The Perfect Score

The Perfect Score is the first book in the Perfect Score trilogy.

Synopsis
No one likes or wants to take the statewide assessment tests. Not the students in Mrs. Woods’s sixth-grade class. Not even Mrs. Woods. It’s not as if the kids don’t already have things to worry about. . . . Under pressure to be the top gymnast her mother expects her to be, RANDI starts to wonder what her destiny truly holds. Football-crazy GAVIN has always struggled with reading and feels as dumb as his high school–dropout father. TREVOR acts tough and mean, but as much as he hates school, he hates being home even more. SCOTT’s got a big brain and an even bigger heart, especially when it comes to his grandfather, but his good intentions always backfire in spectacular ways. NATALIE, know-it-all and aspiring lawyer, loves to follow the rules—only this year, she’s about to break them all. The whole school is in a frenzy with test time approaching—kids, teachers, the administration. Everyone is anxious. When one of the kids has a big idea for acing the tests, they’re all in. But things get ugly before they get better, and in the end, the real meaning of the perfect score surprises them all.

Reviews
“The students’ stories are compelling, and Buyea confidently mixes humor and heart. . .” —Publishers Weekly

“Readers will be drawn in by the lively voices and eventful lives of these likable and engaging students.” —Kirkus Reviews

 “Told through five students’ perspectives, this novel is a heartfelt look at social interactions in middle school, a pointed commentary on standardized testing, and an entertaining read.” —Booklist Online