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    Planet Middle School
    Planet Middle School
    Planet Middle School
    Audiobook1 hour

    Planet Middle School

    Written by Nikki Grimes

    Narrated by Sisi Aisha Johnson

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    New York Times best-selling author Nikki Grimes has received numerous accolades for her writing, including the Coretta Scott King Award. In Planet Middle School, 12-year-old Joylin Johnson is satisfied with her life. Everything seems pretty simple: a nice, relaxed game of basketball with the boys is all she needs to keep her happy. But it all changes when her best girl friend starts flirting with her best guy friend. Then a new, cute boy comes on the scene-and despite herself, Joylin starts acting weird just to attract his attention.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateOct 14, 2011
    ISBN9781461848240
    Author

    Nikki Grimes

    New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the 2016 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, and Coretta Scott King Author Honor books Jazmin's Notebook, Talkin' About Bessie, Dark Sons, The Road to Paris, and Words with Wings. Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Ms. Grimes lives in California.

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    Reviews for Planet Middle School

    3.5/5

    41 ratings7 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Narrated by Sisi Aisha Johnson. "What's wrong with me?" Puberty drops like a bomb on basketball-loving tomboy Joylin. All kinds of alien events are happening to her: her first bra, menstruation, and now boys, including a crush on Santiago. Just because everything is changing, does it mean Joylin has to change, too? Narrator Sisi youthfully expresses Joylin's emotions and reactions, from confusion to embarrassment to affection.
    • 4/5
      Awesome story in verse about a basketball crazy girl growing up. All the confusing emotions and changes, quick paced, funny story telling, great message.
    • 4/5
      This novel told in verse centers around a girl who very much enjoys the sport of basketball. However, as puberty hits she begins to notice boys and wanting to change herself into a more feminine girl to get their attention. I like the perspective of the character in this book, and it may identify with some middle school girls experiencing the same issues. The author is a highly acclaimed African American writer, poet, and educator who loves to provide her readers with real-life characters.
    • 4/5
      Hm..I opened this book with intention of skimming it to get the jest, but it captured me and I couldn't stop-- I read it cover to cover immediately. I felt the poetry in this book in a visceral way. Grimes brought this girl to very believable life....but... I worry about whether this book should be chosen for a student. Here's the thing: the female protagonist in this book has been a 'tomboy' her whole life, but now she's got a rush of new hormones and suddenly she's caring about stuff she never has before (namely: boys). She's trying a new wardrobe, she's toying with altering her style of feminine masculinity, and she's getting frustrated with her seeming failure to get the guy's attention. For 'tomboy' girls who are the sort to 'grow out of' their tomboyishness, I think this is really fitting. But my concern is that characters like these are so few, that a child struggling with other points along the femininity-masculinity spectrum may feel as though she has no choice but to mature into the same types of choices that this character did.Female masculinity isn't relegated to pre-pubescent years for all girls, and not all masculine pre-pubescent girls grow into heterosexual preferences. I don't know...I'm just not convinced this book is the most careful selection. I know Grimes couldn't possibly discuss all the forms of femininity, but I worry a parent will see this book and 'assign' it as appropriate to her or his daughter based solely on the fact that tomboyishness is something so commonly accepted as a finite phase that should and will eventually end.
    • 3/5
      Good story with a relatable protagonist.
    • 4/5
      Joylin's finds out that growing up is not as easy as she thought
    • 3/5
      This "story" was written as narrative prose (poetry) so it flew by. I'm not sure it even took me a full hour to read this. If you like rhyming poetry, this is not your book. There are no rhymes here. In fact, these poems read like short paragraphs. I liked it, personally, and I think it would make "poetry" accessible to my students.Joylin is a major tomboy that loves playing basketball with the boys. That is, until she meets Santiago. Suddenly, her heart is doing flip flops every time she sees him. She's even starting to change her look by wearing makeup, high heals, skirts, and earrings! Her friends aren't happy with her change because they know it isn't because Joy wants to do it. They seem to know that she is changing for Santiago, not for herself. When she realizes the truth, it's too late. Her heart is broken and her friendship with Jake lays in critical condition (along with Jake) at the hospital.This isn't a weepy story. In fact, there are some pretty funny moments. It's a nice coming of age story for a young girl. At the heart of the story there is a girl trying to find her place and make sense of the changes in her body. This isn't my typical read, but I can see it being a good fit for a tween reader.