How to Survive Middle School

HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL (WITHOUT GETTING YOUR HEAD FLUSHED) AND DEAL WITH AN EX-BEST FRIEND, ...UM, GIRLS, AND A HEARTBREAKING HAMSTER by Donna Gephart is an extremely fun book that kids are guaranteed to love. It is the story of David Greenberg, a pre-teen boy who aspires to be the next Jon Stewart! In the meantime, he attends middle school where he's not exactly in the cool crowd and he makes videos with his pet hamster Hammy for fun. When he and his best friend have a falling out, he finds himself friends with the new girl Sophie. David learns that his life is full of changes, and with Sophie's help, he suddenly becomes famous! I so enjoyed this very funny novel. There is no doubt that Ms. Gephart has a wonderful sense of humor. At times, I even laughed out loud while reading this book. David is just a fantastic character, and I couldn't help but fall a little in love with him. He was so smart and creative (and a little naive), and he had great insight into life. But what I really found funny was his ability to laugh at himself. He was such a great kid, and I think lots of readers are going to be able to relate to him! While this novel was extremely entertaining, it was also very touching and tender. David's mother left the family and moved away. She has little contact with David except for letters, and it's obvious that David misses her dearly. My heart really went out to him over and over again for the pain he felt from being abandoned. In addition, I also felt compassion towards David because of his insecurities. He was worried about starting middle school (he had many of the same feelings that my daughter currently has) and he actually feared some of the bullies at school. I also think David's pre-teen anxieties are going to resonate with many young readers. I also loved the cover of this book too! Hammy is just too cute and definitely deserves to be the cover boy, but I also liked how the entire cover looks like a video (with play and volume buttons!) I thought this cover absolutely captured the fun feel of this novel and fit perfectly with David's Talk Time videos, and you can't help love little Hammy. Almost two years ago, I reviewed another book by Ms. Gephart -- AS IF BEING 12 3/4 ISN'T BAD ENOUGH, MY MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. While both Booking Daughter and I really liked it, I think I enjoyed HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL even more! Ms. Gephart is definitely a force to be reckoned with in middle grade fiction. She has the great ability to tell a good story while also making the reader laugh -- it's a great combination of fun! I also love that her books appeal to both boys and girls and that they have wonderful messages! I would consider HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL for a future mother-daughter book club pick. However, I think it would a fantastic choice for a mother-son (or father-son) group because the main character is a tween boy! The book gives the reader such an honest look at a pre-teen boy -- the insecurities

"How to Survive Middle School" is an entertaining and poignant story of a neat boy whose funny videos go viral on YouTube just as he is struggling with the bumpy move to middle school. The Sid Fleischman Humor Award winning author Donna Gephart demonstrates a clear and compassionate understanding of children on the cusp of adolescence, mother child bonds, family dynamics, the aftermath of divorce, bullies, detention hall spitballs and hamster health. Lots of heart and tons of laughs!

HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL Donna Gephart BY GENE HULL David Greenberg is about to enter Middle School and is filled with apprehension. Some of his fears are soon realized. But in the process an amazing thing happens. His homemade video submissions to YouTube-- takeoffs on the Jon Stewart TV show, his idol (featuring his pet hamster "Hammy")-- catch on and go viral worldwide. Suddenly, instead of a kid who feels like a schmo at school, David becomes a local celebrity. "How To Survive Middle School,"(Delacorte Press, $15.95) is supposedly geared toward the pre-teen market, ages 9 to 12. However, it is so cleverly written with whacky humor and deft compassion for the angst of middle school kids making the transition into adolescence, that the result is also a fun read for teens AND adults--especially those who understand the possibilities of social media and YouTube. Author Donna Gephart evidences a hip outlook and strong understanding of the lifestyles and issues of her characters, so much so that the bizarre often seems reasonable. "How To Survive Middle School" is a winner. I loved it.

David Greenburg is 11 years old and about to start middle school. He's not too worried until his older cousin Jack tells him about the horrors he may face, including a toilet-bowl swirlie on his birthday. David has other worries on his mind too: his mom left the family to live on a farm in Maine that has no electricity or phone service, his best friend Elliott no longer speaks to him, and his older sister Lindsay is hostile a lot of the time. The only good thing he has going is his grandmother, Bubbe, the TalkTime videos he records and posts on YouTube, and his pet hamster. Things start to look up when he meets Sophie on his first day of school. Sophie is just starting public school after being taught at home by her mom, and she loves David's videos. When she spreads the word about TalkTime through her homeschool network, David's videos suddenly become way more popular than he is, leading to consequences both good and bad. How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart is a funny and poignant look at a trying time of life for most adolescents. The comforts of elementary school are gone, some kids are maturing way faster than others, teachers are stricter, and new friendships are forming while old ones may be falling away. Bullies may be more of a problem. Gephart does a great job of showing how conflicted David feels about so much going on around him. Mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 12 will find a lot to talk about here--friendships, family relationships, relating to parents after divorce, pets, YouTube, and both the rewards and pitfalls of growing up. You may also want to serve Bubbe's Jewish Apple Cake (recipe included at the back of the book) when you get together to talk about this book. I laughed a lot and cried a little while reading How to Survice Middle School, and I highly recommend it.

A deeply enjoyable and funny read that deals with issues without becoming an Issue Book. What it has to say about bullying and family relationships is so valuable and so true but it is never preachy or overbearing. I love the message that just because you're a kid doesn't mean you don't count. Love it that David becomes famous and does a lot with a little. I also think the portrayal of the scariness of transferring from elementary school to middle school is spot-on. The way David behaves and the fears he feels ring so true to me.