Middle school (James Patterson)

After being accepted into a big-city art school, Rafe Khatchadorian expects seventh grade to be a math-and-history-free fun zone. However, he quickly discovers that school is more competitive than ever, and to score big in class he needs to find a way to turn his boring life into the inspiration for a work of art. In order to accomplish his goal, Rafe decides to try doing lots of new things like learning to play poker and going to a modern art museum....

"When Rafe Khatchadorian is sent to Camp Wannamorra, he teams up with his bunk mates to fend off the more "popular" kids' plans to ruin their summer"--

Join Rafe as he survives white-water rafting, camp counselors, and rock climbing in this hilarious New York Times bestseller from the Middle School series.
After a rough summer, Rafe is heading back to the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, the site of the very worst years of his life. And as if that's not bad enough, he's learned that he's going to be held back a year unless he can prove himself on an outdoor survival excursion-complete...

"Life in middle school is finally starting to seem bearable-until Rafe spots his grandmother standing on the free-meal line at the local soup kitchen. In order to help bring in more money, Rafe concocts a brilliant plan-a dog-walking business that soon turns into a huge money-making neighborhood empire"--

Returning to the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, Rafe joins the school's football team only to find himself alongside bully Miller the Killer, a situation that is complicated by Rafe's secret plans for a school art project.

Rafe and Jimmy are in charge of a celebration of books and reading, but when a small issue becomes a big problem that threatens to derail the event, they must work fast to keep things on track.

Rafe Khatchadorian is horrified that because of a missed science assignment he has to go to summer school; but instead of three weeks in a school room he finds himself a volunteer at Bushytail animal refuge, which is really hard, smelly work--and somehow he needs to use the experience (and the help of a girl he meets there) to produce a first class science report.

The Khatchadorian family discovers they have inherited a million dollars, but to get it, they must stay in a ramshackle house in Beverly Hills and Rafe has to attend a snooty new middle school.