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jeninmotion's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
meghan111's review against another edition
2.0
Most of the pieces in this felt too short, or incomplete somehow. There was one that made me cry because it was so sad.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
Ariel Schrag is known for her no-holds-barred, no-such-thing-as-too-much-information graphic memoirs which chronicle her teen years. Here, she collects comics from sixteen cartoonists, each riffing on the theme of middle school life. The entries range from camp stories to bus tales to fantastical accounts of prank-playing mascots. Most include elements of romance, fashion and much friend-drama. The artistic styles of the pieces demonstrate the wide variety of indie comics currently available. Content-wise, the entries range wildly. Many take an uncensored, candid approach to portraying the realities of middle school. This is an enjoyable, wide-ranging collection which will appeal to everyone from upper-elementary students through adult comic enthusiasts. But maybe one that will be hidden from parents.
tx2its's review against another edition
2.0
Reading 2019
Book 104: Stuck in the Middle edited by Ariel Schrag
Another graphic novel left over from #30booksin30days and #bannedbooksweek. This a compilation of 17 comics about what life is like in middle school. I read some of this on a day I was subbing in a middle school classroom.
This book was hit and miss for me. Some of the comics were very well done, all with a very distinct style, and voice, great messages. Some of the comics were over the top and did not do anything for me as a reader. I would like to get the opinions of my students on this book to see if they felt more connected to it than I did.
Book 104: Stuck in the Middle edited by Ariel Schrag
Another graphic novel left over from #30booksin30days and #bannedbooksweek. This a compilation of 17 comics about what life is like in middle school. I read some of this on a day I was subbing in a middle school classroom.
This book was hit and miss for me. Some of the comics were very well done, all with a very distinct style, and voice, great messages. Some of the comics were over the top and did not do anything for me as a reader. I would like to get the opinions of my students on this book to see if they felt more connected to it than I did.
gimchi's review against another edition
4.0
i typically enjoy more vector-based comics, more graphic, less sketch. or, at least, drawings that are more "mature", less wonk. (i know, as an artist, i am awful at explaining why i do or don't like something - it's pathetic; i was terrible at critique!)
in any case, i didn't like a lot of the illustrations here, however, i felt that many times they went with the story. they were awkward and felt kind of ugly, which is exactly how many of us feel in the middle school years.
my favorite story was when a young girl was so embarrassed about going "# 2", she holds it until she ends up using a houseboat toilet that can't handle solids. ultimately, she ends up scooping the poop out of the clogged toilet and stores it IN HER BACKPACK in order to avoid being caught.
in any case, i didn't like a lot of the illustrations here, however, i felt that many times they went with the story. they were awkward and felt kind of ugly, which is exactly how many of us feel in the middle school years.
my favorite story was when a young girl was so embarrassed about going "# 2", she holds it until she ends up using a houseboat toilet that can't handle solids. ultimately, she ends up scooping the poop out of the clogged toilet and stores it IN HER BACKPACK in order to avoid being caught.
nglofile's review against another edition
3.0
I'm unconvinced this would mean as much to a teen currently navigating middle (or even high) school as it would to an adult looking back. That said, there are definitely some strong selections, and it's hard to argue with the resonance of the memories that are jarred loose thanks to these vignettes.
chadstep's review against another edition
5.0
Some stories are truly devastating and insightful, some are wistful and dreamy--lots of tough love for our common past as middle schoolers suffering together, mostly in silence, and reflecting on it as adults. Very honest retellings can be hard to bear.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
Another book I read for being on the 100 most challenged books from 2010 to 2019. Kind of a tough book. It aimed to be unpleasant and it mostly was - though not bad. The art and writing were basically fine - though obviously different from writer to writer. The aim of the book is to show the normality of awfulness in middle school, and for this it basically succeeds. But should it be in a middle school library? Well huh, I guess that kind of depends. Perhaps if profanity would get you expelled? It is a book like this sitting in the low shelves in the graphic novel section of a public library that causes me some confusion. I have no issue with it being available from the library via a holds system. But I'm thinking that if a younger person wants to read this, they should be able to. But I don't think it is intended to be enjoyed.
mhall's review against another edition
2.0
Most of the pieces in this felt too short, or incomplete somehow. There was one that made me cry because it was so sad.