zenarae's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me so happy I'm not in middle school anymore, and also kind of wish I had run away to join the Ren Faire like I always wanted to as a kid.
cheesehead_reader's review against another edition
4.0
Cute story about a young girl trying to fit in and avoid being bullied but ends up being the bully instead. And it's all built around The Ren Faire life.
rachelmcg2004's review against another edition
4.0
It made me feel all the feels and I love our wonderful heroine!!!
The oNLY THING that made me not rate it 5 stars was her family's cruel turncoat behavior to her. Sure, she messed up, but when she reached out and attempted to reconcile, even her parents treated her with great unkindness. This went on FOR WEEKS. What terrible parents that they would just turn their backs on her and treat her coldly during a time of life that held so many changes and uncertainties for her!! Ugh.
Besides that, it was a super relatable and amazing book!!!!
The oNLY THING that made me not rate it 5 stars was her family's cruel turncoat behavior to her. Sure, she messed up, but when she reached out and attempted to reconcile, even her parents treated her with great unkindness. This went on FOR WEEKS. What terrible parents that they would just turn their backs on her and treat her coldly during a time of life that held so many changes and uncertainties for her!! Ugh.
Besides that, it was a super relatable and amazing book!!!!
hidingzeus's review against another edition
3.0
An excellent, adorable book that evoked memories of being in middle school (horrid thought!).
margeryb's review against another edition
5.0
Another amazing graphic novel by Victoria Jamieson.
Explore the behind-the-scenes world of a Ren Faire with our main character Imogene with her family (immediate family and Faire-mly alike) as well as Imogene, a former homeschooler, going to a public middle school for the first time. Jamieson writes middle-school age protagonist and situations with a realistic nuisance, exploring cliques, peer pressure, and the forging and breaking of friendships in a way that is never the easy, stereotyped cliche or like a so-called "issue book". There is also undercurrents of sibling-relationships, class and race, (like in Roller Girl, the protagonist is subtly Latina), and the budding adolescence interest in romance (without this book being a smidge about dating or romance). Like I said about Jamieson's previous novel 'Roller Girl', her work is a step up age-level wise from Raina Telegemier's works, but would appeal to the same audience.
In 'All's Faire in Middle School' Jamieson adds some fantasy flare with each chapter opening up with an illuminated page of narration, integrating fantasy tropes and the history of illustrated texts in a modern books.
Explore the behind-the-scenes world of a Ren Faire with our main character Imogene with her family (immediate family and Faire-mly alike) as well as Imogene, a former homeschooler, going to a public middle school for the first time. Jamieson writes middle-school age protagonist and situations with a realistic nuisance, exploring cliques, peer pressure, and the forging and breaking of friendships in a way that is never the easy, stereotyped cliche or like a so-called "issue book". There is also undercurrents of sibling-relationships, class and race, (like in Roller Girl, the protagonist is subtly Latina), and the budding adolescence interest in romance (without this book being a smidge about dating or romance). Like I said about Jamieson's previous novel 'Roller Girl', her work is a step up age-level wise from Raina Telegemier's works, but would appeal to the same audience.
In 'All's Faire in Middle School' Jamieson adds some fantasy flare with each chapter opening up with an illuminated page of narration, integrating fantasy tropes and the history of illustrated texts in a modern books.
mdettmann's review
4.0
All's Faire has the same heart and bright, fun illustrations as Roller Girl, only it's set at a Renaissance Faire and middle school. Tackling many tough issues that happen for kids that age, Jamieson did an excellent job in capturing how mean, confusing, and fun middle school can be. Fans of Roller Girl will adore this one, and anyone who has felt the pressure to be cool and fit in will instantly relate. The Renaissance Faire stuff was cool too. An excellent addition for schools serving upper elementary and middle school students.
nglofile's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. How can I not respond warmly to a book that double-acts the recognizable trials of middle school with the whimsy of life at Ren Faire?
The art is charming, colorful, and expressive - especially faces and body language. This is especially effective for characters in a life moment in which every single emotion is felt full-force and often let out unfiltered.
The transition from homeschooling to public school was depicted fairly, and it speaks well of the story that not only do we see hallmarks of Imogene being uncertain and overwhelmed but also are shown her acting out in classroom experiences that aren't tailored to her interests/abilities alone.
As much as we love Imogene, she makes a great many terrible choices, and I must admit I appreciated that. Eventually she is forced to face consequences - and, more than that, to take responsibility and choose how this might shape her going forward, and those are the beats that rise above similar stories previously told. She's refreshingly allowed to be a brat and a heroine at the same time - and all without making excuses for her behavior.
I do wish we'd had chance to know Anita as a more complex character, though I concede that was Imogene's issue and it is her perspective we hold. Still, I'd definitely read her story.
The art is charming, colorful, and expressive - especially faces and body language. This is especially effective for characters in a life moment in which every single emotion is felt full-force and often let out unfiltered.
The transition from homeschooling to public school was depicted fairly, and it speaks well of the story that not only do we see hallmarks of Imogene being uncertain and overwhelmed but also are shown her acting out in classroom experiences that aren't tailored to her interests/abilities alone.
As much as we love Imogene, she makes a great many terrible choices, and I must admit I appreciated that. Eventually she is forced to face consequences - and, more than that, to take responsibility and choose how this might shape her going forward, and those are the beats that rise above similar stories previously told. She's refreshingly allowed to be a brat and a heroine at the same time - and all without making excuses for her behavior.
I do wish we'd had chance to know Anita as a more complex character, though I concede that was Imogene's issue and it is her perspective we hold. Still, I'd definitely read her story.
tishreads's review against another edition
5.0
If this is not the most accurate description of 6th grade, I don’t know what is. Don’t let the Renaissance Faire setting fool you - it hits all the bases. Bullying, struggling to fit in, awkwardness around boys, being caught between childhood and “cool”... well done!