Future scientist Madeline Little is dreading the start of middle school. Nothing has been right since her grandfather died and her best friend changed schools. Maddie would rather help her father in his research lab or write Standard Operating Procedures in her lab notebook than hang out with a bunch of kids who aren’t even her friends. Despite Maddie’s reluctance, some new friends start coming her way—until they discover what she’s written in that secret notebook. And that’s just part of the trouble. Can this future scientific genius find the formula for straightening out her life?

• STEM for Girls: Madeline Little treats everything like a science experiment, from surviving the lunchroom to making friends. But she's about to learn that some variables can't be controlled.
• Navigating Middle School: With her best friend at a new school, Maddie has to face unfamiliar classes and new people all on her own. The secret observations in her lab notebook might just ruin everything.
• Books about Sisters: Maddie and her older sister, Brooke, live in two different worlds—one of science, the other of cheerleading. But when a crisis hits, they might be the only ones who truly understand each other.
• Heartfelt Family Story: Still grieving the loss of her beloved grandfather, a fellow scientist, Maddie must learn to chart a new path with the support of her loving, if sometimes embarrassing, family.