Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Realistic middle school issues from a girl's point of view.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In MIDDLE SCHOOL: BIG FAT LIAR, Georgia's excited to be starting at Hills Village Middle School, even though her brother, Rafe, was kicked out in sixth grade. She makes a bet with him that her experiences will be different, but her brother's bad reputation haunts her from the start. Teachers see her last name and assume the worst. On her first day, she encounters the mean girl "princesses" and Miller the (mini) Killer. She soon realizes Rafe was right: HVMS is like a prison. Unlike her brother, though, she makes the best of it, finds a couple of good friends, and stands up to the bullying. Through a mean trick of Rafe's, Georgia's garage band is scheduled to play the school dance, which in the end turns out to be good thing. No spoiler here, but on the night of the dance she finds out a secret about herself that puts much of her experiences at HVMS in perspective. She also finds out Rafe is not such a bad brother after all.
Is It Any Good?
This plot-driven tale of a nice girl who's trying to do well while encountering common middle school struggles is an easy read with lots of illustrations by Laura Park. Although Middle School: Big Fat Liar is not very deep, it touches on many of the problems middle schoolers face, including bullying, fitting in, and making friends. And in a sea of middle school books geared to boys' experience, it's refreshing to find one that's told from a girl's perspective.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about bullying and what to do if you witness it at your school. Check out our tips and tools for parents, kids, and educators for ideas on how to combat bullying.
What's it like to read a book in the Middle School series that's told from a girl's point of view instead of a boy's? What's different about it? What's similar?
When Georgia first meets fellow student Rhonda, she describes her as huge and doesn't want to be friends. How can body image affect how kids see themselves and others?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Neil Swaab
- Genre : Humor
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
- Publication date : March 1, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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