Review of MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WORSE THAN MEATLOAF by Jennifer L. Holm

Holm, Jennifer, L. 2007. Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf. Ill by Elicia Castaldi. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689852817


Plot Summary
Ginny Davis is entering the 7th grade, and has a to-do list that will ensure a year full of accolades, higher social status, and above all fun! Unfortunately, pink hair, plummeting grades, and a new stepfather who “forgets to pick you up after school” are not on the list.

Told through a collage of Ginny’s “stuff,” she maintains a sense of humor as her life unfolds before her. After all, with your delinquent brother in military school and your mother bringing a new dad into her life, what’s a ruined sweater or your dog eating your science project? It’s nothing that horse riding lessons paid by Grandpa Joe can’t cure.


Critical Analysis
Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf is as fun and quirky as it’s title suggest. Jennifer Holm brilliantly patches together a complete story told through items such as post-it notes, diary entries, ticket stubs, and newspaper clippings of 7th grader, Ginny Davis. The plot centers around Ginny’s “to-do” lists which include goals like: “Get a dad”, “Look good in the school photo for once!!”, and “Win something. Anything.” The story begins with Ginny’s “Back-to-school Shopping List” and ends with her “Ginny’s Summer List.” The pages between document the most embarrassing moments and fleeting triumphs during her 7th grade school year.

Elicia Castaldi illustrates the book with an eclectic collage that brings Ginny’s life into full color and focus. On one page, we see a chewed up pencil carelessly lying atop Ginny’s graph paper tablet that contains her hand-written “budget.” To remind the reader that Ginny is a young adolescent girl, a candy-pink lip gloss is placed beside the tablet. Another page depicts a computer screen, showing the instant messaging boxes full of dialog between Ginny and her best friend, Becky. Becky, whose screen name is beckysooboo 1 writes, “I can’t believe u didn’t get the part!! BTW did u hear that Mary Catherine Kelly is having a slumber party on Friday??” Ginny, screen name GinnyGirl, writes back, “no. r. u invited?” To which Becky response, “yes. r u?” We soon find out that Ginny is definitely not invited.

As hard as she tries, Ginny just cannot seem to catch a break. For example, she longs for a particular yellow sweater. After months of begging her mother, babysitting, and doing chores, her mother finally buys her the sweater. But, her good fortune is not to last. Ginny loses the lead role in the big ballet recital to her ex-best friend and new rival, Mary Catherine Kelly. Depressed, Ginny consults her “Five ways to shake the blues!” list and decides to buy some items of comfort, including “Pink Dream Lipstick.” On the next page, we see a sticky note safety pinned to a “Pink Dream” stained yellow sweater: “Ginny, I did my best but I think it’s ruined. You should always check your pockets before washing anything. Sorry, Mom.” Holm and Castaldi do an outstanding job at capturing the essence of pre-teen angst while the collage-style story makes it fun to piece together the puzzle of Ginny’s life.

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “Not quite a graphic novel but not a traditional narrative either, Holm's creative book should hook readers, especially girls who want something out of the ordinary.”
Publishers Weekly: “The punchy visuals and the sharp, funny details reel in the audience and don't let go.”



Connections
*This would be a perfect back-to-school gift for preteen and teenage children.
*Could be used to open up a discussion about serious issues that adolescence may face.
*Students could make a book about their own life using a collage of their “stuff.”
*This book is a perfect example for illustrating to students to not limit their creativity when writing or developing a concept for a book, project, etc.