Hello my little readers, how are you? This is Isma, your favorite book hunter! It’s been a long time, it’s nice to be with you again! For my new column, I’m going to tell you about a wonderful book I just finished a few days ago: « Sixth Grade » by Susie Morgenstern.
This novel was written in 1982. What is impressive is that this 77 year old French-American author has written more than 130 children’s books in her life, which is quite a lot! When I’m asked to write a page for an assignment, I find it long, so I can’t imagine being so prolific! Let me tell you about the book: the heroine’s name is Margot and she is entering the sixth grade at the Parc des Grands Pins junior high school. She would like to be popular and to fit in well with her classmates, so she will do everything to be nice to all the students, except that her year will not be like the beautiful dream she imagined…
The first thing I like is that I felt close to Margot’s character. Like her, I am in my first year of junior high school, and for the start of school year in September 2022, I was both stressed and excited. I remember it took me at least two hours the night before to figure out what outfit I would wear. You probably think “that’s a long time” ! But, I wasn’t going to dress in a garbage bag, it was important that I was well dressed! So I can’t even imagine the shame I would have felt in Margot’s place at the beginning of the story if I had come like her, wearing jeans and without a schoolbag, on the first day of school while all the other girls had their schoolbags and wore skirts! I can’t even imagine how uncomfortable she felt! Also, the funny thing is that the author describes the heroine’s emotions vividly. Believe me, we often think the same things as Margot does when we first start sixth grade! The search for girlfriends, the boredom when you have subjects you don’t like for two hours in a row, the stress of doing homework or getting good grades… This story is very believable!
I love Margot! She is funny and nice, but I feel sorry for her because she makes many efforts that are never rewarded! For example, when she becomes a class delegate, she is very involved: she makes a phone book with all the names, addresses and phone numbers of the students in her class to better communicate with them. However, the students are not kind to her! Many of them make nasty remarks to her at recess or in the school cafeteria, they push her around in the corridors, make fun of her… And not to mention the teachers! They are horrible and spend their time doling out punishments. By the way, if there are some teachers who read my advice of the month column, do not act like them. Be nice to the students!
This book describes all the excitement, fear, and anxiety of entering the sixth grade. I recommend this book if you want something funny and that immerses you in the junior high school atmosphere. Maybe I’ll write “Isma’s Junior High School Adventures” later too! It could be a bestseller, don’t you think? I’m just kidding, I have to go now! I’m going to finish my homework and then I’m going to play a game of Baby Madison Happy Families with my mom, grandbrother and older brother. This is the cool 7 family game I got for Christmas, and trust me, I’m going to beat everyone and win! See you next time for a new tip!