Too Uncool For School

Middle School Series

Author: James Patterson

Illustrator: Martin Ed Chatterton

Book 17 in the Middle School series

Pages: 320

Published: 2025

Age: 8+

Rafe is finally getting a taste of the cool life – but his problems are red-hot.

Rafe Khatchadorian has never been cool. But all that changes when he becomes the guitarist in an awesome rock band and wrangles a part-time job at Hills Village''s trendiest new coffee shop slash yoga studio. No more being at the bottom of middle school food chain – Rafe is finally going to be popular!

He just has two teeny problems: the awesome rock band is led by none other than the school bully. And the band actually isn't awesome – they absolutely stink, and Rafe has to whip them into shape for the Best Band Competition.

With Rafe''s newfound coolness on the line, will he find a way to hit the stage in style, or is he doomed to dorkdom forever?

About the Middle School Series

Reading age: 8–12 years

This series should be read in order.

Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off...

With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class – 5,000 points! Running in the hallway – 10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm – 50,000 points! But when Rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding.

Acclaimed author James Patterson delivers a genuinely hilarious – and surprisingly poignant – series about a wildly imaginative, one-of-kind kid that you won't soon forget.

[Teachers' Pick series]