Holm, Jennifer L. 2007. Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf. Illustrated by Elicia Castaldi. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689852819.
Plot Summary
Jennifer Holm tells about the year of a seventh grade girl named Ginny Davis in middle school. The book begins with a back to school list and Ginny's to do list with ten items. The reader learns about Ginny and her family during her seventh grade year in school. The reader learns that her father was killed by a drunk driver. She has a five year old brother that drives her crazy at times. She has an older brother that gets in trouble with her family and then ends up in trouble with the law. She has a grandfather in Florida. Her mom gets remarried to a man named Bob whom Ginny has to get used to. The reader learns of her first kiss, problems with a friend who gets the part she wants in the Nutcracker and the brain project for the science fair. She loves to look for advice in magazines and horoscopes which end up with disappointment and repair bills. The story ends at the end of the school year with a to do list for Summer.
Critical Analysis
Jennifer Holm writes a creative story about Ginny Davis during her seventh grade year. The reader learns about Ginny and her family through top ten to do lists, bank statements, hand written notes to her friends and mom (Management), horoscopes, cards from Grandpa, English compositions, report cards, receipts, repair bills, instant messages, pictures, and drawings. The reader has to pay attention to everything on the page. The pages are very colorful and the printing, cursive writing, and font change quickly. You don't feel like you are reading a story. You feel like you are eavesdropping on the life of a twelve year old girl in seventh grade. The pictures and drawings add details to the story. The writing is clever. You need to read everything on the page carefully. Ginny reads about taking a bubble bath and then you find a receipt where she buys the items and then you find a few pages later a plumbing repair bill. The writing is humorous at times too. It is an enjoyable light hearted read.
Review Excerpt(s)
2008-2009 Texas Lone Star Reading List
Capital Choice 2008
Booklist (Suzanne Harold 2007): "Hidden among the detritus of a life lies a touching, funny story of Ginny’s tumultuous year as her mother remarries, her brother’s pranks escalate, and she struggles to find a new best friend. While none of the themes are explored deeply, the book makes a fun, appealing read."
Children's Literature (Mary Quattlebaum): "The form is brilliant and the voice fresh and funny."
Kirkus 2007: "Humor balances the serious issues. Middle-school readers will recognize Ginny's world and enjoy piecing together the plot through the bits and pieces of "stuff" depicted in Castaldi's collages."
Horn Book 2008: "A well-rounded portrait of Ginny and her family shines through the concise entries."
Connections
-Students can compare and contrast their life to Ginny Davis
-Separate students into groups. Groups hold discussions on the book. There is so much in the book everyone may find something different to add to the conversation.
-Each group reads another graphic novel to compare this one to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment