<P> Rafe is bored at Hills Village Middle School with sixth grade at first , but he and his friend Leonardo the Silent invent `` Operation R.A.F.E. '' ( stands for `` rules are n't for everyone '' ) , a challenge to break every rule in his middle school handbook . He also deals with problems at home . His mother constantly works double shifts at a diner and barely gets to see Rafe and his sister Georgia . He has a verbally abusive stepfather - to - be named Carl ( aka Bear ) , who `` watches '' over him when his mother is not home . He finds consolation in Jeanne Galletta , who is skeptical of Operation R.A.F.E. and encourages him to work on his schoolwork . With Miller the Killer bullying him , they end up fighting , Rafe has to go to a different school . </P>
where does middle school the worst years of my life take place
Hills Village Middle School