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in Squashed, by Joan Bauer, Ellie Morgan is a sixteen-year-old with a green thumb. She loves to grow things. In fact, she is working on a favorite pumpkin she’s named Max. If she can just get Max about two hundred pounds heavier, she’ll be sure to win at the Rock River Pumpkin Weigh-In. And, if she can get herself to lose twenty pounds, she’s sure she’ll be able to catch a prize herself. That prize being the new boy in town, Wes. Not only is he cute, but he’s the former president of the Agricultural Club.

She tries everything to make sure that she can become a prized pumpkin grower and finally squash her irritating rival, the annoying Cyril Pool. But everything seems to be working against her. The weird weather, evil pumpkin snatchers and the contestants for Miss Sweet Corn Coquette that can’t stay away from Wes, all seem to be driving Ellie crazy! But she doesn’t give up.

With her sometimes wacky family behind her, she discovers some new things about herself and also learns a lesson or two with the help of Max!