Big Nate Makes the Grade

I'm eating his hair!

Pierce, Lincoln. Big Nate Makes the Grade. Kansas City, Mo. : Andrews McMeel, 2012.

Plot: Nate is an eleven-year-old striving for survival in the crazy world of middle school. He manages to prank every teacher, fail every test, and visit the principle's office daily. Still, he enjoys popularity among his peers, even the insufferable Artur. However, some victories come with more effort than anticipated, and some never come at all. Prank Day makes it worthwhile, though.

Genre: Comics, Graphic Novels, Middle School

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Bad Kitty, Judy Moody

Personal Thoughts: The title offers a comedic look at middle school troublemakers. Nate manages to capture the confused, independent, needy, and intelligent aspects of the age group. Unfortunately, some of the comics become repetitive, particularly ones facing Nate against common antagonists such as Mrs. Godfrey or Gina. Still, a funny book is appreciated, especially during the craze that is Jr. High.

Freak the Mighty

Philbrick, Rodman. Freak the Mighty. New York, N.Y. : Blue Sky Press, 1993.

Plot: Max is a big, slow, clumsy outcast. Kevin is a small, smart, crippled outcast. Yet, when they get together, they become more. They become Freak the Mighty, destroyer of dragons, bane of gangs, returner of purses, and swimmer of nasty mill ponds. The story follows the two misfits as they take on summer and, eventually, the school year. Ghosts from Max's family history threaten him, but with the help of Kevin, he escapes his homocidal father and confronts the death of his mother. Yet, when Kevin becomes increasingly weak and awaits a new biotic body being developed at a local hospital, Max begins to worry...

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Similar Titles: Max the Mighty, Holes

Personal Thoughts: Another funny but sad book. The interactions between Max, Kevin, and the world at large are both humorous and believable. As a kid, I really enjoyed the book. Strangely, as an adult, the sadness in the book seems more powerful. It is strange. Adults (including myself, much to my frustration) often fear exposing children, teens, and tweens to sad or disturbing concepts, yet they often seem to cope with the issues better than "grown-ups" do. Not that I'm going to ask a kid to read something like Le Miserables or anything. I'm just surprised by their resilience.

The book was the inspiration for the movie, The Mighty. Even though the film bombed, it received high reviews.

Totally Joe

Howe, James. Totally Joe. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, ©2005.

Plot: For a school project, Joe has to write an autobiography from A-Z. His project focuses on the challenges, humorous and otherwise, facing a middle school student. Middle school is a harsh place, particularly for a gay student. He also discovers how to respond to peers, teachers, family, and adults.

Genre: Gays & Lesbians,  Realistic, Fiction

Reading Level: 12-13

Similar Titles: None I can think of; I need to read more.

Personal thoughts: Howe has come a long way in his writing. He identifies most of Joe's project as "ammunition" for middle schoolers, a sad but very true fact at this age. I was pretty surprised by how much I liked this book. Usually, I avoid realistic fiction, since it tends to either be depressing or sugar-coated. Howe manages to avoid both through a balance of humor and emotion.