Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun graphic novel about Ren Faire girl has great messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In ALL'S FAIRE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, Imogene has spent her entire life around a Florida Renaissance Faire, where her parents work during fair season and where she's been homeschooled while helping her mom and dad at the fair. This year she really hopes to join the cast as a squire to her father, who plays a knight at the fair. She also decides that going to public school for sixth grade will be a good way to put her training in chivalry into practice -- and is she right. But figuring out how to be brave, kind, and honorable amid new friends, mean teachers, homework, and a pesky little brother won't be easy.
Is It Any Good?
Victoria Jamieson's second graphic novel for big kids and tweens is another winner. All's Faire in Middle School is a lively, colorful, fun, and funny look at learning the ropes of middle school as well as a fascinating peek behind the scenes of a Renaissance Faire. Jamieson's illustrations affectionately add an intriguing and charming Elizabethan-fantasy element (there be dragons!), and big kids and tweens will really relate to Imogene as she struggles to figure out how to navigate a big, new world, and her own big, new emotions.
Surrounded by loving and supportive adults to guide her, Imogene is a great role model for being helpful, learning from her mistakes (she makes plenty), understanding the real value of friendship and family, and, ultimately, learning how to handle people who try to bring you down with grace and humor.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how All's Faire in Middle School shows different kinds of bullying. Have you seen that kind of thing at your school, or experienced it yourself? What happened? Does Imogene handle it well?
Lots of books, TV shows, and movies portray middle school as a scary, terrible place. Is it really that bad? What's scary about it? What do you, or did you, look forward to about it?
How important is fitting in? Why? Is there anything you'd be willing to give up if it meant you could fit in more at school?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Victoria Jamieson
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dial Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 5, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 248
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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