Smoke Screen — Amy Goldman Koss

Unlike January, which had begun so great with Mom giving up cigarettes and Mike being seated next to me, February stunk from the start.

Mitzi's mom is trying desperately to quit smoking, and the only thing driving Mitzi crazier than her mother's mood swings is her own crush on Mike Humphrey, the boy with the ultra-smile. Mitzi's best friend is no help -- she's busy being chummy with another girl. So when Mitzi tells Mike a huge lie about her mom just to get his attention, she has no one to blame but herself for the trouble that follows.