The everyday life of middle schooler, Russell, is depicted in his spiral notebook full of doodles and journal entries detailing what it's like being different and how to be comfortable in his own skin

Ages 8-12

"Russell is a middle schooler; he excessively doodles in his spiral notebook; he has two best friends, Charlotte and Preston; he is not-so-great at sports; and he is pond scum. Nicknamed "Swamp Kid" by his classmates, Russell has algae for hair, a tree trunk of a right arm, webbed toes, and a parsnip for a thumb. Also, Russell's favorite meal is sunlight. Also, a frog lives in his arm. In this notebook, Russell details, in both hilarious text and green-tinted illustrations (complete with ketchup stains!), what it's like to be different, to be comfortable in his own skin (no matter how slimy), to discover his true talents, to avoid the intense stare of Mr. Finneca (his suspicious science teacher), and to find humor in the everyday weird"--

Grades 4-6