All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

This book made me squirm. Not because it is scary, but because of my empathy for the main character Imogene. Imogene's parents have regular jobs, but are seasonal characters in a Renaissance Faire. The moment is exciting for Imogene. She has been home schooled, and now, will go to public middle school. The faire is starting soon, and now Imogene for the first time, gets to be a full character in this year's faire. Exciting times! So one would think.

Imogene now has to navigate the academic and social norms of middle school. Daunting for any 6th grader, but especially one who has never attended school. How will she handle the academic load? Studying for exams? Making up missed work? How will she navigate her friendships between the social girls, the "nerds", as well as boys? How will she manage all of this, while devoting most of her spare time with the faire? Then there is her little bother, her parents, and other adults at the faire? How she does this, you'll have to read the book, but discovering how she handled all of this made me squirm with the memory of all the awkwardness that is middle school!

This is a fun graphic novel. The artwork is humorus and simple, while the text moves you through the story smoothly. There is a lot that middle schoolers will relate to here. Ties in especially well with the 7th grade history curriculum.
Marks Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 3.4 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 3 • Lexile: GN460L  
Publisher: Dial • Pages: 247 • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 978-0-525-42999-9 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.