Middle School: Get Me Out of Here, by James Patterson

Rafe is on to new adventures and a new town! After a fireball takes out the diner that Rafe's mom works at, he and his family are forced to move to the city and live with his Grandmother. It's not his Grandmother isn't a great person, but she has too much stuff and not enough space for it, so the addition of Rafe, his sister Georgia and his Mom make it beyond cramped.

A new town mean a new school. Rafe is caught off guard when his Mom takes him for an interview at Cathedral School of Arts, but he is even more surprised when he is actually accepted. Leo, Rafe's imaginary friend, helps Rafe get through and come up with "Operation Get a Life" which consists of doing things in the city that he has never done before.

Rafe is glad to meet not imaginary friend, Matty, who is brimming with all sorts of ideas for having fun in the city. The only problem is that some of the ideas lead to them getting in trouble.

Rafe happens upon an old picture of his Mom and his Dad, who left when he was four, and he and Matty go on a mission to find out more about the man, Harry, that own the diner that is in the background of the picture.

Following one bad run-in too many at school, Rafe finally makes a break for it and returns to his home town of Hills Village. His first stop is Jeanne's house; who is the girl of his dreams. Jeanne's Mom calls Rafe's Mom to let her know he is okay and she makes her way down to pick him up.

SPOILER ALERT: Rafe's Mom finds a job in the new diner that opened after the old one burned down and takes Rafe to the grave of his Dad who she found out from Harry, who happens to be his Dad's Uncle, that he was a soldier and was killed in the war.

This book offers some closure in Rafe's story and hits home for anyone that has ever struggled with moving schools, finding new friends, trying to stay out of trouble, and dealing with the unknown of one's own family. Patterson's mix of pictures with text is, as always, effective, fun and makes for a fast and enjoyable read.