![]() Rafe lives with his little sister, Georgia, his overworked waitress mom and a boorish stepfather-to-be whose only value is warming the couch. The longest stretch of reading without some sort of graphic element is two pages. The book is well-stocked with pen-and-ink doodlings by cartoonist Laura Park that mimic the look of notebook creations by actual sixth-graders. The lingo is casual and humorous, and as self-aware as one might expect from an 11-year-old. Not only is Rafe’s plight relatable, so is the manner in which he expresses it. “Middle School” has a keen appreciation of kids’ insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book. “Are you basically a pretty good, pretty decent person? Says who? Says you? Says your ‘rents? Says your sibs?”Īfter showing the readers a pen-and-ink drawing of himself sporting a bowl cut, polo shirt and backpack worn safely on both shoulders, he asks, “We still friends, or are you out of here? Hey - don’t go - all right?” “ Inside, what are you like?” Rafe asks toward the tail end of the first chapter of a book that’s framed as a bid for friendship. The light romance and rebellion make this a better fit for tweens and actual middle schoolers rather than really young kids, as does a poignant plot point that explains a lot of Rafe's behavior.Co-written by Chris Tebbetts, this fictional autobiography is a natural companion to Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, plumbing, as it does, the depths of tween angst in a self-deprecating confessional style that occasionally asks questions of the reader. Parks and Recreation vet Retta co-stars as his devoted assistant principal, who - like her beloved boss - believes you should "teach to the test, not the students." (Um, nope.) Riggle makes the most out of playing Carl, Rafe's soon-to-be stepdad, who pretends he cares about the kids in front of their mom but really wants them out of the way. ![]() 1 certificates for being first in the state's achievement tests (hilariously called the B.L.A.A.R). Rafe and Leo demonstrate a strong friendship as they try to show their classmates how unnecessary most of the rules are to their education.ĭaly is ideal as the principal who loves his rules and his No. The beauty of the title, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, is that most adults and even some younger viewers can relate to the daily challenges of middle school: indifferent administrators, bullies, social hierarchies, and rules - some that make sense and others that seem silly and/or pointless. Gluck's Rafe is as "adorkable" in the movie as he is in the book, with a whip-smart imagination and vivid drawings that come to life around him. This entertaining adaptation captures the spirit of the book's quirky main character's quest to break ridiculous rules and carry on after personal tragedy. But the movie also encourages honesty and communication between families and siblings and the importance of teachers who focus on students rather than test scores. There's also some light romance (including kissing and reference to a "hot" stepmom). Expect a bunch of insults and almost-swear words like "what the.," "what rhymes with suck," and "frickin'," as well as "pissed off," "buttwipe," "doofus," "stupid," "crap," and more. While there's no violence, several pratfalls are played for laughs, and there are sad discussions about a dead family member. ![]() ![]() Little kids might be upset by that, but tweens and young teens will realize that he's doing it for a valid reason: questioning rules just for the sake of having rules. The story revolves around a rebellious middle schooler who breaks lots of school rules. Parents need to know that Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is a comedy based on the best-selling book by James Patterson. Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
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