Julep O'Toole series

Confessions of a Middle Child
BOOK 1
How do you get noticed in a world where everyone else is plaid, polka-dotted, and tiger-striped and you're beige? That's how Julep feels: bland, boring, and invisible. To make matter worse, Julep's siblings seem to have it all figured out.
When the most popular girl in school invites Julep to a Halloween party, Julep can hardly believe her luck. Finally, her chance to get noticed and join the 'in' crowd! But a disastrous event forces Julep to choose between the girl she longs to be and the girl she knows she truly is.
"This realistic, well-drawn combination of scene, character, and plot strongly reveals the heart of a tween coming to grips with herself, her world and her family."
- Kirkus Reviews
"Julep's voice is bright, witty, and thoughtful, and her story will ring true for many a budding adolescent." - School Library Journal
Art by Dan Yaccarino © 2022
" . . . Julep's perky diary entries, peppered throughout the narrative, bring intimacy to the wry, often heartfelt story, which stresses that growing up doesn't necessarily mean growing apart from family."
- Booklist
"Ms. Trueit has created a truly warm, funny, and honest character that readers will come to really care about."
- Missouri State U. Libraries
"Trueit displays a deft hand for zingy comic writing that easily hits her target audience. Typical middle school types, including faculty, get just a touch of extra eccentricity in this non-stop romp through insecurity, bravado, and sheer panic ... Pure fun."
- Kirkus Reviews


MISS INDEPENDENT
BOOK 2
How do you convince your mom you're old enough to wear make-up, choose your own clothes, and be responsible with a cell phone? That's all Julep wants - just a little freedom to stretch her wings, but every time she tries her mother seems to be right there to clip her wings. When what was supposed to be a dream shopping trip with her mom turns into a humiliating nightmare, Julep begins to wonder if she'll ever connect with her mom.
An invitation for a week away from home gives Julep the independence she craves. It also gives her an idea. Maybe, just maybe, there's a chance for mother and daughter to find their way back to each other.
