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Junior High Drama
Welcome to Memorial Middle School, where drama fills the classrooms and follows students home on the bus. Social awkwardness. Mean girls. Hallway gossip. It's all part of life in junior high, but maybe it helps to know you aren't alone. Can Lucia avoid the boy-girl party? Will Kamilla overcome her self-consciousness and try out for the play? Can Allie keep anyone from finding out her secret? Told in graphic formal, Junior High Drama shows that while you can't escape the drama, you can certainly survive it.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2019
154 people are currently reading
1644 people want to read
About the author
Louise Simonson
964 books101 followersLouise Simonson (born Mary Louise Alexander and formerly credited as Louise Jones, when married to artist Jeff Jones) is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as Power Pack, X-Factor, New Mutants, Superman, and Steel. She is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Weezie".
Since 1980 she is married to comic book writer and artist Walter Simonson
Since 1980 she is married to comic book writer and artist Walter Simonson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
January 15, 2019
I received this graphic novel from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
So, I hadn't expected this one to feature multiple characters. I just thought it would be the girl on the cover. Yes, I didn't really read the blurb, I just saw the cover. :P I was a bit confused when the next story popped up with a new character, but in the end I am definitely delighted with more characters. I didn't see that this was featured in the same school. It isn't until the end that you see everything truly connect. I wish that this had been done better.
First girl up is Kamilla, a sweet girl with a killer voice, but she has a problem. She is very insecure about her weight. She thinks she is fat and big, and just wishes to hide or get smaller. I did like Kamilla, though I did want to shake her a bit at times. How she fell out against her friend who just wanted to comfort her and then got the whole: You are thin, you don't understand. Gee, girl... chill. Your friend is just worried about you, and you aren't making it easier by being grumpy and not saying much about it.
I did like that the teacher didn't give up on her, made her alternate, and then later also did that. The teacher is truly wonderful. Thanks to that teacher Kamilla finally realised that maybe she should just go for it. It also helps that she found someone special in her life who supported her, not only with her singing, but also when she was trying to do more exercise. I would give Kamilla's story 4 stars.
Next up is Lily, a girl who wants to be popular and with the in-crowd. I was quite interested to see what she would do to get into the crowd, but it seems she only had to have one thing, a hot older brother. :P
I liked how she tried to still be friends with her other best friend (and even tried protecting her) even when she got closer to the in-crowd. However, of course, nothing ever goes right, it is the mean girl crowd after all, and Lily finds her on the bullied end when certain things happen. I felt oh so sorry for her, and was rooting for her to stand up, or at least find someone to talk to about it. Because bullying is a big no-no.
I don't really understand why these girls called Lily fat, given the art, especially given that in the art they all seem a bit more chubby. Oh well, I guess they were just desperately looking for something to call Lily.
Lily's best friend was just perfect. I love how she is not afraid to give her opinion, how she is happy in her own skin, and I love that she is in the anime club! The ending was pretty OK. I would give Lily's story a 3 stars.
Allie, the girl who can run fast like lightning. After a meet goes wrong (so very wrong) she discovers she has diabetes. You can imagine her life goes topsyturvy and she isn't the happiest about things. She has to check her sugar levels, she can't eat too much sugary stuff, she has to go healthy, she has to give herself a shot if things go wrong. Throughout the book we see her come to terms with her illness. I have to say I did wanted to shake her and tell her she should just confide in her friends. Instead she hides, is grumpy to hell. Again, I get that it is hard for her, I understand that, for a teen, it is not something you want to tell the world. But a lot of things in this book could have been prevented if our girl had just been honest. If she just had sought out some support.
I also wasn't too happy how she treated her parents. Girl, they are just trying to make sure you don't land in the hospital again. They are just trying to care for you. You should be happy you have such wonderful parents. I would give Lily's story 3 stars.
And the last girl is: Lucia. A girl who is a bit like me at that age. I just wasn't too interested in boys. Didn't get the fuss. What was so special about them? But I did get annoyed with her. Her story was definitely the least favourite because for most of the book she is whining and complaining and just being eh about the party. If you don't want to go, just don't go. I didn't get why she was making such a big deal out of it. But of course, like so many cliche stories, she meets a guy she likes (yep, suddenly she doesn't think boys are that bad and hey that party is also cool).
While I did like the two of them together, they did make a cute match, it just felt a bit too cliche. Instead of her just coming to terms with her feelings and tell people no I don't want to go to the party, she falls in love.
I would rate Lucia's story a 2 star.
I liked how everything got connected at the end, how we saw the various clubs, teams, and more.
One thing I didn't like was how often the ending just came out of nowhere. They felt rushed. Like with Lily's story, how she goes from afraid of the bullies and sad to standing up against them and being very strong in just a few pages.
The art however was just fabulous, I really love the style, the way the characters were drawn (and the amount of attention to the clothes, hair, and faces).
All in all, I am still happy I read this book. It was quite fun, but yeah, some things could have been better.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
So, I hadn't expected this one to feature multiple characters. I just thought it would be the girl on the cover. Yes, I didn't really read the blurb, I just saw the cover. :P I was a bit confused when the next story popped up with a new character, but in the end I am definitely delighted with more characters. I didn't see that this was featured in the same school. It isn't until the end that you see everything truly connect. I wish that this had been done better.
First girl up is Kamilla, a sweet girl with a killer voice, but she has a problem. She is very insecure about her weight. She thinks she is fat and big, and just wishes to hide or get smaller. I did like Kamilla, though I did want to shake her a bit at times. How she fell out against her friend who just wanted to comfort her and then got the whole: You are thin, you don't understand. Gee, girl... chill. Your friend is just worried about you, and you aren't making it easier by being grumpy and not saying much about it.
I did like that the teacher didn't give up on her, made her alternate, and then later also did that. The teacher is truly wonderful. Thanks to that teacher Kamilla finally realised that maybe she should just go for it. It also helps that she found someone special in her life who supported her, not only with her singing, but also when she was trying to do more exercise. I would give Kamilla's story 4 stars.
Next up is Lily, a girl who wants to be popular and with the in-crowd. I was quite interested to see what she would do to get into the crowd, but it seems she only had to have one thing, a hot older brother. :P
I liked how she tried to still be friends with her other best friend (and even tried protecting her) even when she got closer to the in-crowd. However, of course, nothing ever goes right, it is the mean girl crowd after all, and Lily finds her on the bullied end when certain things happen. I felt oh so sorry for her, and was rooting for her to stand up, or at least find someone to talk to about it. Because bullying is a big no-no.
I don't really understand why these girls called Lily fat, given the art, especially given that in the art they all seem a bit more chubby. Oh well, I guess they were just desperately looking for something to call Lily.
Lily's best friend was just perfect. I love how she is not afraid to give her opinion, how she is happy in her own skin, and I love that she is in the anime club! The ending was pretty OK. I would give Lily's story a 3 stars.
Allie, the girl who can run fast like lightning. After a meet goes wrong (so very wrong) she discovers she has diabetes. You can imagine her life goes topsyturvy and she isn't the happiest about things. She has to check her sugar levels, she can't eat too much sugary stuff, she has to go healthy, she has to give herself a shot if things go wrong. Throughout the book we see her come to terms with her illness. I have to say I did wanted to shake her and tell her she should just confide in her friends. Instead she hides, is grumpy to hell. Again, I get that it is hard for her, I understand that, for a teen, it is not something you want to tell the world. But a lot of things in this book could have been prevented if our girl had just been honest. If she just had sought out some support.
I also wasn't too happy how she treated her parents. Girl, they are just trying to make sure you don't land in the hospital again. They are just trying to care for you. You should be happy you have such wonderful parents. I would give Lily's story 3 stars.
And the last girl is: Lucia. A girl who is a bit like me at that age. I just wasn't too interested in boys. Didn't get the fuss. What was so special about them? But I did get annoyed with her. Her story was definitely the least favourite because for most of the book she is whining and complaining and just being eh about the party. If you don't want to go, just don't go. I didn't get why she was making such a big deal out of it. But of course, like so many cliche stories, she meets a guy she likes (yep, suddenly she doesn't think boys are that bad and hey that party is also cool).
While I did like the two of them together, they did make a cute match, it just felt a bit too cliche. Instead of her just coming to terms with her feelings and tell people no I don't want to go to the party, she falls in love.
I would rate Lucia's story a 2 star.
I liked how everything got connected at the end, how we saw the various clubs, teams, and more.
One thing I didn't like was how often the ending just came out of nowhere. They felt rushed. Like with Lily's story, how she goes from afraid of the bullies and sad to standing up against them and being very strong in just a few pages.
The art however was just fabulous, I really love the style, the way the characters were drawn (and the amount of attention to the clothes, hair, and faces).
All in all, I am still happy I read this book. It was quite fun, but yeah, some things could have been better.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 11, 2023
A wonderful graphic novel collection of 4 stories that I devoured in one sitting:
- The High School Musical Meltdown ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
- The Middle School Mean Queens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Runaround Rumor ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The First Date Dilemma ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All 4 vignettes tackle very relevant issues and common teenage experiences such as body image, bullying, peer pressure, living with an illness and first date jitters, which the authors approached with care and sensitivity. I loved all the characters and the representation. The useful Q&A at the end of every segment was a nice touch too.
My favourite story is definitely The Runaround Rumor, in which the protagonist is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It was an extremely informative read that helped me to learn more about diabetes. I also appreciate how The High School Musical Meltdown promotes a healthy lifestyle and exercise instead of focusing on size and weight loss.
The artwork is super loud and takes some getting used to, but gorgeous at the same time. I loved the beautiful colour palette of pink and purple. Not all 4 stories are by the same author, but all are illustrated by the same artist.
Teenage girls will likely be able to resonate with this book, which can help them to navigate and cope with difficult situations.
(Funnily I have this book marked as read in 2020 with 3 stars even though I don't recall having ever read it until now)
- The High School Musical Meltdown ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
- The Middle School Mean Queens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Runaround Rumor ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The First Date Dilemma ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All 4 vignettes tackle very relevant issues and common teenage experiences such as body image, bullying, peer pressure, living with an illness and first date jitters, which the authors approached with care and sensitivity. I loved all the characters and the representation. The useful Q&A at the end of every segment was a nice touch too.
My favourite story is definitely The Runaround Rumor, in which the protagonist is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It was an extremely informative read that helped me to learn more about diabetes. I also appreciate how The High School Musical Meltdown promotes a healthy lifestyle and exercise instead of focusing on size and weight loss.
The artwork is super loud and takes some getting used to, but gorgeous at the same time. I loved the beautiful colour palette of pink and purple. Not all 4 stories are by the same author, but all are illustrated by the same artist.
Teenage girls will likely be able to resonate with this book, which can help them to navigate and cope with difficult situations.
(Funnily I have this book marked as read in 2020 with 3 stars even though I don't recall having ever read it until now)
November 12, 2018
Netgalley provided me a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
On one hand this was kind of cliched and a little cheesy. The characters aren't all that developed or interesting, and I feel like we've read a lot of these stories before. Curvy girl with a great voice afraid to try out for the musical, girl wants to be friends with the popular girls only to find out they are jerks, girl learns about illness/condition and tries to hide it from her friends, and girl nervous for first party meets cute boy.
You'll notice that all the protagonists mentioned above are girls. Girls are clearly the target audience here...and while I love a good Girl Power book, it's also a little disappointing--it would have been great to see some male problems/issues addressed, as well.
However, the issues here are ones that lots of middle schoolers deal with (body image, mean girls, first dates, illness/conditions that make you feel different), and I love that at the end of each section there are statistics and quotes that compliment the story that was told. The illustrations are unique and adorable, and each issue is handled in a way that is relatable (though sometimes they wrap up a little too neatly).
It's definitely going into my school library, and I'm sure it will be a popular title.
On one hand this was kind of cliched and a little cheesy. The characters aren't all that developed or interesting, and I feel like we've read a lot of these stories before. Curvy girl with a great voice afraid to try out for the musical, girl wants to be friends with the popular girls only to find out they are jerks, girl learns about illness/condition and tries to hide it from her friends, and girl nervous for first party meets cute boy.
You'll notice that all the protagonists mentioned above are girls. Girls are clearly the target audience here...and while I love a good Girl Power book, it's also a little disappointing--it would have been great to see some male problems/issues addressed, as well.
However, the issues here are ones that lots of middle schoolers deal with (body image, mean girls, first dates, illness/conditions that make you feel different), and I love that at the end of each section there are statistics and quotes that compliment the story that was told. The illustrations are unique and adorable, and each issue is handled in a way that is relatable (though sometimes they wrap up a little too neatly).
It's definitely going into my school library, and I'm sure it will be a popular title.
March 10, 2020
This was definitely more serious than I anticipated. I thought that this was going to be fluffy graphic novel about some middle school drama and I couldn't have been more inaccurate. This graphic novel covered some serious issues that are important for middle school aged kids. I think that this is definitely written for a younger audience as it comes off as extremely dramatic in some sections. I thought the artwork was phenomenal! The graphic novel is separated into 4 different stories. While the four stories do not overlap we do see "guest star" appearances of characters from the other stories. While this wasn't my favorite graphic novel aimed at middles schoolers, I would definitely be interested in checking out similar works.
May 7, 2020
I really liked reading this book it’s good because it talks about actual stuff that you go tru as a middle schooler like feeling like your overweight,or finding out that you have a disease and dating and,bullying on social media and bad things that you can go tru but it’s good because it tells you in the book how to go tru these things literally.overall 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2025
4.5 stars. I would have just adored this book when i was going into middle school. Although it could also help with us highschoolers too 🤷♀️
January 9, 2019
I received an ARC of the book from Stone Arch Books via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. For more book reviews, make sure to check out Katherine's Book Reviews
Junior High Drama is a graphic/middle school novel by Louise Simonson. It is illustrated by Sumin Cho.
SUMMARY:
Welcome to Memorial Middle School, where drama fills the classrooms and follows students home on the bus. Social awkwardness. Mean girls. Hallway gossip. It’s all part of life in junior high, but maybe it helps to know you aren’t alone. Can Lucia avoid the boy-girl party? Will Kamilla overcome her self-consciousness and try out for the play? Can Allie keep anyone from finding out her secret? Told in graphic formal, Junior High Drama shows that while you can’t escape the drama, you can certainly survive it.
--
Junior High Drama is a novel that is entertaining. The art is great; I love all of the different colors seen in the book. I also truly enjoy the heavy topics covered such as friendship, bullies, dating, chronic illness (diabetes in particular,) and self-esteem. I think it is important for middle schoolers to understand that dealing with these feelings/events is tough during that time in their life. However, I do believe this book conveys these topics in a way that the audience will not take them seriously. This novel does not have one protagonist but follows a series of characters, and each of them has their different issues. Besides their issues there is no fleshing out of the characters; they do not have any sort of background that makes you feel completely connected with them.
I thought this book was just okay. Louise Simonson’s writing is quick and flows well; any middle schooler would not have a hard time reading this book. I did not enjoy the way this story turned out; I do wish only one character was featured instead of many of them. I believe these stories were fun to read but overall I felt they were too focused on teaching a lesson. Instead of coming across naturally, the messages of the book are very loud which turned me off from the beginning. I think this type of book would be appropriate in a classroom but as a creative piece, it just does not work. What saves this book is its art and its quick timing. I suggest this book to any middle schooler who feels out of place. This book teaches you that is important to explore yourself and love who you are.
Junior High Drama is a graphic/middle school novel by Louise Simonson. It is illustrated by Sumin Cho.
SUMMARY:
Welcome to Memorial Middle School, where drama fills the classrooms and follows students home on the bus. Social awkwardness. Mean girls. Hallway gossip. It’s all part of life in junior high, but maybe it helps to know you aren’t alone. Can Lucia avoid the boy-girl party? Will Kamilla overcome her self-consciousness and try out for the play? Can Allie keep anyone from finding out her secret? Told in graphic formal, Junior High Drama shows that while you can’t escape the drama, you can certainly survive it.
--
Junior High Drama is a novel that is entertaining. The art is great; I love all of the different colors seen in the book. I also truly enjoy the heavy topics covered such as friendship, bullies, dating, chronic illness (diabetes in particular,) and self-esteem. I think it is important for middle schoolers to understand that dealing with these feelings/events is tough during that time in their life. However, I do believe this book conveys these topics in a way that the audience will not take them seriously. This novel does not have one protagonist but follows a series of characters, and each of them has their different issues. Besides their issues there is no fleshing out of the characters; they do not have any sort of background that makes you feel completely connected with them.
I thought this book was just okay. Louise Simonson’s writing is quick and flows well; any middle schooler would not have a hard time reading this book. I did not enjoy the way this story turned out; I do wish only one character was featured instead of many of them. I believe these stories were fun to read but overall I felt they were too focused on teaching a lesson. Instead of coming across naturally, the messages of the book are very loud which turned me off from the beginning. I think this type of book would be appropriate in a classroom but as a creative piece, it just does not work. What saves this book is its art and its quick timing. I suggest this book to any middle schooler who feels out of place. This book teaches you that is important to explore yourself and love who you are.
May 31, 2019
Terribly cheesy and every problem is wrapped up nicely with a bow, but ... I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this immensely. This book covers body image/self-esteem/weight, mean girls, social media bullying, diabetes, and the pressure to be interested in romantic relationships because all your friends are. Really, this book can be summed into "cute." I do feel like these stories are slightly geared towards girls but anyone can enjoy them.
Also, I loved the artwork because it's so cute! The little boys some of the girls have crushes on are drawn so princely (elegant, cool-looking, etc). I liked the diversity of skin tones, bodies, and races displayed throughout each story.
Also, I loved the artwork because it's so cute! The little boys some of the girls have crushes on are drawn so princely (elegant, cool-looking, etc). I liked the diversity of skin tones, bodies, and races displayed throughout each story.
August 23, 2021
That was such a fun read!
The stories are really relatable and show a lot of diversity. Voicing these problems and thoughts shows that it's okay, that it's normal and nothing to be ashamed of. This book could definetly help young adults and young teens with their troubles.
We need more books like this in the media.
The stories are really relatable and show a lot of diversity. Voicing these problems and thoughts shows that it's okay, that it's normal and nothing to be ashamed of. This book could definetly help young adults and young teens with their troubles.
We need more books like this in the media.
April 4, 2024
A very short read, but inspirational and motivational all the same. Composed of four stories, they display some realities that Junior High girls have to deal with. Every girl is different and that should be embraced! This book shows that beautifully! It doesn't matter if you're curvy or thin, short or tall, large or small, or anywhere in-between! You are special my girls! And don't let ANYTHING make you think you're not! You are YOU! Be you!
June 21, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. For one, the graphics are stunning. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing and artistically done, but they do such a great job of representing diverse characters. AND it talks about a lot of tough issues! Struggling with body image, bullying, chronic illness, and the anxiety of dating are all present in this cute graphic novel. It can be a bit over dramatic at some points, but on the whole, it was a great piece that speaks to everyone about real issues.
April 24, 2019
This is four graphic novels in one, and is avaiable as four separate grahic novels or this one volume with all four. It's features four young women characters each with their own 'after school special' story line, that takes place within the same universe of Memorial Junior High. The topics that are featured include; body image/self esteem, bullying, type 1 Diabetes, and dating. Each section ends with an infographics type page addressing the topic and a page of conversation/interview/etc. about the topic between the main character and an 'expert' in the story. It's a bit preachy/didactic, however, I am sure those kids devouring realistic fiction graphic novels will find it appealing. The best part of this graphic novel set is that all four featured characters are non-white and have diverse and varied groups of friends.
February 15, 2020
Well, this was a surprise for me. The artwork is lovely and, as my daughter put it, reminiscent of Jem and the Holograms. The way that this book collects multiple stories about different girls at the same junior high is like the next step in the Terri Libenson middle school series. But I wasn't expecting that at all. I thought (because I didn't really read about it - I borrowed based on artwork) it was about one girl standing up to the mean girls in junior high.
What I got were girls dealing with different issues in high school. All had to do with figuring things out and standing up for themselves to be comfortable in their own skins. So, there was a strong empowerment message as well.
I think that I liked the story about the runner best. No more because it could spoil things.
What I got were girls dealing with different issues in high school. All had to do with figuring things out and standing up for themselves to be comfortable in their own skins. So, there was a strong empowerment message as well.
I think that I liked the story about the runner best. No more because it could spoil things.
October 24, 2018
Follows a few stories of girls, each one with a different problem. Self-esteem, crushes, bullying, the usual middle school drama. The morals at the end were very in your face, and the morals would probably good for a preteen audience.
June 13, 2021
iseng cari GN di libby terus liat cover bukunya yang tjakep, ku putuskan untuk membacanya.
bukunya relatable sama kehidupan sehari-hari, ditambah ilustrasinya yang emg bagussss bgt. glad i found this book.
bukunya relatable sama kehidupan sehari-hari, ditambah ilustrasinya yang emg bagussss bgt. glad i found this book.
January 15, 2021
I think this book is very good. I had a great story about not being afraid of who you truly are. I would recommend this book to kids 11-17.
June 15, 2022
I wish younger me had this to read. It’s so positive and helpful in great stories that don’t read like lessons.
April 6, 2023
I LOVE the graphics in this book its so pretty and detailed that it engaged me immediately. stories were good too and i couldnt put the book down 😭😭
August 27, 2018
This was a quick and cute read. I liked the different stories on the girls life.
School can be so stuff. The popular girls can be mean. Liking boys can be rough. Singing in front an audience can be scary. But if you face your fears or stand up for yourself or just walk up to a guy you like. You can face anything in school!
School can be so stuff. The popular girls can be mean. Liking boys can be rough. Singing in front an audience can be scary. But if you face your fears or stand up for yourself or just walk up to a guy you like. You can face anything in school!
Read
December 14, 2020This would have been a nice book to have read when I was in middle school. Tackles a lot of issues.
August 1, 2021
Sweet story with beautiful art and important topics! 😊
July 23, 2020
A great graphic novel that includes four separate stories about things that many teens face in junior high from gossip to boys to fitting in. I think anyone going into junior high could benefit from reading this book, plus the illustrations are fabulous!!
April 29, 2020
It was good, but I had problems with the characters. #1-Kamilla. She had the biggest self-esteem issues EVER. And then she starts crushing on Scott? Which boosts her self esteem? So the moral is: dating makes you feel better. trash.
#2-Lilly is the most naive person I’ve ever met in a graphic novel. She’s like “oh no the mean girls ditch me! Why are they so mean?” JEEZ LILLY GET A CLUE PEOPLE ARE JERKS SOMETIMES SO SUCK IT UP
#3-Allie is bossy and likes to take charge. Fine. But here’s the part where I want to explode-IT SHOWS A HIJAB WEARING MUSLIM GIRL EATING PORK. She most likely keeps Halal and therefore can’t eat pork! This is such a serious mistake!
#4-Lucia thinks that she owns an entire park and when she sees some boy in it, she gets mad, mad, mad. The world is not yours, honey!
Overall, 1. You just need good characters in order to have a good book
#2-Lilly is the most naive person I’ve ever met in a graphic novel. She’s like “oh no the mean girls ditch me! Why are they so mean?” JEEZ LILLY GET A CLUE PEOPLE ARE JERKS SOMETIMES SO SUCK IT UP
#3-Allie is bossy and likes to take charge. Fine. But here’s the part where I want to explode-IT SHOWS A HIJAB WEARING MUSLIM GIRL EATING PORK. She most likely keeps Halal and therefore can’t eat pork! This is such a serious mistake!
#4-Lucia thinks that she owns an entire park and when she sees some boy in it, she gets mad, mad, mad. The world is not yours, honey!
Overall, 1. You just need good characters in order to have a good book
April 7, 2023
As a middle schooler, I can totally understand these stories. I know for a fact that some have happened at my school, others have not. Anyway, I really liked this book and recommend it to 7-8 grade girls. Adults, you probably won’t understand it as much.
September 30, 2024
its a good book.
March 16, 2019
Welcome to A Very Special Episode of Junior High Drama. Today, our program focuses on four girls who are each about to learn Very Important Lessons about Themselves. So grab your (healthy) After School Snack, get settled on the sofa, and we'll get started:
Meet Kamilla: She's an exceptionally talented young lady, but she's very self-conscious about her weight. And as much as she wants to try out for the lead in her school's play, she's afraid she'll "look like an elephant"...especially since the leading man is such a diminutive kid. She brgins to obsess about her weight and even consider dangerous methods of dropping the pounds. But thanks to the love and support from her family and friends, Kamilla visits the doctor, begins a healthy diet/exercise routine, lands the lead in the play, and maybe even has a new romantic interest on the horizon.
Insert advertisement for Diet Shake that will instantly transform you from a ugly chubby kid to a skinny beauty queen...if only you use it and eat nothing else. (btw...this product is not FDA approved).
Meet Lilly: She's not part of the "In Crowd," but she really wants to be...more than anything. So much that she'll ditch her nerdy best friend, stop doing "uncool" activities she normally would have enjoyed, and say things she, later, wishes she could take back. And for a while it seems the Popular Girls have accepted Lilly into their circle. But Tania, the Queen Bee of the Mean Girls, is only using Lilly to get to know her cute older brother. And when there's a misunderstanding involving Lilly and Tania's boyfriend, the tables turn and the rumors start. Will Lilly have the guts to stand up to these bullies and learn to be herself with confidence (even if she isn't hanging with the cool crowd)?
Insert advertisement: Want to be popular? Get the guy? Buy THIS outrageously pricey brand of designer jeans and you'll be queen bee in no time! (Implied message: If you don't, everyone will laugh at you).
Meet Allie: She's a track star, but doesn't live the healthiest lifestyle, often skipping meals or loading up on high-sugar, low nutrient snacks (like donuts and soda). One day Allie faints during a race. She is taken to the doctor where she learns she has diabetes. This means no more donuts, monitoring her blood sugar constantly, and giving herself insulin shots. Allie is afraid of what her peers will think of her if they learn of her health condition, so she hides it...with dangerous consequences. But after a scare that "outs" her secret to the school, Allie accepts her condition and herself. AND she wins the race!
Insert ad: All the cool kids eat X sugary snack! You're a total loser if you don't. (fine print: this product contains high-fructose corn syrup, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 40, and Blue 1 and has been known to cause cancer and blindness in lab rats)
Meet Lucia: She and her friends have just been invited to the first boy-girl party at the local rich girl's mansion (which is rumored to have an impressive garden). While her friends are excited, discussing wardrobe and whether they'll ask (or be asked by) a boy to be their date to the party, Lucia is worried. She's just not into boys yet. Or parties for that matter. Both make her nervous and she would much rather spend her days quietly reading a book at the local park. But things change when Lucia meets a boy who shares her love for literature and nature. Unfortunately, he's got a date, and this makes her sad. But thanks to supportive friends (and a little Merengue), Lucia becomes the life of the party...and maybe ends up getting the guy after all (even though she doesn't need a guy to be happy).
Insert ad: Guys like girls who use X Product! And you DO want to be the girl with all the boyfriends, right? (implied message: If you don't use this product, you'll be a single loser forever)
Thank you for joining us for this Very Special Episode of Middle School Drama. Today we've talked about Body Image, Taking Care of Your Health, Standing Up To Bullies, and Being Comfortable With Being Yourself--no matter what. We hope you have enjoyed today's Very Important Lessons...and we hope you have learned something about yourself too!
And remember, if you just be yourself, have confidence, and apply the Lessons learned here today, everything will work out by the time the credits roll.
Meet Kamilla: She's an exceptionally talented young lady, but she's very self-conscious about her weight. And as much as she wants to try out for the lead in her school's play, she's afraid she'll "look like an elephant"...especially since the leading man is such a diminutive kid. She brgins to obsess about her weight and even consider dangerous methods of dropping the pounds. But thanks to the love and support from her family and friends, Kamilla visits the doctor, begins a healthy diet/exercise routine, lands the lead in the play, and maybe even has a new romantic interest on the horizon.
Insert advertisement for Diet Shake that will instantly transform you from a ugly chubby kid to a skinny beauty queen...if only you use it and eat nothing else. (btw...this product is not FDA approved).
Meet Lilly: She's not part of the "In Crowd," but she really wants to be...more than anything. So much that she'll ditch her nerdy best friend, stop doing "uncool" activities she normally would have enjoyed, and say things she, later, wishes she could take back. And for a while it seems the Popular Girls have accepted Lilly into their circle. But Tania, the Queen Bee of the Mean Girls, is only using Lilly to get to know her cute older brother. And when there's a misunderstanding involving Lilly and Tania's boyfriend, the tables turn and the rumors start. Will Lilly have the guts to stand up to these bullies and learn to be herself with confidence (even if she isn't hanging with the cool crowd)?
Insert advertisement: Want to be popular? Get the guy? Buy THIS outrageously pricey brand of designer jeans and you'll be queen bee in no time! (Implied message: If you don't, everyone will laugh at you).
Meet Allie: She's a track star, but doesn't live the healthiest lifestyle, often skipping meals or loading up on high-sugar, low nutrient snacks (like donuts and soda). One day Allie faints during a race. She is taken to the doctor where she learns she has diabetes. This means no more donuts, monitoring her blood sugar constantly, and giving herself insulin shots. Allie is afraid of what her peers will think of her if they learn of her health condition, so she hides it...with dangerous consequences. But after a scare that "outs" her secret to the school, Allie accepts her condition and herself. AND she wins the race!
Insert ad: All the cool kids eat X sugary snack! You're a total loser if you don't. (fine print: this product contains high-fructose corn syrup, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 40, and Blue 1 and has been known to cause cancer and blindness in lab rats)
Meet Lucia: She and her friends have just been invited to the first boy-girl party at the local rich girl's mansion (which is rumored to have an impressive garden). While her friends are excited, discussing wardrobe and whether they'll ask (or be asked by) a boy to be their date to the party, Lucia is worried. She's just not into boys yet. Or parties for that matter. Both make her nervous and she would much rather spend her days quietly reading a book at the local park. But things change when Lucia meets a boy who shares her love for literature and nature. Unfortunately, he's got a date, and this makes her sad. But thanks to supportive friends (and a little Merengue), Lucia becomes the life of the party...and maybe ends up getting the guy after all (even though she doesn't need a guy to be happy).
Insert ad: Guys like girls who use X Product! And you DO want to be the girl with all the boyfriends, right? (implied message: If you don't use this product, you'll be a single loser forever)
Thank you for joining us for this Very Special Episode of Middle School Drama. Today we've talked about Body Image, Taking Care of Your Health, Standing Up To Bullies, and Being Comfortable With Being Yourself--no matter what. We hope you have enjoyed today's Very Important Lessons...and we hope you have learned something about yourself too!
And remember, if you just be yourself, have confidence, and apply the Lessons learned here today, everything will work out by the time the credits roll.
January 27, 2023
"School Musical Meltdown." Kamilla is uncomfortable in her newly tall and "too large" body, and doesn't want to be noticed. She just wants to sing on her own at home. When the director of the school musical begs her to participate, her stage fright scares her into refusing, but when the star of the musical has to bow out, can Kamilla save the day? I'm a theater person, so I enjoyed this one. I appreciated the diverse representation of the kids in terms of ethnicity and body type (though I don't think I saw any LGBTQ kids, at least not as main characters). This was pretty predictable, but enjoyable.
"The Middle School Mean Queens." Lilly yearns to be part of the popular crowd. When she starts dressing like them, she chooses to hang out with them instead of her other friends, even though they insult her mother and her for their weight (Lilly is not overweight), and just want to get with her handsome older brother. When an accident on the ropes course means Lilly crashes into a boy the apex predator wants, suddenly she's all over social media and getting trolled. What can she do? This is another one that's a bit predictable, but timely and always a good message. Most of these stories are basically after-school specials in graphic novel form anyway.
"The Runaround Rumor." Allie is a superstar runner who suddenly loses steam and passes out. When she learns she has diabetes, she is horrified and depressed, and desperate for no one to find out. When someone sees her giving herself an insulin injection, the rumor goes around that she's a drug addict. What can she do? Another after-school special in which the ending is predictable. Probably a good one to read for any student with a condition they might want to hide?
"First Date Drama." Lucia, who loves gardens and plants and time alone, is the opposite of excited when a classmate invites everyone to a party at her house. All of a sudden kids are worrying about dresses and dates, including Lucia's friends, and she REALLY doesn't want to go. But there is this guy she keeps seeing in the park, who is in her grade. Maybe he's worth going for? This one fell a little flat for me, because the lesson I got was that if you man up and conform to societal expectations, you will be rewarded. There's nothing wrong with her mom suggesting she give the party a try, because she won't know for sure it's not her thing until she does. However, I so wish the mother had also said that if it turned out to be as awful as Lucia predicted and she hated it, then that was ok too. No one should be shamed for not liking parties!
Overall, I think kids will like this one. The art style is slightly flat for me--people look a little plastic--but I doubt most readers would notice.
"The Middle School Mean Queens." Lilly yearns to be part of the popular crowd. When she starts dressing like them, she chooses to hang out with them instead of her other friends, even though they insult her mother and her for their weight (Lilly is not overweight), and just want to get with her handsome older brother. When an accident on the ropes course means Lilly crashes into a boy the apex predator wants, suddenly she's all over social media and getting trolled. What can she do? This is another one that's a bit predictable, but timely and always a good message. Most of these stories are basically after-school specials in graphic novel form anyway.
"The Runaround Rumor." Allie is a superstar runner who suddenly loses steam and passes out. When she learns she has diabetes, she is horrified and depressed, and desperate for no one to find out. When someone sees her giving herself an insulin injection, the rumor goes around that she's a drug addict. What can she do? Another after-school special in which the ending is predictable. Probably a good one to read for any student with a condition they might want to hide?
"First Date Drama." Lucia, who loves gardens and plants and time alone, is the opposite of excited when a classmate invites everyone to a party at her house. All of a sudden kids are worrying about dresses and dates, including Lucia's friends, and she REALLY doesn't want to go. But there is this guy she keeps seeing in the park, who is in her grade. Maybe he's worth going for? This one fell a little flat for me, because the lesson I got was that if you man up and conform to societal expectations, you will be rewarded. There's nothing wrong with her mom suggesting she give the party a try, because she won't know for sure it's not her thing until she does. However, I so wish the mother had also said that if it turned out to be as awful as Lucia predicted and she hated it, then that was ok too. No one should be shamed for not liking parties!
Overall, I think kids will like this one. The art style is slightly flat for me--people look a little plastic--but I doubt most readers would notice.
December 29, 2018
This is a treat for middle school/junior high girls who love diving into school life and it's problems, and especially enjoy the graphic novel layout.
This book is a collection of several stories, each rotating around difficult situations girls in this age group can face. Because life in junior high isn't easy. The problems surrounding self-consciousness, rumors, mean girls, first dates and so forth are placed in engaging junior high settings with characters which are easy to connect with. Each situation is done well, allowing the characters to gain footing before facing their troubles. The solutions aren't always easy but do-able. And the entire thing never runs into the realm of ridiculousness or over emphasis. These are normal girls who are up against hurdles very typical for a junior high setting.
Each story centers on different characters, showing that everyone faces troubles. The characters are also very diverse, keeping stereotypes at bay. These girls may make mistakes, but most have good hearts and simply aren't sure how to handle the situations. The results and solutions hit real life possibilities, and bring encouraging messages which strengthen self-esteem. After each chapter, there's a slightly more in-depth question and answer section (in form of interviews) and sometimes, extra tips. While these tales are entertaining, the book also offers realistic help on how to deal with such things and where girls can find more assistance if they need it.
Even with all the messages and help, this is simply an enjoyable read. The illustrations allow the emotions to flow and the scenes to come to life. The characters hold depth and make understandable decisions. Plus, there's more than just the drama. These girls have lives and will connect with the readers. The stories are quick paced, not overly dramatic and hold enough tension to keep the pages flipping until the end of the story. It's a lovely read and holds tons of purpose as well.
I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley and enjoyed it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
This book is a collection of several stories, each rotating around difficult situations girls in this age group can face. Because life in junior high isn't easy. The problems surrounding self-consciousness, rumors, mean girls, first dates and so forth are placed in engaging junior high settings with characters which are easy to connect with. Each situation is done well, allowing the characters to gain footing before facing their troubles. The solutions aren't always easy but do-able. And the entire thing never runs into the realm of ridiculousness or over emphasis. These are normal girls who are up against hurdles very typical for a junior high setting.
Each story centers on different characters, showing that everyone faces troubles. The characters are also very diverse, keeping stereotypes at bay. These girls may make mistakes, but most have good hearts and simply aren't sure how to handle the situations. The results and solutions hit real life possibilities, and bring encouraging messages which strengthen self-esteem. After each chapter, there's a slightly more in-depth question and answer section (in form of interviews) and sometimes, extra tips. While these tales are entertaining, the book also offers realistic help on how to deal with such things and where girls can find more assistance if they need it.
Even with all the messages and help, this is simply an enjoyable read. The illustrations allow the emotions to flow and the scenes to come to life. The characters hold depth and make understandable decisions. Plus, there's more than just the drama. These girls have lives and will connect with the readers. The stories are quick paced, not overly dramatic and hold enough tension to keep the pages flipping until the end of the story. It's a lovely read and holds tons of purpose as well.
I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley and enjoyed it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
November 13, 2023
With a title like "Junior High Drama," I liked this way more than I thought I would. First off, the presentation was pretty good with capturing that adolescent body disparity and a broad swath of body sizes. I felt it veered closer to after-school special than drama voyeurism, but it was more grounded and less on the nose than those are.
The stories covered (Kamilla) weight insecurity (I thought this one would turn out to involve dysmorphia given its mental focus and repetition of her being a "healthy weight" but it didn't) and fear of standing out center stage in a musical. As someone whose put a lot of energy into going from obese to healthy by vigorously shedding pounds, I always have mixed feelings that the health of the person is almost never in the discussion and it's always on the spectrum of body-positivity to "fatphobia."
Next up was Lily, who wants to be popular, fit in the mean girls and have that blow up which is a fairly standard school plotline.
Allie's story was probably the one I liked the best. The track runner dealing with wanting to hide the onset of her diabetes and had Platonic male-female friendship.
The final story was Lucia who's the "late-bloomer" in pubertal romance trope. Stressing the boy-girl party and how all her friends are changing about boys. Every time who have a single female lead who's not interested in romance I get my hopes up that we'll have a female character arc with the message "being single w/o romance is fine" but it's the "that one unexpected meet-cute away from romance" story.
The stories covered (Kamilla) weight insecurity (I thought this one would turn out to involve dysmorphia given its mental focus and repetition of her being a "healthy weight" but it didn't) and fear of standing out center stage in a musical. As someone whose put a lot of energy into going from obese to healthy by vigorously shedding pounds, I always have mixed feelings that the health of the person is almost never in the discussion and it's always on the spectrum of body-positivity to "fatphobia."
Next up was Lily, who wants to be popular, fit in the mean girls and have that blow up which is a fairly standard school plotline.
Allie's story was probably the one I liked the best. The track runner dealing with wanting to hide the onset of her diabetes and had Platonic male-female friendship.
The final story was Lucia who's the "late-bloomer" in pubertal romance trope. Stressing the boy-girl party and how all her friends are changing about boys. Every time who have a single female lead who's not interested in romance I get my hopes up that we'll have a female character arc with the message "being single w/o romance is fine" but it's the "that one unexpected meet-cute away from romance" story.
April 29, 2019
I picked this book up from the library, first as a joke. My friends and I did our own little live dub of the book and were intrigued by it. The art is really amazing, I can say that much. But the characters are actual bullshit. The first girl (Kamilla) has serious self esteem issues. In the end she starts feeling better but thoughts were so cliche and obvious, like WTF. 2nd girl was even worse. She is one of the most naive middle schooler I have ever heard. She couldn’t even throw maybe a little punch at the main bitch (I honestly loved that chick), like come on. Stand up for yourself. The 3rd girl was mother fucking stupid. She is so stupid to never have learned shit about anything. She gets diabetes and expects to live the same life style, get over yourself. She thinks it’s gross to use a needle in public. Like girl you have diabetes, know gives two shits about what it looks like. Lastly 4th girl. She was probably the one redeeming part of this book, besides the art. She didn’t have self esteem issues and was just fed up with her friends. But I mean they say, the bigger the hoop the bigger the hoe, so who knows.
Anyways this book was shit, and nobody can change my mind.
Anyways this book was shit, and nobody can change my mind.
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