The 47 People You’ll Meet in Middle School

Gus recounts her first year of middle school to her younger sister, Lou, through encounters with forty-seven people, from teachers and administrators to classmates and old friends. Gus begins the year feeling socially insecure and uncertain, then gradually gains confidence and maturity. Her parents’ recent separation means moving between two homes, while school trouble brings both parents together only in the principal’s office. As Gus navigates these changes, she also begins to recognize that Lou is struggling too.