Mission (un)Popular

Gr 6—8—Seventh grade at Manning Middle School was supposed to be a fresh start for Margot Button: new school, new look, and new attitude. After an unfortunate incident labels her a bad influence on the kids from her elementary school who will also attend Manning, she finds herself showing up on the first day without her best friend and with some questionable hair management. Fortunately, New Yorker Em has just moved to Darling, Canada, and is looking for a friend. Em has a bold style that extends to both her wardrobe and her brash comments. Together the girls take on Sarah J. and the entire student hierarchy at their school, creating lasting effects on the feuds and friendships. Humphrey has crafted a realistic account of life in the second tier of seventh grade. The pressures and situations Margot encounters will feel familiar to many adolescent readers, but a slow-moving plot and overly generous page count may deter less-able readers.—Colleen S. Banick, Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield, CT