National Network for Equitable Library Service

This program is read by the author. From the author of Class Mom and You've Been Volunteered comes Laurie Gelman's next laugh-out-loud novel Smells Like Tween Spirit. As a new Mat Mom of the Pioneer Middle School (PMS) Wrestling team, Jen Dixon finds herself thrown in the middle of the "guerrilla war against so-called perfect mothers," armed only with her cutting wit and acerbic sense of humor. (New York Times Book Review)Handling a whole host of new challenges, from the dreaded seventh-grade science fair to a school fundraiser (again!), Jen faces the somewhat-terrifying new social dynamics of the wrestling moms with her trademark combination of reluctance and exceptional delivery. Between school events and teaching spin classes, Jen finds herself fully immersed in sports mom competitiveness. These parents seem perfectly unassuming, until their kids start to wrestle, and they become raging pubescent monsters. Learning to navigate this new world while fielding calls from the principal because of Max's newfound misogynistic behavior, Jen steels herself for the indignities of middle-school life--with her loyal spin class attendees and her bossy four-year-old granddaughter giving her the strength she needs to press on. Mix in a Parent Night, New Year's Party, and Valentine's Day Dance, and Jen Dixon certainly has her hands, and her calendar, full. And through it all, Jen continues to charm with her riotously funny quips and memorable one-liners.