In an exclusive private school where every student's got a lock on a special talent or ability, like Chumley Prep, can totally-average Piper ever stand out? Will she ever get her chance to ... shine?
The school's founder sponsors a new award, The Excelsior. The requirements to win are ambiguous, at best: "a students who most fully demonstrates the overall excellence we strive for." Soon the entire student body is speculating and scheming what they'll do to win it.
Piper first thinks her excellence in science may win it, with a stellar Science Fair entry, but a series of small calamities demand her attention (stray kindergarteners are found crying in the hallway, a food service worker drops a tray of spaghetti, a custodian can't find a water shut-off valve, a nanny struggles under the weight of too many backpacks, and a substitute tosses her family heirloom in the garbage) and soon Piper's entry is disqualified for violating an obscure rule.
She throws her lot in with her friends, trying to help them win the award with their various talents, but as the deadline to announce the winner approaches, things aren't looking too good for any of them.
A fun, quick read!
