All's Faire in Middle School

This is definitely not appropriate for 5th and 6th graders as I had originally thought. Had a student bring this up to me with the page opened to the word “sex”. I was shocked as AR recommended this book for 4th-8th graders. Will research more closely from now on!

Section where a character has a porno book or something. NOT appropriate for young middle schoolers. Leave the Sex ed to the parents!

Just like "Roller Girl," the unique story and colorful art in "All's Faire" does not fail to please—be the reader a young person or even an adult. I've purchased this for my daughter who is younger than the intended audience (probably 11-14). The audience this story is geared to is about a year or two older than that in "Roller Girl." There's nothing that I'd consider inappropriate, but it is a good idea for a parent to read ahead if it is to be given to a younger child just so you can discuss it with your child if they have questions.

It is a coming-of-age story about a homeschooler (Imogene) who enters public school for the first time, and the struggles she faces to fit in, but keep her identity and be a good person. What I love best about the story is how Impy makes some pretty large mistakes (from hurting people she cares about to getting bad grades in science class where she has personality conflicts with her teacher), but she realizes that making mistakes is part of being a human being and has power to change her present and future to make right by those she hurt (including herself). This self-acceptance is beautiful and exactly what all young people need—especially girls.

This situation can really apply to any child—especially a young person entering a new school (be it because they moved, decided to stop homeschooling and/or shifted up from elementary to junior high/middle). I will be giving it to my daughter as a Christmas gift and expect she will love it—since she was a very big fan of "Roller Girl."

This book is nothing but trash. I consider this book completely "INAPPROPRIATE". I cannot believe this book was geared towards 9-12 year old's. Matter fact, any age. This is complete filth. I threw the book away. Whoever wrote this book, needs to know this is offensive before God.

Amazon, please take this book off your website. Others have already posted the pages showing inappropriate information regarding the word "Sex". It alludes to a male suggesting his thoughts of taking a swimsuit top off of a girl? Are you kidding me????? What is this world coming to, to accept such nonsense for kids to read. And, you wonder why girls end up pregnant before they are 15. We need to bring prayer back into our schools. Enough said!

I loved this story even more than Roller Girl (which I also loved). I homeschool my kids and we love the Ren Faire, so this was right up our alley, but truly it's a great story for anyone and sends a great message about being yourself.

I had high hopes (and fears!) for this because I'm such a fan of Jamieson's first book, ROLLERGIRL. I loved ALL'S FAIRE just as much. It's fun and funny, but also deals thoughtfully and realistically with deeper friendship issues, family stuff, and figuring out who you are and want to be.

Bought this for my daughter to check out. She loves graphic novels and reading all kinds of different books. She told me that this book was funny and it was a good read. She had read something by this author before but she said that she was pleasantly surprised that she liked this book better!!

Good writing, point of view is child's and the writing is consistent and fun. A quirky family pastime is the focus of this book, good for discussion.

Done by the same young author who did "Roller Girl", it is about a spunky preteen girl who enrolls in school for the very first time after a whole idyllic life of growing up at a Floridian Renaissance Faire, where her parents work and provide most of their children's education (they also taught her be a courteous and fearless person, BTW.)

Then wide-eyed young Imogene starts facing REAL danger when she meets people who would actually THREATEN her innocence and almost DESTROY her sense of security and belonging with the family and the world itself, too. Those people include a very arrogant teacher, a haughty overweight outcast, and a whole clique led by an extremely privileged brat with a very black soul (I feel sorry for her future family when she is one day a venomous, backstabbing "Real Housewife of Beverly Hills". Or will it be "Orlando", "Tampa", or "Jacksonville", since the story takes place in Sunshine State?)

After trying her best to fit in, Imogene suddenly finds herself the victim of bullying. But SHE has been accused of BEING the bully! So now her whole family - her parents included - start treating her like a fly-swarming pile of horse poop that she has to clean up at the festival. Or - ironically - like a typical daughter from the actual Middle Ages, when MALE offspring are much, much preferred.

So what can poor little Imogene do? A demure-faced young actress playing the princess at the Faire - as hefty as a healthy young heifer - supposedly comes to her rescue. It's implied that she may have been abused or molested by her stepfather, but she still comes up smelling like a pretty rose and now she wants to practice being a "mommy" on Imogene and her little brother - before she starts churning out her very own babies with a hunky blonde "knight" who had once upon a time been Imogene's childhood crush. Anyway, the annoying but well-meaning "homewrecker" sweetly gives Imogene some advice on how to fix problems that she DIDN'T cause in the first place.

Now Imogene tries her darnedest to win everyone back - including the stuck-up fatso and the SPOILED ROTTEN little turd of a brother who should NOT have treated a dead squirrel like a toy in the first place! (Someone give his butt a good, hard swat before he grows up to be a redneck wife-batterer!)

Poor Imogene. She might as well become a sunny, ever-smiling 1950s Stepford "princess" completely devoted to pleasing everyone - even a teacher who MAY turn out to be an abusive creep deliberately intimidating and even mistreating children in plain sight! (Yes, there are stories about teachers like that in the news. And I uh, had one in high school, who eventually got in TROUBLE for his behavior with the students, including myself, BTW. In fact, I had to testify against him, too.)

Worse of all, the actual little culprit and her minions all get away with it scot-free in the very end.

Oh, and one more thing...why are several female characters - including the gentle, bovine-eyed "princess" who had unintentionally "stolen" Imogene's very first "love interest" - drawn to appear as big as hippos, BTW?

So fantastic--loved it even more than Roller Girl, which was tough to beat.