THE scott fenwick diaries

In the tradition of Judy Blume, the laugh-out-loud, feel-good sequel to Worldwide Crush, superfan Millie grows out of her celebrity crush and lands awkwardly in something even more dramatic: her first ever IRL middle school crush—perfect for young fans of Jenny Han and The Middle School Mayhem series.

In the tradition of Judy Blume, a contemporary coming-of-age middle-grade comedy for teens and tweens with the honest truth about the angst and uncertainty of pursuing your first real-life crush. A contemporary coming-of-age middle grade novel for teens and tweens with the honest truth about the angst and uncertainty of falling in love for the first time, The Scott Fenwick Diaries will warm your hearts and have you laughing out loud all at the same time.
In the tradition of Judy Blume, a contemporary coming-of-age middle-grade comedy for teens and tweens with the honest truth about the angst and uncertainty of pursuing your first real-life crush. A contemporary coming-of-age middle grade novel for teens and tweens with the honest truth about the angst and uncertainty of falling in love for the first time, The Scott Fenwick Diaries will warm your hearts and have you laughing out loud all at the same time.

Georgia Children's Book Awards logo Illinois Reads book choice Lit Pick Five-Star Book Review Award

Available Now!

“This is quite possibly the best IRL middle school crush novel, EVER! Kristin Nilsen totally gets it – absolutely, spot-on, perfectly – right.”

—Lisa Greenwald, author of the TBH series, the Friendship List series, and The Summer of the Fortune Tellers

“Simply adorable. Readers will be charmed by crush-addicted Millie in this sweet and spirited follow-up to Worldwide Crush.”

—Barbara Dee, author of Unstuck and Tear This Down

“Sweet Cheese-its! Kristin Nilsen has the soul of a 7th grader combined with the wisdom and talent of a fully baked grown-up. The Scott Fenwick Diaries is hilarious, heart-stopping and—best of all—completely authentic.”

—Rachelle Bergstein, author of The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
“The Scott Fenwick Diaries delivers a delightful glimpse into the twisty-turny inner world of tween girls. Bright, buoyant and deeply-felt, Kristin Nilsen captures middle school trauma and drama down to the tiniest freckle-on-the-earlobe details.”
—Megan McCafferty, New York Times bestselling author of The Jessica Darling series and Best Frenemies Forever

“. . . The Scott Fenwick Diaries will engage and charm middle school readers worldwide.”

—Mima Tipper, author of Kat’s Greek Summer

“Sweet, funny, and filled with the perfect mix of innocence explored and teenage angst, The Scott Fenwick Diaries hits all the right notes . . . just like Rory Calhoun!”

—Kate Stollenwerck, author of Hello, Goodbye

Georgia Children's Book Awards logo Illinois Reads book choice Lit Pick Five-Star Book Review Award

Available Now!

“This is quite possibly the best IRL middle school crush novel, EVER! Kristin Nilsen totally gets it – absolutely, spot-on, perfectly – right.”

—Lisa Greenwald, author of the TBH series, the Friendship List series, and The Summer of the Fortune Tellers

“Simply adorable. Readers will be charmed by crush-addicted Millie in this sweet and spirited follow-up to Worldwide Crush.”

—Barbara Dee, author of Unstuck and Tear This Down

“Sweet Cheese-its! Kristin Nilsen has the soul of a 7th grader combined with the wisdom and talent of a fully baked grown-up. The Scott Fenwick Diaries is hilarious, heart-stopping and—best of all—completely authentic.”

—Rachelle Bergstein, author of The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
“The Scott Fenwick Diaries delivers a delightful glimpse into the twisty-turny inner world of tween girls. Bright, buoyant and deeply-felt, Kristin Nilsen captures middle school trauma and drama down to the tiniest freckle-on-the-earlobe details.”
—Megan McCafferty, New York Times bestselling author of The Jessica Darling series and Best Frenemies Forever

“. . . The Scott Fenwick Diaries will engage and charm middle school readers worldwide.”

—Mima Tipper, author of Kat’s Greek Summer

“Sweet, funny, and filled with the perfect mix of innocence explored and teenage angst, The Scott Fenwick Diaries hits all the right notes . . . just like Rory Calhoun!”

—Kate Stollenwerck, author of Hello, Goodbye

Order The Scott Fenwick Diaries Today

Let’s be pen pals!
(like a newsletter thing)

Or laptop pals. Or phone pals. Whatever! However one creates mail nowadays, that’s what I would like to send you. Chock full of book news, events, and giveaways. Actually, who am I kidding? I’m not super confident in my ability to follow through on that. But if I did have some news, would you like me to send it to you? Like what if I win an Oscar or something? Sign up for Oscar news below… (aka newsletter updates)

Rory Calhoun is a teen popstar with perfect teeth and messy hair who’s inspiring first crushes all over the globe. Millie Jackson is just one of the millions of fans who love him—but that doesn't mean her heart doesn't break for him every single day in this laugh-out-loud coming-of-age story.
Rory Calhoun is a teen popstar with perfect teeth and messy hair who’s inspiring first crushes all over the globe. Millie Jackson is just one of the millions of fans who love him—but that doesn't mean her heart doesn't break for him every single day in this laugh-out-loud coming-of-age story.

Available Now!

National Indie Book Awards   Next Generation Indie Book Awards American Legacy Book Award

2024 Book Awards
Brimming with hope, humor, and possibility, best friends and annoying hangers-on, ridiculous teachers and more ridiculous family members, indignities, sorrows, despair, and triumph, Nilsen builds a story that feels so real, I could almost feel the flutter of butterflies doing backflips in my own stomach. A sharply-drawn and big-hearted story. I loved every single page.

Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Medal–winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon

With Worldwide Crush, Kristin Nilsen establishes herself as a vibrant new voice in coming-of-age fiction. This funny, big-hearted novel explores family, friendship, and the intoxicating power of first crushes with sometimes cringeworthy accuracy. Readers still in the throes of tweendom will be as charmed by Millie’s emotional journey as those who attended middle school long ago. A winning pick for all generations!

Megan McCafferty, New York Times best-selling author of Best Frenemies Forever and the Jessica Darling series

Kristin Nilsen nails the angst of falling for a teen heartthrob in Worldwide Crush. The countless laugh-out-loud moments were reminiscent of my own crush on Shaun Cassidy. Tween readers will love this debut. Highly recommend!

Cindy Callaghan, author of My Big Heart-Shaped Fail

Bursting with humor and feverish popstar fandom, Worldwide Crush is a joyous and heart-warming read that chronicles the big emotions of a middle school girl as she navigates her foray into teenagehood, diehard crushes, and a discovery of her sense of worth and self. A delightfully relatable, unapologetically authentic story, complete with laughs and nostalgia, that will resonate with middle school girls everywhere!

Payal Doshi, author of Rea and the Blood of the Nectar

The writing is just like Judy Blume! Except better.

Kristin's Mom
Rory Calhoun is a teen popstar with perfect teeth and messy hair who’s inspiring first crushes all over the globe. Millie Jackson is just one of the millions of fans who love him—but that doesn't mean her heart doesn't break for him every single day in this laugh-out-loud coming-of-age story.

Available Now!

National Indie Book Awards   Next Generation Indie Book Awards   Eric Hoffer Award Finalist in Children's Literature 2024
2024 Book Awards

Brimming with hope, humor, and possibility, best friends and annoying hangers-on, ridiculous teachers and more ridiculous family members, indignities, sorrows, despair, and triumph, Nilsen builds a story that feels so real, I could almost feel the flutter of butterflies doing backflips in my own stomach. A sharply-drawn and big-hearted story. I loved every single page.

Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Medal–winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon

With Worldwide Crush, Kristin Nilsen establishes herself as a vibrant new voice in coming-of-age fiction. This funny, big-hearted novel explores family, friendship, and the intoxicating power of first crushes with sometimes cringeworthy accuracy. Readers still in the throes of tweendom will be as charmed by Millie’s emotional journey as those who attended middle school long ago. A winning pick for all generations!

Megan McCafferty, New York Times best-selling author of Best Frenemies Forever and the Jessica Darling series

Kristin Nilsen nails the angst of falling for a teen heartthrob in Worldwide Crush. The countless laugh-out-loud moments were reminiscent of my own crush on Shaun Cassidy. Tween readers will love this debut. Highly recommend!

Cindy Callaghan, author of My Big Heart-Shaped Fail

Bursting with humor and feverish popstar fandom, Worldwide Crush is a joyous and heart-warming read that chronicles the big emotions of a middle school girl as she navigates her foray into teenagehood, diehard crushes, and a discovery of her sense of worth and self. A delightfully relatable, unapologetically authentic story, complete with laughs and nostalgia, that will resonate with middle school girls everywhere!

Payal Doshi, author of Rea and the Blood of the Nectar

The writing is just like Judy Blume! Except better.

Kristin's Mom

Available Now!

Order Worldwide Crush Now

About Author, Bookseller, and Podcaster Kristin Nilsen…

Kristin Nilsen is a children’s author and librarian with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things 70s and 80s. She is the author of Worldwide Crush, a middle grade novel inspired by her own childhood crush on Shaun Cassidy. She also co-hosts The Pop Culture Preservation Society, a weekly podcast celebrating the cultural nuggets of the classic Gen X childhood. Kristin lives in Minneapolis with her Gen X husband, her Gen Z son, and their rock and roll goldendoodle, Axl Rose Nilsen. The Scott Fenwick Diaries (on sale 7/22/25 from SparkPress) is the sequel to Worldwide Crush and Nilsen’s second middle grade novel.

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