The Popularity Papers:Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang- Amy Ignatow

Title: The Popularity Papers:Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang
Author: Ignatow, Amy
Publisher: Amulet Books, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0810997233

Genre: Comedy
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Grade 3+

Readers Annotation: Lydia and Julie want to become popular before they enter middle school. How can they do it?

Plot:
These two friends set out to become popular girls in school before middle school. One is a reader and loves the arts and one is more social. They start their journey deciding to do a science experiment to see what it takes to be popular. They create profiles of each popular person and then try to recreate that within themselves. Will this work or will it simply create animosity between the two friends? What does it really mean to be popular? Take this journey with Lydia and Julie to find out.

Review:
I did not enjoy this book but it is nominated for the Washington Sasquatch Award for middle aged students. It was full of drawings and is similar to books such as the Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I think there needs to be more literary substance than there was in this book. That said, many students I work with who are tweens like this book because it is relevant to them. I would recommend reading it so you understand what the children are relating to.

Similar Materials:

Dork Diaries- Rachel Renee Russell
Diary of a Wimpy Kid- Jeff Kinney