The Less-Than-Hidden Secrets and Final Revelations of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang

The Popularity Papers #7

by Amy Ignatow

Lydia and Julie have been through many adventures as they navigated junior high, popularity, families, and friendship. In the final adventure in the series, the peaceful world of Hamlin Junior High is rocked when Lydia and Julie learn that they’re going to have to play host to new students whose school burned down. The outside threat bands the Hamlin kids together against a common enemy—for a while. When the enemy gets their hands on Lydia and Julie’s notebook, no one wants anything to do with the girls. It’s the biggest threat to their friendship (and a pretty definitive failure of their quest for popularity), and it can only be solved one way. Two dance battle .

Genres: Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Childrens, Young Adult, School, Friendship, Humor

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2014

Reviews

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does "final revelations" mean that this is intended to be the last book in the series? I have really enjoyed the Popularity Papers series, even though I did not think this was the strongest book. I have always enjoyed the descriptions of Lydia's and Julie's families and that they are both non-traditional but highly functional. I would enjoy seeing their exploits continue as they move to high school.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, but there was nothing really substantial about it. The strength of this series is how it deals with big issues and lessons while keeping things fun and age-appropriate, but this one just felt like watching a bunch of middle school conflicts. It was still fun to read, but felt too mild for the final book of the series.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last book in the seven book series but the first one I have read. Great for MG upper primary readers even though the characters are in last year of middle school and about to start high school. Although there is a lot about dating there isn't anything inappropriate for younger readers.

The series is a good pick for kids that love Diary of a wimpy kid and Dork Diaries.

My only complaint - some of the cursive script in ballpoint is harder to read for kids not used to seeing it and although these are a great pick for reluctant readers my dyslexic students would find this format difficult.

Overall - sweet and fun!

[Dana Grimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to miss these books now that this is the last! Sweet, funny, and well drawn as always. I thought this story felt a bit rushed in the end but I still loved it and the message that these stories always send is spot on. My favorite will always be the Road Trip one, but this is a great end to the series. I love Papa-Dad!

[Shacoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a let down for me. The main conflict of the book, which was the notebook being found out about, seemed to be resolved way too quickly. I didn't find the overall story line of the new kids coming to Lydia and Julie's middle school to be that interesting. This was the last book in there series. I would love to see a follow up series of the girls in high school. Overall, it was a good series and I enjoyed reading it.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

BFFs and creative girls will enjoy the middle school drama that plays out in Lydia and Julia's shared journal. When Adams Middle School burns down and merges with Hamlin, there is much consternation among the Hamlin students. Having undergone a high school merger back in my day, the rampant rumors and high emotion are spot on.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

too much happened all at once, that led to absolutely nothing. they end it with the girls getting ready to observe for high school, not with an actual ending?? when it’s the last book?? and i thought it would end with them not wanting to make any more journals when they go straight to doing another one?? i loved all of them except this one. this one was a huge let down.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read this book, I thought that the author was finally shaking up the formula of the series by introducing new students who antagonize Julie and Lydia. The problem is, the new students are right. Julie should know more about her Latina heritage. Julie and Lydia have become the unlikeable popular girls, and the new students aren’t as mean as much as the author says they are. Alas.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very funny and amusing.it I did not like it when they copied the notebook papers.i liked when they had the dance,it was funny.

[Finn S. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eigentlich ganz niedlich

[Nidos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much of a hassle for the closure of a series, but somehow that's what we needed to make a final revelation. But for such a final revelation, honestly it wasn't as grande as I thought it would be. There were two schools involved, ffs! But then again, ain't it how things work? We sometimes worry too much over stuffs but they turn out fine. That's what happened here. Not a bad ending tho, not at all. I'd surely miss these duo and reread it in the near future.

Three stars and a half.

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the Popularity Papers so much! After reading all of them at least once I was sad that my opportunity of reading more of this adventure would be over. Like all of the books, this book was full of friendship and humor. These books remind me of my own best friend and me together almost everyday (that is threw the phone at least). I hope Amy Ignatow will be inspierd to write more and more of these books. I love them so much. I hope you like them too! These books are also very easy to read threw, even at a slowish pace you can sometimes be done with then in a hour or two.
:) :) :) :) :)

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so sad that this series is over! Read my review here:
http://cbookbabblings.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-popularity-papers-by-amy-ignatow.html

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sad to see this series end! The characters are so lovable and realistic. It feels like I grew up with Lydia and Julie and now I have to move on to high school, too. Thankfully, that's not true.

[Mrs. S's Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read is about 2 girls trying to get through the rest of middle school. Someone steals journal but they don't know who. The mystery person post up things on school walls and makes people sad. Read to find out more.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm A big fan of The Popularity Papers series . The books are filled with humour and good messages for everyone . I am seriously bond with these books and I hope with my whole heart it's not over yet !

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it really the end?! Not sure I can stand it! I loved this series and the humor and craftsmanship that went into all of these books.

[Jane]

A fun, fast read.

[Andrea Labonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series it is a must read from the beginning of the series.

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sorry to see this series end. It is sweet and humorous. It's so popular at my school that the books are rarely on the shelf.

[Khushboo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad that the series is over. Happy with the message.

[Daccoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is when Julie and Lidia loose their journal and prom is coming up soon and they decide to be on the dance comity. Will they find their diary? will the dance turn out ok?

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fitting conclusion to a series. Fans of Dork Diaries will enjoy this series.

[Caleb Xiao · Rating 4 out of 5]

mmmmmm....

[Sage Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool book! I love how the author wrote the two narratives!

[my name is nonya: none ya buissness · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Less-Than-Hidden Secrets and Final Revelations of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang is written by Amy Ignatow and has 206 pages.
While Lydia's mom and coach Eric are on there honeymoon a school gets burned down so they have to come to Lydia and Julie's school. Every kid has to share there locker with someone from the other school. Julie's dads do not like it. Roland and Julie finally or now a couple. and when Julie finds out that Roland beats up a guy from the other school she doesn't believe it, she says that he could never hurt a fly. And when she meets her locker mate she is really nice to her, but the locker made doesn't really seem too interested. Then the kids from the other school start making fun of her locker mate for hanging out with Julie and they call her a big loser. Julie feels really bad for her cuz obviously she got teased at her school too. When Lydia meets her locker mate she's really rude. But for some reason Jamie has been crushing on Lydia likes her not like that like a friend. and surprisingly Her locker mate likes him too. and then when people think that the spring dance is going to get cancelled they get really mad, there's a lot of conflict between them and then videos and Julie's Journal gets stolen. Then they start seeing snapshots of their pages being pasted around the school. So they decided to do a stakeout, Julie hopes that when she gets the book back Roland will not be mad at her anymore. He's mad at her because one picture that she drew of when of him when he she said that he could not hurt a fly she got really mad at her for saying that.
Then they catch the guy Roland beat up at the school before hours. then Julie jumps on him, and then she gets in big trouble. Video is kind of picking fun at her because she was Getting in trouble for going down the wrong way on a one-way Highway. Then they get the book back It was then Julie's Locker. At the Spring Dance Jamie and Lydia are dancing and everyone is having fun but since the two schools have to share the gym for the dance they each take turns picking the song to dance to and while one I was going on the people from the other school don't dance to it it keeps going like that all night. Except when Julie and Lydia play one of their songs from their band than anyone's retentive cuz they don't even know who it is and what and who picked it. Julie goes over to her locker and then she is talking to her and she says you're not mad? and Julie says no why should I be. that she's the one that took it and gave it to the guy because she wanted him to like her and stop making fun of her, and then when he posted the stuff around school she took it back. Julie feel kind of sad for her she's not mad though.
I really liked the book, it was really funny and it had a mystery of who took their journal. I liked how all of the characters had conflict going on because it makes it more believable. My favorite character would be Julie because she's funny and not always practical. I liked how the author made the book two girls writing things down in the journal they both have had for along time to get ready for high school, because it has two sides of the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone because its so funny and it's believable too. I think everyone would enjoy this.