Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf:

A Year Told Through Stuff

by Jennifer Holm

Most appreciated by 5th through 8th grade girls

Ginny Davis' life seems like a roller coaster. One minute life is good - she wants that cool yellow sweater at the mall, she's sure she'll get the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the ballet, and her best friend is in her homeroom class. The next minute, her life is falling apart - her old best friend has her pink sweater and won't give it back, her mom is gettin remarried, and guess who's old best friend gets the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy? In the meantime, Ginny's big brother begins to commit acts of vandalism that seem to be leading him down a dark path.

What makes this book a great read is the way Ginny's story is told. We see Ginny's life through her 'stuff' - her to-do lists, school schedule, instant messages from friends, notes to and from her mom. Pictures of Ginny's lip gloss, the hair color she tries, the sweater she wants, are included to fill out Ginny and make her seem real. The result is not a typical chapter book with pages of black-and-white text. The book is colorful and crazy, just like Ginny. You'll wish Ginny was your friend once you read this book!