From the Bookshelf of Baltimore County Public Library Summer Reading BCPL SRC …

Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dork Diaries, #1)

Rachel Renée Russell

Start date: June 16, 2013

Finish date: June 17, 2013

Discussion: Fiction

Discussion leader: K. C.

Why we're reading this: Because it is awesome. The plot was like life's story and the illustration were great.…more
[close] Because it is awesome. The plot was like life's story and the illustration were great.

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Fiction

Children's Books for High Schoolers
By Michal · 5 posts · 95 views

last updated Aug 15, 2014 06:44AM

Great Summer reading
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last updated May 28, 2014 08:31AM

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What Members Thought

Jun 17, 2013 K. C. rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I couldn't put this book down; I tried many times and failed miserably.

It is a real perspective of school life from the eyes of the average teenage girl who wants to speaks out but is afraid to, a crush that the popular girl wants, "mad art skillz" (which is really hard to find in a girl protagonist nowadays; sports/ fighting and dancing and brains are always considered a "strong female protagonist", but art is never even considered "a strong point". Come on people, it's not like art is easy, i I couldn't put this book down; I tried many times and failed miserably.

It is a real perspective of school life from the eyes of the average teenage girl who wants to speaks out but is afraid to, a crush that the popular girl wants, "mad art skillz" (which is really hard to find in a girl protagonist nowadays; sports/ fighting and dancing and brains are always considered a "strong female protagonist", but art is never even considered "a strong point". Come on people, it's not like art is easy, it takes years to perfect, and even then, it's still not perfect.).I could relate to character; Nikki was very believable.

Without spoiling any major points, the plot is pretty much about a girl named Nikki Maxwell. Nikki is a "starving artist"(well, actually, she is just starving for a cellphone and cash to buy art supplies) who only wants to fit in with the popular kids. In her last school she wasn't so successful on that, but now, by rare and extraordinary circumstances, she is going to a brand-new school, Westchester Country Day Middle School. She has a locker next the most popular girl in school, Mackenzie. But don't think this is a story where the popular girl takes the underdog under her wing and shows the underdog that even though she isn't popular, she is still beautiful, no matter what.

If you were looking for that, go find another story.

Mackenzie is evil and hates Nikki's guts. She treats her like dirt, but Nikki doesn't fight back (because she is too scared to do so.) Anyway, there's an art competition coming up and both Nikki and Mackenzie are entering.

The "Diaries" part of the title? Nikki receives a journal from her mom (instead of a new phone), who says her daughter needs to "express herself" more.

When I read this book, I thought "Were was this when I was in middle school?!" (looking on the back cover later, I realized it came out when I was in eighth grade.)It was like reading my life story, only with minor differences. Even though Nikki and I were so much alike, there were moments were I would've fought the bratty mean girl, Mackenzie, until she cried for mercy (the stuff she does is really rotten and nothing was ever done about). And I would never allow my friends, who also want to be popular, make a roster of people (complete strangers) I, the artist , have to give "pen tattoos" to, even if it was for a good cause (the library).

People can learn from this book; the title of "Queen Bee" may sound awesome, but really, it's an insult. Queen Bees are ridiculously shallow (I say this from observations, experiences with some, and, of course, this book) who are "so full of themselves" and must have self-esteem problems because they seem to enjoy putting others down and harassing others for fun. (Note to the Good Queen Bees: Don't turn evil; Queen Bees started out like everyone else, but then turned nasty and mean. So please, stay true to yourself and your real friends and you'll go far in life.)

Everyone wants to be popular, but the question is: what are you willing to sacrifice for it? School cliques are going to shape you into something you're not and I believe this was executed this very well when Nikki's two best friends are greeted with the temptation of popularity.

To wrap up this review, I say that book should be read be all the girls of the World because they will get something out of this book. Parents, recommend it to your children, it's that good.The book's illustrations are good too. The cover art is a bit because the artwork inside is nicer.
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May 12, 2019 Ellon rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I did not really care for this book but I know a lot of my students really like the series. I found Nikki to be whiny and annoying. She is always blaming her problems on others or making a big deal out of something small. I also didn't really like the way that these kids are portrayed in really adult ways in the illustrations. All of the references to hotness and the number of how hot the boys are was also a bit uncomfortable. I'm not sure I'll be replacing these as they wear out in my school li ...more

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