Kindness Isn’t Always Neat

A glitter explosion. A ruined poster. A mystery sandwich. Welcome to Marie Lane’s messiest week ever.

Twelve-year-old Marie Lane has big plans to win her school’s kindness poster contest—until a spilled paint cup, a very sparkly dog, and a bad case of Tuesday ruin everything. But just when things feel hopeless, Marie turns her glittery disaster into a message from the heart: “Kindness isn’t always neat. But it always matters.”

What follows is a week full of awkward apologies, anonymous acts of kindness, and one sandwich that just might change everything. With humor, heart, and a whole lot of middle-school chaos, Marie discovers that real kindness isn’t about winning—it’s about showing up, speaking up, and being brave enough to be yourself.

Perfect for fans of Judy Moody, Dork Diaries, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this standalone story from The Life of Marie Lane series is full of laugh-out-loud moments, relatable friendship drama, and a message readers will carry long after the final page.

A warm, funny, and feel-good read for ages 6–12—and the grown-ups who love them.