Crushing It

Mel is an avid soccer player who lives with her supportive parents and her older sister, Emily, who has become distant since she is in high school and dedicated to writing poetry. Tory lives with her mother, who has recently married Eddison, as well as her new stepbrother, Terrance, who is 18. The two both play on the same soccer team in Crooked Creek, Iowa, and used to be best friends. They were in the "Fearsome Foursome" with Rima, who has remained friends with Mel, and Chloe, who still talks to Tory, but after Tory made unforgiveable remarks about Mel, the two don't speak. In the days leading up to the 8th grade City Championship, there's a lot of drama going on. Mel has taken to writing poetry, but doesn't want her sister to find out. She has been communicating with BTtoYou and exchanging poetry, as well as talking about life challenges that she can't share with anyone else. Rima is running for student body president, and after the school paper endorses the boy she is running against, she asks Mel to give a speech on her behalf. The only problem is that Mel is terrified of giving speeches. This comes up when she is paired with Tory on a science project. Tory is very meticulous in everything she does, and tries to control the chaos in her family life by being very organized and focused. She doesn't want Mel to blow their chance at an A. Tory likes her step brother, and wants to impress him, since he is more involved in her life than her own mother is most of the time. Tory has also been chatting with someone online, and since the book is written in a dual perspective, we know that the girls are texting each other. It turns out that Tory made a mean comment about Mel because she had a crush on her friend, and was afraid to let anyone find out. Mel also has a crush on Tory, and the two have to find a way to overcome their past history and explore this new relationship.