Holm, Jennifer L. 2007. MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WORSE THAN MEATLOAF: A YEAR TOLD THROUGH STUFF. New York: Atheneum. ISBN 9780689852817 [Suggested Grade Levels 5-7]
REVIEW
Genevieve (Genny) Davis chronicles the angst of seventh grade through the use of lists, schedules, refrigerator notes, letters, horoscopes, assignments, checks, invoices, her brother’s comic strip creations, instant messages, and report cards. Beginning with “Ginny’s Big To Do List!!!” for seventh grade, the attractive collages of the various types of paraphernalia relate the humorous story of the school year. Typical middle school situations such as attempts to climb the social ladder, make good grades, and attracting the opposite sex are posed against the issues of her home life which include her mother’s remarriage, visiting her much-loved grandfather, and her older brother’s stint in a military academy for his juvenile pranks.
CONNECTIONS
Students may wish to create their own ”Big To Do List” for the year and revise it as the year progresses just as Ginny does. Also, the students may wish to attempt telling a story through the use of realia rather than the traditional narrative.
RELATED BOOKS
Other books related to surviving middle school include:
Kinney, Jeff. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: A NOVEL IN CARTOONS ISBN 0810993139
Schmidt, Gary D. THE WEDNESDAY WARS. ISBN 9780618724833
Scrag, Ariel, ed. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE ISBN 9780670062218
Vega, Denise. CLICK HERE (TO FIND OUT HOW I SURVIVED SEVENTH GRADE): A NOVEL. ISBN 0316985600
By Donna Woody
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