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book_concierge's review
1.0
Ginny Davis is a fairly typical 7th grader. She keeps a journal outlining her goals - #1 get a new dad, #2 get a lead role in the ballet recital, #3 look good in the school photo, etc. The book is organized as illustrations which are “snapshots” of her journals, notes on the refrigerator, report cards, notes to/from her teachers, test papers, text messages and postcards. It reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid but I don’t think it’s done quite as well. Holm includes some serious issues here – accommodating a new stepdad, a brother who is “acting out,” bullying – but her format doesn’t really allow her to explore them. It might hold the interest of a middle school girl, but I don’t think my niece (age 11) would particularly like it. I was bored.
librarydosebykristy's review
4.0
This was somewhat painful— middle school really is the worst and the main character in this story is going through a lot!
Still, I enjoy stories told in unconventional ways and I think kids will too. Figuring out what’s going on with her as you look through the receipts, report cards, doctor’s notes, etc. was like solving many small mysteries.
Still, I enjoy stories told in unconventional ways and I think kids will too. Figuring out what’s going on with her as you look through the receipts, report cards, doctor’s notes, etc. was like solving many small mysteries.
wrentheblurry's review
4.0
GENRE: Fiction, realistic fiction, humor.
SUMMARY: Ginny hopes that her mom gets remarried, worries over her older brother Henry, and is frustrated with the antics of her younger brother Timmy. Plus there is her ex-best friend and her new best friend, her to-do list, and her New Year's resolutions that concern her. All of Ginny's life during the entire 7th grade is told through crumpled up notes, report cards, newspaper articles, cartoons, tests, and more "stuff."
EVALUATION: I picked this title up after the database was already full, because it looked so neat and different. How the story is told is clever and intriguing, and makes it easy to become a party of this young girl's life. It was funny, sad, and good.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: I like when books are a bit different, and this one is. Tween girls should especially like it. Ginny provides a lot for them to relate to, and in an entertaining way.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Ginny has a lot she wants to accomplish this year; though it's the ups and downs she goes through to do so that will have you cheering her on.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt.
• Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant.
• If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko.
• A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban.
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.
SUMMARY: Ginny hopes that her mom gets remarried, worries over her older brother Henry, and is frustrated with the antics of her younger brother Timmy. Plus there is her ex-best friend and her new best friend, her to-do list, and her New Year's resolutions that concern her. All of Ginny's life during the entire 7th grade is told through crumpled up notes, report cards, newspaper articles, cartoons, tests, and more "stuff."
EVALUATION: I picked this title up after the database was already full, because it looked so neat and different. How the story is told is clever and intriguing, and makes it easy to become a party of this young girl's life. It was funny, sad, and good.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: I like when books are a bit different, and this one is. Tween girls should especially like it. Ginny provides a lot for them to relate to, and in an entertaining way.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Ginny has a lot she wants to accomplish this year; though it's the ups and downs she goes through to do so that will have you cheering her on.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt.
• Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant.
• If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko.
• A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban.
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.
kristenremenar's review
4.0
Fun, quick, light read for upper-el. and middle-school girls. Disappointing ending, but a fun format of notes and stuff.
sducharme's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this collection of scraps that came together to form an incomplete picture of a grade seven girl....not complete because she's authentically "in process" as she figures life out. Poignant in places and funny in others - good for "show vs tell" and inference writing workshop lessons.
deemazztan's review
2.0
Wanted to like this more than I did. for a diary format, I was left not really knowing enough about the main character's thoughts and feelings.
kelleemoye's review
5.0
Reviewed at:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/08/middle-school-is-worse-than-meatloaf.html
Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff begins as Ginny starts 7th grade and her life was a mix of ups and downs. Her father passed away when she was younger; however, Ginny's wish has come true and her mom has a new, nice boyfriend. Her brother who used to be her hero and friend is getting into trouble left and right. And her best friend is no longer her friend because Ginny got a lead part in a ballet they were in. Seventh grade can only be better, right?
Jennifer Holm keeps surprising me. Every time I read something by her, I see how amazingly talented she is- if you compare Babymouse, May Amelia and Middle School you would assume they are by different authors; however, all are the work of Jennifer and all are so well done.
I love the format of this book. The story is told in a mixture of things- report cards, newspaper clippings, essays, poems, post-it notes, receipts, comics, notes, IMs, etc. It is amazing how an entire story can be told without there actually being a narrative. I, being an English teacher, loved the poetry and essays because it was the parts that really showed Ginny's emotions and the poems especially would be great exemplar texts to use to show students poetry that they could connect with. I also would love to have students "write" a personal narrative in much the same way- I think they would enjoy it and would be a great way to discuss narrative elements and prose in general.
"I don't want to make a lot of fuss,
but I'll never sit at the back of the bus.
All the cool kids are sitting there,
you can tell just by looking at their hair.
I hear the seats are nicer in the back
not like the ones up here all cracked.
Just take a look at the window panes.
They don't even steam up when it rains."
"Three Meatloaf Haikus
Oh yucky meatloaf
sitting under the hot lights
so gray and gristly.
Nothing tastes worse than
you, not cauliflower or
even lima beans.
And what is that weird
thing sticking out-- a whisker?
hair? a rubber band?"
"4_Police Blotter
Gnomes Suspiciously Vanish On Pine Street
Woodland Glen, PA- The theft of several garden gnomes from the yard of Mr. and Mrs Noorski has left the neighborhood puzzled. The gnomes, five in all, had been brought over from Norway on a family vacation, and had been a source of pride for many years."
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/08/middle-school-is-worse-than-meatloaf.html
Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff begins as Ginny starts 7th grade and her life was a mix of ups and downs. Her father passed away when she was younger; however, Ginny's wish has come true and her mom has a new, nice boyfriend. Her brother who used to be her hero and friend is getting into trouble left and right. And her best friend is no longer her friend because Ginny got a lead part in a ballet they were in. Seventh grade can only be better, right?
Jennifer Holm keeps surprising me. Every time I read something by her, I see how amazingly talented she is- if you compare Babymouse, May Amelia and Middle School you would assume they are by different authors; however, all are the work of Jennifer and all are so well done.
I love the format of this book. The story is told in a mixture of things- report cards, newspaper clippings, essays, poems, post-it notes, receipts, comics, notes, IMs, etc. It is amazing how an entire story can be told without there actually being a narrative. I, being an English teacher, loved the poetry and essays because it was the parts that really showed Ginny's emotions and the poems especially would be great exemplar texts to use to show students poetry that they could connect with. I also would love to have students "write" a personal narrative in much the same way- I think they would enjoy it and would be a great way to discuss narrative elements and prose in general.
"I don't want to make a lot of fuss,
but I'll never sit at the back of the bus.
All the cool kids are sitting there,
you can tell just by looking at their hair.
I hear the seats are nicer in the back
not like the ones up here all cracked.
Just take a look at the window panes.
They don't even steam up when it rains."
"Three Meatloaf Haikus
Oh yucky meatloaf
sitting under the hot lights
so gray and gristly.
Nothing tastes worse than
you, not cauliflower or
even lima beans.
And what is that weird
thing sticking out-- a whisker?
hair? a rubber band?"
"4_Police Blotter
Gnomes Suspiciously Vanish On Pine Street
Woodland Glen, PA- The theft of several garden gnomes from the yard of Mr. and Mrs Noorski has left the neighborhood puzzled. The gnomes, five in all, had been brought over from Norway on a family vacation, and had been a source of pride for many years."
kerryzielke's review
2.0
There's not enough "stuff" in this book to figure out exactly what happens to the main character.
saidtheraina's review
4.0
This book surprised me when it turned out to be BETTER than a gimmick book. Ginny (our heroine) deals with some tough stuff during her year, including a new dad, and her brother going to military camp. A cool way to relate to kids how when adults see grades dropping (for example) we get that there's something bigger going on... Also a great way to talk about format and content (step into gns?)
beths0103's review
2.0
This was a book told through stuff - or at least that's what the cover said. It's about a girl named Genevieve Davis who make a list of goals she wants to accomplish by the end of her 7th grade year. However, instead of being told in prose form, the author uses pictures, notes, lists, and comics to tell the story.
I liked the idea of this unusual way of telling a story, but the actual story itself was kind of uninteresting. I would recommend this book to reluctant readers because it's not the usual format of a book and might help them to become interested in reading.
I liked the idea of this unusual way of telling a story, but the actual story itself was kind of uninteresting. I would recommend this book to reluctant readers because it's not the usual format of a book and might help them to become interested in reading.