The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang

The Popularity Papers #5

by Amy Ignatow

Hilarious, observant, and honest, The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang— fifth in the Popularity Papers series — has all of author/illustrator Amy Ignatow’s signature charm, while bringing our beloved heroines to a new turning point in their lives.

Fresh off their epic summer road trip, Lydia and Julie are back and ready to take seventh grade by storm. Well, Lydia She wants to start a band, and she’s convinced Julie to join her. The Macram Owls are joined by Roland (expert at the hardingfele ) and Jane (expert at drama). None of them, unfortunately, are experts at rocking out.

The band needs more practice, but instead Lydia and Julie find themselves riding an unexpected wave of popularity thanks to their own belated birthday party. The girls may have accidentally stumbled upon the secret to popularity—if only the secret weren’t so completely humiliating.

The Popularity
Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#1)
The Long-Distance Dispatch Between Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#2)
Words of (Questionable) Wisdom from Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#3)
The Rocky Road Trip of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#4)
The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#5)
Love and Other Fiascos with Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#6)
The Less-Than-Hidden Secrets and Final Revelations of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (#7)

Genres: Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Childrens, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Young Adult

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2013

Reviews

[Jeff Whittingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book just as much as the first books in the series! I was in the doctor's office waiting on an exam and had to bite my tongue because I was laughing so much and I was afraid other people would hear me laughing out loud. Ignatow depicts middle school perfectly.

[Gaijinmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is all kinds of awesome and this book may be the best yet.
If you have a child age 9 or up, if you remember what it was like to be unpopular in middle school and ever did stuff like dye your hair blue, if you like seeing young women's friendships portrayed in a realistic and not-at-all-sappy-or-silly way, if you appreciate a bit of snarky humor and a couple of truly smart and funny gay dads, I wholeheartedly recommend it. I'd start with the first book but each one stands alone pretty well too.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute quick read while I was subbing at the Middle School library. I would definitely hand a copy to a reluctant reader.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked a particular part of the book where Jane dyed her hair blue like Lydia. Lydia was pretty mad because that was her thing and Jane just completely copied it for no good reason. Lydia thought about dying her hair a different color to see if Jane wouldn't copy it, but she didn't she just went along with them both having blue hair. It didn't really make a big change in the story, but I'm sort of wondering why Jane dyed her hair blue. There are so many other colors out there and she picked blue. Another part of the book I liked was when Lydia, Julie, Jane and Roland performed in front of a bunch of the school. They were very scared and they all ran into the bathroom. But Melody, Lydia's older sister, gave them a little pep talk outside of the bathroom and it helped them leave the bathroom and perform. This was something nice they got out of the new nice Melody because in the last book she was mean and goth. Another reason she gave them the pep talk was because she needed to use the bathroom. These were some of my favorite parts from the book.

[Shazzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never get tired of Lydia and Julie. Ever. I hope this series carries them into college. It'll be awesome! :)

[Jenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG ROLAND!!

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

This book The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang was written by Amy Ignatow, it has around 100-200 pages.
In this book Lydia and Julie just get back from there road trip with Julie's dads. When they get home they find a lot of surprises. Lydia finds her once mean and scary sister (who died her hair purple, had a whole lot of make up and piercings, and wore dark clothes and clunky shoes) cut her hair and un-died it, and is now wearing peace signs and shorts! with no piercings no make up. and she wearing flip-flops and toe-rings! Julie finds that her cat destroyed their house. Julie and Lydia desided that they wanted to start a band so they invite Roland to join. Then Chuck and Jane break up and Jane wants to join the band, so they have no choice but to say yes.
Then Jane says her mom got them a gig, but things don't go as planned. So then they decide to have they're own party so that they can play there and not get attacked by 6 year-olds. But they don't know how to throw a party so they crash Melodies party (you know Melodie is Lydia's big sister.) Then Melodie gets mad and then when they have their party Jane invites everybody! When Julie's dads said only like 20 people! Then Melodie shows up and says "If you get to crash my parties I get to crash yours" Melodie also brought all her friends. Then Lydia Julie and the band get worried about preforming in front of so many people, so they lock themselves in the bathroom. Melodie gives them some advice about preforming and it really works! Then during the party Lydia sees Julie and Roland KISSING!! And then it ends.
I liked this book because it was just one funny thing after another. It also was kind of mysterious. But then most fiction books are, that's what makes them interesting. This book was so funny but it also made you feel made for the characters in some of it, so I guess the author used empathy. I like that the two main characters are best friends because that means they won't hide stuff from each other, and it means that their relationship is impeccable. I would have to say my favorite characters are Julie and Roland, not only are they in love but Roland is this really sweet Noriegan guy and Julie is this nice and funny American girl. And they make a really good couple, I hope they get together in the 6th book. I liked how the author made it a journal that the two main characters share so you can get both of their thoughts and both of their view on the topic.
I would definitely recommend this book to others because as you can tell this book, and the series, is amazing.

[Raven Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part of my issues with this book was that it is book five and it is not a series you can pick up in the middle of it. And the other part was I never really got into the characters. I did not find them likeable. The theme is one we've seen before (trying to navigate middle school). And therefore, there is nothing "new" to say. I did enjoy some of the "crayon/color pencil" look to some of the illustrations as that was different, but overall things are just okay to good. And unfortunately, I am not a fan of Julie's look (it was off putting to me). Yet girls ages (strong) 8 to 10 could find something to enjoy, but do start with book one.

[Carmina Beatriz Dizon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this less than the other books, probably because Julie got pushed in the background despite being a main character. I felt she was constantly forced to do things she doesn’t want to. SOMEONE GET THIS GIRL A NEW COMPUTER! It’s still a fun read, just annoying at times because some characters are too familiar with people I encountered in school. I’m glad we got more Roland though, and the slow burn between him and Julie are worth it. What an adorable ball of sunshine.

[han y. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhh brings me back the old days. I was absolutely OBSESSED with this series. I loved the concept of two best friends passing a book & scrapbooking. I remember using this concept & making my own version of these books & drawing and pretending to be two different people by writing in two different handwritings lol. Plus Julie is Asian and an artist!! Aha Roland is cute. Brings back the mems :,,))

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The girls start a band in this one. The band is called the Macrame Owls, which is a terrible name for a band. Many of the brainstormed throwaway band names are better. They’re a bad band and they write bad songs. People somehow start paying attention to them because of the band, which seems outdated. Melody is also worse now that she’s shaved her hair and became a hippie.

[Togidemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rly love the new Melody frfr

Cute again. Wish they went a little more into what it's like playing together - feel like middle schoolers freshly learning instruments would discuss chords a bit, maybe, as they write their dumb little songs - but like, come on.

[Danielle Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the humor in this book!!

[Crystal Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fan-tastic! I loved it!!! I remember at the 1st book when Julie said that she won't kiss Roland. See the last pages of the 5th book... JULIE IS A LIAR.

[Tsega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ama,ingggshc

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[Ally Puri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute book in the series. Good for middle/high schoolers. Lots of high school "drama" but none of it is mean, involves bullying, or uses inappropriate language. Love the illustrations.

[Akinyemi]

Good book

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

ZOOMED

[Melita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Όλα τα βιβλία είναι τέλεια!!!

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The popularity papers is has been a great sirize so far, and I think that this book continued that greatness! If you like the other books you should totaly read it!!

[Diya Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was super funny! It's perfect for you to have some laughs

[Avery N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are even reading this you probably know what I am going to say. STILL GOOD! :D

[Victoria Izzi]

In the book ¨Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham Chang¨ by Amy Ignatow, Julie and Lydia are turning thirteen! Overall, this book was funny along with the rest of their series. Instead of getting a new laptop, like Julie wanted, she gets a drum set because Lydia talked her into it so they can start a band. Lydia decides to talk to Roland and he joins the band. Word gets around and Jane also persuades them to let her in the band because she has a band room in her basement. Also, Lisa and another girl ask them to let her in because Jane will not stop talking about her breakup with Chuck, and they think that if she joins the band she will forget about Chuck, and she does when she joins the band. They start to practice together and get gigs. Jane books them for a six year old birthday party but she did not mention it soon enough so they figured it out on their own. It did not go so well and the kids freaked out. So, Julie and Lydia ask their parents if they can have a few people over for a small concert and they make twenty invitations but more copies were made and more than twenty people came to the party. They were a success! If I could change anything about this book it would be that at the end of the book Jane and Chuck did not get back together because they were not a very good couple in the previous book.

[Ubalstecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest installment of Amy Ignatow's graphic novel/novel with illustrations series finds our two heroines back home and preparing for school. Lydia has the idea that she and Julie will for a band to become more popular at school. Julie reluctantly goes along with the plan, asking for a set of drums for her birthday, instead of the computer with graphic programs she wanted. Roland joins the Macrame Owls, as does Lydia's former rival in love Jane. Drama, hijinks and hilarity ensue as both girls learn that popularity isn't as easy as they think.

Amy Ignatow is a comedic genius. Period, end of story. Page after page saw me laughing out loud at the dialogue in this book. Her characters are rich, nuanced and reflect real girls. This is a must for a classroom library for late junior or middle school, especially for the reluctant girl reader out there.

GET THIS.

[natalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I haven't read the other four before it, but I saw this book on the "new" shelf at my library, and the illustrations looked similar to another author that I used to read, so I checked it out. I was a little disappointed to realize that this author wasn't as good of a writer as the other, but I still enjoyed this book. It's a short, sweet read about two girls, Lydia and Julie, in their seventh grade year. The conversations go from online IMing to writing in a journal, and the book is laid out like a journal, though without entries. I felt that the ending could have been different, as the romance between Julie and Roland seemed a little forced, but not enough to ruin the book for me. Four stars.

[Serena B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about two girls named Lydia and Julie. They are in Junior High and are starting a band. They have twists and turns in this book. They want to start a band yet none of them play an instrument and they end up sounding horrible at a party. I would rate this book 5 stars because it was full of adventure and it was very funny. It made me feel I was in the same problems that they were in. This was book number 5 out of 5. I would recommend this book to someone who likes chapter books and can read cursive because this book has some cursive in it. I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to others.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment of the adventures of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang! These characters are so fun and the girls are relate-able for middle grade readers. This one made me laugh out loud a few times. Their newest "get popular quick scheme" is to have a crazy awesome band even though they don't play any instruments. Most of their ideas about making friends are things that even a 7th grade girl would say were extreme. But they always have each other, which is what makes these books so great.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't in good conscience give this more that three stars, but I really love these books. They are so true to life in so many ways.

Since Melody (Lydia's older sister) has come back from Guatemala, she has totally changed: no more Goth girl. Which makes for some interesting sisterly interactions.

But the focus of the book is the Lydia and Julie decide to learn instruments and form a band. Their gigs are hilarious.

[Shacoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series of books is starting to deviate pretty far from its original concept. The girls no longer seem to be trying to observe the popular kids in the hopes of becoming popular. Now, they just seem to be doing random stuff in the hopes that it will make them cool. I don't know if I like the new direction that the books are taking or not. I look forward to seeing where the next book takes things and what happens next with the girls.

[Lmaeila · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, this book is definitely the worst in the series. While it is still worth 3 stars (the majority of stars available to give) I did not like the plot. I am just not interested in books about music and rock stars. It was very good, still, but the other books are better than this one. In order to complete the whole series, I had to read this book, and found that I was highly disappointed by Ignatow's plot in this book. Still, it is a quick, fun read for kids of all ages!