A Review of Planet Middle School

By Nikki Grimes

*Note: This blog fulfills a course requirement at TWU

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grimes, Nikki. Planet Middle School. New York: Bloomsbury Books for Young Readers: 2011. ISBN: 1599902842

PLOT SUMMARY

This novel, written in free-verse poetry form, covers the young life of Joylin Johnson as a 12 year-old girl. Joylin is a happy child who always dresses in blue jeans and a T-shirt and keeps her hair in a ponytail. One of the early poems in the book describes the way Joylin viewed herself as a “Tom Boy” as she wonders why there is no “Jane Girl.” She enjoys sports and plays basketball regularly against a boy named Jake who she considers one of her two best friends. Her other best friend is a girl named Keelee, a preachers daughter who come to her rescue when Joylin was being picked on by another group of girls. The book’s first poem has Joylin in the emergency room wondering whether she will have the opportunity to apologize to someone in the hospital who is not named. We find out later that it was Jake who had been hit by a car. Overnight, Joylin’s body starts to change without her permission. Keelee has become interested in Jake; and a boy named Santiago has become interested in Joylin. She finds out that “he’s not new to the neighborhood. So how come I never noticed him before,” She forsakes her ponytail for braids and begins experimenting with make-up. The short poems lead the reader through the trials and tribulations of adolescence, from her first pimple, getting her ears pierced, trying nail polish for the first time, wearing high heels, a breakup with Santiago and small disagreements with her friends. The story culminates with Jake in the hospital. Unsure whether Jake will live or die, Joylin asks Keelee to pray for him since she is a preacher’s daughter and “put in a good word.” Jake survives and when Jake opens his eyes for the first time, Joylin excitedly exclaims, “It feels like Christmas.” Finally, Joylin goes through her closet, packs a dress away and puts on her jeans remembering the things that made her who she has become.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Award-winning author and poet Nikki Grimes adds another gem to her body of work with her book, Planet Middle School. She delivers a free-verse poetry book that tells a heart-warming, often humorous, tale of a young girl coming of age. This poetry tale creates emotion and wonderful imagery that many can easily relate to young female readers (boys are not excluded). Joylin looks at herself as an “alien” entering “Planet Middle School.” As the feelings of awkwardness and teen angst is explored and magnified, the reader easily can relate to those times that they experienced or are currently living. There is some rhythm to this work, but mostly, it is the language of the poetry and the imagery that the language creates that makes this another gem.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Guide Book to Gift Books 2012
Garden State Teen Book Awards List 2014
Junior Library Guild selection

Scholastic Book Club selection

School Library Journal – “The story is by turns touching and laugh-out-loud funny, and readers will appreciate the time they spend with Joylin, her family, and her friends as they live, grow, and learn as individuals and together.”

Booklist – “The title of this slim novel (written in free-verse poems) could have been Planet Puberty. Each entry captures universal moments of confusion, anger, guilt, and fun through the viewpoint of 12-year-old African American Joy as things change with her friends, family, and body.”

Kirkus Reviews – “[Nikki Grimes] accessible verse and clear themes of self-acceptance and open-mindedness ring true. ... A work that should help adolescent readers find the courage and humor to grow into the individuals they already are.”

CONNECTIONS

Read other works by Nikki Grimes:

·      Grimes, Nikki. Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope. ISBN: 1442440929

·      Grimes, Nikki. Words with Wings. ISBN: 1590789857

·      Grimes, Nikki. Bronx Masquerade. ISBN: 0142501891 - A Coretta Scott King Award winner!

And many more