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Jessica Darling's It List #2
Jessica Darling's It List 2: The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Friends, Foes & Faux Friends
Jessica Darling is getting the hang of seventh grade -- finally! While her old BFF, Bridget, is busy talking (nonstop) about her new boyfriend, Burke, Jessica tries to fit in with her new friends, Sara, Manda, and Hope. The IT List instructions from her sister, Bethany, and an epic slumber party may help Jessica secure her spot in the cool clique, but does she even want it?
Megan McCafferty's It List series introduces readers to Jessica Darling, an unabashedly brainy seventh grader who stays true to herself, even if it means being (totally not) cool.
Megan McCafferty's It List series introduces readers to Jessica Darling, an unabashedly brainy seventh grader who stays true to herself, even if it means being (totally not) cool.
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First published September 16, 2014
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About the author
Megan McCafferty
27 books2,534 followersMegan McCafferty writes fiction for tweens, teens and teens-at-heart of all ages. The author of twelve novels, she’s best known for SLOPPY FIRSTS and four more sequels in the New York Times bestselling Jessica Darling series--available throughout 2021 in updated 20th anniversary editions. She published two new books in 2020: TRUE TO YOUR SELFIE (MG, Scholastic) and THE MALL (YA, Wednesday Books). Described in her first review as “Judy Blume meets Dorothy Parker” (Wall Street Journal), she’s been trying to live up to that high standard ever since.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 15, 2014
Review originally posted at Mostly YA Lit
This is the second book in Megan McCafferty's middle-grade Jessica Darling series, and it's just as full of heart as the first. Jessica is just as innocent, witty, and feisty about friendship as she was about popularity.
The premise is similar - Bethany, Jessica's beautiful, much-older sister, has yet another list that guarantees that Jessica will be able to navigate friendships in her middle school years. The problem? The list is, once again, written in Bethany-speak, and leaves a lot of room for interpretation. In Jessica's case, that usually means the wrong interpretation and a lot of fumbles and embarrassing moments.
What It List #2 perfectly conveys is that confusion that happens when your friends are changing and puberty is hitting, and you don't know how to bridge new and old friends. I don't know a girl in the world who won't identify with Jessica and her attempts to navigate friendships - it's that real. And even if Jessica does go to extremes in her ideas of how to solve friendship problems, it's all done with such heart and innocence that you just want to hug her.
It List #2 also has amazingly accurate descriptions of girls' mind games, and how they hurt and change people. Truth be told, it reminded me a lot of the movie Mean Girls, because the representation of just how these games are played is so spot-on:
What I liked most about It List #2 is that it isn't preachy about how to navigate these problems, and there really are no right answers. Jessica gains a lot of wisdom about how to be a friend, but I think what she ultimately comes away with is more of a feeling that it is OKAY for friendships to change, and it's okay for her to not understand. She can just let people be and try her best to be a good friend.
Of course the other thing about It List #2 is that it's advances our characters, turning them into the people they are and will be in the original Jessica Darling series. Manda and Sara are kind of similar to who they will be in Sloppy Firsts, but Jessica's friendship with Hope and some of the cross-country team girls deepens in this book.
And, like in the first book, there are definitely some interactions with Marcus Flutie. I really don't want to spoil these, but let's just say that Tween Marcus is a very accurate representation of who he will turn out to be in the later books - even more so in this book than in It List #1. The friendship between Jessica and Marcus is absolutely adorable and like a true fangirl, I totally gobbled it up.
Bonuses:
The Giggles: Like the original Jessica Darling, this series had me laughing out loud quite a few times - the things that happen are so out there, especially when they
Wisdom Comes With Age: If you're a fan of the older Jessica Darling novels, you know that Jessica's grandmother Gladdie is, like, the coolest elderly person in fiction. I was SO happy to see her in this installment, and she is just as hip, and wicked smart about life as she was in the original books, with an added bonus: younger Gladdie BAKES. I am desperate for her recipe for Jessica BARlings!
The Final Word:
If you love the original Jessica Darling series, reading these books will give you so much joy and insight into the characters and how they came to be - it's definitely a fun, light, and quick read for fans. But beyond that, It List #2 left me wishing that I'd had these books as a guide to my tween life when I was a kid. As a 10-13 year old, you need a dose of reality and to know that it's totally normal to not understand what's cool, and what isn't. I really hope there are librarians, teachers and parents out there who are giving this to pre-teens - I think it will help a lot of young girls through middle school.
Recommended for: Tweens who are starting junior high and trying to navigate girl friendships, major Jessica Darling fans
This is the second book in Megan McCafferty's middle-grade Jessica Darling series, and it's just as full of heart as the first. Jessica is just as innocent, witty, and feisty about friendship as she was about popularity.
The premise is similar - Bethany, Jessica's beautiful, much-older sister, has yet another list that guarantees that Jessica will be able to navigate friendships in her middle school years. The problem? The list is, once again, written in Bethany-speak, and leaves a lot of room for interpretation. In Jessica's case, that usually means the wrong interpretation and a lot of fumbles and embarrassing moments.
What It List #2 perfectly conveys is that confusion that happens when your friends are changing and puberty is hitting, and you don't know how to bridge new and old friends. I don't know a girl in the world who won't identify with Jessica and her attempts to navigate friendships - it's that real. And even if Jessica does go to extremes in her ideas of how to solve friendship problems, it's all done with such heart and innocence that you just want to hug her.
It List #2 also has amazingly accurate descriptions of girls' mind games, and how they hurt and change people. Truth be told, it reminded me a lot of the movie Mean Girls, because the representation of just how these games are played is so spot-on:
"The worst part about the nastiness Manda and Sara and Dori and Bridget were spreading about each other? Well, besides the fact that I was at the center of it? Some of the smack talk--just a teensy little bit--was possibly true. I could see how Dori and Bridget might envy Manda's persuasive personality or Sara's all-knowingness. I understood why Manda and Sara might wish they had boyfriends like Dori and Bridget or a friendship that went all the way back to crib.
I just wish they didn't have to be so mean about it."
What I liked most about It List #2 is that it isn't preachy about how to navigate these problems, and there really are no right answers. Jessica gains a lot of wisdom about how to be a friend, but I think what she ultimately comes away with is more of a feeling that it is OKAY for friendships to change, and it's okay for her to not understand. She can just let people be and try her best to be a good friend.
Of course the other thing about It List #2 is that it's advances our characters, turning them into the people they are and will be in the original Jessica Darling series. Manda and Sara are kind of similar to who they will be in Sloppy Firsts, but Jessica's friendship with Hope and some of the cross-country team girls deepens in this book.
And, like in the first book, there are definitely some interactions with Marcus Flutie. I really don't want to spoil these, but let's just say that Tween Marcus is a very accurate representation of who he will turn out to be in the later books - even more so in this book than in It List #1. The friendship between Jessica and Marcus is absolutely adorable and like a true fangirl, I totally gobbled it up.
Bonuses:
The Giggles: Like the original Jessica Darling, this series had me laughing out loud quite a few times - the things that happen are so out there, especially when they
Wisdom Comes With Age: If you're a fan of the older Jessica Darling novels, you know that Jessica's grandmother Gladdie is, like, the coolest elderly person in fiction. I was SO happy to see her in this installment, and she is just as hip, and wicked smart about life as she was in the original books, with an added bonus: younger Gladdie BAKES. I am desperate for her recipe for Jessica BARlings!
The Final Word:
If you love the original Jessica Darling series, reading these books will give you so much joy and insight into the characters and how they came to be - it's definitely a fun, light, and quick read for fans. But beyond that, It List #2 left me wishing that I'd had these books as a guide to my tween life when I was a kid. As a 10-13 year old, you need a dose of reality and to know that it's totally normal to not understand what's cool, and what isn't. I really hope there are librarians, teachers and parents out there who are giving this to pre-teens - I think it will help a lot of young girls through middle school.
Recommended for: Tweens who are starting junior high and trying to navigate girl friendships, major Jessica Darling fans
August 21, 2017
I watched the movie of book 1 last week on Netflix and loved it and was sad there wasn't more. Imagine my pleasure when I stumbled upon books 2 and 3 at the library today! Super cute and fun, but still kinda has something to say. I love juvenile fiction. Read this one cover to cover and immediately started book 3 right after
October 17, 2018
** 4.5 stars **
I liked this book even more than the first book and flew through this one so quickly. Jessica gets herself into trouble again by following another of her sister’s wacky It Lists but by the end learns a lot about friendship.
I found this book to be much more relatable than the first one and really liked that it tackled the topics of changing friendships, different friendship groups and keeping your old friends while making new ones.
This was a very young middle grade read and didn’t have much of a plot but I still really enjoyed it!
I liked this book even more than the first book and flew through this one so quickly. Jessica gets herself into trouble again by following another of her sister’s wacky It Lists but by the end learns a lot about friendship.
I found this book to be much more relatable than the first one and really liked that it tackled the topics of changing friendships, different friendship groups and keeping your old friends while making new ones.
This was a very young middle grade read and didn’t have much of a plot but I still really enjoyed it!
November 9, 2014
need the next. very good time waster
March 28, 2018
100% fluff but 100% fun
September 11, 2021
It is still weird trying to reconcile young Jessica with the high school Jessica I grew up with, but it's still super cute. Also, it's been forever since I've read the main series so I'm constantly trying to remember certain details. But I love seeing her figure things out.
November 6, 2014
This is the second It List book, featuring Jessica Darling (of Sloppy Firsts fame) in middle school. Seventh grade is underway and she's still trying to fit in, continuing on from where the first book left off. Her older sister provides her with a how-to list about making friends and being popular, and Jessica somehow ends up hosting a sleepover that doesn't quite turn out as planned.
As with the first book in this series, I enjoyed seeing appearances of characters who'd go on to be major players in the original series about Jessica's high school years. This was a very cute read and I enjoyed Jessica's narration in here. I'm pretty sure that everyone had some of her thoughts while in junior high, trying to figure out where they belong. One of the parts that seemed pretty spot-on featured Jessica musing about how everyone but her seemed to know what the "important" stuff was for the junior high social scene and why didn't she automatically know too? I also loved the depiction of the relationship drama, with Jessica having a three-line exchange with a "friend's" boyfriend and that friend immediately thinking Jessica must have been flirting.
While I liked the first It List book better, this one definitely had its moments and was overall charming. It wasn't particularly deep, nor did it have much of a plot, but the characters were entertaining and I really liked the humorous depiction of this month (or so) of their lives. Also, so many of the reactions to events (such as problems at the sleepover than made Jessica panic) seemed just absolutely perfect. Very light and breezy to get through, and enjoyable throughout. This is the sort of entertaining book (and series) I think its target audience will love.
As with the first book in this series, I enjoyed seeing appearances of characters who'd go on to be major players in the original series about Jessica's high school years. This was a very cute read and I enjoyed Jessica's narration in here. I'm pretty sure that everyone had some of her thoughts while in junior high, trying to figure out where they belong. One of the parts that seemed pretty spot-on featured Jessica musing about how everyone but her seemed to know what the "important" stuff was for the junior high social scene and why didn't she automatically know too? I also loved the depiction of the relationship drama, with Jessica having a three-line exchange with a "friend's" boyfriend and that friend immediately thinking Jessica must have been flirting.
While I liked the first It List book better, this one definitely had its moments and was overall charming. It wasn't particularly deep, nor did it have much of a plot, but the characters were entertaining and I really liked the humorous depiction of this month (or so) of their lives. Also, so many of the reactions to events (such as problems at the sleepover than made Jessica panic) seemed just absolutely perfect. Very light and breezy to get through, and enjoyable throughout. This is the sort of entertaining book (and series) I think its target audience will love.
June 22, 2015
More like a 3.5 but whatever.
This book was a total letdown. I was seriously so sad. There was no plot, no problem, and therefore, no clear resolution. Okay- I like the storyline, but STILL.
There was a supposed turning point- but noooooooo; I found another scene afterwards that could've been a turning point as well. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM AND SOLUTION IS?!
OMG I TOTALLY KNEW JESSICA AND SCOTTY WERE GETTING TOGETHER THOUGH I SHIP THEM.
Bridget is annoying. So is Manda. So is Sara. So is Dori. I like Hope.
MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK
THE ONLY REASON IT WASN'T A 1 OR 2-STAR WAS BECAUSE I LIKE THIS TYPE OF STORYLINE WHOOPS
This book was a total letdown. I was seriously so sad. There was no plot, no problem, and therefore, no clear resolution. Okay- I like the storyline, but STILL.
There was a supposed turning point- but noooooooo; I found another scene afterwards that could've been a turning point as well. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM AND SOLUTION IS?!
OMG I TOTALLY KNEW JESSICA AND SCOTTY WERE GETTING TOGETHER THOUGH I SHIP THEM.
Bridget is annoying. So is Manda. So is Sara. So is Dori. I like Hope.
MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK
THE ONLY REASON IT WASN'T A 1 OR 2-STAR WAS BECAUSE I LIKE THIS TYPE OF STORYLINE WHOOPS
February 23, 2016
Another amazing IT List novel. How does Megan Mccaffetty capture middle school so perfectly? She got all the weird girl power dynamics and passive aggression exactly right. I loved the appearance by Gladdie! And more Marcus Flutie, of course, and I'm enjoying see Hope and Jessica's friendship develop.
May 23, 2017
Learning her Grandma is staying over for eighteen days, Jessica is excited to be able to bake sweet treats with her grandma and get her advice on her friend situations.
While Bridget keeps taking Jessica's homemade sweets and classifying them as her own to impress Burke, Jessica is expected to always be there all the time Bridget and her many potential break ups with Burke may occur.
Jess then gets her own spell of boy trouble between her and Scotty as Dori thinks they like each other. Jess later learns that actually Scotty has feelings and they're not for the girl he's dating after all.
Manda and Sara then seemingly peer pressure Jessica into holding a sleepover for them, Hope and Bridget though Dori and some of the guys end up attending too but it of course doesn't go to plan, ending in near death for one of them, leaving the sleepover early for others and Jess's grandma calling the police on the kids who snuck off!
Then Aleck, really known as Marcus and Jess share a few laughs again and Marcus still acts really sweet around Jess despite the sleepover events.
Hope then being her new best friend really, confides in Jess about her period coming and that being why she acted oddly at Jess's sleepover. Jess feels happy knowing she's a trusted friend and realises being a slow developer body wise may not be a bad thing after all.
Her sister Bethany tells Jessica she has a chance at readmission to college and not all hope may be lost for her after all!
Another fun read which may have child-like language of high schoolers but will make you laugh all the same with a great fast paced storyline.
While Bridget keeps taking Jessica's homemade sweets and classifying them as her own to impress Burke, Jessica is expected to always be there all the time Bridget and her many potential break ups with Burke may occur.
Jess then gets her own spell of boy trouble between her and Scotty as Dori thinks they like each other. Jess later learns that actually Scotty has feelings and they're not for the girl he's dating after all.
Manda and Sara then seemingly peer pressure Jessica into holding a sleepover for them, Hope and Bridget though Dori and some of the guys end up attending too but it of course doesn't go to plan, ending in near death for one of them, leaving the sleepover early for others and Jess's grandma calling the police on the kids who snuck off!
Then Aleck, really known as Marcus and Jess share a few laughs again and Marcus still acts really sweet around Jess despite the sleepover events.
Hope then being her new best friend really, confides in Jess about her period coming and that being why she acted oddly at Jess's sleepover. Jess feels happy knowing she's a trusted friend and realises being a slow developer body wise may not be a bad thing after all.
Her sister Bethany tells Jessica she has a chance at readmission to college and not all hope may be lost for her after all!
Another fun read which may have child-like language of high schoolers but will make you laugh all the same with a great fast paced storyline.
July 12, 2017
These are such fun, quick reads and they're making me want to reread the original JD series so bad (at least the first two books)!
Like mentioned in the first book's review of the spinoff, they're definitely not canon, but I think it makes it more enjoyable in a sense, because it gives you an idea of how Jessica and Marcus would interact at a younger age - still angsty, still flirty, still so entertaining to read about.
I also loved Scotty in this book and I find his reasons behind liking Jess really sweet; it actually makes me appreciate his character in the other books in a new, unpredictable way. Although I really did not appreciate the "Me. Yes. Me." reference being directed towards Scotty and not Marcus. But that's my die-hard Marcus/Jess shipper heart overreacting (high-key I've never die-hard shipped a couple so hard).
Like mentioned in the first book's review of the spinoff, they're definitely not canon, but I think it makes it more enjoyable in a sense, because it gives you an idea of how Jessica and Marcus would interact at a younger age - still angsty, still flirty, still so entertaining to read about.
I also loved Scotty in this book and I find his reasons behind liking Jess really sweet; it actually makes me appreciate his character in the other books in a new, unpredictable way. Although I really did not appreciate the "Me. Yes. Me." reference being directed towards Scotty and not Marcus. But that's my die-hard Marcus/Jess shipper heart overreacting (high-key I've never die-hard shipped a couple so hard).
September 25, 2021
Definitely a fun, cute read (and in recent times one of the only books I found myself enjoying! YAY ME!) and the main character’s thoughts are so insane it’s funny. I find myself laughing out loud but also kind of getting annoyed by Jessica at the same time. She’s great but what riles me up is the fact that she goes around labelling people especially with the word ‘boring’. Now don’t get me wrong I love drama in books but that’s also the only reason why she’s interesting. Because there’s drama around her—otherwise she’s what I’d call ‘boring’, too. But that doesn’t bother me too much because everything else is just pure chaos and it’s just a riot to read!
September 5, 2019
Again, fine, but it's just not adding much to the Jessica Darling universe. Marcus Flutie is okay, although this is a re-writing of canon. It's nice seeing Jessica and Hope's relationship develop. But, we could already have predicted how Jessica and Bridget grew apart, how Bethany's life trajectory developed. This isn't giving us enough color between the lines to make it worth it.
October 18, 2020
I loooooved this series!!!
This is probably one of my favourite-est (not a word I know) series that I have ever read.
I am not usually a series reader but these had me so hooked I read all 5 AND the 3 prequels.
She is your typical teeenager looking for answers and finds them in the most unexpected places with the most unexpected people.
This is probably one of my favourite-est (not a word I know) series that I have ever read.
I am not usually a series reader but these had me so hooked I read all 5 AND the 3 prequels.
She is your typical teeenager looking for answers and finds them in the most unexpected places with the most unexpected people.
August 14, 2025
I loved the first book way back in the day, so I liked reading this a lot more than I probably should've. Almost all her friends are super annoying to read about but I like Aleck. I hope book three has a good ending.
October 10, 2018
Must read next one! So sad about the falling out with with Bridget. Those two are meant besties!
Want to read
January 27, 2020cool
September 11, 2022
i loved the first books movie when i was younger and am so excited to finish this series!
December 16, 2014
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Oh, Jessica Darling, crusher of my middle grade shippy heart. Snarky voice that makes me know you’re a kindred spirit. Judgmental nature that makes me wonder if you are in fact me. I love Jessica Darling, though I have not yet gotten the bravery to venture past book two in her original series. I know it’s weird to call myself a big fan when I didn’t even read half of it, but I am so deal with it. The middle grade Jessica books aren’t what the older ones are, which is both a wonderful and a sad thing.
The big downside of middle grade Jessica is the lack of shippiness. I live for ships and middle graders just do not ship as well as young adults. Plus, this is excellent too, because Jessica really doesn’t have a crush on anyone and it’s fun to watch her navigate that. Poor MG Jessica gets involved in a scandal, cast as the attempted seductress of a friend’s boyfriend, and it’s so funny because she wants no part of the boyfriend or any boy really. Also, just the drama level of the romantic relationships in the seventh grade cracks me up. Possible break ups are met with wailing, but the couples really have nothing to talk about ever. Dawwww, the past.
MG Jessica’s obviously herself. There’s no one quite like Jessica Darling. She’s still hilarious and rather bitchy in her head, but she’s not as bitter yet. It’s pretty evident how Jessica got this way, caught in between two warring groups of friends, all determined to have major drama. In this book, her friendship with Hope is really transforming beyond the acquaintance phase and into true BFF mode, which is super sweet.
The focus of book two, as the much too long title indicates, is friendship. Jessica’s on the borders of popularity, with four of her best friends being mega-popular, six if she counts the soccer friends but she usually does forget to. The thing is that Jessica’s not actually sure if she likes most of her friends. She does really like the soccer girls, but she kind of forgets them. So much of middle school friendship is about location, as Jessica realizes. She sees the other girls a lot and so they’re friends. Or frenemies. Or something. By the end of this book, she’s starting to really learn something about friendship and who she wants to spend her time with, but it’s going to take some more.
The Marcus Flutie moments are adorably Marcus, of course. He is by turns obnoxious, weird, adorable, and a genius. The real star of the book, though, is Gladdie, Jessica’s sassy grandmother. I’m pretty sure that Gladdie’s the person most like Jessica. She’s fabulous and should be around all the time.
What I’m struggling with here is relating this book to the teen Jessica. I can’t remember details well enough to say how things align, but I do feel like they’re a bit off. MG Jessica mostly fits, but I have trouble with the It Lists around which the plots are built. I could definitely see Jessica wanting the first one, but I have trouble seeing her taking the second list seriously. Asking for it, sure, but actually using it hoping for real assistance? I’m doubtful. Wanting a THIRD list is even more surprising. Not a huge deal in terms of entertainment, but I did cock my head to the side every time the lists came up.
The Jessica Darling’s It List books are fun and snarky middle grade contemporaries. If you grew up on Jessica Darling, they’re totally worth a read. Though I’m not sure if the final three JD books are worth a read and I definitely want to try the series again now that I’ve read this. Decisions.
Oh, Jessica Darling, crusher of my middle grade shippy heart. Snarky voice that makes me know you’re a kindred spirit. Judgmental nature that makes me wonder if you are in fact me. I love Jessica Darling, though I have not yet gotten the bravery to venture past book two in her original series. I know it’s weird to call myself a big fan when I didn’t even read half of it, but I am so deal with it. The middle grade Jessica books aren’t what the older ones are, which is both a wonderful and a sad thing.
The big downside of middle grade Jessica is the lack of shippiness. I live for ships and middle graders just do not ship as well as young adults. Plus, this is excellent too, because Jessica really doesn’t have a crush on anyone and it’s fun to watch her navigate that. Poor MG Jessica gets involved in a scandal, cast as the attempted seductress of a friend’s boyfriend, and it’s so funny because she wants no part of the boyfriend or any boy really. Also, just the drama level of the romantic relationships in the seventh grade cracks me up. Possible break ups are met with wailing, but the couples really have nothing to talk about ever. Dawwww, the past.
MG Jessica’s obviously herself. There’s no one quite like Jessica Darling. She’s still hilarious and rather bitchy in her head, but she’s not as bitter yet. It’s pretty evident how Jessica got this way, caught in between two warring groups of friends, all determined to have major drama. In this book, her friendship with Hope is really transforming beyond the acquaintance phase and into true BFF mode, which is super sweet.
The focus of book two, as the much too long title indicates, is friendship. Jessica’s on the borders of popularity, with four of her best friends being mega-popular, six if she counts the soccer friends but she usually does forget to. The thing is that Jessica’s not actually sure if she likes most of her friends. She does really like the soccer girls, but she kind of forgets them. So much of middle school friendship is about location, as Jessica realizes. She sees the other girls a lot and so they’re friends. Or frenemies. Or something. By the end of this book, she’s starting to really learn something about friendship and who she wants to spend her time with, but it’s going to take some more.
The Marcus Flutie moments are adorably Marcus, of course. He is by turns obnoxious, weird, adorable, and a genius. The real star of the book, though, is Gladdie, Jessica’s sassy grandmother. I’m pretty sure that Gladdie’s the person most like Jessica. She’s fabulous and should be around all the time.
What I’m struggling with here is relating this book to the teen Jessica. I can’t remember details well enough to say how things align, but I do feel like they’re a bit off. MG Jessica mostly fits, but I have trouble with the It Lists around which the plots are built. I could definitely see Jessica wanting the first one, but I have trouble seeing her taking the second list seriously. Asking for it, sure, but actually using it hoping for real assistance? I’m doubtful. Wanting a THIRD list is even more surprising. Not a huge deal in terms of entertainment, but I did cock my head to the side every time the lists came up.
The Jessica Darling’s It List books are fun and snarky middle grade contemporaries. If you grew up on Jessica Darling, they’re totally worth a read. Though I’m not sure if the final three JD books are worth a read and I definitely want to try the series again now that I’ve read this. Decisions.
February 18, 2016
Like the first It List, this book is a sweet piece of fluff--it's nowhere near the level of its origin series, but it's still funny and different enough to stand out from other similar stories. I like it a little less than the first one, probably because the storyline feels a little more run-of-the-mill, but it's still a short, amusing read.
These books don't have all that much of a plot--this one has even less than the simplistic Guide to Popularity, Prettiness, and Perfection--and it's really only forgivable because McCafferty is such an entertaining writer and Jessica is such an endearing, relatable protagonist. I'm happy to spend time in her world, even if the storyline isn't as polished or tight as it should be. In a way, that almost made this book feel true to life--things aren't neatly resolved by the end and some conflicts are ongoing. I particularly appreciated the part where Jessica admits that she's drifted away from some of her older friends and might need to build new relationships--because who hasn't gone through that?
What was really refreshing about It List 2 was how much Jessica did not care about boys. There's plenty of that ridiculous middle school dating drama in this book--which, as Jessica acknowledges, mainly consists of couples holding hands and not really paying any attention to one another (thank you for an accurate portrayal of middle school dating, Megan McCafferty)--but Jessica wants no part in it. It's such a nice change to see a female protagonist who really doesn't have any romantic interest at this point in her life. We see authors shove romance earlier and earlier into their characters' lives--we have teenagers professing undying love at sixteen and even middle-grade books often end with a couple. It feels so much more true to life to have a protagonist who simply couldn't care less.
I was sad to see that there was next to no Mr. Pudel in this book. It was no secret that Jessica's time in Woodshop was my favorite part about It List #1. And although Woodshop does make an appearance, it's more for the sake of Jessica's interaction with Aleck than anything else. Their interactions are cute, but they feel forced from a storytelling perspective--because everyone who has read the original series knows who Aleck is and what role he will play in Jessica's life. But there was some nice foreshadowing about his relationship to Jessica's grandmother, who also made a welcome appearance in this book.
Bottom line: this book (and the It List series in general) is nothing to get too jazzed about, but you won't regret reading it. It seems a little more trite and stereotypical than the other series--the scenarios are all a little too familiar, whether it's from a literary or personal standpoint--but it's still cute, hilarious, and often way too on the money in its dissections of middle school culture. If anything, these books make me want to reread the originals now that I've gotten a glimpse of the characters' back-stories.
3 stars.
These books don't have all that much of a plot--this one has even less than the simplistic Guide to Popularity, Prettiness, and Perfection--and it's really only forgivable because McCafferty is such an entertaining writer and Jessica is such an endearing, relatable protagonist. I'm happy to spend time in her world, even if the storyline isn't as polished or tight as it should be. In a way, that almost made this book feel true to life--things aren't neatly resolved by the end and some conflicts are ongoing. I particularly appreciated the part where Jessica admits that she's drifted away from some of her older friends and might need to build new relationships--because who hasn't gone through that?
What was really refreshing about It List 2 was how much Jessica did not care about boys. There's plenty of that ridiculous middle school dating drama in this book--which, as Jessica acknowledges, mainly consists of couples holding hands and not really paying any attention to one another (thank you for an accurate portrayal of middle school dating, Megan McCafferty)--but Jessica wants no part in it. It's such a nice change to see a female protagonist who really doesn't have any romantic interest at this point in her life. We see authors shove romance earlier and earlier into their characters' lives--we have teenagers professing undying love at sixteen and even middle-grade books often end with a couple. It feels so much more true to life to have a protagonist who simply couldn't care less.
I was sad to see that there was next to no Mr. Pudel in this book. It was no secret that Jessica's time in Woodshop was my favorite part about It List #1. And although Woodshop does make an appearance, it's more for the sake of Jessica's interaction with Aleck than anything else. Their interactions are cute, but they feel forced from a storytelling perspective--because everyone who has read the original series knows who Aleck is and what role he will play in Jessica's life. But there was some nice foreshadowing about his relationship to Jessica's grandmother, who also made a welcome appearance in this book.
Bottom line: this book (and the It List series in general) is nothing to get too jazzed about, but you won't regret reading it. It seems a little more trite and stereotypical than the other series--the scenarios are all a little too familiar, whether it's from a literary or personal standpoint--but it's still cute, hilarious, and often way too on the money in its dissections of middle school culture. If anything, these books make me want to reread the originals now that I've gotten a glimpse of the characters' back-stories.
3 stars.
December 22, 2014
Review originally posted on: Rather Be Reading Blog
While reading Jessica Darling’s IT List Part 2, I was reminded of how much Jessica marches to her own drum. Even though she gets comments on the old band t-shirts she loves to wear and how she wants to dress up like the Periodical Table of Elements for Halloween, she doesn’t change.
The fact that those things stay put when she is literally (I used it right!) questioning everything about her life? Totally admirable.
In the second book of this middle grade series, Jessica is navigating friendships like whoa. Her best friend Bridget seems to be relying more and more on the popular crowd and putting a lot of effort into her boyfriend. Then there’s Hope, who is someone Jess really clicks with but can be so hot and cold. And what about the girls on the track team? How does she know what’s real and what’s not when it seems like her longest and most important friendship is crumbling?
One of the the biggest highlights of this book for me was Jessica’s relationship with her grandma. With her parents so occupied, her grandmother is staying with them for a few weeks and I loved the sounding board she provided when Jessica was feeling a little lost. Not going to lie — made me tear up in some spots because of my own close relationship with my grandma at that age. It was a nice touch to have her a part of the story.
Once again, reading this brought me back to so many of the titles I loved at this age and also made me want to dust off my copy of Sloppy Firsts and get addicted to this heroine from the beginning I know best. I love that these books serve two purposes: entertaining young readers with realistic story lines and a pinch of humor and reminding us Jessica veterans why she is so important to us.
While reading Jessica Darling’s IT List Part 2, I was reminded of how much Jessica marches to her own drum. Even though she gets comments on the old band t-shirts she loves to wear and how she wants to dress up like the Periodical Table of Elements for Halloween, she doesn’t change.
The fact that those things stay put when she is literally (I used it right!) questioning everything about her life? Totally admirable.
In the second book of this middle grade series, Jessica is navigating friendships like whoa. Her best friend Bridget seems to be relying more and more on the popular crowd and putting a lot of effort into her boyfriend. Then there’s Hope, who is someone Jess really clicks with but can be so hot and cold. And what about the girls on the track team? How does she know what’s real and what’s not when it seems like her longest and most important friendship is crumbling?
One of the the biggest highlights of this book for me was Jessica’s relationship with her grandma. With her parents so occupied, her grandmother is staying with them for a few weeks and I loved the sounding board she provided when Jessica was feeling a little lost. Not going to lie — made me tear up in some spots because of my own close relationship with my grandma at that age. It was a nice touch to have her a part of the story.
Once again, reading this brought me back to so many of the titles I loved at this age and also made me want to dust off my copy of Sloppy Firsts and get addicted to this heroine from the beginning I know best. I love that these books serve two purposes: entertaining young readers with realistic story lines and a pinch of humor and reminding us Jessica veterans why she is so important to us.
December 29, 2014
I read this in one afternoon. As a fan of the original book series, I will read anything involving these characters. Honestly, I can't deny that fact. This one came in the mail the other day, and I couldn't resist picking it up right away. Jessica Darling was there for me during a tough time. Specifically, she was there for me the summer I graduated high school in 2003 and was moving away from everyone and everything I knew. This story was enjoyable, but I did have some minor issues with it.
The issues I have: Jessica and crew would have graduated from HS in 2002. In middle school, these kids would not have used terms like "deets" or "try-hard". Those are both modern slang terms that my generation didn't use, but my current students DO use. They also wouldn't have had cellphones or text messaging in the mid to late 90s, so I'm not sure what was meant by "blee-bloop" conversations instead of literally talking to someone on the phone. I guess I could associate this with the old school AOL Instant Messenger... And I guess Jessica's story about dropping her phone in the toilet COULD be a cordless. However, I felt like the story was dancing around the time line to make it feel modern, despite the fact that the original YA books are firmly set in the early 2000s.
The good: Jessica's experience with the Scotty/Dori, Manda/Sara, and Bridget/Dori situation felt all too familiar. In fact, I was getting a little stressed out because it was bringing back horrible memories from my 7th grade experience (To my "friends" from middle school: you can all go to hell). This might sound like a bad thing, but it connected me to the character on a deeper level. Sure, middle school was a terrible experience, but I don't feel alone in the misery anymore lol.
It's a cute, quick book for fans of the original series. And I'm sure MG readers can certainly relate and enjoy it as well.
The issues I have: Jessica and crew would have graduated from HS in 2002. In middle school, these kids would not have used terms like "deets" or "try-hard". Those are both modern slang terms that my generation didn't use, but my current students DO use. They also wouldn't have had cellphones or text messaging in the mid to late 90s, so I'm not sure what was meant by "blee-bloop" conversations instead of literally talking to someone on the phone. I guess I could associate this with the old school AOL Instant Messenger... And I guess Jessica's story about dropping her phone in the toilet COULD be a cordless. However, I felt like the story was dancing around the time line to make it feel modern, despite the fact that the original YA books are firmly set in the early 2000s.
The good: Jessica's experience with the Scotty/Dori, Manda/Sara, and Bridget/Dori situation felt all too familiar. In fact, I was getting a little stressed out because it was bringing back horrible memories from my 7th grade experience (To my "friends" from middle school: you can all go to hell). This might sound like a bad thing, but it connected me to the character on a deeper level. Sure, middle school was a terrible experience, but I don't feel alone in the misery anymore lol.
It's a cute, quick book for fans of the original series. And I'm sure MG readers can certainly relate and enjoy it as well.
March 30, 2016
3.5 A fast, fun read, ideal for tweens and young teens, Jessica Darling's It List #2 is a realistic, not-too-sketchy portrayal of the transition from elementary to middle school. Jessica Darling, a 7th grader attempts to reconcile two rival friend groups as well as master an unexpectedly challenging woodshop.
Left behind by her elementary school friends, who've moved on to the social elite of the "Cheer Team", Jessica forges an alliance with the founders of the rival "Spirit Squad". Counting on advice from her mega-popular older sister, Jessica navigates the treacherous waters of middle school society. I especially related to her lame attempt to weasel her way into the popular clique with an ill fated sleepover (shades of 5th grade summer!) at which she attempts to unite the rival factions.
My only beef with this second entry in the "Jessica Darling" series is the lack of background from the previous novel. I felt lost at the beginning with a skimpy synopsis of the first book. Other junior fiction authors, most notably JK Rowling and Lauren Myracle do a much better job of setting the scene in the subsequent entries in their series.
Left behind by her elementary school friends, who've moved on to the social elite of the "Cheer Team", Jessica forges an alliance with the founders of the rival "Spirit Squad". Counting on advice from her mega-popular older sister, Jessica navigates the treacherous waters of middle school society. I especially related to her lame attempt to weasel her way into the popular clique with an ill fated sleepover (shades of 5th grade summer!) at which she attempts to unite the rival factions.
My only beef with this second entry in the "Jessica Darling" series is the lack of background from the previous novel. I felt lost at the beginning with a skimpy synopsis of the first book. Other junior fiction authors, most notably JK Rowling and Lauren Myracle do a much better job of setting the scene in the subsequent entries in their series.
March 19, 2025
"No one else would've noticed," he said with a shy smile, "unless he was already looking."
Tell me why Scotty was the one who dropped the most cute and romantic line in the whole IT-List series. Also, can we talk about the “ME? YES. ME.” slip-in that Megan did in that same scene?? Hello??? Don’t think I didn’t catch that, girl, because I did!!!
I have no clue why Aleck, aka the younger version of the love of my life Marcus Flutie, is portrayed as such a dumbass. Marcus is very calculated, and I guess it goes to show how different you are in middle school and high school, but come on. You’re trying to convince me that he didn’t understand Jessica’s Halloween costume?
“…which is how I ended up right in Aleck's path. In a hallway filled with superheroes and video-game villains, he, like me, was wearing a plain white T-shirt with black lettering. Only his said simply: COSTUME.”
And so this was where it all began… I love his one-word T-shirts so much.
December 24, 2014
As much as I love being back in Jessica Darling's world, I am struggling a bit with how incredibly young this new series is. It didn't bother me as much in the first book, but this one felt even younger for some reason.
Overall though, I still think this series is cute and I'll read the next one. I can't wait to see Jess and Hope's friendship really blossom!
Overall though, I still think this series is cute and I'll read the next one. I can't wait to see Jess and Hope's friendship really blossom!
June 22, 2014
As you know, I am insanely in love with Jessica Darling and have been since I was in college. I love this whole MG series because I'll be able to give it to my goddaughter in a couple of years and my niece in 8-10 years. I'm so excited that they'll be able to grow up with her. (Although seeing as how I met her when she was in high school and we went through college and early adulthood together, you can make the case that I grew up with her, too.)
As far as the MG books go, I preferred this one to the first one. Jessica seems a lot more like herself and her friendship with Hope (and with our Marcus Flutie) is really starting to develop. I would be willing to bet that by the next book, we'll definitely see the Jessica Darling we know and love.
(Speaking of, there's a reference to the later series that seriously made me shriek and then grin like a freak.)
I love these books. You should read them if you haven't already.
Highly recommended.
As far as the MG books go, I preferred this one to the first one. Jessica seems a lot more like herself and her friendship with Hope (and with our Marcus Flutie) is really starting to develop. I would be willing to bet that by the next book, we'll definitely see the Jessica Darling we know and love.
(Speaking of, there's a reference to the later series that seriously made me shriek and then grin like a freak.)
I love these books. You should read them if you haven't already.
Highly recommended.
December 4, 2014
I will religiously read anything about Jessica Darling, but I didn't love this book. It's very middle school drama, and it's infuriating how Jessica strives to be like Manda and Sara because they annoy me endlessly.
And, again, I'm annoyed with everything to do with Aleck. You think that when Jessica becomes obsessed with Marcus at sixteen (just over three years after this book takes place!) she'd mention Aleck/Clem and woodshop, that they kind of had a friendship, Obviously Sloppy Firsts was written years before this one, but the purist in me is annoyed at this lack on continuity.
But again, I will religiously read anything about Jessica Darling, so bring on It List #3!
And, again, I'm annoyed with everything to do with Aleck. You think that when Jessica becomes obsessed with Marcus at sixteen (just over three years after this book takes place!) she'd mention Aleck/Clem and woodshop, that they kind of had a friendship, Obviously Sloppy Firsts was written years before this one, but the purist in me is annoyed at this lack on continuity.
But again, I will religiously read anything about Jessica Darling, so bring on It List #3!
February 7, 2017
See full review for Jessica Darling's It List 2 at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves....
I think I said this with the first book’s review, but I’ll say it again. I love these books because of the over reactions of Jessica Darling. Usually in book I don’t like when characters get melodramatic, but for this series it just works. Especially because I remember being in junior high and being just that melodramatic. And in Jessica Darling’s It List 2, I actually had something to relate to. Jessica is still trying to navigate her new junior high life. She still doesn’t understand boys. She’s afraid that she is being replaced as Bridget’s best friend. She doesn’t understand her friendship with Sara and Manda and she’s really hoping that Hope and her become closer. When her sister gives her a new list she’s just as confused as she was with the first one.
I think I said this with the first book’s review, but I’ll say it again. I love these books because of the over reactions of Jessica Darling. Usually in book I don’t like when characters get melodramatic, but for this series it just works. Especially because I remember being in junior high and being just that melodramatic. And in Jessica Darling’s It List 2, I actually had something to relate to. Jessica is still trying to navigate her new junior high life. She still doesn’t understand boys. She’s afraid that she is being replaced as Bridget’s best friend. She doesn’t understand her friendship with Sara and Manda and she’s really hoping that Hope and her become closer. When her sister gives her a new list she’s just as confused as she was with the first one.
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