Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff, by Jennifer Holm

Many graphic novels are presented in the classic comic book style: thick, black lines, action heroes, and each scene presented in a series of frames. While author Jennifer Holm is a master of the typical graphic novel style (as seen in her Babymouse series), she experiments with a different form of graphic novel in Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff.

As the title suggests, the reader learns about main character Ginny Davis' struggles with friendship, family and getting the lead role in the ballet recital through the minutia of Ginny's everyday life. It's as though the Davis family has gone out to dinner and the reader is left to rummage through homework assignments, instant message screens, hand-written poems, and refrigerator post-it notes. Tweens anticipating their middle school years will laugh when Ginny accidentally colors her hair pink right before school picture day, and will lament with Ginny as her older brother gets into increasing trouble with the law. Readers will devour Holm’s work to find out if Ginny actually survives all the ups and downs of seventh grade, including eating the dreaded cafeteria meatloaf.

This not-so-novel is perfect for those readers who are unwilling to pick up a 200 page book. With Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf, they may not even notice they actually (gasp!) reading!

Holm, J. (2007). Middle school is worse than meatloaf: a year told through stuff. New York, NY: Antheneum Books. ISBN 978-0-689-85281-7.