A Middle School Saga

ifeelbookish - Okay, so first and foremost, this is one of the most truest books that I have ever read on Earth. This book is so honest and thoughtful and it's just so unforgettable. I think this is one of the best books that I have ever read, like seriously and I don't say that often. And anyway, I need to start with a somewhat short summary; let's see how it turns out. Oh, and thank you so much to Dogo Books who provided me with this book when I won a giveaway on the site. I am eternally indebted to Dogo for this book, this book is just soooo good. So Jake is now entering middle school. He's kind of nervous, but at least he has his best friend, Danny by his side right? Not really. Jake is noticing that Danny has become more distant, and they haven't been hanging out anymore. Hannah, Jake's sister, has known Danny since he was 8 and she thinks he's okay. Hannah starts developing feelings for Danny, but I won't give a way too much so I'll stop there. In their middle school, it is socially unacceptable to be dating a "sevvy" (seventh grader) if you are in eight grade. So, that's definitely a problem. And Dorothy Wu, a social outcast loves writing and all she wants is a friend. How are these distinctly different middle-schoolers connected? Find out in Trash Can Days (which is such a good book, if I haven't already said that lol). Anyway, on to the review. First off, I really really appreciated how middle school was SO SO accurately portrayed in the book. Like, everything in the book has happened in my middle school. And yes, some people (okay, a lot) of people at my school say curse words so you should definitely ask your parents if you can read this book because there is a lot or cursing, drama, dating, and like some not-so-appropriate scenes. I loved how the Hannah and Jake had a sibling rivalry, like my siblings. It made it seem realistic, like everyone and everything in the book.There were definitely lots of funny parts, and some really serious parts because Danny was in a gang that was very violent. The story switches between the four character's point-of-views, which was kind of hard to read at first but you'll get used to it. I feel like I didn't enjoy Dorothy's chapters that much and I think it was because I didn't really relate to her (besides our adoration for writing and books), I would recommend this to the 12-14 age group (again, ask a parent before reading this because this IS a YA or a Young Adult novel). I really liked how everyone in the book was so realistic; they developed really strong relationships. I seriously CANNOT wait for the second book, Trash Can Nights which is coming out very soon. See you later, -ifeelbookish P.S. I'm currently reading Girl Parts by John M. Cusick and I'm almost finished with it. I'll be reviewing it soon.

June 17, 2013
Four middle-school students narrate this exploration of friendship, relationships, and class in California. Jake Schwartz is nervous about starting seventh grade, but at least his best friend Danny Uribe, whose parents live and work at Jake’s family’s mansion, will be at his side. But Danny decides he wants some space from Jake, both to reconnect with his Latino cousins and to pursue Hannah, Jake’s older sister. Eighth-grader Hannah, meanwhile, is obsessed with gossip until she becomes the subject of it, and socially awkward, unrepentantly geeky Dorothy Wu lives vicariously through the fantasy stories she writes while pining for Jake. Debut novelist Steinkellner uses IM conversations, Facebook posts, school bulletins, emails, and text message exchanges to flesh out the kids’ complicated lives, pulling in everything from gang pressures and ethnic tensions to hurtful gossip and even the administrative pushback their new English teacher is facing. In a story that’s funny, crass, painful, and optimistic, Steinkellner skillfully juggles a large cast, giving even minor characters distinctive voices and making their disappointments and growth feel real. Ages 10–14. Agent: Alex Glass, Trident Media Group.

June 15, 2013
Good news for readers with short attention spans: Picking up this novel is like reading several books at once. It begins as a realistic story about middle school. The problem is that it's exactly like middle school. It's full of pointless gossip, casual bigotry, and romances that stop and start without a second thought. Anyone who's spent time in an actual middle school may slam the covers shut. Fortunately, 11 pages into the book, Dorothy Wu shows up. Dorothy indulges huge crushes on video game characters. She uses the expression "Holy Table," because she doesn't want to glorify "cows" or "smokes" or "molys." The other characters are never quite as appealing, but as the story progresses, their personalities start to change. The school's gossip blogger, for example, develops a social conscience. For most of its second half, the book is everything a middle school novel should be: funny, dramatic and quite moving. Then it changes again, turning awkwardly sentimental in the last several chapters. And once in a while, it becomes a jarring, violent story about gang warfare. But no one who reads those sections of the book will ever join a gang. Some readers will get whiplash, but any time they're not enjoying the book, all they need to do is flip a few pages. (Fiction. 10-14)

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November 1, 2013

Gr 7-9-At the beginning of seventh grade, best friends Jake and Danny are growing apart. At first the changes are common enough: Danny hits puberty before Jake and starts to look older, and entering junior high school means making new friends. But the rift becomes deeper as Danny begins to associate with members of a local gang and distances himself from Jake, who, as he puts it, is "about as far away from gangster as you can get, since he's white and nerdy and emotional and stuff." As Danny gets sucked into gang culture, he also begins a secret relationship with Jake's popular sister, Hannah, and eventually the two worlds cannot help but touch, with dramatic consequences. Chapters narrated by different characters, as well as interspersed status updates and online chats, may appeal to reluctant readers. At times funny and superficial, at times serious, the story is about friendship, family, and how the choices kids make can affect who they become. The pacing is steady, the tone is mostly light despite some serious content, and there is occasional vulgar language.-Emma Burkhart, Springside School, Philadelphia, PA

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