Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson is a realistic fiction novel that is perfect for middle school readers.  If you are looking for a "funny" book, look no further!  James Patterson is a very well-known author who has written hundreds of novels, but most recently started to write youth fiction.  The novel is long with 283 pages and 76 chapters.  However, there are LOTS of illustrations throughout the novel that help the pages turn much faster than other novels this size.  This novel is the first in James Patterson's "Middle School" series.  

Rafe Khatchadorian is starting 6th grade at Hills Village Middle School and is NOT excited about it.  Lots of other people are excited for the first day of school, but not Rafe.  To Rafe, middle school sounds like more responsibilities and homework.  So to spice things up a bit, Rafe comes up with a brilliant plan with his best friend, Leo: Rafe is going to break EVERY rule in the HVMS Code of Conduct.  The operation is called PROJECT R.A.F.E. - Rules Aren't For Everyone.  Together, Leo and Rafe come up with the rules (no hurting other people), how the game is played, a point system, and how many "lives" Rafe has before he loses the game.  Rafe decides to kick off the game with a bang by breaking one of the biggest rules on the very first day of middle school: he sets off the school's fire alarm!  Rafe certainly begins to catch the attention of his classmates, his teachers, and the administrators - all who have their eye on Rafe.  But he has also caught the attention of the school's bigger, older bully: Miller.  As if that were not enough, Rafe's antics have also caught the attention of "Bear," his mom's fiance that lives with them.  Rafe and Bear have never gotten along, but now Bear is fed up with Rafe as he progresses through the game.  Can Rafe beat his and Leo's game and break all the rules in the Code of Conduct before the school year ends or will Rafe find himself in more trouble than he is prepared for?

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is a great novel for ALL middle school readers.  It is even appropriate in language and content and difficulty for upper elementary readers as well.  Both guys and girls will enjoy this novel, but especially the boys.  I picked up this novel because so many of my students ask for a "funny" book when they come to me for a recommendation and I think this novel is a perfect fit for those readers.  However, don't think this novel is all laughs.  Rafe's life isn't easy and his family situation isn't the best.  The story also includes several unexpected twists and turns for the reader!  This is also a great transitional novel for students who shy away from "long" books or students who enjoy graphic novels.  The pages turn quickly with short chapters and graphics.  Patterson's style of writing helps the reader feel like he/she is a part of the story and one of Rafe's friends.  It is Patterson's writing style that makes this book comical, along with Rafe's ridiculous shenanigans, of course.  Readers who enjoy this novel and want to continue with Rafe on his journey through middle school may also enjoy his other novels in this series that follow: Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!, Middle School: My Brother Is A Big, Fat Liar, Middle School: How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill, Middle School: Ultimate Showdown, and more!