The total tragedy of a girl named Hamlet

 

Dionne, E. (2010). The total tragedy of a girl named Hamlet.  New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Interest Level: Grades 4-8

Reading Level: 5+

Eighth grader Hamlet Kennedy just wants to be a normal eighth grader. Unfortunately her family is making it difficult for her to do so. In the first place, there's her unfortunate name. Not to mention the fact that her 7-year old homeschooled but genius sister Desdemona will be attending eighth grade with her as well, to give her exposure to school and the arts before attending college. And then there are her parents. If you haven't figured it out by now, they are Shakespeare freaks. Well, college professors actually, and they are perfectly happy to guest lecture in Hamlet's classes in full costume when the classes are doing a unit on Shakespeare. If all of that isn't bad enough, Desdemona is now tutoring 8th graders in Pre-Algebra, a subject Hamlet does not excel at, someone is leaving origami pigs in Hamlet's locker, and Hamlet knows that the "in girls" do not have Desdemona's best interests at hand when they befriend her.

This is a fun read, but one that most any middle schooler will relate to. While most kids don't have parents who dress as characters from Shakespeare's plays, they generally do have some quality that embarrasses their child. Struggles with classes, friendships, and members of the opposite sex are also common and those are all present in this novel. I wish Hamlet's parents were a little less clueless from the beginning, but it's easy to see how they are so wrapped up in what they find fascinating and which others idolize them for (Huzzah!) that they might miss Hamlet's discomfort. Give this book to those who enjoyed Stargirl.

The Misfits

Howe, J. (2001). The Misfits. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Interest level: Grades 5-8

Reading level: 5+

This is the story of four seventh-grade students who call themselves the "Gang of Five" to keep people on their toes. None of these kids really fit in with anyone else, but managed to find each other because they are the kids who get picked on and called names at school. Bobby, the narrator, is overweight, Addie is made fun of for being tall and for her love of school, Skeezie is seen as a hoodlum because of his style of dress and his lack of hygiene and Joe is coming to terms with his sexuality. All they want to do is survive middle school, but the other students don't seem to be on board with that. They decide to fight back and form the No Name Calling Party during student council elections. Although they lose the elections they are successful in instituting a "No Name Calling Day" at their school. Companion novels Totally Joe and Addie on the Inside were recently released, giving another dimension to the story.

This book is for anyone who has ever been picked on at school, called names, or made to feel as if they didn't belong. Howe creates likeable characters who take charge of their lives (even if it is under Addie's pressure), try to make and succeed in making a difference. This book spurred the No Name Calling Week movement, adding to its importance in middle schools. I was fortunate enough to have James Howe visit my school this fall to talk about bullying and being different and to read some passages from Addie on the inside. He's as phenomenal of a speaker as he is a writer and has dedicated his life to helping kids who feel like they are outcasts find their voice. Give these books to anyone who has ever experienced or will experience middle school. The discussions that will ensue if used as a class novel are guaranteed to be enlightening.