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The Popularity Papers: The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang Amy Ignatow

Lydia and Julie are back! This time, Lydia convinces Julie that they need to start a rock band. Julie makes Lydia sign a contract saying that this is not one of Lydia’s popularity schemes. First, they have to learn how to play some instruments (hilarity ensues) Roland’s in the band. Jane manages to worm her way in, too (drama ensues) and then… they have to play some shows. Even though they’re not that good. In fact, they’re horrible (more hilarity ensues.)

Things I loved about this book: Jane and Chuck break up, and Chuck’s like “Hey Lydia” and Lydia doesn’t fall for it. She’s pretty firm in that she doesn’t want to be friends with him after what happened in the last book and how he just ditched her for Jane. Lydia knows she’s worth more than that, and she’s not taking any less.

Also, their lyrics are hysterically awful.

AND OMG MELODY! Lydia’s older sister has always been an odd voice of reason, coming from an angry goth girl. At the end of the last book, we are told that something MAJOR happened and we finally get to see it. I love the new Melody. I like the glimpses we get of who she is based on what *hasn’t* changed.

Things I love about this series that haven’t changed: Lydia and Julie are still awesome. I love the full color comic/word novel hybrid. I love their friends, especially Roland and Jen.

But most of all, I love Julie’s dads. They’re so perfectly wonderful parents while being horribly embarrassing at the same time.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Fashion Kitty and the B.O.Y.S.: (Ball of Yellow String) Charise Mericle Harper

Leon hates Fashion Kitty. Leon hates most things. Leon wants to catch Fashion Kitty!

Meanwhile, Kiki (aka, Fashion Kitty) is trying to help her friend Lester, who keeps having things ruined by his twin brother (you guessed it) Leon!

And it all comes to a big showdown on the day of the school fashion show!

Fashion Kitty remains a funny and fun read. This one was a bit different because a lot of it focused on Leon. Also, it was always a bit of a hybrid between comic book and novel, but was mostly comic book. This volume is much more evenly split between comic and text.

I most liked the changing relationship between Kiki and her little sister. Fans of Fashion Kitty will enjoy it.

Book Provided by... my local library

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The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang Amy Ignatow

Lydia and Julie are on a quest to discover the secrets of popularity before entering junior high. They decide to observe the popular girls and try to figure out what makes them popular. This is the book of their observations and findings. Along the way, they deal with school musical auditions, camping trips, knitting, stick fighting, field hockey, talent shows, and some truly horrendous amateur Norwegian love poetry. Also, some lessons about popularity and friendship, but they're a bit hidden, so don't worry.

What's great about this book is that it's told in a mix of prose (with different handwritings for Julie and Lydia) and pictures and cartoons. Also, the entire thing is in FULL COLOR. It really does look like a notebook of two girls. And it's uproariously funny. I especially liked how the popular girls were... real. They weren't mean girl flat characters. As Lydia and Julie got to know them, they became real people-- with good and bad sides, just like everyone else. Julie illustrates most of the book, because Lydia can't draw, so the parts where Lydia does draw (glorified stick figures) are really funny. Lydia's older sister Melody is another comedic dimension. She's surly and wears a lot of black and heavy eyeliner. She used to be happy and pretty and friendly in elementary school, and then changed in junior high. She's actually the reason the girls are so desperate to be popular--they don't want to turn into Melody!

Readers do have to be able to read cursive, though, because Lydia's parts are all in cursive.

Overall, a most EXCELLENT book. It's like if Candy Apple and Wimpy Kid and Babymouse had a book baby of awesome.

And! Bonus points-- Julie has two daddies (Daddy and Papa Dad).

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.