All's Faire in Middle School
by Victoria Jamieson (Author)
Calling all Raina Telgemeier fans! The Newbery Honor-winning author of Roller Girl is back with a heartwarming graphic novel about starting middle school, surviving your embarrassing family, and the Renaissance Faire.
Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she's eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she'll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind--she'll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it's not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don't) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family's unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment. Impy has always thought of herself as a heroic knight, but when she does something really mean in order to fit in, she begins to wonder whether she might be more of a dragon after all.
As she did in Roller Girl, Victoria Jamieson perfectly--and authentically--captures the bittersweetness of middle school life with humor, warmth, and understanding.
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Gr 4-8--Helping her parents with their jobs at the Renaissance Faire is all 11-year-old homeschooler Imogene "Impy" Vega has ever known. While working with her family is fun, she wants to go to middle school and meet kids her own age. Unfortunately, sheltered Impy is ill-equipped for the realities of draconian teachers, frenemies, and boys. Her new challenges begin to wear her down, and she struggles to develop empathy for others, even in the midst of adolescent angst. This utterly charming graphic novel rivals the author's Newbery Award-winning debut title, Roller Girl. Whereas in the earlier book Jamieson subtly incorporated elements of realism (wrinkles, scuffs, and scrapes on the characters), here she has committed to a more unified cartoonlike look, with fewer details and sketchlike lines. The result is a slightly more polished work. Exaggerated character expressions add further to the appeal. This is a lengthy coming-of-age story that weaves in subplots involving Impy's first real friend, her younger brother, and other cast members of the Faire. Tweens seeking a light read with a quick payoff will shy away, but those who enjoy weightier narratives will lose themselves in Jamieson's world and appreciate the realistic life-goes-on conclusion. VERDICT As heartfelt as it is gorgeous, this is a worthy addition to any middle grade graphic novel collection.--Matisse Mozer, County of Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Publisher's Weekly
Review quotes
A New York Times Editor's Choice
An Autumn Kids' Indie Next List top pick
A Boston Globe Best Children's Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book
A New York Public Library Notable Children's Book
A Southern Living Best Children's Book
A Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List book
An ALA Notable book
A VOYA Top Shelf pick
A CCBC Choices book
"Roller Girl was terrific...All's Faire in Middle School is even better...The story has shades of Harriet the Spy, Monty Python and Peanuts, and the ending is tremendously satisfying without feeling false or unearned...I dub thee brilliant." — The New York Times Book Review
"The mean girls/oddball family themes feel fresh, and the explicitly stated moral of 'You're not the center of the damn universe!' goes down easy." —BCCB "This might be the best graphic novel that I have ever read." — Nerdy Book Club
"This colorful graphic novel is rich with themes of belonging, friendship, family, making tough choices, and finding your own way."—International Literacy Association "A spot-on depiction of the complexities of family dynamics, the nuances of friendship, and the longing to fit in vs. the pull of being true to oneself. Gloriously illustrated in full color, every inch a pleasure. Grade A." —Sunday Plain Dealer
JUV008000 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | General
JUV039100 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Peer Pressure
Families
Family life
Schools
Graphic novels
Middle schools
Middle school students
Renaissance fairs
