Marvin is pleased when his teacher asks him to take care of her dog while she's away, but he soon finds that there's more pressure involved than he likes.

An unmanageable, but lovable, eleven-year-old misfit learns to believe in himself when he gets to know the new school counselor, who is a sort of misfit too.

Unusual things continue to happen in the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story. "Before you enter Wayside School, you should know that it's a thirty-story building with one classroom on each floor. Mrs. Jewls teaches the class on the thirtieth story. Mis Zaves teaches the class on the nineteeth story -- except there is no nineteenth story, so there is no Miss Zarves....

Twelve-year-old Gary, known as Goon because of his constant clowning and joke-telling, tries to change his image and make new friends at school.

"Yum! Miss Mush is dishing out her famous Mushroom Surprise in the Wayside School cafeteria. Ron says it tastes like hot dogs and grape jelly. Clean your plate and you'll turn green in time for class picture day. Wear your craziest outfit and you'll fit right in between Maurecia in her striped bikini and Calvin, who's wearing his birthday tattoo. Say cheese!"--

Afraid of his new mountain bike, third-grader Marvin finds himself in a desperate situation when he accepts a challenge to ride down Suicide Hill.

After Casey Happleton tells him that if he kisses his elbow he will turn into a girl, nine-year-old Marvin experiments and finds himself very confused about his identity.

Meet Marvin Redpost, the Master of Mayhem!
 
Kidnapped at Birth?: Marvin Redpost has finally figured out why he doesn't look like anyone in his family. He's not really Marvin Redpost—he's Robert, the lost prince of Shampoon!

Why Pick on Me?: Marvin is shunned by his classmates and teacher after he is unfairly fingered as a nose-picker by the class bully.

Is He a Girl?: Will kissing...