Thanksgiving Borrrrrinnngggg
Glossary
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Books by Lisa Greenwald
Back Ad
Copyright
About the Publisher
From: Victoria Melford
To: Gabrielle Katz, Prianka Basak, Cecily Anderson
FWD: Subject: Fall Trip!
Hiiiiii loovieeeesss!!!
So excited 4 swim! Don’t forget bathing suits! Plus WOO WOOOOOOOO about this trip & 7th grade. Can’t wait MY LOVIES! SOOOOO excited.
Love you all!!!!!
Victoria Melford the Fabulous!
From: Yorkville Middle School Administration
To: Yorkville seventh-grade students and parents
Subject: Fall Trip!
Dear families:
Welcome back to another fabulous Yorkville year! We hope you all enjoyed your summers.
As you may know, in late September, the entire seventh grade embarks on an Outdoor Education trip to a nature center in upstate New York.
You’ll be receiving materials about the trip in the mail, but please come to the information session on Friday morning, right after drop-off.
See you there.
Edward Carransey
Principal
You must be the change you want to see in the world. —Gandhi
1st Day of 7th Gradeeeeeeeee
PRIANKA
Omg I know this is rude to do but what is Sami even saying rn
She has literally never talked to us b4 in her whole life
CECILY
Hahah
I think she feels awk in the courtyard w/o her friends
PRIANKA
Gabs is so busy talking 2 her she isn’t feeling her vibrations
CECILY
LOL
CECILY
Kind of awk to text about her tho rn while she is talking 2 us
PRIANKA
Where is Vic
CECILY
IDK
Late on 1st day???
PRIANKA
Hmmmmm
Can’t believe Gabs still hasn’t looked @ her fone
CECILY
Ok let’s stop texting 4 real now
Guysssss why is the phone policy even stricter this year? It’s the first day and we’ve barely had time to talk between classes and now we can’t even text in the hallway. Hopefully you check lockers before lunch. Let’s sit at the back table on the right. It’s the best spot because it’s near the salad bar.
PS I snuck to photocopy this in the library to give to all of you. LOL.
Love, Gabs
So sorry! Just saw this and now I’m on the bus with u guys and obv we found each other but I still wanted to write back. Sooooooo happy we all got to eat lunch together. Thrilled I got the grade’s lunch schedules changed. I like our new table. And yay we all survived the first day. Xoxoxox Cece
Swim Team Woo Hoo
PRIANKA
Guysssss I had to run home & get my bathing suit for swim team
Forgot to pack it
See u guys there
CECILY
Pri, where r u
We r about 2 go in the pool
Hi Cecily,
Love, Mara
Yes. Sorry this note is wet with pool water. Why didn’t you just text me? Xo Cece
I forgot my phone! :(
Ummmmmm
CECILY
Um guys that swim practice was insane
How r we going 2 do that 3x a week
GABRIELLE
No clue
I don’t even feel like doing it anymore
PRIANKA
Same
Can we bail
VICTORIA
Guyssssss
VICTORIA
We made a commitment
It only goes thru December
CECILY
Ugggghhhh IDK
& I heard they r posting info about play tryouts soon
I wanna do that 2
I’m gonna be sooooooo busy
PRIANKA
I just wanna hang out & watch tv
Is that bad
GABRIELLE
LOL Pri
VICTORIA
Guys come on
VICTORIA
We were so excited about it
GABRIELLE
IK but that’s bc it was summer
Now I’m in fall mode
I just wanna wear sweaters and eat cider donuts
PRIANKA
LOL
Now Gabs is speaking my language
CECILY
LOL LOL
VICTORIA
Whatevs peeps
VICTORIA
Talk laterzzzzz
Mara, Cecily
MARA
I know it’s awk that I am texting u & we r standing next 2 each other
CECILY
Yeah what’s up
MARA
I wanted 2 talk 2 u but it’s hard 2 actually talk
Know what I mean
CECILY
Kinda yeah
MARA
I feel like I just want 2 be friends & not anything more but I don’t want it to be weird
CECILY
TBH I was feeling the same way
MARA
Really?
CECILY
Ya I feel like 7th grade is super busy & stuff & I just don’t want any awkwardness
MARA
Agree
CECILY
We r still BNF tho
MARA
BNF?
CECILY
Best neighbors forever duh
MARA
Oh LOL yes
CECILY
K gonna say gnight IRL now
FYI
CECILY
Guys fyi Mara & I r just friends now
PRIANKA
R u ok
CECILY
Yeah I am so relieved
I was feeling this way and so was she
GABRIELLE
Oh cool
VICTORIA
Glad u r ok
Now u need a new crush
CECILY
Nooooo just wanna do my own thing now
VICTORIA
LOL ok
PRIANKA
Not everyone is like u & Arj, Vic
VICTORIA
Haha
CECILY
K going 2 sleep 4 real
GABRIELLE
Same
PRIANKA
Love u guysssss
VICTORIA
Ditto 4ever
ATTENTION, YORKVILLE STUDENTS!
Come try out for the Yorkville Middle School musical! Information sessions will take place during all lunch periods TODAY.
Grab your food and meet in the auditorium.
See you there!
Ms. Golota & the theater department staff
Home Sick
VICTORIA
Guyssssss I don’t know if u will c this but I’m home sick today
Fever wahhhh
Hope u don’t get it
Do germs spread quickly in a pool???
Leaving you all locker notes to tell you I won’t be at lunch. Going to the play info session! So don’t wait for me to sit. Pulled a Gabs and photocopied this in the library. LOL. Xoxoxo Cece
Guyssssss—passing this to Gabs and then pls pass along—I need to speak to my guidance counselor about switching electives. I am not into astronomy. I just realized there’s a poetry elective! How me is that?! Anyway, won’t be @ lunch. Sorry to miss u all! Smooches, Pri PS Write back! This notebook is lonely!
OMG no one is going to be @ lunch???? What am I going to do? I am crying for real. :( Luv, Gabs
PS I miss this notebook. Glad it’s back in action!
PPS But will any of you even see this?????
Lunchieeeessssss
Gabs! So glad u sat w/ us @ lunch
Did you ever find out where ur friends were?
GABRIELLE
All diff stuff
Will explain later
I had fun @ ur table btw
MIRIAM
Sit w/ us again!!!!!!!!
GABRIELLE
LOL ok
ELOISE
Did u just come to this school
Why did we not know u last yr
GABRIELLE
IDK I was here
ELOISE
Ha ok
HANNAH P
Gabby remember when we were in that dance class in preschool
GABRIELLE
LOL yeah
I had an accident in my tutu
& I had to wear a random leotard from lost & found and it was sooooooo big on me
HANNAH P
Omg I vaguely remember that
SAMI
For reallllls Gabssss
SAMI
Ur so funny
Can’t wait to tell u guys about my super secret project
Will be ready to reveal tomorrow I think
GABRIELLE
MIRIAM
K c u guys laterrssssss
HANNAH P
Peace
HANNAH F
Tata
SAMI
Xoxo
GABRIELLE
Bye!
OMG Lunch
GABRIELLE
U guys I was the only one out of all of us @ lunch
VICTORIA
Omg 4 real?
GABRIELLE
Yes!
Cece was @ play info session, Pri @ guidance, Vic home sick (sorry for rhyme LOL)
PRIANKA
So where did u sit
So sorry, Gabs!!
GABRIELLE
Ur never gonna believe this
CECILY
???
GABRIELLE
I sat with the middle table
PRIANKA
Front row middle?
VICTORIA
OMG
GABRIELLE
IK
CECILY
U sat with Sami and them
GABRIELLE
Yeah I was talking to Miriam a little in science
So when I was walking by, she was like come sit w/ us
PRIANKA
That is insane
GABRIELLE
IK
CECILY
No one new ever sits w/ them
GABRIELLE
IK
VICTORIA
You sat with the Hannahs, too
GABRIELLE
Just Hannah P
GABRIELLE
I think Hannah F was @ the play info session
CECILY
Ya she was
VICTORIA
This is so crazy
GABRIELLE
Calm down guys it’s ok
PRIANKA
Ok I need 2 finish this poetry thing since I’m switching in tomorrow
We were told to write a poem out of random words but all I have is this list so far
Earth
Love
Peace
Humanity
Helpers
PRIANKA
Sunshine
Rest
Artichokes
LOL
CECILY
Oh yay
I need 2 finish math
Will tell u all about the play on the bus
PRIANKA
K
GABRIELLE
Kk
VICTORIA
Mwah
Prianka Basak
Poetry Elective
I have found my voice
It sounds like this
Frustration
Exhaustion
Contentment
Happiness
Laughter
I have found my voice
But it’s always changing
Sometimes low
Sometimes high-pitched
Sometimes a whisper
I have found my voice
And I demand to be heard
Prianka, Cecily
PRIANKA
K I know we said we were going 2 bed
But is Gabs gonna sit @ the middle table now
Like from now on
Not 2 side chat but just curious . . .
CECILY
IDK
PRIANKA
She didn’t say
CECILY
IK
PRIANKA
Hmmmm
PRIANKA
R u there
CECILY
Y
PRIANKA
K I can tell ur busy
C u tomrw
CECILY
Xox
THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME TO THE INFORMATION SESSIONS!
Tryouts for the musical will be Monday after school.
See you there!
Ms. Golota & the theater department staff
Gabrielle, Prianka, Cecily, Victoria
GABRIELLE
Guys my mom is driving me 2day since we have the meeting about the fall trip
PRIANKA
Same
CECILY
Same
VICTORIA
Same
Hahahahah this cracks me up
CECILY
Me 2
Do u guys want 2 sleep over this weekend & do crafts
VICTORIA
I was thinking ice skating
GABRIELLE
IDK my plans yet
CECILY
For real, Gabs?
Ur always with us
GABRIELLE
IDK don’t freak
PRIANKA
I’m away one day this weeken
d visiting Dad’s college friend
But I could be into crafts
Maybe decorating my new poetry journal
CECILY
Doesn’t a whole craft day sound so fun tho
VICTORIA
I’m in
GABRIELLE
Pos
Ttyl
OMG we have random bunks!!!!
I know. :(
It won’t be that bad. It’s only 2 nights.
Wahhhhh. Why can’t we pick bunkmates?
They just answered that! So we can branch out. LOL
What if we are stuck with people who have super bad BO?
Stop. But ew.
Guys our moms totally know we are passing notes
Sage, Prianka
SAGE
So fun to be ur partner in poetry today
PRIANKA
IK ur so talented
SAGE
Ha not really but thx
PRIANKA
Do we do the peer review thing again tomorrow
SAGE
I think so
PRIANKA
K cool
SAGE
R u excited for the outdoor ed thing
PRIANKA
Not really u
SAGE
Yessssssss I love nature
PRIANKA
LOL I went on a camping thing over the summer and haaaaated it
SAGE
Maybe this one will be diff
PRIANKA
Maybe but IDK
It’ll be even colder
I am an indoor gal
SAGE
LOL ur funny
PRIANKA
Poetry is . . .
freedom
emotion
putting yourself out there
feeling your feelings
knowing yourself
connection
calm
peace
From: Gabrielle Katz
To: Ivy Garstein
Subject: hiiiiiiiii
Ivy!!!
I miss you! How’s school so far? The craziest thing happened. None of my friends were at lunch because of different things and I ended up sitting at the popular table. Does your school have one? You probably sit at it. LOL. Anyway, I’m not super popular but I’m not unpopular. I’m just regular. But I talked to one of the girls during science and then I sat with them and it was no big deal. It was kind of fun. But now where do I sit? With my friends or them? We can’t really combine tables because we wouldn’t all fit. Yesterday I skipped lunch to go to some volunteer community service thing but mostly I was stressed about where to sit. UGH. Okay, write back and help meeeeeee!!!!
Love you,