Review Detail

Everyone says that the middle school years are the awkward years, where girls and boys start breaking up into groups of the cool kids and the not-so-cool kids. Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang decide to use their 5th grade year to find out the secret behind being popular so that they have it all figured out before they enter 6th grade.


Together, the girls set up a secret research plan. Julie will document and observe the popular girls then, when they have enough information, Lydia will experiment and try to do the same things the cool kids are doing and see if it puts her higher up in the social order.


As the two girls get farther into their quest to find out what makes the popular girls popular, they seem to drift away from their plan, and from each other. Julie and Lydia have to decide what they are really looking for.


I really loved The Popularity Papers, by Amy Ignatow! Once you start, you will not be able to put it down until the very last page. Its funny, a fast read, and full of great, colorful pictures. The story is not typed but looks handwritten, like notes passed between two best friends. Its a great book for girls going into middle school. If youre worried about the next step, this book puts a humorous spin on middle school and reminds us that everyone has fears about the unknown and growing up.


I highly recommend this graphic novel& it will inspire you to start your own journal or scrapbook!