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58th out of 58 books
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5 voters
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How to Survive Middle School
by
Donna Gephart (Goodreads Author)
Eleven-year-old David Greenberg dreams of becoming a TV superstar like his idol, Jon Stewart. But in real life, David is just another kid terrified of starting his first year at Harman Middle School. With a wacky sense of humor and hilarious Top 6½ Lists, David spends his free time making Talk Time videos, which he posts on YouTube. But before he can get famous, he has to ...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
April 13th 2010
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
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I definitely expect this to appear on the Rebecca Caudill list in the next 2-3 years. This is a great book for grades 5th-7th. David struggles with all of the things that hit in middle school, shifting friendships, hormones, bullies, and a family split that occurred two years earlier. Throw in his web show to accentuate the difference between your "real" life and your "online" life, and I would say this is just the type of coming of age story you will find on lots of recom...more
HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL
By: Donna Gephart
FIRST SENTENCE
“The first day of summer vacation is important, because what you do that day sets the tone for the rest of the summer.”
SUMMARY
from goodreads
David Greenberg dreams of becoming a TV superstar along the lines of Jon Stewart. But in real life, he’s just another kid terrified of starting his first year at Harman Junior High. Things aren’t looking any better when David gets duped by his best friend into breaking the dress code on the first ...more
By: Donna Gephart
FIRST SENTENCE
“The first day of summer vacation is important, because what you do that day sets the tone for the rest of the summer.”
SUMMARY
from goodreads
David Greenberg dreams of becoming a TV superstar along the lines of Jon Stewart. But in real life, he’s just another kid terrified of starting his first year at Harman Junior High. Things aren’t looking any better when David gets duped by his best friend into breaking the dress code on the first ...more
Ubalstecha
rated it
David Greenberg is eleven years-old and a huge fan of Jon Stewart, so much so that he makes internet videos called TalkTime where he provides a top 6 1/2 list and daily acne reports courtesy of an unsuspecting sister. He is also dealing with his mother leaving the family to go live on an organic beet farm. A place where she has no phone, no TV and no electricity. Where the only way she can stay in touch is through infrequent letters.
Luckily, David has his best friend, Elliot. That ...more
Luckily, David has his best friend, Elliot. That ...more
How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart is very enjoyable and very funny. But I should warn you, it’s a little sad in places, so you’ll be alternately laughing and sniffling. That’s the best sort of story and you’re going to have a good time. Here’s the lowdown:
Eleven-year-old David Greenberg idolizes Jon Stewart (me too) and wants to host his own talk show when he grows up. In the meantime, he hosts his own You Tube show from his bedroom. Each week he gives the very funny acne...more
Eleven-year-old David Greenberg idolizes Jon Stewart (me too) and wants to host his own talk show when he grows up. In the meantime, he hosts his own You Tube show from his bedroom. Each week he gives the very funny acne...more
David Greenburg is 11 years old and about to start middle school. He’s not too worried until his older cousin Jack tells him about the horrors he may face, including a toilet-bowl swirlie on his birthday. David has other worries on his mind too: his mom left the family to live on a farm in Maine that has no electricity or phone service, his best friend Elliott no longer speaks to him, and his older sister Lindsay is hostile a lot of the time. The only good thing he has going is his grandmother, ...more
David Greenberg is terrified of starting middle school and more so after his cousin Jack spews a list of dos and don’ts and inevitable mistreatment of students there. His ex-best friend Elliot who used to assist David with their Talk Time videos posted on YouTube starring David and Hammy, the hamster. But now Elliot is only interested in girls and hanging out with Tommy Murphy a bully who taunted David and Elliot last year. David is also without his mother, she left two years ago to find hersel...more
David Greenberg has heard some frightening stories about middle school, so he’s justifiably nervous about starting 6th grade. Then his plans for a perfect summer go bust when his best friend Elliott hits puberty and only wants to spend time at the mall looking at girls. After a big fight, Elliott migrates to “the dark side” and starts bullying David. Luckily David has a few things going for him: his awesome skill at making talk show videos in the style of his idol Jon Stewart; his hamster Ham...more
Really cute and funny book about a boy entering sixth grade at the middle school and the perils that entails. His relationship with his best friend changes over no good reason, he gets bullied by the big Neanderthal loser at school, and as if that's not enough, David is also coping with his mom's having left the family to live in rural isolation on a farm with a new guy; they're so isolated they don't have electricity or telephones, so he can't turn to her for advice or comfort, only write a let...more
Ages 9+ (Middle school bullying and friendship trauma leads to giving the middle finger, etc)
David Greenberg is going into sixth grade. His mom moved to a beet farm in Maine, his sister Lindsey is a zitty bathroom hog, and his best friend Elliott is suddenly into going to the mall to see a GIRL instead of making videos and playing k'nex. By the time school starts, there's an irreparable rift with his former bff. Elliott starts hanging out with bully Tommy, and David's new best frien...more
David Greenberg is going into sixth grade. His mom moved to a beet farm in Maine, his sister Lindsey is a zitty bathroom hog, and his best friend Elliott is suddenly into going to the mall to see a GIRL instead of making videos and playing k'nex. By the time school starts, there's an irreparable rift with his former bff. Elliott starts hanging out with bully Tommy, and David's new best frien...more
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I gave the book How to Survive Middle School 5 stars because the author Donna Gephart left me hanging and would not let me stop reading. She left us begging for more at the end of the book. This book was about a kid named David Greenburg who is often referred to as Lameburg . David is really good at video tapping himself with hs friend Elliot. HE has his own show called Talk time . One day his friend he and his Elliot get into a huge fight and become Ex-friends. Then David meets a girl named Sop...more
David Greenberg was a star at Longwood Elementary. His teachers loved him, and his best friend, Elliot, was his constant companion and camera man for the "Talk Time" videos David produces and uploads to You Tube. David's goal is to be John Stewart one day, and "Talk Time" is his own version of The Daily Show. What should've been the perfect summer before the horrors of middle school is destroyed when Elliot wants to spend all his time at the mall hoping to catch sight of a...more
I didn't think I was going to like this book at ALL - the cover is LAME LAME LAME!! But I ended up really liking he main character and thought he was very real. He gets bullied to the nth degree, loses his best friend right before school starts and has the typical bratty older sister. Feeling what this kids feels everyday at school is a nightmare and that is exactly what happens when you read the book. Once you can get actual middle school kids to get past the cover, they will love this book ...more
These Juvie books that take the protagonist to that special level of hell known as social pariahdom make my chest hurt. This was a fairly good book that tempered its atrocities with a bit of humour, but I just can't get my head around the fact that the lame videos described in the book would garner Jon Stewart's attention. (this coming from a person whose current favourite video on YouTube is "What Am I? What Am I?" by ThoseLilRabbits, so there's a good possibility that I'm being too c...more
In elementary school, David and his best friend Elliot loved to make Jon Stewart-like videos called Talk Time which they posted on YouTube. At the start of middle school, Elliot suddenly stops being friends with David, and starts hanging with the school bully. David makes friends with a girl (gulp!) and tries not to let things bother him. When his videos suddenly go viral, he begins getting more attention than he ever expected. Unfortunately, not all the new attention is positive...
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Al
added it
Wow middle school did suck for David! I thought me 6th grade year was bad! What I was looking for before I read this was a quick and easy read....I found the perfect match! This book was very easy and if I was in 6th grade or so I would have loved this book! I finished this book in 2 days....which is exactly what I wanted! So very long story(summary I guess) Good job to Donna Gephart:)
The main character in this book, David, is very likeable. Through David's eyes, the reader gets to see the turmoil that comes with the middle school transition as well as the separation of families. Although it is roughly 240 pages, it is a quick read because the language is simple. In addition, the chapters are rather short, so if you find stopping points at the end of the chapter, like me, it's nice to have short chapters.
A humorous story about starting middle school. Friends turned enemies, moms out of touch, bullies, swirlies, video homages to Jon Stewart, hamsters, and some great sibling moments make for a fun story. I could definitely identify with some of the middle schoolish issues.
The main character is going into 6th grade, and that also seems to be the target audience.
The main character is going into 6th grade, and that also seems to be the target audience.
Hysterical. For the Wimpy Kid audience. You cringe and feel for the main character as he goes through losing his best friend, being bullied, finding a girl he likes, and ultimately triumphing through his talent for videography. It's heart-rending and funny all at once. It will appeal to young middle schoolers and maybe 5th grade.
Lance
added it
great book. My favorite part was when David's video got popular and ended up with hundreds of views
I felt bad for Hammy though I mean to David Hammy was like his 2nd best friend, I could not believe Hammy died even at a time when David got really famous that was sad. But really This was one of the best books I've ever read.
I felt bad for Hammy though I mean to David Hammy was like his 2nd best friend, I could not believe Hammy died even at a time when David got really famous that was sad. But really This was one of the best books I've ever read.
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David Greenberg is starting 6th grade. He loves making and posting videos to Youtube where he gets lots of positive feedback. Too bad middle school isn't positive, too. After losing his best friend over the summer, everything that could go wrong does. Will he survive middle school? A funny read for boys and girls alike.
What a great quirky little book. I definitely think I'll put this on my “to read aloud in class” shelf. There is so much to experience as a student moving to middle school. This book is sure to provide some insight and some realization that everyone has some adjusting to do when you get to middle school.
Better than I was expecting...
David loves The Daily Show and produces his own YouTube show with his friend, Elliot and his hamster, Hammy. But everything changes after he starts middle school: Elliot is not his friend anymore, his new friend is a girl, and his shows just don't seem the same.
David loves The Daily Show and produces his own YouTube show with his friend, Elliot and his hamster, Hammy. But everything changes after he starts middle school: Elliot is not his friend anymore, his new friend is a girl, and his shows just don't seem the same.
David Greenberg believes that he can be the next Jon Stewart, he is funny, Jewish, and short- all David has to do is make it through middle school. This is a funny novel great for new kids at school or kids just starting middle school. Books and Snacks September 2010
I would give this 3.75- i'm so desperate for 1/2 stars that i've started creating 1/4 stars. my 5th grader read it and he said 3 stars. it was cute and i liked that the main character was a good kid with real life troubles and that they were dealt with in a real life way.
I read this book this summer, and I loved it. The only thing that I didn't like is that, Elliot and Peter were friends and then not friends. And it kept on going back and forth, and eventually it gotten confusing.
The cover alone made me want to read this book. How cute!
David is destined to be the next John Stuart (or so he believes). But when he begins middle school in a terrible fight with is best friend, Elliott, things aren't looking so good for David. And he can't even tell his mom all about it because she left a year ago to "find herself." But David's new friend at school helps skyrocket his YouTube status and things would be perfect....if only Elliott weren't making friends with ...more
David is destined to be the next John Stuart (or so he believes). But when he begins middle school in a terrible fight with is best friend, Elliott, things aren't looking so good for David. And he can't even tell his mom all about it because she left a year ago to "find herself." But David's new friend at school helps skyrocket his YouTube status and things would be perfect....if only Elliott weren't making friends with ...more
Middle school does not start out that great for David. Out of dress code on the first day, his best friend teams with the bully of the school, mom is never coming back, detention and a swirlie all combine to make David's 6th grade year miserable. However, his new best friend, Sophie, is about to change all that.
I think it's pretty dang funny plus the hamster on the front cover looks exactly like mine I took a picture of my hamster holding a lego gun it's on google pictures and it's gotten some good reviews
good good. I read it starting jr high and it helped. It starts with all bad things bad then ends up all good things good. It will give you some laughs and will make you slap your head. Thumbs up!
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| Poor David | 3 | 4 | Oct 22, 2011 03:17pm |
