Derek Fallon discovers all the angst that comes with being twelve - he just wants to feel grown up, but life gets in the way with a series of mishaps that make him look like a baby. Why isn't being in middle school as great as Derek imagined? With a little help from his friends and a Toys for Tots fundraiser things could start shaping up.

From popular middle-grade novelist Janet Tashjian comes another hilarious installment in the My Life series, with illustrations by Janet's son, Jake Tashjian.

Derek Fallon discovers all the angst that comes with being twelve-he just wants to feel grown up, but life gets in the way with a series of mishaps that make him look like a baby. He passes out during a worm dissection in science class, falls flat on his face in gym class and gets a fat lip that causes him to lisp all day, and his plans for a monster-truck party turn into a bouncy house disaster. Why isn't being in middle school as great as Derek imagined? Thankfully, with a little help from his friends-and, ironically, a Toys for Tots fundraiser-things seem like they could start shaping up at last.

My Life as a Joke by Janet and Jake Tashjian is a Christy Ottaviano Book

"Readers will connect with likable Derek and his efforts to improve himself that don't ever go right . . . It's sure to be a hit with fans of the previous installments." -School Library Journal

"A kinder, gentler Wimpy Kid with all the fun and more plot." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review on My Life as a Book

Don't forget the rest of the My Life series!
My Life as a Book
My Life as a Stuntman
My Life as a Cartoonist
My Life as a Joke
My Life as a Gamer
My Life as a Ninja