Victoria Jamieson’s fantastic new graphic novel, All’s Faire in Middle School, tells the tale of an eleven-year-old girl named Imogene (Impy, for short) who, after being homeschooled her whole life, is entering a public school for the first time. Impy has grown up at the Renaissance Faire themed park in Florida where her father performs as a knight in jousting competitions and her mom runs a souvenir shop. Impy is finally old enough to work as a squire, an assistant to the knights, and even though some of her job is just shoveling up horse poop, she’s willing to do anything to how that she’s worthy of becoming a knight–her ultimate dream. Impy knows that knights are required to be chivalrous, honest, and brave…all traits she will need as she starts public school, which is a very frightening quest indeed! The first time she goes into the lunchroom at her new public school, she realizes that everyone is sitting with people they’ve known since elementary school, and she doesn’t know anyone. Luckily, she finds a group of seemingly-nice girls and hits it off with them. But when she is invited to one girl’s house, which is actually a mansion, Impy starts to become aware of the differences between her new friends and herself. She begins to see her own appearance in a new light, as well as her family’s weird lifestyle, and their not-so-nice-and-rich apartment. She also learns in middle school that everyone has a dragon inside. The girl who lives in a mansion starts to mock Impy for wearing different clothes and shoes than the other girls in their group. After Impy spends the money and time to buy a new outfit to fit in, her new friends start talking about how uncool it is for her to copy them. Then, Impy starts doing mean things just to fit in. After a difficult week at school, she gives into peer pressure and draws an unflattering picture of a girl named Anita who is considered the teacher’s pet. After one of Impy’s supposed ‘friends’ posts the picture all over the school, Anita sees the picture and is hurt, which makes Impy’s heart sink. Is Impy more of a dragon than a knight? Even though Impy doesn’t do the right thing, Ms. Jamieson makes Impy’s struggles relatable by showing us Impy’s insecurities and how they lead her to do things she regrets. Overall, this was a great graphic novel and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves adventurous books filled with color and vitality. The humor in this book is never-ending, like when her family embarrasses her at school and when she talks back to her ‘friends.’ I also learned many life lessons from this book; it gives a lot of good tips and on how to let your inner knight shine through and tame your inner dragon. For example, choosing the right friends plays a big part, along with having the ability to determine whether they see you as a friend too. The book also teaches you about peer pressure and how to be cautious so a similar situation doesn’t happen to you. Ms. Jamieson does a great job showing that you should not be afraid to be different from others, even if fitting in might seem like the best choice sometimes. This book shows us, through Impy’s journey through middle school, that you should not just follow others to feel accepted and in place. Being unique lets your true inner light shine through. All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson. Penguin Random House, 2017. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!
Book Reviews
Out of my Mind, Reviewed by Alexis Forman, 11
Imagine living all your life without being able to walk, talk, or even move with fairly good coordination. Melody Brooks, the main character in this book, is almost eleven years old, and has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She has lived all her life with words surrounding her, and a million thoughts in her head. Yet she has been tortured by the fact that she cannot respond to those words or express those thoughts. Then, with the help of her neighbor, Mrs. V., Melody purchases a machine (a special type of laptop) that gives her a voice. One where she can type any word or sentence and the computer will say it for her. She is a brilliant young girl, yet until this amazing opportunity comes up she cannot prove to anyone, teachers and doctors alike, what her brain can actually do. I think one of the reasons that this book popped out to me was that fact that the main character has a disability. So many books have main characters that are ordinary kids. Middle schoolers who are trying to make it through middle school alive. Older siblings that are jealous of their new younger sibling. Those books focus on everyday things, and yet when we read them we always feel bad for them, and want to help them through their problems. But what about kids like Melody, who have more difficult lives than any of us? Don’t they deserve a standing ovation for just living through the first five years of their life? I also think I especially liked this book because I can relate fairly well to it. I have an uncle who has Down syndrome. In the book, there is a side character named Maria. Being in Melody’s class at school, Melody does describe her a bit. Maria has Down syndrome. Although she is the character who I can understand best (because of my uncle), the other children in Melody’s class have disabilities as well, that I feel I am able to understand what is going on in their heads because of my uncle. Later on in the book, Melody makes her school’s Whiz Kids team because of her smarts. Two girls, Molly and Claire, do not think she should have made the team, although both of them made the team themselves. They talk badly of her behind her back, and you find yourself taking Melody’s side and defending her. You start thinking “They’re so mean! Why don’t they just close their mouths?” But, the truth is, there are people out there like that. I think what we should take from this book is the fact that those people (people with disabilities) just wanted to be recognized for who they really are, and not as “that girl in the wheelchair” or “that boy who can’t talk”. We should judge these special people by their character and not by their appearances. Out of my Mind by Sharon M. Draper. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!
Small Great Things, Reviewed by Clemi Roth, age 13
New York Times-bestseller Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult is a fascinating novel about an African-American labor and delivery nurse, Ruth Jefferson, who works in a mostly white neighborhood in Connecticut. Ruth comes from a poor family and grew up as one of the only African-Americans in her neighborhood who graduated with a professional degree. Ruth, now a widow of a veteran and mother of a smart teenager named Edison, works long hours to pay for his elite education. After almost twenty years of experience as a nurse, she encounters a troublesome family. Ruth does a routine check-up on a newborn of a white supremacist family that was anger that an African-American touched their child. The parents demand she not touch their baby, Davis Bauer. When the baby falls ill and passes, the family accuses Ruth of killing Davis and sues her. Ruth has her medical license revoked and fights to get her licenses back. The book shares her personal struggles and her public fight for African-Americans all over America, showing how racism exists, and proving that she was only accused because of her race. This novel highlights important and deep rooted issues including race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion, all of which resonate today. Jodi Picoult has a unique writing style in Small Great Things. Picoult paints a vivid picture. She uses flashbacks to helps the reader understand the character’s back story. At one point, Ruth invites her caucasian attorney, Kennedy, to go shopping. While shopping, Ruth is followed around by a security guard and is asked for her ID before leaving. Kennedy gains insight into Ruth’s experiences as an African American woman living in a white society. Kennedy is struck with empathy and develops a stronger desire to fight for Ruth’s cause. I too had a realization when reading of how blatantly racist our society can be. A simple trip to the store can be uncomfortable and complicated for others simply because of their skin color. This moment in the novel demonstrates how powerful “little things” can affect someone’s life. Shockingly, Kennedy discovers an unlikely piece of evidence that uncovers the truth and changes everyone’s fate. When Kennedy finds this information, we see her empathy, compassion and loyalty to Ruth. I found this intriguing and was thankful for the unexpected turn of events. Before the end of the trial, Edison tries to protect his mother and ends up in jail, showing his unconditional love and his willingness to risk his college bound future. The deep love he shows for his mother is relatable for me and possibly other readers. The novel delves into important topics that are relevant today such as racism and white supremacy loosely connecting to events from this year, including the recent tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia. This story raises awareness to the many people who do not understand what it is like to be in Ruth’s position and do not face the everyday challenges which she and other African Americans may experience. It demonstrates how people of color or other minorities are marginalized, and though all loose ends were tied up in the novel, in reality this may not have had lasting effect on society. I recommend this page-turning novel because and it was interesting to hear more than one person’s perspective on the various issues presented. I feel that this book is best suited for anyone from young adults to adults. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Ballantine Books, 2016. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!
