When white-cued Maple McNutt’s best friend Sunny Gwon (who knows four languages: English, Korean, Spanish, and binary) asks, “Why can’t you just be fun?” Maple worries that her logical mind and cautious behavior is pushing her loved ones away. Employing the scientific method, aspiring astronaut Maple develops a four-step plan, hoping to become fun in time for the Invention Convention, a STEM–focused contest that Maple and Sunny promised to participate in together. Maple enlists Lada Quiche, a new student from Hungary, to be her research assistant, and as the two conduct outlandish experiments—such as creating laughing bowties using 3D printers—Maple and Lada grow closer, forcing Maple to consider whether she wants to join Sunny’s invention team or stick with Lada for the convention. Via Maple’s journal—rendered in prose bursting with personality—debut creators McMillan and Prillaman tenderly balance Maple’s fears of losing a friend with outrageously silly scenes, inventions, and dialogue. Simple b&w cartoon-style illustrations permeate a heartfelt series opener that accentuates the joy of experimentation as experienced by winning, memorable characters. Ages 8–12. Agent: Alex Weiss, Azantian Literary. (Mar.)