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missprint_'s review against another edition
5.0
Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang. Julie's dads consider Lydia part of the family. Julie knows all about Lydia's crazy goth sister Melody. Together the girls make a decision to venture into the unknown as they try to crack the mysterious code of popularity in fifth grade.
With Lydia acting as chief experimenter and Julie recording their (mixed) results, the girls are confident they will succeed where others have failed. The only problems: Lydia winds up with a bald spot early on, Julie unexpectedly becomes the object of Roland Asbjørnsen's affections, all of their parents are mad (a lot). Worse, the more Julie and Lydia learn about the popular girls, the farther apart they seem to grow.
Lydia and Julie might be on the verge of being popular, but they're both starting to wonder if their friendship will survive in The Popularity Papers (2010) by Amy Ignatow.
The Popularity Papers is Ignatow's first novel as well as the first book about the ongoing adventures of Lydia and Julie.
Ignatow expertly combines drawings and handwritten notes and observations to create a book with a mixed-media feel as the girls pass letters, notes, and the book itself back and forth to tell their story. By combining the girls' exchanges with first-person accounts from both Lydia and Julie, Ignatow makes sure the concept behind her fun plot never becomes overdone.
The Popularity Papers is also funny, plain and simple. Filled with clever jokes and entertaining illustrations, this is a smart book that will appeal to readers young and old (provided they can get past the youngish-looking cover). A great choice for anyone looking for a laugh The Popularity Papers also houses my favorite ever love poem, a funny re-writing of a popular movie song, and possibly the best illustration of Thor of all time.
Possible Pairings: Dramacon by Svetlana Chmakova, Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks, Alice, I Think by Susany Juby, Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, Smile by Raina Telgemeier
With Lydia acting as chief experimenter and Julie recording their (mixed) results, the girls are confident they will succeed where others have failed. The only problems: Lydia winds up with a bald spot early on, Julie unexpectedly becomes the object of Roland Asbjørnsen's affections, all of their parents are mad (a lot). Worse, the more Julie and Lydia learn about the popular girls, the farther apart they seem to grow.
Lydia and Julie might be on the verge of being popular, but they're both starting to wonder if their friendship will survive in The Popularity Papers (2010) by Amy Ignatow.
The Popularity Papers is Ignatow's first novel as well as the first book about the ongoing adventures of Lydia and Julie.
Ignatow expertly combines drawings and handwritten notes and observations to create a book with a mixed-media feel as the girls pass letters, notes, and the book itself back and forth to tell their story. By combining the girls' exchanges with first-person accounts from both Lydia and Julie, Ignatow makes sure the concept behind her fun plot never becomes overdone.
The Popularity Papers is also funny, plain and simple. Filled with clever jokes and entertaining illustrations, this is a smart book that will appeal to readers young and old (provided they can get past the youngish-looking cover). A great choice for anyone looking for a laugh The Popularity Papers also houses my favorite ever love poem, a funny re-writing of a popular movie song, and possibly the best illustration of Thor of all time.
Possible Pairings: Dramacon by Svetlana Chmakova, Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks, Alice, I Think by Susany Juby, Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, Smile by Raina Telgemeier
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
This was pretty standard fare: two girls want to be popular, so they try different things until they discover that they just need to be themselves. Of course they also learn that the people they think are so very cool/popular have their own issues, and they have a Big Misunderstanding. What will set this apart for most students is that it's written as a notebook, with handwritten text and drawings, rather than typeset.
I also think that the age range (8-13) is ambitious. 8-10, yes, but older? No.
ARC provided by publisher.
I also think that the age range (8-13) is ambitious. 8-10, yes, but older? No.
ARC provided by publisher.
pugluver11's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm. Um I don't know what to say about this book. It wasn't amazing, but it wasn't terrible either. It was just okay. I like that the book is a graphic novel. It makes the book more fun to read. I cracked up multiple times while reading this. Overall though, the characters didn't seem well developed. It was kind of a shallow read. I mean seriously, are you really going to go through all that trouble just to be popular. It's kind of ridiculous.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
I would have loved to read this when I was in elementary school! Lydia and Julie are nervous about starting middle school, so they spend their entire fifth grade year trying to learn how to be popular. The book is told in notes and drawings, as if they had passed the book back and forth throughout the year. Their problems and dilemmas rang true. A great book for other girls to know they are not alone as they navigate the tricky social waters of tweendom. This is the first in the series. I look forwad to reading the rest. Recommended for grades 4-6.
abigailbat's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up this book for our genre reading project because this series has been really popular with the kids since we purchased it for the library. And now I see why! Julie and Lydia are fifth graders who are determined to be popular next year when they move up to middle school. To that end, they decide to observe all the popular girls and write about them and their attempts to emulate them. The book is printed just like it would be a notebook shared by two girls - the type is in handwriting and the text is accompanied by tons of cartoons. The story is really funny as the girls have mishap after mishap in their quest to breach the inner circle of the popular girls. I laughed out loud numerous times and I love the format.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that Julie has two dads and it's so not an issue.
Readalikes: This is a clear choice for kids who love those funny, cartoony, diary books like Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, etc.
I'd also suggest Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jenni Holm for its very graphic format.
As far as the story line goes, the tale of two girlfriends figuring things out reminded me a little bit of some of the books I enjoyed in my childhood: Blubber by Judy Blume, The Babysitter's Club, and P.S. Longer Letter Later by Ann M. Martin and Paula Danziger. Those might be too dated for some kids, so maybe suggest Bobby Vs. Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yee or The School Story by Andrew Clements.
http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2013/05/the-popularity-papers.html
Also worth mentioning is the fact that Julie has two dads and it's so not an issue.
Readalikes: This is a clear choice for kids who love those funny, cartoony, diary books like Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, etc.
I'd also suggest Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jenni Holm for its very graphic format.
As far as the story line goes, the tale of two girlfriends figuring things out reminded me a little bit of some of the books I enjoyed in my childhood: Blubber by Judy Blume, The Babysitter's Club, and P.S. Longer Letter Later by Ann M. Martin and Paula Danziger. Those might be too dated for some kids, so maybe suggest Bobby Vs. Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yee or The School Story by Andrew Clements.
http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2013/05/the-popularity-papers.html
kyera's review against another edition
4.0
The Popularity Papers follow two friends, Lydia and Julie, as they try to figure out how to become popular in middle school. It can't be that difficult, right? The two girls create a journal to record their thoughts, observations, to tape their notes into, and compile everything they figure out over the course of their last year in elementary school. The book is written as a mix of stories, scenes, pictures, and although it is a quick read I felt that it was able to capture a lot.
Lydia plans to do most of the experimentation, while Julie documents (since Julie is better at drawing and her handwriting is neater.) It was clear that Lydia was more concerned with obtaining popularity in middle school than Julie was and tended to run the show. Julie was quieter and usually just went along with what Lydia wanted. It was nice that the author was able to capture their distinct personalities (as well as some of the supporting characters) so well in a relatively short period of time.
We were also able to experience Lydia and Julie's home lives, in addition to seeing their time at school. I had to read this book for class since it is one of the books that has been banned or challenged for children - which means that someone thought that there was something inappropriate in this for children and that they shouldn't read it. I tried to guess what it might be, but none of my guesses were correct. I read through the entire book and nothing stood out to me. What could have gotten this book challenged or banned? After a quick search, I found out that it was because Julie has two dads. Honestly. that was one of the best parts of the book. It wasn't a big deal in the books and I loved that. The first time I remember her talking about her dads she mentions daddy and papa dad, which could have been her grandfather for all we know. The author doesn't write it as if it's unusual and that's exactly how it should be. I also loved that her dads each had their own distinct personalities. Daddy was the more stable, down to earth one and Papa Dad was more likely to indulge their whims (within reason) and do silly things.
This is a really cute series and I think that older kids in elementary school or early middle school would really enjoy reading this book. There are a few good lessons in it and the characters are taught to appreciate what they have and be happy, rather than always striving for what they don't and be miserable.
Lydia plans to do most of the experimentation, while Julie documents (since Julie is better at drawing and her handwriting is neater.) It was clear that Lydia was more concerned with obtaining popularity in middle school than Julie was and tended to run the show. Julie was quieter and usually just went along with what Lydia wanted. It was nice that the author was able to capture their distinct personalities (as well as some of the supporting characters) so well in a relatively short period of time.
We were also able to experience Lydia and Julie's home lives, in addition to seeing their time at school. I had to read this book for class since it is one of the books that has been banned or challenged for children - which means that someone thought that there was something inappropriate in this for children and that they shouldn't read it. I tried to guess what it might be, but none of my guesses were correct. I read through the entire book and nothing stood out to me. What could have gotten this book challenged or banned? After a quick search, I found out that it was because Julie has two dads. Honestly. that was one of the best parts of the book. It wasn't a big deal in the books and I loved that. The first time I remember her talking about her dads she mentions daddy and papa dad, which could have been her grandfather for all we know. The author doesn't write it as if it's unusual and that's exactly how it should be. I also loved that her dads each had their own distinct personalities. Daddy was the more stable, down to earth one and Papa Dad was more likely to indulge their whims (within reason) and do silly things.
This is a really cute series and I think that older kids in elementary school or early middle school would really enjoy reading this book. There are a few good lessons in it and the characters are taught to appreciate what they have and be happy, rather than always striving for what they don't and be miserable.
tcbueti's review against another edition
5.0
This was very clever. A great combination of two voices, drawings, and even bits of knitting "taped" to the pages of a notebook. Lydia (the brave experimenter) and Julie (the shyer observer and artist) keep a top-secret notebook of their "scientific" observations of the popular girls in their 5th grade class, so that they can achieve popularity themselves next year in middle school. Their various experiments involve class elections, school shows and camping trips, sleepovers, field hockey, trying to get cool cell phones, and knitting! Lydia writes in cursive, and Julie prints and does the "good" drawings. They pass the book back and forth, alternating comments, until Lydia betrays Julie in her quest to fit in with the popular girl who has finally noticed her. Then the book records her loneliness and musings on loyalty. Of course, they make up and are wiser for their experiences--they learn that the popular girls are not that different from themselves, and that being true to yourself and your own interests, and loyal to your friends, is more important than "popularity". Very funny, and even boys will read it (secretly), as a "scientific" view of another species. One of our favorite parts: this depiction of the saying "two wrongs don't make a right"--drawings of "a rabid dog" + "extra math homework" NOT = "delicious pie". A quick, funny yet thoughtful read.
ubalstecha's review against another edition
4.0
This pseudo graphic novel is about two best friends, Lydia and Julie, and their quest to find out how popular girls become popular. Their plan is that when they discover this, they will then apply these lessons to their own lives to become popular.
Written as a research diary by the two girls, the story is told by their written conversations and Julie's pictures. Which is very sweet and true to life. My only quibble is that this is really more of an Intermediate book (Grade 6 to 8) than Grade 4/5. Author Ignatow should have aged up these two girls by a year or two. Still, the story is very sweet.
A nice follow-up for those who were fans of the Amelia series by Marissa Moss.
Written as a research diary by the two girls, the story is told by their written conversations and Julie's pictures. Which is very sweet and true to life. My only quibble is that this is really more of an Intermediate book (Grade 6 to 8) than Grade 4/5. Author Ignatow should have aged up these two girls by a year or two. Still, the story is very sweet.
A nice follow-up for those who were fans of the Amelia series by Marissa Moss.