Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is a realistic fiction novel by James Patterson that serves as the beginning of Patterson's Middle School series. Published in the United States by Little, Brown and Company on June 27, 2011, the book follows sixth grader Rafe Khatchadorian as he begins middle school and "copes with the awkwardness of adolescence: crushes, bullying, family issues" as he attempts to break every school rule in the code of conduct. The book received critical acclaim from many reviewers and went on to spawn a sequel, Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!.