Fiction offerings for middle-schoolers and almost-middle-schoolers improved exponentially in the last 18 months with the addition of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney and Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf, by Jennifer Holm.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is about a sixth grade boy; Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf is about a 7th grade girl. Both books employ simple prose, hilarious illustrations and a relaxed style which result in an easy to consume, fun read. Neither is quite a graphic novel, but their styles should appeal to graphic novel consumers.
In Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Greg Heffley (who is either the “52nd or 53rd most popular in his class”) keeps a journal (NOT a diary) documenting his attempts to navigate his sixth grade year, which includes bullies, family dynamics and mishaps of his own making. In Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf, the trials and tribulations of Ginny Davis are told through her “stuff,” which begins with a “to do” list for seventh grade, and includes notes from her mom, pizza coupons, report cards, bank statements, ticket stubs and more.
I always enjoy books that contain characters and story lines to which I personally relate. I also like books filled with humor. Both these books fit both criteria, and I highly recommend them to readers of all ages (including parents trying to remember what it’s like to be a middle-schooler.) For those that enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid, it is the first in a series. Roderick Rules was published earlier this year, and The Last Straw will be released on January 17, 2009. MAM Rating: Awesome
