Planet Middle School

by Nikki Grimes

New York Times bestselling author of One Last Word and Coretta Scott King award-winning Bronx Masquerade Nikki Grimes offers fresh novel in verse story about young heartbreak and hope.

For twelve years, Joylin Johnson's life has been just fine. A game of basketball with the boys-especially her friend Jake-was all it took to put a smile on her face. Baggy jeans, T-shirt, and hair in a ponytail were easy choices. Then, everything suddenly seemed to change all at once. Her best girl friend is now flirting with her best guy friend. Her clothes seem all wrong. Jake is acting weird, and basketball isn't the same. And worst of all, there is this guy, Santiago, who appears from . . . where? What lengths will Joy go to--and who will she become--to attract his attention?

In short poems that perfectly capture the crazy feelings of adolescence and first crushes, award-winning author Nikki Grimes has crafted a delightful, often hilarious, heart-tugging story.

Genres: Poetry, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Novel In Verse, Coming Of Age, Friendship

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2011

Reviews

[Nikki Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Planet Middle School. My latest Mother-Daughter buddy read! Nikki Grimes’ book Planet Middle School is written in verse, which neither my daughter nor I typically read. It was great trying something new, and we both walked away enjoying it. The book is about Joylin—each page spoken from Joylin’s middle school perspective. Joylin loves playing basketball and is comfortable in her Tom Boy skin... until one day she thinks a boy is cute and she starts noticing that she is changing. She’s confused, frustrated, cranky... sounds like a middle schooler, right?! The book is a great exploration in preteen/adolescent life: everything from bodily changes to parent/sibling behavior to navigating friendships and boys. I personally enjoyed it from two different angles: 1) the female adult that’s “been there, done that” and could relate to a lot of Joylin’s comments and 2) the Mom perspective & parenting middle schoolers. My daughter and I enjoyed this different kind of read, and we both flew through it as the verse form makes this a fast-paced book.
Are you a parent? Got a daughter that’s trying to figure things out? Add this one to your list!

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars? Not quite sure how to rate this. It’s a cute, very short middle grade story told in verse about a young girl who is a tom boy as a child but is confused about changes to her body, emotions and feelings as she enters puberty. I read it in 30 minutes. It’s sweet! I liked it! But it’s so short that I don’t feel like I read a whole story. But if that’s what you’re looking for, then this is perfect.

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Nikki Grimes' story is told in verse, it is a very quick read. Still, it captures relationships between friends and the changes wrought by bodies and minds developing in great and enjoyable detail. The way in which parents respond to the changes they observe is also caught sensitively. Suitable for young readers around 11 to 13, I'd say, but even older readers who want to be reminded of their early adolescence will enjoy this book.

Nikki Grimes se gedigte vang die vertelling oor 'n jong meisie se grootword uitstekend vas. Dit beeld die veranderende en ontluikende verhoudings met ou en nuwe vriende sensitief uit, asook hoe ouers op kinders se grootword reageer.

[Lindsay Surmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my alternative book report, I have chosen #1 where I tell the president one thing a main character discovered about life and why it is important. I thought this would be perfect for Planet Middle School because the main character, Joylin, experiences transitioning from a child to a woman. It is uncomfortable and awkward for her, but along the way, she learns some important lessons about herself and the people around her. What Joylin had experienced in the novel is the same experience many girls have going from 5th grade into 6th grade. I believe what Joylin had discovered about life is the most important theme in this novel, so alternative book report #1 was the best choice in my opinion.
Mr. President,
You had contacted me earlier this week upon learning that I have read Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes. You had asked me what the main character, Joylin, had discovered about life that I think all Americans should know and why. Well, I think Joylin learned many important lessons about friendship and relationships with her family, but there is one main lesson that stuck out the most to me. Joy had been a tom boy and basketball player all of her life. She wore clothes from the boys section because they were loose and easier to play sports in. She never cared about what boys had thought of her before until she met one boy in particular. She wanted his attention badly and part of her was not sure why. He didn’t seem as interested in her though. She noticed he looked at the girls in the hallway that wore tight clothes, wore makeup, and strutted around in heels. To gain his attention, Joy tried wearing skirts, heels, and lipstick, but it all ended up in an embarrassing mess. It turns out in the end, the boy she was after preferred sportier girls over “girly girls”. Joylin was heart broken, but after talking with her best friend, she realized she was changing who she was not because she wanted to, but because someone else wanted her to be that way. While she did want to feel more feminine, she was not comfortable going to extremes. In the end, she decided she wanted to wear more fitting jeans with embellishments and that was enough for her. She should decide who she wants to be, not some boy.
Every American should learn this lesson because I think everyone goes through this stage, yet it is one of the hardest things to go through and realize. Pre-teens and teens have such a hard time trying to figure out where they fit in and who they are, that they start becoming who others want them to be. Most people don’t figure out who they truly are until they are in their 20s. If all Americans learned this lesson early on, people would not waste their time worrying about what others want them to be and follow their own desires. This applies with friendships and relationships as well. Too many times I have seen girls change who they were to gain the attention of a boy. If someone is not into the way you are, then it will never work out, even if you try changing. It is best to find someone who loves and accepts who you are and what you want to be.

[Grace Nichols · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just okay. It didn't make me jump out of my seat but I didn't want to throw it out the window, I just read the book then moved on.
This book is about a middle school girl named Joy who is great at basketball and has two best friends named Jake and Keelee. Joy is kind of a tomboy, she wears baggy jeans and tee shirts all the time and is always playing basketball with the boys. That starts to change though when she meets a new boy playing basketball one day named Santiago. Joy starts feeling herself change after she starts liking Santiago more and more. She wants him to notice her so she starts dressing and acting like all the other girls at school. She gets to the point that she's wearing makeup, skirts, heels, swaying her hips when she walks, and losing both of her best friends. Then one day Jake gets in a accident and Joy starts to realize who she has really become. Read the book to find out what Joy does next. Who will she get, her best friends or her crush?
I would describe this book as short and sweet. It didn't have a very big plot in it which made me kind of upset because I was always waiting for something big to happen but nothing really did. The author does do a good job of making the book sound like it's from Joy's point of view because of how she says her sentences and her vocabulary. The thing that I liked most about this book was the lesson behind it. The lesson is that you shouldn't have to change for people and you should be who you really are. This book did open my eyes and let me see how you should just be you and if people don't accept you for who you are then you deserve better than them. If I was the author something I would change is the style of the book. It jumped around a lot to different subjects about every page and that made there be no plot. I don't think I would really recommend this book to anyone because all it did for me was teach me a little lesson and the book didn't really excite me at all.

[Lisa Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lisa Campbell
Poetry
Planet Middle School is the story of Joylin, an intrepid sports playing, jean wearing tomboy, told in a series of poems. The poems tell of her relationship with her family, friends and dealing with all the changes that happen to a young girl as she journeys from child to young woman. Joylin’s best friends are Jake and KeeLee, who love her for who she is. Joylin begins to have uncomfortable and surprising feelings for a boy at school, Santiago and she tries to transform herself into a girly-girl with disastrous results. It is all just so embarrassing! Jake is injured in a car accident and Joylin is terrified because the last time they spoke they fought bitterly. As she waits in the hospital, begging Jake to open his eyes, she realizes that Jake is right, she should just be herself. In the end, Joylin learns that the only way she can be happy is to do what she loves and be with the people who make her happy, her friends and family.

This book is very accessible and easy to read. The prose poetry flows nicely and the story is told in a fairly straight forward manner. I would recommend this to a teen girl who is at that awkward place of trying to figure out who they are and how they can be comfortable in their own skin.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Sentence Review: Middle school books about African-American girls are hardly common so definitely consider this one, even if it's not quite Grimes' best work.

[Khushboo Mathuria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've literally lost count of how many times I've read this book and I think it deserves a place in my favorites shelf.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm actually giving this novel in verse 3 1/2 stars. It's a pleasant story about a middle school tomboy who loves basketball and whose changing body causes her to start noticing boys. Should she dress like the rest of the girls, or should she be herself? Middle school readers will relate to this. Recommended.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic middle grade voice in this beautiful book about growing up and all the mental and physical changes that are inevitable. I saw myself in Joylin because I was never into fashion or "girl" things, loved playing basketball and other sports, and was called a Tom boy. I enjoyed the supportive and loving family interactions and the friendships. I highly recommend this lyrical book.

[Kaitlin Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an extremely funny book, because I felt like I was back in middle school. The main character was shocked when her best girlfriend started to flirt with her best guy friend. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh.

[Jack Young]

This book was really good for me even tho I don't like to read

[K2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

GoodRead.....Grimes is a really good writer for young readers

[Charis Shattuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to stay up on my Middle School novels! This was a cute and short novel in verse to read for National Poetry Month.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this.... about puberty (girl)

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent short book for middle schoolers. It dealt with normal MS issues, but it’s greatest strength is that a reluctant reader might pick it up due to the length of the book.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written story! Best for young girls going through the changes and challenges of growing up

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short verse novel about tom boy Joylin as she discovers new aspects about herself. Nice family dynamics, and a clear message about being yourself.

Three and a half stars

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not true poetry.

[Aspen Dye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Planet Middle School is the story of Joylin, an intrepid sports playing, jean wearing tomboy, told in a series of poems. The poems tell of her relationship with her family, friends and dealing with all the changes that happen to a young girl as she journeys from child to young woman. Joylin’s best friends are Jake and KeeLee, who love her for who she is. Joylin begins to have uncomfortable and surprising feelings for a boy at school. Planet middle school was a great book. The characters just popped out of the book I felt like. In this book you can relate to this person and how the characters feel.

This girl in middle school loved basketball but she started to grow up and she didn't like that she made herself invisible. MShe tried This book reminded me of this Video I saw on face book about bullying and she never stood up for herself but finally her brother said to the people who we're bullying the girl to stop. I thought of that because you shouldn't be rude to anyone or offend them in any way.

I recommend this book to you because it will change Your life and almost everyone can relate to this when they were in middle school. I am in middle school and I'm 12 so this book really helped relate to others and myself. You should also read this because you can try to help others through they're problems.

While reading this book I learned you need to stand up for yourself. I also learned to not be rude to others or so anything to hurt they're feelings on purpose. This book was really moving and very affective in my life. You NEED To READ this! I love this it is a great story/book.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a time and place for short books. Not every book can be long - some kids aren't into that and they deserve books too. Sometimes my personal preference is not the author's intention even if I think it would lead to a better story.

I wanted Planet Middle School to be more fleshed out. I think the beauty standards thrust upon young women is worth discussing and I think this could have explored the concept deeper. But, it didn't and provided a perfectly fine story with the page length it had in spite of my desire for further commentary or introspection.

An introduction the life a teenage girl told in-verse without airs or prevarications. Read it if you're the kind of person who likes anthologies.

[Rebecca Sofferman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful novel in verse about a young basketball-obsessed middle school girl by an exemplary poet. Joylin is very comfortable with who she is and how she fits into her family and social circle. Until everything starts to change. Her female friends start dressing differently and obsessing about boys, her male friends start treating her differently, and she wonders if she should start changing too. Pretty soon her body makes that decision for her, and Joylin must rethink who she wants to be.

It's great to have books about female athletes to share with my students, since most of my sports books are about boys. This book is great for middle schoolers looking for a quick read with a lot of heart.

[Alejandra Garcia]

This book was really interesting because it ibcluded the idea of growing up and how it affects not only you but the ones near you. I was able to have a good laugh and also reflect on the idea of acceptance and how at times we are like jake and try to please others before ourselves in order to be accepted and meet their expectations. Its often hard to be the one seeing that happen and how they get carried along into doing things that are not what one is.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick read for me. It's about a girl who is a complete tomboy and then all of sudden is worried about appearance and all that jazz. The book is written in verse which I do like that style of writing because you have to use some brainpower to figure what is going on in the book. Decent book overall, but there are many better out there.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Planet Middle School was a beautifully written and relatable text. The entire text is written in prose and focuses on the life on Joylin “Joy” Johnson. Up until this point in her life, Joy’s life had been static. She’s what some refer to as a “tom-boy,” dressing in jeans and t-shirts, who’s main hobby and happiness in life stemming from basketball. But as her body, as Joy seems to believe, “betrays her” by changing, so is her personality. Joy’s crush on a boy pushes her to start changing who she is, and to be somebody else, in order to be what she thinks other wants. Because of this, Joy begins to clash with her friends and family, who try to tell her that she doesn’t need to change who she is or be someone else to get other people to like her. Of course, Joy doesn’t listen but needs to come to this conclusion herself. The novel deals with various internal and external conflicts of the middle school reader. Joy smashes heads with her childhood best friend, and with her father over his constant dismissal of her younger brother’s artistic abilities.

This novel perfectly characterizes and approaches many issues that middle schoolers face. It’s perfect for helping middle school readers to both understand what they’re going through, and to provide them reassurance that everything will turn out all right.

[Hannah Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planet Middle School, by Nikki Grimes, is a novel in verse book. This book is about a teenage girl named Joylin, who is growing up. The setting is mainly her house, and a basketball court. Joylin plays basketball with all of the boys, some people even considered her a boy. She has never been interested in makeup or dating, or any girl stuff. Until now. Joylin starts to notice change. She develops a crush, and asks her friend KeeLee for help impressing him. She wants to be back to normal, but her life has forever changed. At home her dad shows her too much praise and her brother none at all. Joylin has to figure out her own problems, and help her brother figure out his too.
I like that this book is very relatable to teenage girls that have noticed change. I also found the transition from normal to different very spaced out, and not all of the sudden. I feel like Joylin had too many problems in her life all at once, which can get a bit overwhelming to some readers. It was hard to keep up with her relationship with the other characters in the book.
I recommend this book to teenage girls who are just experiencing change and trying to deal with it. I think this a good book for every girl to read because it takes real life struggles and makes them into an understandable story.

[Alyssa Oldenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intended Audience: The intended audience of this book is preteens. Specifically aiming more at girls.
Key Themes & Topics: Planet Middle School tackles the idea of a girl changing to a young woman in middle school and how difficult that may be. The story touches on topics such as relationships with family and friends, and dealing with life changes. Some of the themes throughout the book are bullying, friendship, and mental illness.
Why This Book: I chose this book as a book to keep in my library in my classroom. I think it is important for girls to know that around the middle school ages all girls bodies are changing. Emotions are changing as well. Things can start to get rocky with family, friends, and boys. I think this book is good to keep there to be read if a student needs a reminder that they are not the only ones going through these changes in their life. In the story, Joylin is not like other girls. She wears tomboy clothes and plays sports. As a result she gets bullied. I think that Joylin can be a comfort for the girls who play sports and do not dress to impress everyday. I wish I had a Joylin to comfort me when I was in middle school.

[Leah T. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up “Planet Middle School” because I love Nikki Grimes’ work, and this one really hit the mark for capturing the middle school experience. As someone who works with kids this age, I could see how perfectly Grimes portrays the emotional rollercoaster they go through daily.

The poetry format works so well for showing how intense and all-over-the-place middle school feelings can be. The main character feels like a real kid - not too mature or too childish, just genuinely thirteen and trying to figure things out. The way Grimes writes about friendship drama, family expectations, and that constant worry about fitting in is exactly what I see my students dealing with.

What I loved most was that Grimes doesn’t oversimplify or talk down to her readers. She treats these middle school struggles with the seriousness they deserve because they ARE serious when you’re living them. The book captures both the confusion and the growth that happens during this time.

It’s a quick read but stays with you. I think any middle schooler would see themselves in this story, and that kind of representation matters so much at that age.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the intended audience for this book is 4th grade to 6th grade, although it is specifically aiming more at girls. Planet Middle School tackles the idea of a girl changing to a young woman in middle school and how difficult that may be. The story touches on topics such as relationships with family and friends, and dealing with life changes. Some of the themes throughout the book are bullying, friendship, and mental illness. I chose this book as a book to keep in my classroom because I think it is important for girls to know that around the middle school ages, most girls' bodies are changing. Emotions are changing as well. Things can start to get rocky with family, friends, and boys. I think this book is good to keep there to be read if a student needs a reminder that they are not the only ones going through these changes in their life. In the story, Joylin is not like other girls. She wears tomboy clothes and plays sports. As a result she gets bullied. I think that Joylin can be a comfort for the girls who play sports and do not dress to impress everyday.

[Susanne Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent coming-of-age novel-in-verse. Perfect for girls (and girl athletes) struggling with the changes that come with going through puberty, especially for a "tomboy." I mentioned in my review of Alone that I don't like it when novels-in-verse are not true to their form, just using the formatting to attract reluctant readers with short attention spans, but Grimes is a true poet and uses the form expertly, each poem a stand-alone but cohesive vignette. A few that stood out:

1. "Homework done
I run out for some air,
handball resting on my palm,
I slam the thing against the brownstone wall
whole Caden studies me
through the window the way he sometimes does,
his hand a busy bird
flying across a page of his drawing pad."

2. "Dad claps Caden
on the back.
An Etch a Sketch
of momentary joy spreads across his face."

3. "'Im missing U, KeeLee.'
'Me 2 U.'
'Coming to the girls game today?
We're playing Woodruff MS.'
'Can't. Choir.'
'Bummer.'
'I Know.'
This is a new dance for KeeLee and me.
We still haven't learned all the steps."