The art competition arrives. MacKenzie submits a glitter-glued, tacky design obviously done by her mother. Nikki submits a beautiful manga-style drawing featuring a dorky girl triumphantly holding a pencil like a sword. The judges — including the principal and Brandon — are torn. But Brandon secretly photographs Nikki’s drawing and campaigns for it in the yearbook club.

With the help of her two loyal friends from her old school — Chloe and Zoey — Nikki plans a last-minute party at the public library. It’s not glamorous, but it’s fun, creative, and very Nikki . However, MacKenzie finds out it’s at the library and shows up just to mock her. But Nikki stands up for herself, and even Brandon shows up, telling her she’s “really cool.”

Nikki’s life gets more complicated when her mom gets a job as the school’s new lunch lady — a job Nikki begged her not to take because of the social embarrassment. Now, Nikki has to watch her mom serve sloppy joes while MacKenzie and her friends whisper and point.

Meanwhile, Nikki discovers that the school is holding an art competition to design the cover of the upcoming yearbook. The prize? A scholarship to the school — something Nikki desperately needs, since her dad is struggling to pay tuition. Nikki is a phenomenal artist, so she enters immediately. But so does MacKenzie, who has zero talent but plenty of confidence and her mom’s connections.

The book ends with Nikki writing in her diary: “I may be a dork, but I’m a dork with a fabulous life.” This first book sets the tone for the entire series: hilarious, heartfelt, full of doodles and drama, and a celebration of friendship, creativity, and surviving middle school one embarrassing moment at a time.

In a moment of desperation, Nikki lies and tells MacKenzie that she’s going to a super-exclusive Halloween party at a fancy hotel. MacKenzie is furious with jealousy — because she wasn’t invited. But of course, Nikki made the whole thing up. Now she has to somehow throw a real party to save face.

Nikki’s only consolation is her diary — a blank book she uses to doodle, vent, and document every mortifying moment. She writes in it obsessively, giving it a snarky, funny, and deeply honest voice.