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Middle School Blues
I was ready for the first day of middle school to be bad, but it's worse than I imagined. My best friend Becca missed the bus; I can't find my way around the school; I still haven't found Becca; I don't see any of my friends; and every time the bell rings, I have to worry about getting to the next class on time. The phys. ed. teacher sounds like a prison guard. Math class is even worse. I've been sent to the principal's office...and it's not even my fault. No wonder they call it middle school. You're stuck in the middle between little kid and grown-up, just trying to make your way out of the confusion. But some kids actually look happy here. Does that mean there's a chance things will get better?
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
2 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Lou Kassem
11 books6 followersBorn in Tennessee in 1931, Kassem attended East Tennessee State College. Married in 1951, she had four daughters and began her storytelling career entertaining her own children. As a school librarian she further refined her storytelling skills, and is now the author of a dozen juvenile novels representing a variety of genres, among them humor, mystery, history, and the supernatural.
Often setting her novels in Virginia, where she has lived and worked for many years, Kassem has, according to Sally Harris in the Roanoke Times, "always been a storyteller." As the versatile author once commented, "For me, writing is like breathing: absolutely necessary. Reading is the bread that sustains me. Speaking about writing is my pleasure."
Often setting her novels in Virginia, where she has lived and worked for many years, Kassem has, according to Sally Harris in the Roanoke Times, "always been a storyteller." As the versatile author once commented, "For me, writing is like breathing: absolutely necessary. Reading is the bread that sustains me. Speaking about writing is my pleasure."
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 18, 2008
I hadn't thought of this book in years, but it popped into my head today. I read it several times when I was a kid. It's probably really dated now (I seem to remember lines about circle pins and white jeans), but I liked the way the author tells what it's like when you leave elementary school and start growing away from your old friends.
December 14, 2020
Middle School Blues
Plot: Cindy is the youngest of two sisters (Grace and Ellen) who are about to start college, and she’s about to start middle school. She decides to write it all down so one day she can turn it into a book to pass on to future middle schoolers. This is her journey navigating getting a varsity chair in band, struggles with math (been there) and the mean teachers that teach it. Making new friends (Andrea) and losing old ones to new cliques because of growing apart, and gaining new enemies (Brandy Wine) Cindy also struggles with self-esteem issues (from having a two, popular, smart, beautiful sisters). There are also surviving rumors about teachers that are caught kissing in classrooms by unknown sources. Also with gaining new interest (the basketball team) and pursuing old ones (trying out for a Statewide Writers Competition). During all this one of her closest friends (Jeff) gets lost in the shuffle and runs away because of pressure from Dad to be athlete. Luckily Cindy finds him at a cabin that used to belong to his grandfather. At the end of the year concert, she finds out her story won and Garth (whose in the band) asks her to “hang out with” him when some of the kids go out to eat. He kisses her when he brings her home. So Cindy’s made it through her first semester of middle school and came out on top.
My Thoughts: This was an old book I had. Before when I reviewed it I didn’t give it the best review and thought it was kind of blah. I’m trying to think of something I can relate to about this book. When I started middle school (MANY) years ago, I was new. None of the friends I had in elementary school (and it was a very small elementary school at that) went to the same middle school with me. So, I didn’t have two friends that I had to get use to growing apart from me. My middle school may have had cliques but they didn’t have a exclusive group like the Secret Circle. And I’m thinking (like Cindy) I probably wouldn’t have cared if I were in it or not if there was one. I never got caught up in all that. Like Cindy I was (am) into writing but I don’t remember my middle school having special contest for writers. No doubt my best friend probably would have entered it as well. And he was the one in band. Didn’t really care that much about sports. I just tried to stay un noticed during gym class. Did we even have a basketball team in middle school? (mind blanks out). Teachers certainly didn’t get caught kissing in classrooms. I mean what was up with that? Uh it’s called a TEACHERS LOUNGE. If you’re gonna be dumb enough to kiss in a classroom and not LOCK THE DOOR or push a desk in front of it, what do you expect. This isn’t your personal space. It’s full of PRETEENS! I think they should have gotten some kind of action taken against them for that. If you can’t control your hormones till three o clock and then proposing to her in a SCHOOL? REALLY? Cause that just screams romance. I probably did have a mean girl that didn’t like me. But she wasn’t the popular mean girl. This girl (that I’m thinking about) was just MEAN! Like Cindy I’m not even sure why she didn’t like me. I had a sister (but thank god she was just a half-sister and not in the same city I was in) at this point in time we got along when I was in middle school and were somewhat close. But I can’t ever really remember me comparing myself to her as in I thought she was smarter or more attractive. And no one I was close to every ran away from home. So maybe there were some parts that I could vaguely relate to. But still it was just so-so.
Rating: 5
Plot: Cindy is the youngest of two sisters (Grace and Ellen) who are about to start college, and she’s about to start middle school. She decides to write it all down so one day she can turn it into a book to pass on to future middle schoolers. This is her journey navigating getting a varsity chair in band, struggles with math (been there) and the mean teachers that teach it. Making new friends (Andrea) and losing old ones to new cliques because of growing apart, and gaining new enemies (Brandy Wine) Cindy also struggles with self-esteem issues (from having a two, popular, smart, beautiful sisters). There are also surviving rumors about teachers that are caught kissing in classrooms by unknown sources. Also with gaining new interest (the basketball team) and pursuing old ones (trying out for a Statewide Writers Competition). During all this one of her closest friends (Jeff) gets lost in the shuffle and runs away because of pressure from Dad to be athlete. Luckily Cindy finds him at a cabin that used to belong to his grandfather. At the end of the year concert, she finds out her story won and Garth (whose in the band) asks her to “hang out with” him when some of the kids go out to eat. He kisses her when he brings her home. So Cindy’s made it through her first semester of middle school and came out on top.
My Thoughts: This was an old book I had. Before when I reviewed it I didn’t give it the best review and thought it was kind of blah. I’m trying to think of something I can relate to about this book. When I started middle school (MANY) years ago, I was new. None of the friends I had in elementary school (and it was a very small elementary school at that) went to the same middle school with me. So, I didn’t have two friends that I had to get use to growing apart from me. My middle school may have had cliques but they didn’t have a exclusive group like the Secret Circle. And I’m thinking (like Cindy) I probably wouldn’t have cared if I were in it or not if there was one. I never got caught up in all that. Like Cindy I was (am) into writing but I don’t remember my middle school having special contest for writers. No doubt my best friend probably would have entered it as well. And he was the one in band. Didn’t really care that much about sports. I just tried to stay un noticed during gym class. Did we even have a basketball team in middle school? (mind blanks out). Teachers certainly didn’t get caught kissing in classrooms. I mean what was up with that? Uh it’s called a TEACHERS LOUNGE. If you’re gonna be dumb enough to kiss in a classroom and not LOCK THE DOOR or push a desk in front of it, what do you expect. This isn’t your personal space. It’s full of PRETEENS! I think they should have gotten some kind of action taken against them for that. If you can’t control your hormones till three o clock and then proposing to her in a SCHOOL? REALLY? Cause that just screams romance. I probably did have a mean girl that didn’t like me. But she wasn’t the popular mean girl. This girl (that I’m thinking about) was just MEAN! Like Cindy I’m not even sure why she didn’t like me. I had a sister (but thank god she was just a half-sister and not in the same city I was in) at this point in time we got along when I was in middle school and were somewhat close. But I can’t ever really remember me comparing myself to her as in I thought she was smarter or more attractive. And no one I was close to every ran away from home. So maybe there were some parts that I could vaguely relate to. But still it was just so-so.
Rating: 5
March 14, 2022
I was comforted reading this, but it may have been more the act of holding my original copy rather than the story itself. It brought back feelings of middle school, however there were a few things that didn't "hold up". The racist (supposed to be a good luck joke) moment made adult me cringe.
I did remember the grandmothers funeral, the feeling of not belonging, forging new friendships and hanging onto old friendships, the love of band... There is a reason I read this so many times as a tween. I guess I'll keep my copy a little longer.
I did remember the grandmothers funeral, the feeling of not belonging, forging new friendships and hanging onto old friendships, the love of band... There is a reason I read this so many times as a tween. I guess I'll keep my copy a little longer.
September 17, 2018
Great! Cute, clever, and if you pay attention you'll learn some useful lessons that are true even past middle school.
March 14, 2024
A few cute moments but mostly boring, unhauling.
April 4, 2024
I read this book multiple times when I was younger and just re-read it with my tween daughter who enjoyed it as I did. I'm giving it 4 stars for the nostalgia.
August 27, 2019
Middle School Blues
Plot: Cindy is the youngest of two sisters (Grace and Ellen) who are about to start college, and she’s about to start middle school. She decides to write it all down so one day she can turn it into a book to pass on to future middle schoolers. This is her journey navigating getting a varsity chair in band, struggles with math (been there) and the mean teachers that teach it. Making new friends (Andrea) and losing old ones to new cliques because of growing apart, and gaining new enemies (Brandy Wine) Cindy also struggles with self-esteem issues (from having a two, popular, smart, beautiful sisters). There are also surviving rumors about teachers that are caught kissing in classrooms by unknown sources. Also with gaining new interest (the basketball team) and pursuing old ones (trying out for a Statewide Writers Competition). During all this one of her closest friends (Jeff) gets lost in the shuffle and runs away because of pressure from Dad to be an athlete. Luckily Cindy finds him at a cabin that used to belong to his grandfather. At the end of the year concert, she finds out her story won and Garth (whose in the band) asks her to “hang out with” him when some of the kids go out to eat. He kisses her when he brings her home. So Cindy’s made it through her first semester of middle school and came out on top.
My Thoughts: This was an old book I had. Before when I reviewed it I didn’t give it the best review and thought it was kind of blah. I’m trying to think of something I can relate to about this book. When I started middle school (MANY) years ago, I was new. None of the friends I had in elementary school (and it was a very small elementary school at that) went to the same middle school with me. So, I didn’t have two friends that I had to get use to growing apart from me. My middle school may have had cliques but they didn’t have an exclusive group like the Secret Circle. And I’m thinking (like Cindy) I probably wouldn’t have cared if I were in it or not if there was one. I never got caught up in all that. Like Cindy I was (am) into writing but I don’t remember my middle school having special contest for writers. No doubt my best friend probably would have entered it as well. And he was the one in band. Didn’t really care that much about sports. I just tried to stay unnoticed during gym class. Did we even have a basketball team in middle school? (mind blanks out). Teachers certainly didn’t get caught kissing in classrooms. I mean what was up with that? Uh, it’s called a TEACHERS LOUNGE. If you’re gonna be dumb enough to kiss in a classroom and not LOCK THE DOOR or push a desk in front of it, what do you expect? This isn’t your personal space. It’s full of PRETEENS! I think they should have gotten some kind of action taken against them for that. If you can’t control your hormones till three o clock and then proposing to her in a SCHOOL? REALLY? Cause that just screams romance. I probably did have a mean girl that didn’t like me. But she wasn’t the popular mean girl. This girl (that I’m thinking about) was just MEAN! Like Cindy, I’m not even sure why she didn’t like me. I had a sister (but thank god she was just a half-sister and not in the same city I was in) at this point in time we got along when I was in middle school and were somewhat close. But I can’t ever really remember me comparing myself to her as in I thought she was smarter or more attractive. And no one I was close to every ran away from home. So maybe there were some parts that I could vaguely relate to. But still, it was just so-so.
Rating: 5
Plot: Cindy is the youngest of two sisters (Grace and Ellen) who are about to start college, and she’s about to start middle school. She decides to write it all down so one day she can turn it into a book to pass on to future middle schoolers. This is her journey navigating getting a varsity chair in band, struggles with math (been there) and the mean teachers that teach it. Making new friends (Andrea) and losing old ones to new cliques because of growing apart, and gaining new enemies (Brandy Wine) Cindy also struggles with self-esteem issues (from having a two, popular, smart, beautiful sisters). There are also surviving rumors about teachers that are caught kissing in classrooms by unknown sources. Also with gaining new interest (the basketball team) and pursuing old ones (trying out for a Statewide Writers Competition). During all this one of her closest friends (Jeff) gets lost in the shuffle and runs away because of pressure from Dad to be an athlete. Luckily Cindy finds him at a cabin that used to belong to his grandfather. At the end of the year concert, she finds out her story won and Garth (whose in the band) asks her to “hang out with” him when some of the kids go out to eat. He kisses her when he brings her home. So Cindy’s made it through her first semester of middle school and came out on top.
My Thoughts: This was an old book I had. Before when I reviewed it I didn’t give it the best review and thought it was kind of blah. I’m trying to think of something I can relate to about this book. When I started middle school (MANY) years ago, I was new. None of the friends I had in elementary school (and it was a very small elementary school at that) went to the same middle school with me. So, I didn’t have two friends that I had to get use to growing apart from me. My middle school may have had cliques but they didn’t have an exclusive group like the Secret Circle. And I’m thinking (like Cindy) I probably wouldn’t have cared if I were in it or not if there was one. I never got caught up in all that. Like Cindy I was (am) into writing but I don’t remember my middle school having special contest for writers. No doubt my best friend probably would have entered it as well. And he was the one in band. Didn’t really care that much about sports. I just tried to stay unnoticed during gym class. Did we even have a basketball team in middle school? (mind blanks out). Teachers certainly didn’t get caught kissing in classrooms. I mean what was up with that? Uh, it’s called a TEACHERS LOUNGE. If you’re gonna be dumb enough to kiss in a classroom and not LOCK THE DOOR or push a desk in front of it, what do you expect? This isn’t your personal space. It’s full of PRETEENS! I think they should have gotten some kind of action taken against them for that. If you can’t control your hormones till three o clock and then proposing to her in a SCHOOL? REALLY? Cause that just screams romance. I probably did have a mean girl that didn’t like me. But she wasn’t the popular mean girl. This girl (that I’m thinking about) was just MEAN! Like Cindy, I’m not even sure why she didn’t like me. I had a sister (but thank god she was just a half-sister and not in the same city I was in) at this point in time we got along when I was in middle school and were somewhat close. But I can’t ever really remember me comparing myself to her as in I thought she was smarter or more attractive. And no one I was close to every ran away from home. So maybe there were some parts that I could vaguely relate to. But still, it was just so-so.
Rating: 5
November 17, 2008
when i read this book i had many things to connect to myself, i had similar experience to the character. There are something i learn from the book, i learn the different way to solve the problem. When i was reading this book, i started to think about my middle school. I miss my middle school, sometime i want to go back to the middle school.
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February 24, 2011the book explains the life of a middle schooler good.
August 15, 2011
Meh. A good story, the protag was a little Mary Sue-ish but still fairly relatable. I loved the shit out of it when I was a kid but it doesn't hold up well to re-reading as an adult.
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June 7, 2019I loved this book as a kid/pre-teen.
July 10, 2019
A great example of the good old 80s middle school novel that I picked up for free at the library.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews