Jacquelyn Massey Orton

Tall Poppies (The Tall Poppy Diaries, Book One) Jacquelyn Massey Orton

"In Australia they call high-achievers 'Tall Poppies'. A field of poppies looks better when they appear to be all the same. So, if one poppy grows taller than the other poppies in the field, they just chop it down. It really is the same way with people. When someone achieves too much and 'grows too tall' it seems like their peers feel obligated to try to knock that person down." The five Tall Poppies seemed to win everything in fifth grade-academic awards, solos in concerts, leads in the play, and (worst of all) the school talent show. The girls soon learned that awards and congratulatory messages over the school PA system often result in green-eyed gossip and cold shoulders from jealous classmates. After a successful, yet über-stressful, school year the Tall Poppies' eagerly awaited and well planned "Perfect Summer" has finally arrived. On the agenda for the day:

• Attend Tall Poppy Club meeting
• Organize scrapbooking stuff
• Finish two scrapbook pages each
• Hang out with The Boys
• Have fun!

But the Tall Poppies' "Perfect Summer" plans get derailed when the malicious class "Weeds" Hayden and Mia intrude into Tall Poppy territory. Add an envious new classmate and her mother to the mix, sprinkle in a shocking admission that jeopardizes the Tall Poppies' impending Hollywood movie debut and you get a recipe for the first day of a less-than "Perfect Summer". One annoying new classmate + two "weedy" mean girls + three awesome guy friends + four pair of binoculars + five half-finished scrapbooks + sixth grade year + seven spots on a Hollywood motion picture set = The First Day of Summer for the Tall Poppies. And their "(im) Perfect Summer" has only just begun! EXTRAS INSIDE:

• Tall Poppy Terms
• Tall Poppy Power Secrets
• Tall Poppy Tips: The Boys' Views
• Tall Poppy "Get Organized" Tips
• Tall Poppy Scrapbooking Tips