The Truth About 5th Grade

Gr 3-6–This illustrated diary-style novel delves into the changes and frustrations fifth grade can bring, as well as the importance of listening. Charli and Alex are BFFs who are about to start fifth grade when Charli falls hard for her “True Crush Forever,” Henry. Alex doesn’t understand the obsession and is far more worried about surviving fifth grade and his brother finding his journal. One day, Charli is told by someone that Alex is a blabbermouth and told everyone about her forever crush on Henry. Charli is upset, but Alex is innocent. This novel alternates between Alex’s and Charli’s respective journal entries with doodles, comics, and more drawings to make them feel authentic. Readers have to deal with a miscommunication between the two friends that drags on at times and leads to pranks and middle school revenge schemes that ultimately fail, often to comedic effect. The characters do resolve their differences in the end; however, the diary format does not allow for much direct communication between the characters to show this resolution.