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sean67's review against another edition
1.0
It appears that this book is trying to get the reader to understand that the kid who is a ratbag and breaking rules has issues.
The fact that the authors use these issues as a big twist reveal and that reveal shows that everyone would have known about them and what he needed was psychological assistance show the weakness and intention of the book.
The book has underlying serious issues and it could have been dealt with in an amazing way, but once again with Patterson Incorporated really poor execution triumphs over good ideas, although having said that it is wondered if the ideas actually come from previous materials that PI want to put their own spin on.
This book was clearly written for the younger reader, but in doing so it made being a ratbag in class to be almost admirable and treated the very real issue of bullies in a poor way.
Very disappointing, it could have been something special instead it was something terrible.
The fact that the authors use these issues as a big twist reveal and that reveal shows that everyone would have known about them and what he needed was psychological assistance show the weakness and intention of the book.
The book has underlying serious issues and it could have been dealt with in an amazing way, but once again with Patterson Incorporated really poor execution triumphs over good ideas, although having said that it is wondered if the ideas actually come from previous materials that PI want to put their own spin on.
This book was clearly written for the younger reader, but in doing so it made being a ratbag in class to be almost admirable and treated the very real issue of bullies in a poor way.
Very disappointing, it could have been something special instead it was something terrible.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
3.0
A nice YA book about a boy in 6th grade (middle school where he is) whose home life isn't so great--his mom's boyfriend is pretty useless--and he decides to play a game in which he breaks every rule in the Middle School handbook. Some interesting twists and turns along the way, and lots of great illustrations.
tcbueti's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this better than i expected. At first I didn't feel like Rafe's decision to try to break every rule in the school handbook was justified, and maybe it's not, but as you find out more about his life and what he's facing, you could see it as a year-long cry for help. And maybe the ending is too rosy. But at heart here's a kid struggling to make it through the year, and not seeing anything of value coming out of it, so he makes his own goals--twisted, but creative. How many kids are in this position: academic success evades them, so what is their reward? There are a lot of humorous and telling details in the drawings, and the text is very chummy. I think kids will relate to Rafe. Let's hope they don't adopt his goals!
renatasnacks's review against another edition
2.0
http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-16-middle-school-the-worst-years-of-my-life/
This is much weirder and darker than I thought it would be?
This is much weirder and darker than I thought it would be?
macbean221b's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 STARS
I've been seeing the commercial for the second book in this series (Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!) and Patterson's latest Women's Murder Club on my TV a lot lately. I'm not a Patterson fan but the idea of kids' books written by him was intriguing, so I poked around Amazon to look at prices. It was only then that I discovered the advertised book was the second in a series.
A 20-chapter preview of the first book (this one!) was available, so I downloaded it to my Kindle. It sat there for a couple of days because I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into, but when I finally picked it up, I was instantly charmed. I flew through the preview chapters and immediately purchased a full copy when I reached the end. Then I flew through that, too, polishing it off all in one sitting. I didn't even bother checking out the preview chapters for the second book; I just bought the whole thing because the first one was just that enjoyable.
I've been seeing the commercial for the second book in this series (Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!) and Patterson's latest Women's Murder Club on my TV a lot lately. I'm not a Patterson fan but the idea of kids' books written by him was intriguing, so I poked around Amazon to look at prices. It was only then that I discovered the advertised book was the second in a series.
A 20-chapter preview of the first book (this one!) was available, so I downloaded it to my Kindle. It sat there for a couple of days because I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into, but when I finally picked it up, I was instantly charmed. I flew through the preview chapters and immediately purchased a full copy when I reached the end. Then I flew through that, too, polishing it off all in one sitting. I didn't even bother checking out the preview chapters for the second book; I just bought the whole thing because the first one was just that enjoyable.
heyshay07's review against another edition
3.0
James Patterson's middle school book is a lot like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which seems purposeful. Consequently it is super easy to read and aimed at grades 4-6 and reluctant readers. In the end the book does touch on some serious issues like abuse and the death of a sibling, but over all its a funny, light hearted story of Rafe's quest to break all the rules in school and deal with his mom's awful boyfriend.
violet_eliza's review against another edition
4.0
If you skip a page, definitely go back and see what you missed.
ems747's review against another edition
4.0
Read it after watching the movie. Have to say that this is the few exceptions where I liked the movie better.
lauralynnwalsh's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book. Rafe is an interesting character, although the other characters are, shall we say, a bit cartoonish. I wish I had seen a bit more of the art interest earlier in the book, but it made sense in the end.
tami_provencher's review against another edition
2.0
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is about Rafe Khatchadorian in his first year at Hills Village Middle School. (I assume, from the title, that at least two more books are planned for what will be a series.) It’s an entertaining read for middle-schoolers. Rafe’s voice is genuine in that he has the authentic middle schooler’s ability to alternate between profound insight into and complete obliviousness to himself and those around him.
Saddled with his mother’s live-in fiancee, whom he calls Bear, and an annoying younger sister, Rafe isn’t too excited about anything in his life. Until he invents a game based on the Rules of Conduct manual for the Middle School: he must break every rule in the Book before the end of the year. He devises a scoring system based on risk, witnesses and crowd participation (laughing with him instead of at him). This is a great premise for a middle school novel.
Rafe is an engaging character who makes you shake your head and hold on to your heart as you shadow him while he makes his way through the highs and lows of classrooms and teachers and cute girls, self-consciousness, hopelessness and determination.
Patterson has a few surprises in store for the reader: Rafe refers to a character as if he is a tangible entity when he is, in fact, a complicated kind of imaginary friend. This is revealed to the reader in stages. As a reader, I think I would have been irritated with the author, had he not used Rafe to reveal the truth in his own voice in a very believeable way. There are cartoonish/doodle-like illustrations sprinkled throughout the book. Although these drawings do have a place in the resolution of the story, it is more their existence that is important, rather than the actual drawings themselves. In my opinion, they are unnecessary and sometimes distracting. The narrative is strong enough without them–and I think could resonate better with the reader if the drawings were not there.
It is a small negative, however, in a book that is, like all of Patterson’s work, an easy, character driven, enjoyable read. I recommend this to any middle school reader. I think there are even some 4th and 5th graders–depending on the individual–who would find this entertaining. If you are a reader who has read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney and are ready to move on to the next step in content, this is an EXCELLENT choice for you!
Saddled with his mother’s live-in fiancee, whom he calls Bear, and an annoying younger sister, Rafe isn’t too excited about anything in his life. Until he invents a game based on the Rules of Conduct manual for the Middle School: he must break every rule in the Book before the end of the year. He devises a scoring system based on risk, witnesses and crowd participation (laughing with him instead of at him). This is a great premise for a middle school novel.
Rafe is an engaging character who makes you shake your head and hold on to your heart as you shadow him while he makes his way through the highs and lows of classrooms and teachers and cute girls, self-consciousness, hopelessness and determination.
Patterson has a few surprises in store for the reader: Rafe refers to a character as if he is a tangible entity when he is, in fact, a complicated kind of imaginary friend. This is revealed to the reader in stages. As a reader, I think I would have been irritated with the author, had he not used Rafe to reveal the truth in his own voice in a very believeable way. There are cartoonish/doodle-like illustrations sprinkled throughout the book. Although these drawings do have a place in the resolution of the story, it is more their existence that is important, rather than the actual drawings themselves. In my opinion, they are unnecessary and sometimes distracting. The narrative is strong enough without them–and I think could resonate better with the reader if the drawings were not there.
It is a small negative, however, in a book that is, like all of Patterson’s work, an easy, character driven, enjoyable read. I recommend this to any middle school reader. I think there are even some 4th and 5th graders–depending on the individual–who would find this entertaining. If you are a reader who has read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney and are ready to move on to the next step in content, this is an EXCELLENT choice for you!