Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick: Ginny Davis's Year In Stuff [Hardcover]

Jennifer L. Holm (Author), Elicia Castaldi (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 7, 2012 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: Ginny Davis's Year in Stuff

Part graphic novel, part scrapbook and altogether original—New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Holm's Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick is just right for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries and Babymouse!
Ginny has big plans for eighth grade. She's going to try out for cheerleading, join Virtual Vampire Vixens, and maybe even fall in love. But middle school is more of a roller-coaster ride than Ginny could have ever predicted. Her family has just moved into a fancy new house when Ginny's stepdad loses his job. (Can worrying about money make you sick?). Ginny's big brother keeps getting into trouble. And there's a new baby on the way. (Living proof that Ginny's mom and stepdad are having sex. Just what she needs.) Filled with Post-its, journal entries, grocery lists, hand-drawn comic strips, report cards, IMs, notes, and more, Eighth Grade Is Making Me Sick is the sometimes poignant, often hilarious, always relatable look at a year in the life of one girl, told entirely through her stuff.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-In this follow-up to Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf (S & S, 2007), Ginny Davis starts eighth grade at Woodland Central Middle School the way she started seventh grade, with a "Big To-Do List." Her 10 new goals include "1. Try out for cheer" and "3. Fall in love." She also moves into a larger house with her mother, new stepfather, and brothers, Timmy and Henry. Mom, a lawyer, continues to communicate with notes on the refrigerator and the occasional text message. Grandpa, a strong influence in Ginny's life, continues to write, send money, and occasionally visit. He even learns to email. Things seem to be going well; even Henry appears to be on the straight and narrow. All of these observations are gleaned from colorful pages filled with the paraphernalia of busy lives-moving boxes, calendars, instant and text messages, bank statements, take-out menus, paint swatches, and even a discarded pregnancy test, indicating an impending half sibling. Ginny makes the cheer squad and starts the school year off successfully. There is the possibility of true love. But then, her stepfather loses his job, Henry starts acting up, and she suffers from a mysterious ailment. Ginny's voice is appealing. This story told in stuff is engaging, touching, hilarious, often relatable, and should be popular with all sorts of readers, including fans of graphic novels.-Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About the Author

JENNIFER L. HOLM is the New York Times bestselling author of three Newbery Honor Books, Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise, as well as the Babymouse and Squish series which she collaborates on with her brother, Matthew Holm. She lives in California with her husband and two young children. Jenni survived eighth grade. Barely.

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (August 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375868518
• ISBN-13: 978-0375868511
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer L. Holm is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling children's author and the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE. Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on two graphic novel series -- the popular Babymouse series and the bestselling Squish series. She is also the author of several other highly praised books, including the Boston Jane trilogy and MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WORSE THAN MEATLOAF. She lives in California with her husband and two children.

For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Have for Middle Schoolers August 29, 2012

By Little Willow

Format:Hardcover

The new school year has arrived, and with it comes the fantastic book Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick: Ginny Davis's Year in Stuff by Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Elicia Castaldi. This follow-up to 2007's Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf does not disappoint. Once I started reading it, I didn't stop, turning pages all through breakfast until I reached the final page.

Ginny's life is as busy as ever. Her eighth grade year starts with her family - that includes her mother, her stepfather, her two brothers, and their dog - moving into a new house. Her school schedule includes first period P.E. (yuck!), dissections in science class (assisted by her friend Brian), and an enthusiastic Language Arts teacher who assigns original poetry prompts every Friday. Ginny does well in some classes and struggles in others, tries out for the cheerleading squad, and tries to stomach her stepfather's uber-healthy dinners. She has hobbies - reading, watching movies, and drawing - and likes making to-do lists. She also really, really dislikes how her family's holiday portrait turned out. As things keep changing around her, one thing's for sure: this is a school year Ginny will never forget.

The book is a series of letters, photographs, scribbles, and sketches, chronicling Ginny's correspondence with friends and family members. There are notes stuck on the fridge at home and on her locker at school, postcards and emails from her Grampa Joe, IMs with her best friend, Becky Soo, and text messages to and from family members.

There's more to Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick than meets the eye. Not only will you see something new every time you look at a page - Castaldi's attention to detail is wonderful! - but the story itself is layered. Ginny and her family have their fair share of ups and downs, some serious, some humorous, always handled delicately and realistically.

I'd love to see what happens to Ginny next. I hope the authors follow Ginny through high school. This series will appeal to reluctant readers just as much as it will appeal voracious readers. This is some really, really good Stuff.

My favorite images appear on page 21, page 44, and page 24, just to name a few. Want to see what's in the pictures? You'll have to check out the book!

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars i strongly disliked this book September 4, 2012

By GABY

Format:Hardcover

i felt that the author could not carry on a good story with just letters and notes.the story was lifeless i read the first one i also did not take a liking to it.i do not reccomend this book dont waste your money if you want to check it out get it from the library. dont spend your money on this.