In a moment of desperation, Nikki lies and tells MacKenzie that she’s going to a super-exclusive Halloween party at a fancy hotel. MacKenzie is furious with jealousy — because she wasn’t invited. But of course, Nikki made the whole thing up. Now she has to somehow throw a real party to save face.
Meanwhile, Nikki discovers that the school is holding an art competition to design the cover of the upcoming yearbook. The prize? A scholarship to the school — something Nikki desperately needs, since her dad is struggling to pay tuition. Nikki is a phenomenal artist, so she enters immediately. But so does MacKenzie, who has zero talent but plenty of confidence and her mom’s connections. dork diaries 1
On the very first day, Nikki accidentally trips into a trash can while trying to avoid the most popular girl in school: MacKenzie Hollister. MacKenzie is wealthy, blonde, manipulative, and the self-appointed queen of the CCP (Cute, Cool & Popular) group. She humiliates Nikki in front of everyone, and from that moment on, MacKenzie makes it her mission to ruin Nikki’s life. In a moment of desperation, Nikki lies and
The art competition arrives. MacKenzie submits a glitter-glued, tacky design obviously done by her mother. Nikki submits a beautiful manga-style drawing featuring a dorky girl triumphantly holding a pencil like a sword. The judges — including the principal and Brandon — are torn. But Brandon secretly photographs Nikki’s drawing and campaigns for it in the yearbook club. Now she has to somehow throw a real party to save face
Here’s a full story summary of Dork Diaries 1: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell, written as a narrative recap. Nikki Maxwell is starting eighth grade at Westchester Country Day Middle School, a private academy she’s been forced to attend after a zoning issue at her old public school. Nikki isn’t rich, popular, or trendy — she’s an aspiring artist who loves manga, drawing, and her two best friends from her old school. She feels like a total dork in a sea of designer handbags and perfectly highlighted hair.
To make things worse, Nikki develops a huge crush on Brandon Roberts, a sweet, kind, eco-friendly photographer for the school newspaper. Brandon is nice to everyone — including Nikki — which she finds both thrilling and confusing. He even lends her an umbrella when she gets caught in the rain. But Nikki assumes he’d never like a dork like her.
Nikki’s life gets more complicated when her mom gets a job as the school’s new lunch lady — a job Nikki begged her not to take because of the social embarrassment. Now, Nikki has to watch her mom serve sloppy joes while MacKenzie and her friends whisper and point.