About This Book

I'm the new kid. I am tuf. This morning I beat up a kid.

Dexter hates his new school. He hates that his family moved across the country so his dad can get treatment for his cancer. To make matters worse, Dexter gets into a fight the first day of school.

It's only the first day of school for Dexter, but he's already mad at the principal, and the secretary, and the janitor, and the kids who laugh at him. When his teacher tells the class to write a story, Dexter writes about how tough he is — and how he's already gotten into a fight. Is any of Dexter's story true? Why was the other boy crying "before" Dexter hit him? And why would the other boy still want to be Dexter's friend?

Even Dexter doesn't know the answers to some of those questions. But as he deals with family problems, a persistent teacher, and a boy who's strangely interested in floor wax, he discovers many surprises hidden in his own tale.

This touching book explores issues of bullying, family, and friendship.