Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Lauren Ashley for TeensReadToo.com
Lydia and Julie have been best friends for years, but now that they are coming to the end of fifth grade, they start a dual notebook that will help them to become popular for middle school. They pay attention to the popular girls in their grade and what they wear, what sports they play, and even what boys they have crushes on. As they try and mimic these things, they soon learn what they actually like and what they are just fine with tossing aside.
THE POPULARITY PAPERS 1 is the start to a middle grade series with only two books currently out, with a third on the way. What I loved about the book is that both girls write and draw, except Lydia is a bad drawer and writes in cursive, while Julie is an excellent drawer and has dark, bold writing. If you look at the cover - the characters are Julie's drawings. Julie has dark hair, Lydia has blonde.
Even though these are aimed at middle grade readers, I think they would be enjoyed by many. They are fun, quick reads with lots of cool drawings and observations about how to live your life and become the "true you," so to speak. Even if that means taking things adults say with a grain of salt!
I also loved that Julie has two dads and no mom. I thought this was great for many reasons. One, I think LGBT characters in books are great in general, especially when they are just there and part of normal life. Also, even though I don't read much MG, I haven't read or heard of any other titles that really focus on LGBT characters. Julie loves her dads, calling them Daddy and Papa Dad. They are quirky and fun and serious and just good parents. It's great to see this overall, like I said, but even better to have it in a MG novel where younger kids can learn to accept these things a bit earlier.
Lydia and Julie have been best friends for years, but now that they are coming to the end of fifth grade, they start a dual notebook that will help them to become popular for middle school. They pay attention to the popular girls in their grade and what they wear, what sports they play, and even what boys they have crushes on. As they try and mimic these things, they soon learn what they actually like and what they are just fine with tossing aside.
THE POPULARITY PAPERS 1 is the start to a middle grade series with only two books currently out, with a third on the way. What I loved about the book is that both girls write and draw, except Lydia is a bad drawer and writes in cursive, while Julie is an excellent drawer and has dark, bold writing. If you look at the cover - the characters are Julie's drawings. Julie has dark hair, Lydia has blonde.
Even though these are aimed at middle grade readers, I think they would be enjoyed by many. They are fun, quick reads with lots of cool drawings and observations about how to live your life and become the "true you," so to speak. Even if that means taking things adults say with a grain of salt!
I also loved that Julie has two dads and no mom. I thought this was great for many reasons. One, I think LGBT characters in books are great in general, especially when they are just there and part of normal life. Also, even though I don't read much MG, I haven't read or heard of any other titles that really focus on LGBT characters. Julie loves her dads, calling them Daddy and Papa Dad. They are quirky and fun and serious and just good parents. It's great to see this overall, like I said, but even better to have it in a MG novel where younger kids can learn to accept these things a bit earlier.
