Planet Middle School

Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a good, quick read. The book is done in free verse, and Nikki Grimes really "gets" middle school girls. Joylin is a tomboy--jeans, sneakers, hoodies, and she is a great basketball player. She's mostly friends with boys, but--just friends. As we all know, there are always changes in middle school, and so Joylin makes the girl's basketball team, and her best friend makes the show choir, but they do still keep in touch with texts and occasionally sitting together at lunch. Of course, there are physical changes too, and then, Joylin discovers boys. Well, one boy in particular. Her life is turned upside down. I think any middle school girl will be able to relate to Joy's story.


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Rosie and Skate

Rosie and Skate by Beth Ann Bauman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As soon as I saw the cover, I wanted to like this book. It's Seaside, at the Jersey shore, which reminded me so much of my childhood. My family  spent 2 glorious weeks every summer in Seaside Park, and so it brought back some great memories. Rosie and Skate are sisters, and I love the opening lines, "My dad's a nice drunk. There is such a thing." Rosie, the younger sister, goes on to tell her side of the story, and in alternating chapters, Skate tells her side. There's a lot going on here, as Skate is dealing with a boyfriend who is going to school at Rutgers while she's left behind in high school; Rosie is trying to find herself, too. There's also a mom who died while the girls were very young, and lots of other growing-up issues. This is a quick read,but it never really tugged at my heart. I would recommend this for 8th grade and up, due to some of the more mature content.


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