Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
More middle school anxiety in funny graphic novel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In ORDINARY MISHAPS AND INEVITABLE CATASTROPHES: FRAZZLED, BOOK 2, Abbie Wu is starting to feel like middle school just might be manageable after all. But deep in her heart, she knows that if something can go wrong, it will. And boy does it ever go wrong. As if staying afloat in middle school weren't hard enough, Abbie now has to cope with a locker thief, and with being partnered for a science project with a new girl who's a total stranger. On the home front, Abbie's older brother is actually nice sometimes, but her younger sister's new cat definitely never is. How's a sixth-grader supposed to cope?
Is It Any Good?
Fans of, and newcomers to, the world of Abbie Wu will be delighted with the funny, lively graphic novel that continues Abbie's journey through sixth grade. Author and illustrator Booki Vivat's Ordinary Mishaps and Inevitable Catastrophes finds the slightly neurotic but oh-so-relatable Abbie learning how to cope when things go wrong. The anime-influenced illustrations are lively and charming. Readers who are anxious about middle school will laugh along as they learn that even when things go wrong, it's not the end of the world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Murphy's Law in Ordinary Mishaps and Inevitable Catastrophes. Do you agree that if something can go wrong, it will? How do you cope when things go wrong?
Why is Jess a good role model? Would you like to have a friend like her? Could you be a friend like her?
Abbie says middle school is the worst. What's so bad about it? Is there anything good to look forward to about it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Bookie Vivat
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Animals , Friendship , School ( Middle School ) , STEM
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper
- Publication date : September 26, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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