The art competition arrives. MacKenzie submits a glitter-glued, tacky design obviously done by her mother. Nikki submits a beautiful manga-style drawing featuring a dorky girl triumphantly holding a pencil like a sword. The judges — including the principal and Brandon — are torn. But Brandon secretly photographs Nikki’s drawing and campaigns for it in the yearbook club.
Meanwhile, Nikki discovers that the school is holding an art competition to design the cover of the upcoming yearbook. The prize? A scholarship to the school — something Nikki desperately needs, since her dad is struggling to pay tuition. Nikki is a phenomenal artist, so she enters immediately. But so does MacKenzie, who has zero talent but plenty of confidence and her mom’s connections. dork diaries 1
On the very first day, Nikki accidentally trips into a trash can while trying to avoid the most popular girl in school: MacKenzie Hollister. MacKenzie is wealthy, blonde, manipulative, and the self-appointed queen of the CCP (Cute, Cool & Popular) group. She humiliates Nikki in front of everyone, and from that moment on, MacKenzie makes it her mission to ruin Nikki’s life. The art competition arrives
Nikki’s life gets more complicated when her mom gets a job as the school’s new lunch lady — a job Nikki begged her not to take because of the social embarrassment. Now, Nikki has to watch her mom serve sloppy joes while MacKenzie and her friends whisper and point. The judges — including the principal and Brandon
To make things worse, Nikki develops a huge crush on Brandon Roberts, a sweet, kind, eco-friendly photographer for the school newspaper. Brandon is nice to everyone — including Nikki — which she finds both thrilling and confusing. He even lends her an umbrella when she gets caught in the rain. But Nikki assumes he’d never like a dork like her.
In the end, Nikki wins the competition. She gets the scholarship, and her art becomes the yearbook cover. MacKenzie is furious but powerless. Nikki finally realizes she doesn’t need to be popular — she just needs to be herself. She also realizes Brandon likes her back, especially when he asks to walk her home.
The book ends with Nikki writing in her diary: “I may be a dork, but I’m a dork with a fabulous life.” This first book sets the tone for the entire series: hilarious, heartfelt, full of doodles and drama, and a celebration of friendship, creativity, and surviving middle school one embarrassing moment at a time.