Dexter the Tough — Margaret Peterson Haddix

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

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 crying before Dexter hit him? And why would the other boy still want to be Dexter's friend?

Even Dexter's not sure of the answers to all of these questions. But one thing is certain: He's about to discover many surprises hidden in his own tale!