In this eighth graphic-novel hybrid, sixth-grader Nate crushes on one classmate and reaches a hard-won détente with another. Thanks to a seating chart change that puts Nate next to sweet-natured Ruby Dinsmore, social studies is no longer "a king-size zit on the forehead of life." But Nate's nemesis, Randy Betancourt, likes Ruby, too, and escalates his bullying, until the two rivals are ultimately sentenced to udder er counseling. Meanwhile, Nate really ends up in the doghouse after publishing satiric but mean-spirited callouts in the school newspaper, and he suffers a temporary scare when his dad's job hunting seems likely to end in distant California. Ultimately, though, all is right: Nate comes away with increased sensitivity to the feelings of others, a chance to shine in a gloriously muddy game of Ultimate Frisbee against hated private-school rivals . . . and even a smooch from Ruby (on the cheek, but still!). His high jinks are all delivered in a rapid mix of narrative clips, cartoon panels, and hand-drawn comics that readers have come to know and love.