Popularity Papers: Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang

The Popularity Papers: The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang Amy Ignatow

Lydia and Julie are back! This time, Lydia convinces Julie that they need to start a rock band. Julie makes Lydia sign a contract saying that this is not one of Lydia’s popularity schemes. First, they have to learn how to play some instruments (hilarity ensues) Roland’s in the band. Jane manages to worm her way in, too (drama ensues) and then… they have to play some shows. Even though they’re not that good. In fact, they’re horrible (more hilarity ensues.)

Things I loved about this book: Jane and Chuck break up, and Chuck’s like “Hey Lydia” and Lydia doesn’t fall for it. She’s pretty firm in that she doesn’t want to be friends with him after what happened in the last book and how he just ditched her for Jane. Lydia knows she’s worth more than that, and she’s not taking any less.

Also, their lyrics are hysterically awful.

AND OMG MELODY! Lydia’s older sister has always been an odd voice of reason, coming from an angry goth girl. At the end of the last book, we are told that something MAJOR happened and we finally get to see it. I love the new Melody. I like the glimpses we get of who she is based on what *hasn’t* changed.

Things I love about this series that haven’t changed: Lydia and Julie are still awesome. I love the full color comic/word novel hybrid. I love their friends, especially Roland and Jen.

But most of all, I love Julie’s dads. They’re so perfectly wonderful parents while being horribly embarrassing at the same time.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Popularity Papers: The Rocky Roadtrip

The Popularity Papers: The Rocky Road Trip of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang Amy Ignatow

Lydia and Julie are back!!!

Lydia's mom is off to England for the summer and Melody is building houses in Guatemala (OMG-- I want a book just about that!) so Lydia has a choice-- road trip out to California with the Graham-Changs or go to England with her mom. She chooses the Graham-Changs.

It's not an easy road trip. Daddy's parents wonder when he'll find a nice lady and settle down. (Yeah.) And Lydia spends some time with her father and his new family. (There's a reason they haven't come up in the earlier books.)

With Lydia and Julie being trapped together in a car for so long, I expected some friendship drama, but there wasn't. Instead they bonded in the face of bad family. (And, also, some hilarious wacky family). Plus, road trips always lead to hijinks and roadside attractions.

This one deals with some different issues than the other ones but it does it really well. The issues are never ISSUES THAT WE MUST DISCUSS and there's enough humor to keep the book from getting bogged down. I also like how they're "resolved." Both girls get really indignant of behalf of their slighted friend. The Graham-Changs are used to Daddy's parents and have ways of coping and can talk Lydia through it. Melody and Lydia are used to their dad and can talk Julie through it. But, although they get some understanding of the situation and aren't going to continue to rage on, you know that they're not really "over it" (yet). I thought it was very realistic. The road trip aspect also helps, because there's something new and crazy down the highway to distract them.

Overall, a most excellent addition to the series and oh! slight cliffhanger ending involving Melody and that trip to Guatemala-- cannot WAIT to see how that plays out.

I love this series so much guys. SO MUCH. If you haven't read it yet, please do. You won't be sorry.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Fashion Kitty and the BOYS

Fashion Kitty and the B.O.Y.S.: (Ball of Yellow String) Charise Mericle Harper

Leon hates Fashion Kitty. Leon hates most things. Leon wants to catch Fashion Kitty!

Meanwhile, Kiki (aka, Fashion Kitty) is trying to help her friend Lester, who keeps having things ruined by his twin brother (you guessed it) Leon!

And it all comes to a big showdown on the day of the school fashion show!

Fashion Kitty remains a funny and fun read. This one was a bit different because a lot of it focused on Leon. Also, it was always a bit of a hybrid between comic book and novel, but was mostly comic book. This volume is much more evenly split between comic and text.

I most liked the changing relationship between Kiki and her little sister. Fans of Fashion Kitty will enjoy it.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Popularity Papers: Words of Questionable Wisdom

The Popularity Papers: Words of (Questionable) Wisdom from Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang Amy Ignatow

Lydia’s back from London! But she’s having some re-entry problems. In their never-ending quest to be popular (even though they DON’T CARE what other people think of them) they ruin everything and then try, unsuccessfully, to DO GOOD WORKS. Hilarity ensues.

Everything I love about this series is in full force in this latest installment. This one also has a knitting pattern for chemo caps. The full-color art and infectious enthusiasm never fails to make me smile and laugh out loud at their craziness. Although I could have used more Melody. Always need more Melody.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Popularity Papers: The Long-Distance Dispatch

The Popularity Papers: The Long-Distance Dispatch Between Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang Amy Ignatow

Lydia and Julie are ready to start Middle School, only, they won’t be doing it together! Lydia’s mom’s job is transferring her to London for 6 months!

Teens need to be much more appreciative about international moving. I’m just saying.

Anyway, in middle school, Julie becomes a member of the super-popular group, but they’re actually really mean to her. Lydia, trying and failing to fit in, forms a group of outcasts but bosses them around something terrible. (So, one is bullied, one’s a bully.) Lydia’s mom dates a British bloke and their friendship experiences some strains.

I love Lydia’s enthusiasm and Julie’s comments. I love the drawings and their friendship. I love that it’s a non-issue that Julie has 2 dads. I love that Henry wanted to name their crew the Scoobies, after Buffy.

Lydia and Julie just make me happy. I bet they’ll make you happy, too.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Dragonbreath

Dragonbreath Ursula Vernon

Danny Dragonbreath has 2 major problems:

1. He can’t breathe fire. He keeps thinking hot thoughts but nothing happens. Not only is his dad on his case about it, the bullies at school don’t believe he’s a real dragon.

2. He failed his science report about the ocean. He has one night to rewrite it.

To deal with problem number 2, Danny and his best friend are off to visit Danny’s cousin the sea monster so they can learn all about the ocean.

Lots of silly fun. It’s a good hybrid of text, illustration, and green-tinged graphic novel. I expected some sort of author’s note or pull-out boxes about what was true and what wasn’t about their undersea adventures. I think it would have been cool if they had it, but it’s not necessary (it just seems weird that it’s missing-- that seems like such a staple these days).

ANYWAY. A sure-fire hit with the younger side of middle grade. Danny’s exuberance and gung-ho attitude gets him into trouble, but will make him a reader favorite.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Big Nate

Big Nate: In a Class by Himself Lincoln Peirce

Nate knows his day will be awesome, because the fortune cookie told him "Today you will surpass all others." Only, in trying to find a way to surpass all others, all he does is manage to rack up the detention slips.

Half written, half illustrated (Nate fancies himself a cartoonist) it's definitely one for your Wimpy Kid fans. Very silly and funny it's not a book you need to sell that hard. If your kids aren't already clamoring for it (we can't keep it on the shelf) just show it to them (MAYBE you'll have to open a page) and they'll take it.

The action only follows 1 day, but it gets the highs and lows of junior high life pretty well and Nate, bless his heart, is a really likable guy, he just can't catch a break. (Although I can't fault most of his teachers for whipping out the detention slips!)

Good, silly fun, especially of the boy readers in your life.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Popularity Papers

The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang Amy Ignatow

Lydia and Julie are on a quest to discover the secrets of popularity before entering junior high. They decide to observe the popular girls and try to figure out what makes them popular. This is the book of their observations and findings. Along the way, they deal with school musical auditions, camping trips, knitting, stick fighting, field hockey, talent shows, and some truly horrendous amateur Norwegian love poetry. Also, some lessons about popularity and friendship, but they're a bit hidden, so don't worry.

What's great about this book is that it's told in a mix of prose (with different handwritings for Julie and Lydia) and pictures and cartoons. Also, the entire thing is in FULL COLOR. It really does look like a notebook of two girls. And it's uproariously funny. I especially liked how the popular girls were... real. They weren't mean girl flat characters. As Lydia and Julie got to know them, they became real people-- with good and bad sides, just like everyone else. Julie illustrates most of the book, because Lydia can't draw, so the parts where Lydia does draw (glorified stick figures) are really funny. Lydia's older sister Melody is another comedic dimension. She's surly and wears a lot of black and heavy eyeliner. She used to be happy and pretty and friendly in elementary school, and then changed in junior high. She's actually the reason the girls are so desperate to be popular--they don't want to turn into Melody!

Readers do have to be able to read cursive, though, because Lydia's parts are all in cursive.

Overall, a most EXCELLENT book. It's like if Candy Apple and Wimpy Kid and Babymouse had a book baby of awesome.

And! Bonus points-- Julie has two daddies (Daddy and Papa Dad).

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.