First in the Popularity Papers series, cartoonist Amy Ignatow's Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang introduces a pair of best friends navigating the world of junior high school.

Lydia and Julie are best friends with one goal: to crack the code of popularity. Lydia's the bold one: aspiring theater star, stick-fighting enthusiast, and human guinea pig. Julie's the shy one: observer and artist, accidental field hockey jock, and faithful recorder. In this notebook they write down their observations and carry out experiments to try to determine what makes the popular girls tick. But somehow, the harder Lydia and Julie try to imitate the popular girls, the farther they get from their goal--and each other.

Amy Ignatow understands friendship and the fifth grade, and she knows just how to wring humor out of ordinary and extraordinary moments.

The Popularity Papers:
Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#1)
The Long-Distance Dispatch Between Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#2)
Words of (Questionable) Wisdom from Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#3)
The Rocky Road Trip of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#4)
The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#5)
Love and Other Fiascos with Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#6)
The Less-Than-Hidden Secrets and Final Revelations of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#7)