This book follows a ficticious school community called "Dewey Middle School" in its transition from a traditional junior high school to a middle school. The stories were conceptualized around recommendations made in the 1989 report, "Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century." The purpose of focusing on one fictitious school is twofold: to give readers a sense of cohesiveness and to present the application of middle-school philosophy in a realistic manner. The book analyzes and explores the stresses that both staff and students encounter during the change process. The first chapter introduces students in early adolescence (10-14 years old). Chapter 2 focuses on key elements of a middle school, such as flexible scheduling, interdisciplinary learning, teacher-based guidance, and parent-community relations. The third chapter describes program issues, including curriculum design, inclusiveness, and special-needs students. Instructional issues are described in the fourth chapter, including student behavioral problems, standardized tests, diversity, and staff evaluation. Outside challenges are discussed in chapter 5, which presents scenarios involving community crises, parent-teacher conferences, school-community relations, support networks, and teenage pregnancy. The sixth chapter brings the school year to an end. Each chapter contains a list of recommended reading and suggested questions for discussion and activities. Two figures and one table are included. (LMI)