How To Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart (Random House, 2010)

While this book received starred reviews and has an attractive cover and title, I found it very hard to get into and read.  David Greenberg is a huge fan of TV anchorman Jon Stewart (who I think most kids in grades 5-8 don’t know) creates videos starring himself and his hamster and puts them on You Tube.  Meanwhile, David misses his mom who has abandoned his family, he has trouble with his friend Elliott, and then the ultimate tragedy–David’s hamster passes away.  The story and characters are hard to relate to, are slow moving and dull.

J-Additional Purchase— J/YA Crossover, R—Tee C (Port Chester/Rye Brook)

Advertisement