All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

Jamieson, V. (2017). All's faire in middle school. NY: Dial Books

Summary: Imogene or Impy as her family and friends calls her lives at the Renaissance Faire where her mother and father work. Her mother works in a shop and her father is the "evil knight" in the joust. This summer, Impy has been promoted to squire and is able to help in the joust on her own. Impy takes her role as squire very seriously and wants to try to go to publc school for the first time for her 6th grade year. Impy meets a boy whom she develops a crush on and becomes friends with some of the mean girls at the school. She also becomes friends with a girl named Anita who warns her that the groups she has been hanging out with are mean girls. Impy has a hard time at school since she has always been home schooled. Mika and the other mean girls begin to make fun of Impy for being poor and living in a small apartment. Impy becomes angry and draws mean pictures of everyone that she believes has done her wrong and eventually alienates herself from all of her friends and family. Impy feels terrible and eventually realizes that a true knight makes amends fro their wrongdoings and asks for forgiveness. Impy eventually beings to handle middle school with a little more ease. 

Strengths:  This book's strenght lies in the author's storytelling. It is heartfelt and funny as it weaves through the life of middle school students. It explains the complexities of family, friends, tough decisions and the longing to fit in with others.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjxTjBaBK3A

Similar Books:

• The Cardboard Kingdom by Katie Schenkel
• The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez
• Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson

Other books by Victoria Jamieson:

• Roller Girl

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Great Graphic Novels for Teens List