Mia the Meek

January 1, 2007
Gr 6-9-Mia Fullerton has earned her nickname because of her timidity among her middle school classmates. Now, as high school begins, she is determined to change her image by following the instructions in a self-help book, and inadvertently agrees to run for freshman class president at St. Hilary's. She wins over her classmates by telling them to vote for "Mia the Meek, Queen of the Freaks." Meanwhile, she is surprised by the attention that Jake, a boy she's had her eye on for years, is paying to her since she got rid of her glasses and braces. However, she keeps finding herself daydreaming of Tim, her cocky new neighbor. Overall, there is too much going on in this novel. Mia is busy dating Jake, playing one-on-one basketball with Tim, maintaining her grades, arguing with her parents, preparing for the Academic Bowl, coordinating class-president responsibilities, and suffering through having her mother as her English teacher. The story is full of clichéd embarrassments, including dropping her retainer in the cafeteria trash, falling down in the school bathroom, and setting the science lab on fire. Additionally, some of the dialogue is unrealistic for ninth graders. Still, Mia is a strong character who is brainy and competitive and has the same worries as many girls. Fans of the good-girl-finding-her-way genre might enjoy this one."Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.