The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang

The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang. Amy Ignatow. New York: Amulet Books, 2010. 208 pages. $15.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-8109-8421-9. Grades 3-6.

My Thoughts/Reminds Me Of…

This book war adorable! I loved the illustrations and the journal style. I think that the message about being yourself, choosing your friends because they like you for you, etc. is great. The time before middle school is a great time to stress these messages, and I think that Ignatow does a great job of making Lydia and Julie relatable characters. I actually loved all the characters in the book! There was diversity and variation, even the older kids fit perfectly. I think this book is great for reluctant readers because it is so casual and is full of illustrations. Grammar and spelling aren’t too important, and there are no really hard complicated words. I loved how Daddy and Papa Dad were obviously gay, but it was completely normal and accepted. I loved that Julie could be proud and happy of her dads. In other LGBTQ literature I have read there has been some embarrassment, like in Holly’s Secret. In this book the main character wanted to reinvent herself and pretend she had two ‘normal’ parents. I think it is practical and positive that there as a bit of negativity towards Julie’s nontraditional family only because children are likely to encounter similar attitudes. I think Julie’s response of ‘so, I already told everyone’ and then Sukie’s defense was great.

In addition to my general enjoyment of the story and illustrations, I kept thinking about other materials. I felt that this book is the perfect blend of the film Mean Girls and Harriet the Spy.