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Summary
Summary
In Stuck in the Middle (of Middle School) by Karen Romano Young, Doreen and her family had to move because of her once she got kicked out of school. She's vowed to make her new middle school work for her, but it's still a challenge, given her ADHD, her younger sister's growing popularity, and tensions between her parents, as they all adjust to a new city and new jobs. Add to that a lot of homework, a talent show, and her first [gulp!] school dance, and you'll agree that Doreen needs to work extra hard to stay focused. Good thing she has her doodle-journal!
Author Notes
Karen Romano Young's first novel-in-doodles, Doodlebug , was praised as "Engaging, original...charming and thoughtful," by Kirkus Reviews in a starred review. She is also the author of over a dozen books for children. She lives in Bethel, Connecticut, with her family.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Doreen Bussey aka Dodo aka Doodlebug returns in this companion to Young's Doodlebug (2010), which shares the loose, meandering, and very funny notebook-style format of its predecessor. As in that book, Doodlebug offers a handwritten and inventively illustrated account of her family's continuing efforts to resettle in San Francisco. Tensions between Doodlebug's parents, her sister's efforts to fit in at school, and an upcoming school dance loom large in this installment. Throughout, Young has a gift for capturing Doodlebug's scattered but perceptive outlook-"Permanent," she writes (in permanent marker), "is a word that doesn't seem to have anything to do with my family so far"-both in her writing and her authentically childlike illustrations. Ages 8-12. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Her whole family is settling in after a move to San Francisco, and Doreen (Doodlebug) doodles to help her cope with ADD and the challenges of a new middle school. Most young readers will relate to her struggle to fit in. The handwritten journal is filled with imaginative, childlike illustrations; both the format and subject matter will have wide appeal. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Last seen in Doodlebug: A Novel in Doodles (2010), Dodo continues to use her drawing journal to keep her ADHD in check. But it's also getting her in trouble with her social studies teacher, who gave her an F on her doodled response to an assignment. To be able to attend the April Fool's dance, Dodo must find a creative way to redo the assignment. At first glance, this book appears so crammed with doodles that it's difficult to behold, but brave reading reveals a finely crafted work. The format might recall a certain wimpy kid, but the content is better compared to the middle-grade novels of Kate Klise.--Petty, J. B. Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Doreen (aka Doodlebug) is still dealing with challenges in this sequel to Doodlebug: A Novel in Doodles (Feiwel & Friends, 2010). This time around, her parents are trying to figure out their new jobs, Doodlebug has a teacher who believes she is capable of more, and her first school dance is fast approaching. Will she be able to keep her ADHD in check and solve all of her problems, or are they beyond her control? This story is easy to relate to, with school and home struggles at the forefront, and readers will understand Doodlebug's feelings of guilt regarding the fact that her parents are fighting and her concern that her dad will leave her mom. The format will work well for some readers, as the doodles and conversational style will pull more reluctant readers into the story, but the busy pages may turn others off. Ultimately, this is a good addition to collections, especially for kids wanting more books like Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series (Abrams).-Elizabeth Swistock, Orange County Public Library, VA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Excerpts
DOODLEBUG 2 by Doreen Bussery (the one and only TRUE Doodle bug Yo, get away from me, birds! IT's not like I have nothing better to do in my life than draw a million little stripes on skinny outlines of letters. Then why doodle? THE PEOPLE ASK ME. If you could see inside my head, you would understand. Without a pen or pencil in my hand, my brain keeps on bringing up TOPICS. Ack! Overload! Must jump up and act! But put a pen in my hand and my big old brain can finally SHUT UP and in the new guiet , NOW! CAN HEAR BIRDS again and AIRPLANES flying over and PEOPLE sniffing and my beat and IT'S BETTER BETTER BETTER (except in MS. Farley's class) and Doodling saves lives! Is my new motto. YEAH!! THINGS are good. THINGS are great! Elizabeth kaur / Colleen Callahan or, as she is known in these parts, the COOTIE CATCHER, is telling Morno's for tune with her paper-folding arts. " You Will become a World - famous opera singer, Maureen." "NAH, I'm going to be a ROCK STAR." And Mom says, "That's Morno for ya. She never Settles." In the kitchen, Magic Marco Pinho says, " you mean, nothing's ever good enough for her?" (HIS CHEEKS ARE EVEN PINKER L THAN WHEN HE GOT HERE, AND THAT WAS ALREADY PRETTY PINK!) "Not a bit!" Says Dad. "She doesn't let what anyone else says or does LIMIT her." And then he makes a great Proclamation: "EVERYBODY STOP SIGNS SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN IN LIFE." Hooray for that idea but isn't it time to get going? This is the reason we are all here together at our house. All together, we are going to witness MOM'S big cottony moment: Jolene Bussey show us your underwear!!! Her underwear SIGN. AND NOW, MS.JOLENE BUSSEY BRINGS Cool, Clean, Cottony shine to the moon over S.F.!! That's you! Serene as the moon over San Francisco We drove out of the city and came back until suddenly we saw it!! I bopped momo on the head and said, "THAT'S MY MAMA!" She waved both hands and yelled, "THAT'S MY MAMA!" Dad sighed, "IT'S GORGEOUS, JO!" C.C. Said, "Those are the biggest un dies I've ever seen, Mrs. Bussey. Impressive!" Marco said, "Your very own Sign." Mom said, "You are all very sweet." And Smiled. We dropped M.M. and C.C. off on our way home. Marco lives in a tall, modern apartment house on top of the HIGEST hill. "SWANKY!" says Mom. "what does his father do?" asks Dad. "Hes graphic artist," Says Elizabeth. "Oh, so it CAN be done!" says Mom. Dad didn't answer. Elizabeth Lives in the cutest cottage in a long row of cute cottages. "Cute, but crow ded," she says. "If only I was an only child." But she has 4 sisters. "That's a SWEET house," says Dad. "It doesn't take a lot of money to be happy," says mom. There was a silent space in the car. "Will, that's good!" Said Momo. "Since we don't have a lot of MONEY" I said, "Yeah, well, pretty soon, TIGHTY WHITEYS will be on all the big shots in the city!!" MOMO said, "you mean all the Big Butts!!" Mom said, "From your to God's." I asked, " what will you buy? " Mom said, "A SWEET little house." DAD said "No, a SWANKY apartment." Momo asked, "Can we take SVEN?" And we all answered, "Sven is Staci's cat." Momo said, "Maybe he is just a little bit outs?" If EVERTHING around here feels like it is just a little bit ours, that is because we have tried to make it so. By now it is ALMOST our house, our apartment, our stairs, our neighborhood, our roof, out cat, our city, our school, our life. But guess what? Staci comes home in just 3 days. We are maybe moving into a little house near the cootie Catcher's cute cottage. It is for rent. Yes, sir! We are staying. DAD is still interim manager for now. MOM's underwear is all over the city. Hee hee. MOMO has a solo in the choir's spring concert . AND ME? I am the UNSTOPPABLE, AMAZING, TROUBLESHOOTING, BRILLIANT, THRILLING, CHILLING, KILLING ...... (turn the page!) And Seven comes out and listens to us when we talk, but still won't let us pet him. Copyright © 2013 by Karen Romano Young Excerpted from Stuck in the Middle (of Middle School): A Novel in Doodles by Karen Romano Young All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
