Get Me out of Here!

Middle School #2

by James Patterson, Chris Tebbetts, Laura Park

James Patterson's winning follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestseller Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life--now a major motion picture!--is another riotous and heartwarming story about living large.

After sixth grade, the very worst year of his life, Rafe Khatchadorian thinks he has it made in seventh grade. He's been accepted to art school in the big city and imagines a math-and-history-free fun zone. Wrong! It's more competitive than Rafe ever expected, and to score big in class, he needs to find a way to turn his boring life into the inspiration for a work of art. His method? Operation: Get a Life! Anything he's never done before, he's going to do it, from learning to play poker to going to a modern art museum. But when his newest mission uncovers secrets about the family Rafe's never known, he has to decide if he's ready to have his world turned upside down.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Childrens, Young Adult, School

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Clumsy Storyteller · Rating 1 out of 5]

when my nephew told me he couldn't finish this book, i told him that he's being lazy, but after reading 103 pages i understood why he couldn't finish it. This book is SUPER BORING, i kept waiting for the so called "Funny parts" but there was none. Just a kid going through hell and using sarcasm to avoid dealing with his reality, nothing fun about moving out of your hometown to a big city and then get bullied for being different trust me I KNOW

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafe mom has just lost her job. They have moved to the big city and is now living with his grandma. He is entering middle school at cathedral school of arts. There he meets Matty, the middle school rebel. During the year Matty is encouraging Rafe to do bad things, and some of them Rafe goes along with. Rafe is also trying to figure out where his dad is.
Middle school: Get Me Out of Here is a great book. Funny, loving, and sad think anybody can relate to this story.

[Xin Ya Jian · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars? I'm not very sure I like the story or I hate it. There's certain things about it that I like such as the writing, the lesson, but of course I can't accept the way Rafe think.

[Ethan Haler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was very good. I liked how Rafe faced the biggest conflict in this book. it wa sad at the end and happy at the kind of the same time. The sad part is about is father which is devistating ,but he gets to end up where he started in the first place. i would recommend this book to readers who love funny, imagintive, and adventuruos readers!!

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rafe Khatchadorian is back for a second adventure as he strives to survive the challenges of middle school. It is the start of 7th grade, and he has finally gotten past last year's troublesome ways now that he has been enrolled in the local arts school. He is ready for the new year, but things go terribly wrong when there is a fire at Swifty's Diner, the restaurant where his mother works.

Without her income, Rafe, his sister Georgia, and his mom are forced to move away to live with his grandmother in the city. He is forced to leave his sole friend Jeanne Galletta behind, and he is not sure he is going to be able to make new friends. Things take a turn for the better when Ms. Donatello, a former teacher, helps him get into the Cathedral School for the Arts in the City. There might be hope.

Things continue to improve when he meets and gains the friendship of Matty. All looks like it is going well, until Rafe is confronted with some bullying from some of the other kids. The problem may be because he is new or because they are threatened by his talent. Either way, he falls into his old routine of doing practical jokes (with Matty's help), and before he knows it, he is back in trouble.

This really is a fun read, balancing humor, a great set of accompanying illustrations and some really touching moments that look at some realistic problems that tweens are also confronted with. I know that people sometimes look down at reading Patterson, but his books for young people are actually pretty good. He is one of the few adult writers who dive into YA literature and are able to capture realistic voices for the age group.

While this is not fine literature, it is good realistic literature that would work well for both reluctant readers and good readers. With so few books targeted specifically for boys these days, this will definitely attract male readers. It really draws on their type of humor. It would be really helpful to start with reading the first book in the series Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life in order to get a sense of what has previously happened to Rafe, but that should not be a problem since both books are quite fun.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle School get me out of here was an interesting story that Mrs.Hunter read to us in our LA class. It was very enjoyable to read. But I think the part where he finds out what happened to his Dad and it is kind of sad when you think about it. When he leaves school I REALLY feel for him, His dad is missing and his ONE best friend decides to betray him like that, It saddens me to think if that had ever happened to me cause my Dad is also kind of away. But in total I like this book, It was a good read to have read to me.

[Pujiyanto_x · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ceritanya biasa namun menjadi unik dengan bumbu khayalan Rafe yang super kocak bikin ketawa.

Iya, sepanjang membaca ini ngakak-ngakak, sampai 90% isi buku lah, lalu terharu di bagian akhir. Oke, Rafe ini hebat, dia menghadapi kesedihan dengan humor kahsnya sendiri.

[Hnin]

His bad luck starts the day he turned on his best friend.

[Spencer behrend · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Middle school get me out of here!” By James Patterson it was so much fun to read. In this book you learn about Rafe Khatchadian’s second great adventure. At the beginning though Swifty's Diner got burned down. (That's where his mom worked) So they end up moving to the city that is 80 miles away from all his friends. But the thing is, is now he can go to the art school in the city which is way better then the school he use to go to. Here he meets Matty his first friend that he makes in the city. After a good long time at the school they end up going on a fieldtrip to the art museum. Towards the end of the field trip Matty wants to go look at the gift shop so they end up going and Matty ends up having to go to the bathroom. But well Matty is in the bath the teacher calls them over to get ready to leave. So Rafe just decides to go to the teacher and when he passed through to scanner the alarm went off. It turns out Matty put a pen he hadn’t paid for into the bag. And so naturally Rafe said its was Matty’s bag. So then Matty got mad at Rafe and they end up getting in a fight and Rafe end up running away back to the small town he use to live in and then his whole family ended up moving back to the small town and they all live happily ever after.
I loved this book so many great adventures that you get to experience with Rafe I can’t wait to read the next one. There are many reasons to like this book on main part is the part that the author lets you look right into his head by describing how Rafe’s imagination was making the world seem like, a great example of this is pages 232-238 “I’m going to see my friend he’s in the hospital and he still owes me five dollars And I want to get it before you know.” This is what he say’s to a woman when he was on his way back to the town when he was running away. Of Course he said this jokingly but still I mean Its pretty funny. That is one of the fun parts in the book but really all I can say is you should read this book for yourself.
A theme in this book is never give up faith in your family. I say this cause when he ran away his mom was already thinking about moving back to the town already she just didn’t have the money to do so at the time. But him running away made his grandma that maybe she could sell her house and they could all move back to the town. So in the end that is what happens. If he would of just stayed then they probably would still have moved back to the town.

[Evan Diligent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a funny book about a middle school student named Rafe Khatchadorian. Its the second book in the middle school series ( I read the first one last year) and I think this book tops the last. The book was about Rafe and his struggles in middle school. Him dealing with grades, girls, teachers, detentions, and bullies. But he as a very good artistic ability and can sketch and draw really well. He wants his ability to do things with his life, and he always has dreams and daydreams of him being a famous celebrity. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to laugh. Also, this book is a very quick read and I think anybody would like it.

[Sarasiiiiir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es muy divertido, y el final no es que te lo esperes mucho. Lo recomiendo porque descubres cosas importantes del libro.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun and quick read.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to hate this book, just as much as I wanted to hate the first one. Not only was this a book plotted by James Patterson, but it was also an unnecessary sequel plotted by James Patterson. I lose virtually all credibility I have as a reviewer by enjoying this book, so throughout my reading it, I kept on waiting and waiting for something to hate, some reason to find it bad.

But you know what? This was a damn good book. There, I said it.

Rafe is a fantastically developed character, one that kids will be able to truly relate to, rather than just understand (as is the case with a lot of kids book protagonists). As with the first book, he gets a distinct character arc throughout the book, and it's engaging and interesting throughout. His voice remains believable as well; Tebbetts is an immensely talented author to pull it off, but I believed every word he said.

Adding to the authenticity were the illustrations, done by Laura Park. See, one of my big problems with the 'kid diary' format is that it's difficult - nearly impossible - to accurately capture the illustrations of a talented but untrained artist and integrate them with the text. Park pulls it off without a hitch - the illustrations were funny, quirky, and altogether fitting with what the book was trying to do.

But I think the best thing about the book was Tebbett's success at writing something that's distinctly for kids. Kids books are easy to screw up, because it's difficult to find a balance between being ridiculously prudish and writing something realistic but so complex that kids don't understand it. Tebbett has found the middle ground between the two very well. Not once does this book simplify things for kids - while the plot often (and when I say often, I mean OFTEN) pushes things beyond the realm of believably, but not once does it simplify anything for kids. There are still unfortunate occurrences, still a wide variety of character times, still hard topics (like the loss of a parent) dealt with. Yet I doubt it's anything that'll make kids feel too sad, that will feel too heavy-handed. The balance is perfect, and that's what makes it an effective kids book.

That said, the plot was, as before, scattered and aimless, even more here than in book one. For most of it, I didn't really know what it was supposed to be about, and a lot of scenes and sub-plots felt unnecessary until a couple hundred pages later. This made for some boring scenes, and I didn't always understand why I was reading what I was reading. It's not a long book, and already a quick read, but it would've still benefited from some sizing down.

But it's a minor issue. This book was funny, honest, and effective, shockingly so for something plotted by James Patterson. (If you think he actually wrote a word of it, beyond the prologue, you're only kidding yourself.) I'd recommend it for kids and adults alike, as with all good kid's books.

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine living with the ghost of your brother, fighting off bullies and searching for your Dad’s past to find his present. Sometimes reading about other people’s problems can make your problems seem normal.
In “Middle School: Get Me Out of Here” by James Patterson, the second book in the Middle School Series, we find Rafe a little older and in a new city. In 7th grade I was the odd man out. I had big plans, just life Rafe in the book. My Dad lives in Virginia so we don’t get to spend a lot of time together, just like Rafe and his Dad in the book. I love Art. A lot of middle school kids can relate to this book because they go through the same problems and this book helps you laugh at those problems and get through it easier. I would definitely recommend this book to any 6th, 7th or 8th grader that is going through middle school.
In the first book “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life” Rafe has just one imaginary friend and one friend that is a girl. He tries more dangerous things in the first book. In the first book Rafe did some pretty crazy things in middle school. He does things that you thought about doing but would never do or you would want to do. In the second book, he has made a new friend and has a girlfriend. He finds his life turned upside down when he has to move to the big city with his Mom and sister. He is in art school as it said he would be in the first book. It is at the school that he makes a new friend, Matty. But he also finds new enemies, Zeke and Kenny.
My favorite quote in the book is “IOU Forty Dollars Love, Rafe”. I like this because it reminds me of my little sister because she does this to me all of the time. One of my favorite parts of this book was the illustrations because they are funny and I like to look at them.
James Patterson is one of my all-time favorite writers. He has sold more books than any other author and is a New York Times bestselling author. He even won the award for Children’s Choice Book Awards Author of the Year in 2010.
Now that I am finishing up 8th grade and moving on down the road to high school, I hope I can look back at both middle school and high school as some of the best years of my life.

[Sally Kruger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE is here!

Rafe learned a few things the hard way when he set out to break the rules in book #1, and now he has a new plan. After a freak fire destroys the diner where his mother works, they move from their small town to the big city so his mom can hopefully find a job.

All this means Rafe, his little sister, and his mom will be living in cramped quarters in his grandmother's over-stuffed house. Rafe is also going to a new school. He'll be able to exercise his artistic talents because it is an art school, but things are not exactly what he expected. There are all sorts of requirements along with the art classes, and he faces something known as a "crit" in which his artwork is criticized by his new classmates and teachers. The pressure is really on.

Rafe thinks he has found a new friend, Matty the Freak. At first he seems crazy and fun, but Rafe soon begins to wonder just what kind of friend this new character truly is.

Living in the city offers Rafe another unique opportunity. It may be possible to discover information about his long absent father. If he can make the right contacts and ask the right questions, he may be able to learn what his mother has never been willing to share.

Complete with great cartoon illustrations, Rafe's new adventure should be a hit with fans of his first adventure and earn him some new ones. This is a winner for any middle grade collection.

[Mikaela Tynski · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!", by James Patterson is about a mischievous boy named Rafe Katchedorian who has a hard time staying out of trouble. While moving into a new and bigger city, Rafe has to try to make a good impression after being accepted into a prestigious art school called Cathedral School of Arts. This could be troublesome considering that he has become friends with the rebel of the school. Throughout his seventh grade year, Rafe faces many challenges such as figuring out the mystery about his father who left him when he was four, avoiding the school principal, and trying to fit in with his surroundings in the best way possible. This book is entertaining, audacious, and artistic and I would recommend this book to anyone between 10-14 and anybody who enjoys middle school fiction.

[BabyLunLun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun read.

This time the diner Rafe's mum worked at got burned down and Rafe's family was force to relocate to the city to stay with their grandma. Rafe was up to mischief again in his new school and land himself is all sort of trouble. He also found out the truth of his father. Later the diner is up again and now Rafe 's family move back to hill village

Can't wait to see Rafe is up to in the next book

[Dylan Jaynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

middle school was a very good, heart warming, family fun book. Rafe is just an ordinary middle schooler with a goal just 3 simple words GET A LIFE. along his adventures he makes friends and enmys. this is a book for every age and is well spoken by the main charcter rafe. You will follow Rafe and Matty for their quest of awesomeness. This book has some crude humor so if you don't like humor or your just a brat don't read this book

[McKenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think middle school was a good book its not my favorite but it had a great story. It had some funny parts and it did make me laugh out loud moments so i say a lot of younger people would love this book.i was so sad about what happened to his dad and it made me feel like it was really happening to one of my friends from all the detail and emotion.

[Lexie White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle school get me out of here!was really good i loved the dialogue i love how every page we turned it was a suprise it was unpredictable exciting,happy,sometimes sad. But very interasting i would recommend it to anyone who loves excitment the only problem is the art show i wanted too know if matty the freak was going to ruin it for him.But other than that its a must read book.

[Grecia Darlene]

This book was very realistic.It made me feel like this did happen to the author in real life.I learned that being friends with trouble makers isn't right.I would recommend this book to people who have a hard life.

[McClain Meyer]

James Patterson describes this story of Rafe Kathadorian was very interesting. He tells a story of a middle schooler that has a very bad year in his first year of middle school. I gave this book four stars out of five because this really related to me by trying to make school fun. This book went over the top sometimes which is why I only gave it four stars. Most of all this relates to many young middle schoolers so this is why I read the book.
The way that James Patteron tells this story of a middle schooler not having a great year is despicable. He really shows that many kids can have a tough life but you can always make a good day out of a bad start. The author likes to have Rafe do bad things for attention and happiness, but he gets tired of getting in trouble for his classmates. Many kids do this for cruel hate but others do it because they are scared of something or want attention.
This book went over the top too many times. James Patterson said things that were not important. He brought out too much of a story and dragged on the story. He had Rafe doing too many bad things that may of gave some kids some good ideas to do in their own school. Even though this was a great story this is why I only gave it four stars, but other than that I wouldve gave it five.
This story is great because it made me remember my six grade year and all the memories I had. I liked my future years way better than sixth. This made me connect to my life to Rafe’s life and made me compare our lives. This really made me like this book and helped me enjoy reading it.
Finally I gave it four stars because it connected myself to Rafe’s story. James Patterson told too much of a story and should of took out some stuff and I think I would of maybe gave it five stars instead of four stars. This book was overall very good and made me think back to my six grade year which was fun and weird to think about.

[TheBookWorm🐛 🐛 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read my last review, you know that I left a cliffhanger (kind of). This is were the cliffhanger ends. First off, I think that this book was equally as good as the first book (Middle School the Worst Years of my Life). I liked it all. The part about Rafe thinking he got lucky, but then he wasn’t was that during the summer, were Rafes mom worked had burned down. No job meant no money, which then meant that they couldn’t pay the rent for their house, which then meant no Airbrook for Rafe. He had to move to the city and live with his Grandma who had really no room for his family. His mom and sister would share the guest bedroom, and Rafe would get the sofa. He still got to go to an art school though, It was a place called Cathedral School of the Arts. His year was okey. There were bullies, and he got in trouble still. Even once for something he didn’t do! He also had started another mission, it was called operation Get a Life. In that mission, he had to do something new each day. Which, and the end of the book, he did. He ran away from home. He stole money from his mom, and bought a bus ticket all the way back to Hills Village. There, he went to the house of someone named Jeanne Galletta. He spent the night there, then his mom came and picked him up. She wasn’t mad at him. She said that the principal had called and told her everything. After she picked
Rafe up, they cried, then she told him the truth about his dad. After that, they went to eat. They found that the place were Rafe’s mom used to work was now re-opened! The owner asked for them to come back, and they did! In the end, moving to the city was basically just one big vacation! An embarrassing, fun, scary, nerve racking, and much more, vacation.

[Verania Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Middle School Get Me Out Of Here

Middle School Get Me Out Of Here by James Patterson is a 5 out of 5 stars. This is because there was not a single moment we’re I got bored of the story. As well as Rafe rebelling against the rules and following his gut which leads to good. This book gets very real at certain moments that are not all funny and goofy which really gives both the tone of goofy and serious which is executed very good. These curtains parts gets into Rafes life. All these small details help set the story’s mood by a lot. This story is very relatable at many moments which makes it funny. This is why I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

[Nimsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book is pretty good.though, When Matty The friend he made was like Leo but at least he was real person turned really mad at him for telling the truth I was a little weirded out.like who gets mad for the truth.well,I guess it was because he got arrested because of it.But still at last he got into airbrook arts I guess.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rafe got kicked out of his first school in 6th grade so he moved to a new city where Rafe's family could stay with his grandma. Apart from leo his imaginary friend, Rafe is once again alone.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a middle school teacher, I really enjoyed this book and the perspective it offers.

[Casey W · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good

[Ethan]

It was an ok book but wasn't the best but it still had some good sections where the book got good.

[Gavin Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think is a real good book its ehh at the begging but at the end it was sad I don't want to say because i'll spoil the ending but after that it was all happy again