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  “Either way, I’m proud of you for trying out,” she said. And I could tell she really meant it.

  “Me too,” said Hailey. “Maybe now you’ll try out for soccer next year.”

  “Uh, yeah. Not happening,” I said as I nervously awaited the results.

  When Coach Lunetta came out to read the list of names for the next round (they were to come back Saturday morning), my stomach clenched in nervousness. But my name wasn’t on the list. Neither was Jenna’s. But Kristen’s was!

  Jenna and I squealed and made a big deal out of Kristen’s callback. She actually got kind of teary and bummed we wouldn’t be there, but we said she had to make the team now, for all of us.

  Jenna said she didn’t mind not making it, since it wasn’t like she’d trained at all. I had wanted to make it, but I decided that my victory was actually in writing a response that had convinced two people (and who knows, maybe there were others!) to try out, when they otherwise might not have. Seeing as how writing was really where my future lay and, to be fair, where I’d put most of my energy in life, it was its own kind of triumph.

  Walking home, I told Allie I was bummed, but I’d live.

  Allie was quiet and then she said, “You know, I wanted you to make it, I really did, but a tiny part of me didn’t. I’m so sorry.”

  “Thanks a lot!” I said indignantly.

  “It’s just . . . it would be torture to have a little sister who’s amazing at everything, you know?”

  “What?” I was shocked. “But that’s how I feel about you!” I accused.

  “No, look, I have to slave over every paper, and you write like a dream. It comes so easily for you. You’re so organized. You can surf the Web like nobody’s business—you know exactly what websites to go to for whatever information you need. Plus, you never worry about makeup or your hair, and you don’t need to, either. You always look cute. You’re a natural beauty, while I stress out for hours about how I look.”

  Whoa! Talk about things not really being what they seem!

  “Well, I feel the same way about you, so there. Maybe it’s just the nature of sisters. Now let’s go eat some cinnamon buns!” I laughed and so did Allie, which relieved the seriousness of the discussion, but it left me with a lot to think about.

  Journalist Rocked by Sister’s Secrets!

  My other triumph came later that night, when Michael Lawrence IM’d me to see how the tryouts had gone. I hated admitting I’d failed, but what could I do?

  Didn’t make it. Total loser.

  But then I erased the “Total loser” part. No point in criticizing myself in front of someone I liked. He typed back:

  You’ll always be a star to me, Pasty.

  And with that one little line, I decided all the practice had been worth it.

  EXTRA! EXTRA!

  Want the scoop on what Samantha is up to next?

  Here’s a sneak peek of the fifth book in the Dear Know-It-All series:

  Everyone’s a Critic

  Chapter 1

  NEWSPAPER STAFF PLAYS MUSICAL CHAIRS. EVERYONE LOSES!

  Have you ever wished you knew everything? My name is Samantha Martone and I’ll tell you a little secret. I’m supposed know everything, at least once a week.

  It’s a little funny that I write a column for my middle school newspaper, the Cherry Valley Voice, called Dear Know-It-All, where I’m supposed to act like I know everything, which I don’t.

  Here’s another secret: I can’t tell anyone I write the column—not my annoying older sister, Allie, who’s always getting into my business, and not even my BFF, Hailey Jones. But those are the rules, and I’ve got to stick to them.

  Today I was having one of those days—you know those days when nothing goes right?

  While I was rushing to make the Voice meeting, I tripped on some invisible bump in the floor and my notebook, where I keep all my lists and notes for the paper, came flying out of my bag. I knelt down to pick it up and two sneakered feet stopped before me.

  “Hey, Trippy! Need a hand?” Ah, another nickname—just what I needed. Michael Lawrence is always coming up with ridiculous new nicknames for me. “Pet names,” as Hailey calls them. Maybe they were, but they just felt annoying most of the time, especially right now. I looked up and there he was, flashing his baby blues at me, holding out a hand. He must have seen me trip, and it’s not the first time he’s witnessed my klutziness. My cheeks went hot. How come I always trip in front of Michael?

  “That’s okay, Mikey.” I got up and dusted myself off. “They really should fix that!” I said, glaring at the spot on the floor where I’d tripped. Michael looked where I was looking.

  “Yeah, you really gotta watch out for those dangerous flat floors,” he said with a grin. “You okay?”

  “Just fine, let’s go. We’re late,” I said, trying to ignore the cute smirk on his face. We rushed off and burst into the newsroom. It was full and we had to stand in the back, which is why I’m usually always early.

  “It’s a tad loud in here. Listen up, fellow journos!” bellowed Mr. Trigg, clapping his hands. The room quieted down.

  “Okay, the Voice is doing great this year, but we don’t want to get stale. Writers must stay on their toes to keep it fresh. That’s why we’re all going to stretch our comfort zones for this issue and do a little switcheroo.”

  Now you could hear a pin drop. Michael nudged me and raised his eyebrows. I just shrugged.

  “So for the next few issues, the news reporters are going to covers arts, the sportswriters are going to tackle the news, and the arts reporters are going to do sports. Clear?”

  Arts? Is he serious? I mean, I love plays and movies and books and all that. But what really gets me excited about writing for the paper is getting the unexpected story. No offense to the arts reporters, but writing a theater review isn’t very exciting. Then a headline popped into my head, as they often do: Newspaper Staff Plays Musical Chairs. Everyone Loses.

  RACHEL WISE loves to give advice. When she’s not editing or writing children’s books, which she does full time at a publisher in New York, she’s reading advice columns in newspapers, magazines, and blogs, and is always sure her advice would be better! Her dream is to someday have her own talk show, where she could share her wisdom with millions of people at once; but for now she’s happy to dole o ut advice in small portions in Dear Know-It-All books.

  LOOK FOR MORE BOOKS ABOUT DEAR KNOW-IT-ALL AT YOUR FAVORITE STORE!

  Jacket design by Laura L. DiSiena

  Jacket illustrated by James Bernardin

  Jacket illustrations copyright © 2012 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  Simon Spotlight • Simon & Schuster, New York

  Meet the author, watch viedos, and get extras at

  KIDS.SIMONANDSCHUSTER.COM

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  SIMON SPOTLIGHT

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster

  Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas,

  New York, New York 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  Copyright © 2012 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  SIMON SPOTLIGHT and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  Text by Elizabeth Doyle Carey Designed by Laura L. DiSiena

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5328-9 (pbk)

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5385-2 (hc)

  ISBN 978-1-4424-5329-6 (eBook)

  Library of Congress Control Number 2012947363

 

 

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