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Team Awkward #1
Jojo vs. Middle School
After having hilariously terrible first days of sixth grade, four girls vow to ride out the super highs and cringe-worthy lows of middle school together, no matter how awkward it gets, in this first book in the Team Awkward middle grade series.
Jojo has everything planned out for the perfect first day of middle school, down to her outfit and hairstyle. But when Mom, distracted by her new live-in boyfriend, Paul, forgets to wake Jojo up, she oversleeps and has to make do with leggings, a t-shirt, and her brother’s hoodie.
The day still goes okay until Jojo realizes that she has a hole in her leggings thanks to Purrito, the kitten Paul “gifted” her. Because Paul isn’t just Paul; he’s Mr. Meow, a mega-famous cat-fluencer. Nearly everything in Jojo’s life is now cat-themed—including the underwear that the hole in her leggings is now showcasing to the whole school!
Embarrassed and unable to show her face in the cafeteria, Jojo spends her lunch period in an abandoned locker room. But she isn’t the only one hiding to cope with some major awkwardness. Maybe, with friends by her side, middle school won’t be so bad after all.
Jojo has everything planned out for the perfect first day of middle school, down to her outfit and hairstyle. But when Mom, distracted by her new live-in boyfriend, Paul, forgets to wake Jojo up, she oversleeps and has to make do with leggings, a t-shirt, and her brother’s hoodie.
The day still goes okay until Jojo realizes that she has a hole in her leggings thanks to Purrito, the kitten Paul “gifted” her. Because Paul isn’t just Paul; he’s Mr. Meow, a mega-famous cat-fluencer. Nearly everything in Jojo’s life is now cat-themed—including the underwear that the hole in her leggings is now showcasing to the whole school!
Embarrassed and unable to show her face in the cafeteria, Jojo spends her lunch period in an abandoned locker room. But she isn’t the only one hiding to cope with some major awkwardness. Maybe, with friends by her side, middle school won’t be so bad after all.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published February 11, 2025
18 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 22, 2025
Super fun and fast-paced middle grade novel about 4 girls who meet during lunch on the first day of school because they’re all hiding from embarrassment. Authentic characters and lots of funny moments.
March 2, 2025
This book is darling. The first day of middle school is a big deal. Everything can be planned out and prepared and yet, you still end up with one disaster after another. Are you doomed or will there be someone that you can sit by, laugh with, and connect to?
Jo Jo has the worst morning and it’s only 1st period. Phone confiscated, embarrassing wardrobe malfunction, and bullying by a former nemesis have her hiding out at lunch. She thinks she’s safe and alone until someone else has the same idea. Throw in a wild animal, a step-dad who is internet famous for his cat videos, and worries that her embarrassing moment is going to be all over the internet, and you have a funny and awkward story.
I laughed, cringed, and cheered- mostly that I don’t have to face middle school anymore. (As a student anyway) It’s a quick read that will be so relatable to any preteen or teenage girl.
Highly recommend, and will definitely be buying it for my school. Thanks to Libro.fm @librofm for the free audiobook. Your help to educators is appreciated.
Jo Jo has the worst morning and it’s only 1st period. Phone confiscated, embarrassing wardrobe malfunction, and bullying by a former nemesis have her hiding out at lunch. She thinks she’s safe and alone until someone else has the same idea. Throw in a wild animal, a step-dad who is internet famous for his cat videos, and worries that her embarrassing moment is going to be all over the internet, and you have a funny and awkward story.
I laughed, cringed, and cheered- mostly that I don’t have to face middle school anymore. (As a student anyway) It’s a quick read that will be so relatable to any preteen or teenage girl.
Highly recommend, and will definitely be buying it for my school. Thanks to Libro.fm @librofm for the free audiobook. Your help to educators is appreciated.
May 22, 2025
This is a cute friendship story about four girls that find each other in a forbidden hallway and each reveal an embarrassing thing that happened to them on the first day of school. It's the perfect length at 181 pages and is the beginning of a new series which will focus on each of the girls in upcoming books.
February 22, 2025
Cute, quick read that sets up a new middle grade series. It's fun and lighthearted -- good for readers who want light realistic fiction.
February 25, 2025
A good story about a group of middle school teenagers dealing with the awkwardness of the first few days of junior high.
October 14, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jojo has big plans for her new middle school year in a Virginia suburb of D.C.; she's going to rock one of her mother's vintage uniform skirts with a black t shirt, have breakfast and bed, and rule the day. Of course, when her mother's boyfriend Paul distracts her mother, she doesn't get breakfast, and even oversleeps. Her cat, Purrito, has thrown up on her outfit, so she ends up throwing on leggings and rushing out the door so she can get a ride with her older brother, Sam. Since the family has moved out of their apartment and in with Paul, school is further away, but Jojo does NOT want to get a ride with Paul, since he drives a van that tells the world that he is Mr. Meow, a catfluencer. Things go downhill at school, where the only person she knows seems to be her nemesis, Moira Harper. She feels like she embarrassed herself in front of her homeroom teacher and the school softball coach, Mr. Achebe, and by lunchtime really needs a break. Not able to take refuge in the library (librarians need to eat, too!), she wanders into a closed off hallway. In the locker room, she meets Leah, Ryan, and Izzy, who all are having their own problems, from the seemingly silly (answering a question with "astrology" rather than "astrobiology") to the downright embarassing (getting braces stuck on the sleeve of a crush's shirt and having to have the nurse phone a dentist to get it untangled). The four decide to continue their meetings. Jojo has other problems; it's hard to navigate her new relationship with Paul, she's worried that her mom will move the family to Texas to be near grandparents, and she keeps getting her phone confiscated in the hallway. There's a bit of drama with her new friends as well. When the four are in the locker room having lunch one day, there is a lock down because a bob cat has been sighted in the hallways. The girls close the door and manage to while away a couple of hours before they realize that school is over. They make their way out carefully, on the look out for the wild animal, and end up saving the day, even if they have missed their buses. Team Awkward will be back with Leah vs. Art on June 17, 2025.
Strengths: Seventeen Magazine used to have a "Was My Face Red" column that featured readers' embarrassing stories, and reading about such experiences makes tweens feel better about the (hopefully) lesser situations they experience. Jojo (who is half Guatamalan) finds her people in her new friends, and even though there are a few hiccups (Leah takes notes on all of their trauma, hoping to find some way to avoid it in the future, but doesn't explain herself well at first), the girls support each other. They are able to work together during the lock down by pooling their resources and by working together. The real star of the book is Mr. Meow; there is another whole story on the family dynamics there, and I was glad to see that Jojo didn't dislike him, but found him helpful and pleasant, if embarrassing. Since the next book focuses on Leah, why might not get too much more information about him. The cover is very appealing.
Weaknesses: I always have questions about school that have extra, unused space, like the one in Fry's Undercover Chefs. Even though my school recently had a number of students redistricted to another building, we still have an orchestra class meeting in a classroom. The population in the D.C. area must be growing, but even if the school didn't need the space, it would be secured so students couldn't get in. What fun would that be, though?
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like unlikely romps like Malone's The Sleepover, disastrous first days, like the one in Ormsbee's Vivian Lantz's Second Chances, or books that show the perspective of friends in a group, like Papademetriou's Confectionately Yours series.
Jojo has big plans for her new middle school year in a Virginia suburb of D.C.; she's going to rock one of her mother's vintage uniform skirts with a black t shirt, have breakfast and bed, and rule the day. Of course, when her mother's boyfriend Paul distracts her mother, she doesn't get breakfast, and even oversleeps. Her cat, Purrito, has thrown up on her outfit, so she ends up throwing on leggings and rushing out the door so she can get a ride with her older brother, Sam. Since the family has moved out of their apartment and in with Paul, school is further away, but Jojo does NOT want to get a ride with Paul, since he drives a van that tells the world that he is Mr. Meow, a catfluencer. Things go downhill at school, where the only person she knows seems to be her nemesis, Moira Harper. She feels like she embarrassed herself in front of her homeroom teacher and the school softball coach, Mr. Achebe, and by lunchtime really needs a break. Not able to take refuge in the library (librarians need to eat, too!), she wanders into a closed off hallway. In the locker room, she meets Leah, Ryan, and Izzy, who all are having their own problems, from the seemingly silly (answering a question with "astrology" rather than "astrobiology") to the downright embarassing (getting braces stuck on the sleeve of a crush's shirt and having to have the nurse phone a dentist to get it untangled). The four decide to continue their meetings. Jojo has other problems; it's hard to navigate her new relationship with Paul, she's worried that her mom will move the family to Texas to be near grandparents, and she keeps getting her phone confiscated in the hallway. There's a bit of drama with her new friends as well. When the four are in the locker room having lunch one day, there is a lock down because a bob cat has been sighted in the hallways. The girls close the door and manage to while away a couple of hours before they realize that school is over. They make their way out carefully, on the look out for the wild animal, and end up saving the day, even if they have missed their buses. Team Awkward will be back with Leah vs. Art on June 17, 2025.
Strengths: Seventeen Magazine used to have a "Was My Face Red" column that featured readers' embarrassing stories, and reading about such experiences makes tweens feel better about the (hopefully) lesser situations they experience. Jojo (who is half Guatamalan) finds her people in her new friends, and even though there are a few hiccups (Leah takes notes on all of their trauma, hoping to find some way to avoid it in the future, but doesn't explain herself well at first), the girls support each other. They are able to work together during the lock down by pooling their resources and by working together. The real star of the book is Mr. Meow; there is another whole story on the family dynamics there, and I was glad to see that Jojo didn't dislike him, but found him helpful and pleasant, if embarrassing. Since the next book focuses on Leah, why might not get too much more information about him. The cover is very appealing.
Weaknesses: I always have questions about school that have extra, unused space, like the one in Fry's Undercover Chefs. Even though my school recently had a number of students redistricted to another building, we still have an orchestra class meeting in a classroom. The population in the D.C. area must be growing, but even if the school didn't need the space, it would be secured so students couldn't get in. What fun would that be, though?
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like unlikely romps like Malone's The Sleepover, disastrous first days, like the one in Ormsbee's Vivian Lantz's Second Chances, or books that show the perspective of friends in a group, like Papademetriou's Confectionately Yours series.
January 11, 2025
It is the first day of sixth grade, and everything seems to be going wrong for Jojo. Not only does she now live in her mom’s boyfriend’s house across town from her middle school, but her mom also forgets to wake Jojo up, which starts the day in utter turmoil. School does not get much better, but Jojo is comforted by the fact that she expects to be moving to another state before too long. When Jojo finds a place to hide from the embarrassment of her first day of school, however, she discovers a set of unexpected friends who help reorient her entire attitude.
This coming of age middle grade novel is well suited to newly confident independent readers with an interest in contemporary fiction. Jojo’s home life includes an older brother, an absent father, a tired mother, and her mother’s Internet sensation, cat-fluencer partner. Tween readers will recognize the myriad emotions Jojo feels throughout the day, including awkward conversations, meet-cutes, and having her phone confiscated. Jojo is a highly approachable and relatable character, and her resilience in the face of frequent obstacles is both endearing and inspiring.
Told in the first person from Jojo’s perspective, the narrative moves quickly thanks to frequent dialogue and a stream-of-consciousness writing style. Though no illustrations are included, ample white space and fast-paced chapters make the book accessible to a wide range of reading levels. Character tropes of many varieties exist throughout the story, but the plot is nonetheless engaging and entertaining for readers who are new to middle school life. Filled with positive messaging and frequent humor, this book is a good representation of the relative challenges found in middle school. This fun, contemporary fiction story is best suited to fifth and sixth grade readers, and it is primed for a sequel.
This coming of age middle grade novel is well suited to newly confident independent readers with an interest in contemporary fiction. Jojo’s home life includes an older brother, an absent father, a tired mother, and her mother’s Internet sensation, cat-fluencer partner. Tween readers will recognize the myriad emotions Jojo feels throughout the day, including awkward conversations, meet-cutes, and having her phone confiscated. Jojo is a highly approachable and relatable character, and her resilience in the face of frequent obstacles is both endearing and inspiring.
Told in the first person from Jojo’s perspective, the narrative moves quickly thanks to frequent dialogue and a stream-of-consciousness writing style. Though no illustrations are included, ample white space and fast-paced chapters make the book accessible to a wide range of reading levels. Character tropes of many varieties exist throughout the story, but the plot is nonetheless engaging and entertaining for readers who are new to middle school life. Filled with positive messaging and frequent humor, this book is a good representation of the relative challenges found in middle school. This fun, contemporary fiction story is best suited to fifth and sixth grade readers, and it is primed for a sequel.
December 27, 2024
Jojo has moved into a new home and with her mother’s boyfriend, an online cat guy called Mr. Meow who drives a MeowMobile that is covered in Mr. Meow stickers! No way she’s going to start middle school by being dropped off in something that looks like that! But her mom didn’t wake her up at the requested time so breakfast a protein bar, her first day outfit was ruined by cat puke and time constraints means grabbing what’s clean in order to ride with her older brother. The day goes from bad to worse so going into the cafeteria is out of the question. The old gym and locker have been blocked off for future renovations and provide a quiet spot to sulk. Turns out, three other girls having a bad first day have the same idea.
Jojo, Leah, Ryan and Izzy bond over their bad days and after sorting out a misunderstanding with Leah on day 2 of middle school, begin to see a friendship forming. And then a bobcat causes an evacuation of the school building and the quartet doesn’t get the message! With so much fun, laughter and finding common ground in just 2 days and under 200 pages, this is a series opener sure to grab the attention of those who love Dork Diaries, Berrybrook Middle School and Emmie & Friends but in a traditional text format. With the fast paced storyline and so many relatable mishaps, readers won’t miss graphic panels or frequent illustrations.
Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Backgrounds of the girls vary in family configuration and ethnic backgrounds.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon & Schuster.
Jojo, Leah, Ryan and Izzy bond over their bad days and after sorting out a misunderstanding with Leah on day 2 of middle school, begin to see a friendship forming. And then a bobcat causes an evacuation of the school building and the quartet doesn’t get the message! With so much fun, laughter and finding common ground in just 2 days and under 200 pages, this is a series opener sure to grab the attention of those who love Dork Diaries, Berrybrook Middle School and Emmie & Friends but in a traditional text format. With the fast paced storyline and so many relatable mishaps, readers won’t miss graphic panels or frequent illustrations.
Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Backgrounds of the girls vary in family configuration and ethnic backgrounds.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon & Schuster.
December 11, 2025
Leah vs. Art is a delightful and heartfelt addition to the Team Awkward series, a perfect blend of humor, family dynamics, and the growing pains of figuring out who you are. Joy McCullough and Veeda Bybee deliver another middle-grade gem full of honesty, warmth, and that familiar awkwardness every kid knows too well.
Leah is wonderfully relatable: organized, responsible, and determined to stay on top of her life, even when no one else in her quirky household seems to operate the same way. Her parents want her to relax and “get creative,” but Leah has her own plans, which leads her to secretly join Quiz Bowl instead of the art club they signed her up for.
What follows is a funny and heartfelt journey as Leah tries to juggle her secret, her friendships, and her own competitive streak. Her inner conflicts, wanting to make her family proud, wanting to succeed, and wanting to stay true to herself, are portrayed with humor and emotional clarity that young readers will instantly connect with.
This book shines in its portrayal of family love, friendship challenges, and the pressure kids feel to fit into expectations, whether their own or someone else’s. With its fast-paced, diary-style tone reminiscent of The Baby-Sitters Club and Dork Diaries, it’s a perfect read for fans of heartfelt middle grade stories filled with authenticity and fun.
A warm, uplifting, and wonderfully awkward story that shows just how messy, funny, and rewarding growing up can be.
Leah is wonderfully relatable: organized, responsible, and determined to stay on top of her life, even when no one else in her quirky household seems to operate the same way. Her parents want her to relax and “get creative,” but Leah has her own plans, which leads her to secretly join Quiz Bowl instead of the art club they signed her up for.
What follows is a funny and heartfelt journey as Leah tries to juggle her secret, her friendships, and her own competitive streak. Her inner conflicts, wanting to make her family proud, wanting to succeed, and wanting to stay true to herself, are portrayed with humor and emotional clarity that young readers will instantly connect with.
This book shines in its portrayal of family love, friendship challenges, and the pressure kids feel to fit into expectations, whether their own or someone else’s. With its fast-paced, diary-style tone reminiscent of The Baby-Sitters Club and Dork Diaries, it’s a perfect read for fans of heartfelt middle grade stories filled with authenticity and fun.
A warm, uplifting, and wonderfully awkward story that shows just how messy, funny, and rewarding growing up can be.
April 19, 2025
Haha, this was great! I laughed multiple times while reading this.
Jojo is not looking forward to middle school. Who would? It's super stressful and no doubt she will embarass herself in front of a bunch of strangers. This is of real concern as her mother has now moved herself, Jojo, and Jojo's high school brother in with her boyfriend, Mr. Meow. Okay, that's not his REAL name, but that's his social media influencer whose focus is making cat videos. Could life BE any more embarassing?
Sure enough, Jojo's first day of school is a diaster after one of the mean girls snidely tells her that she has a hole in her leggings and everyone can see her cat underwear. It's not as if Jojo even wanted that underwear but now her mother is cat obsessed and this is the underwear Jojo's got.
Jojo can't bear the potential humiliation of the cafeteria so she hides out in an unused part of the school only to bump into 3 other 6th grade girls who have had equally embarrassing days.
Interestingly, this book only takes place within 48 hours. You don't usually see a novel set in that quick a timeframe.
I loved it and I think my 6th graders will too.
---
Content Notes:
Swearing/profanity: None
Sex/sexual references: None
Religious elements: Not specified
LGBTQIA + rep: Not specified
Jojo is not looking forward to middle school. Who would? It's super stressful and no doubt she will embarass herself in front of a bunch of strangers. This is of real concern as her mother has now moved herself, Jojo, and Jojo's high school brother in with her boyfriend, Mr. Meow. Okay, that's not his REAL name, but that's his social media influencer whose focus is making cat videos. Could life BE any more embarassing?
Sure enough, Jojo's first day of school is a diaster after one of the mean girls snidely tells her that she has a hole in her leggings and everyone can see her cat underwear. It's not as if Jojo even wanted that underwear but now her mother is cat obsessed and this is the underwear Jojo's got.
Jojo can't bear the potential humiliation of the cafeteria so she hides out in an unused part of the school only to bump into 3 other 6th grade girls who have had equally embarrassing days.
Interestingly, this book only takes place within 48 hours. You don't usually see a novel set in that quick a timeframe.
I loved it and I think my 6th graders will too.
---
Content Notes:
Swearing/profanity: None
Sex/sexual references: None
Religious elements: Not specified
LGBTQIA + rep: Not specified
December 16, 2025
I actually gave this book to my 6th grader right around the start of the school year. She, like the characters in the book, was starting middle school and since this book seemed like the sort of thing she would enjoy I thought she would get a kick out of it. She did, and read it voraciously for a couple of days. Then she picked up a graphic novel and forgot that this book existed and never finished it. Sigh.
Skip ahead and I'm looking for a quick audiobook, and I found this one available on Libby. It's a solid addition to the "middle school friendship series" genre (see also: The Baby-Sitters Club). While we aren't exactly breaking new ground with this book, it's perfectly entertaining and easy to read and enjoy.
I will say, Ryan and JoJo's parents are all shockingly inattentive. I wasn't sure if this was done purposefully for character reasons, or if it was a writing thing to give two main characters a reason to have specific issues to deal with. I lean towards the former for Ryan, and the latter for JoJo, but who am I to assume author intent.
Skip ahead and I'm looking for a quick audiobook, and I found this one available on Libby. It's a solid addition to the "middle school friendship series" genre (see also: The Baby-Sitters Club). While we aren't exactly breaking new ground with this book, it's perfectly entertaining and easy to read and enjoy.
I will say, Ryan and JoJo's parents are all shockingly inattentive. I wasn't sure if this was done purposefully for character reasons, or if it was a writing thing to give two main characters a reason to have specific issues to deal with. I lean towards the former for Ryan, and the latter for JoJo, but who am I to assume author intent.
November 21, 2025
Contemporary fiction for ages 8-12. This is so fun, sweet, and a quick read. It's pretty short and also has a large font with lots of white space. The problems, struggles, and worries of Jojo are partly realistic, partly humorous. Nothing weighs you down too much, because she has a nice brother, the person she doesn't like is not so bad once Jojo gives them a chance, and meeting the new characters is fun. I look forward to book 2. These are by two authors, and the next one is by Veeda Bybee. Because Joy McCullough's name comes first, the other author is never listed--except on the book! Author's note explains how the two are working together.
January 13, 2025
This was a fun and silly read. The opening chapters made me think more serious problems like moving and family conflict would figure much more in the narrative, but I ended up enjoying the madcap adventures in the school. The four main characters have a believable first meeting including awkwardness and shyness, but become friends quickly and showed themselves to be understanding of each other very early on. This should be a cheerful series to read.
February 6, 2025
What a fun read about starting middle school, changes, and friends. Jojo doesn’t have a good start on the first day of middle school and when she decides to hide out in the locker room bathroom she discovers another girl there. Soon there are four of them, and they start to become friends. When a bobcat is reported to be in the school, the girls have a plan that brings them closer.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
February 13, 2025
I'm excited that it says volume one because that was the best start to a series. The characters meet on the first day of school, and they all have a mishap happening that they are ashamed of. Although they are all in the same position, Jojo is the main character, and we get to meet her mother and her new boyfriend, a cat influencer. Jojo is ashamed of Mr. Meow and his cat obsession, but it ends up saving the day.
Second chances are new friendships and being kind to oneself. Fun read.
Second chances are new friendships and being kind to oneself. Fun read.
April 28, 2025
JoJo has the worst first day of middle school, from oversleeping to finding cat puke on her specially curated first-day-of-school outfit to discovering a hole in her leggings allowing everyone to see her cat-themed underwear. When she takes refuge in an abandoned locker room during lunch, she finds three other students having equally bad first days. First in a planned series.
October 28, 2024
I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
JoJo is excited for her first day of middle school but (of course!) everything goes wrong, except she finds a secret spot in the school where three other awkward girls go to hid. Perhaps everything went right after all? I loved this new modern take on the transition between elementary and middle school. All the girls are different and interesting in their own ways, and I loved the side story of Mr. Meow and the downsides of a cat obsessed parent. There is great diversity in this as well and I really look forward to the next one! A great new take on those days where nothing goes right.
JoJo is excited for her first day of middle school but (of course!) everything goes wrong, except she finds a secret spot in the school where three other awkward girls go to hid. Perhaps everything went right after all? I loved this new modern take on the transition between elementary and middle school. All the girls are different and interesting in their own ways, and I loved the side story of Mr. Meow and the downsides of a cat obsessed parent. There is great diversity in this as well and I really look forward to the next one! A great new take on those days where nothing goes right.
March 6, 2025
Good middle school/middle grade realistic fiction about a girl starting middle school, getting embarrassed and finding friends. Some silly things like her dad being a cat influencer. But I think this one will be a hit with 4-6th graders.
March 3, 2025
A cute, funny and precious start to a new MG series by Joy McCullough, who it seems doesn't have one niche genre, age level, topic, etc. and can write all kinds of books!
March 6, 2025
I think your book is good I like most of it but I think you did't have to make it that long you could have probly made it at least 20 pages shorter
March 14, 2025
This started out great and then...
March 15, 2025
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the rest of the series!
eligible-in-2025
March 16, 2025Discovered thanks to Ms. Yingling! https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
April 1, 2025
I loved that it was under 200 pages and lots of our tweens will find this to be relatable and enjoyable, too!
April 1, 2025
This was a cute book for middle school girls and I think it introduced unique characters that will make a great series.
April 9, 2025
This was good, but it could have been better.
April 21, 2025
My 11-year old really liked this
September 11, 2025
This was so cute and fun! Not cringey- highly recommend for my 6th graders.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews