The writing is page turner but after reading the first four chapter, I still could not care about Pipi McGee.
I tried to read the ending, in case the ending spark interest in myslef so I can continue reading but I still feel nothing, so I decided to DNF this book.
I am really sorry, I want to love this book so bad.

Vrabel captures the turmoil and grief caused by wanting to change oneself when you can't escape your past. For Pipi its moving from elementary school to middle school and wanting to do everything to make sure she is no longer Pipi. Many kids will immediately relate to Pipi. Fantastic read!

Thank you NetGalley and Perseus Books, Running Press Books for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.

I read this out loud to a fifth grader and a third grader during a long car trip. The fifth grader adored it, which the third grader bobbed in and out. Personally I was less interested, but the intended audience seemed to find it relatable, funny, and engaging.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Perseus Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a children's book-middle school-8th grade. This was not a book for me. I really didn't like the premise. Revenge isn't the answer and that no one at the school did anything was unfortunate. The parents behaviour questionable at best. I rate this a 2.5.

For Pipi’s entire school career, she has been the butt of the joke. From drawing herself as bacon with boobs, to accidentally peeing her pants, to puking all over her classmates, she is used to humiliation. However, during her last year in middle school, she is determined to make up for all of that by taking revenge on those who have wronged her and finding justice for her past embarrassments. Will Pipi find redemption and make a positive name for herself or become the mean girl she sets out to right?
I began this novel with many questions in mind, and honestly a lot of doubt. As someone who works with children daily, I wondered how the author would tackle the notion of revenge. Would it be glorified? Would the character actually learn something? I can now say that I was very satisfied with the ending and actually praise the author for her representation of life as a middle schooler. I remember how tough it was to fit in during that time and fighting to figure myself out. Not only does the author do that with Pipi, but she sheds light on different kinds of people as well.
Pipi comes from a very diverse family of radically different parents who are divorced, she has a stepfather of color, an older sister who was a teenage mom, and a vibrant four-year-old niece. So many kids today come from fractured families, and this was a good example of a “nontraditional” ideal that is quickly becoming the norm.
In school, Pipi is the social pariah, the one who can’t seem to get it together, but the varying differences between middle school castes are also properly introduced as well. Tasha: the popular jock and Pipi’s best friend who happens to have dyslexia, Ricky: the good guy, Kara: the mean girl, Sarah: the goody two-shoes whom everyone loves with a secret, and Jackson: the heartthrob with a poetic soul. Throughout the course of the novel, the author truly captures their personalities and we are able to see their transformations from angsty pre-teens to blossoming teenagers. Each character has something to learn and comes upon different situations that give them the opportunity to grow both together and as individuals.
What set this novel apart from other middle grade novels for me was the attention to characters and just how accurately she depicted the emotions that come with middle school woes. While the main character is the focus of the plot, the author does an incredible job working the other characters’ issues into the mix to help all types of readers feel included as well. It addresses issues all pre-teens and early teenagers go through, such as friendship, family issues, sexuality, puberty, and self-awareness in such a positive way that kids today desperately need.
That being said, the pacing was a bit slow at first. I found my mind wandering throughout the first few chapters as Pipi droned on about “The List” and her determination to lose the image she had developed over the years. She doesn’t take responsibility for anything that has happened to her and everything that has gone wrong is not her fault in the least; her attitude as a whole is very childish. However, as the story advances, we can see how these situations transform Pipi from a foolish child into a maturing teen. To me, this was it’s true redeeming quality.
I’d rate this story a solid 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to my middle grade patrons.

This is a powerful story of an 8th-grade girl, Pipi going through a lot of stuff at school and at home. She’s holding onto many embarrassments from her past school years and is having a hard time letting go, to the point of being in a negative mindset toward the classmates who have been laughing at her, treating her like she is a virus, and being mean to her (in her eyes at least) since kindergarten, even feeling anger and jealousy toward the ones who haven’t really done that much to her, like Sarah who seems genuinely nice.

Pipi sees Sarah as a bad guy when the book starts because she is best friends and cousins with her main bully Kara. Pipi has to open her eyes and realize that there is more to people than what she sees. She is so focused on all the mishaps that happened to her over the years that she never realized everyone around her are having them as well.

She is so caught up in her humiliations that she thinks she needs to save younger children from having any. She has to realize when she tries to help the younger kids, she is taking away who these kids are and Pipi needs to learn who she herself really is!

There is a full range of emotion being expressed in this book and I enjoyed it fully. I love how funny it can be, but it can be just as sad as it can be hilarious. Annie, who is Pipi's niece, is the funniest 4-year old I've ever read about. This is a fast paced book. It has such heart and a scene or two made me tear up.

This book has every diverse group you could think of (small exaggeration, maybe?) and it works. It doesn’t feel too forced. I’m glad we’re starting to get more diverse children books.

I want to point out that Pipi's school has a strict dress code and it might be a sore spot for some people who are going through or did go through it. It's a very sexist mindset that our schools have. It’s the whole “she was wearing *that* so she was asking for it.” The girls have so many rules, but the boys rules are “must be clean and neat.” It is even quoted in the book that the girls are a distraction to the boys.

There is also some homophobia in this book, so be aware of that going in if that is a topic that would hit close to home.

The book is real. It’s raw. The ending packs a punch. It really tugged at my heartstrings. It’s not just a children book. It is and should be important for all ages.

I really loved this book.

Based on the description of the book I really really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't do it. The concept of wanting revenge against someone and then realizing it's not all it's cracked up to be is not original and this book didn't really add anything new or interesting to it. Pipi is so caught up in everything that has gone wrong for her that she never realizes all of the good things right in front of her. Even after Ricky points this out to her she still doesn't really get it. The plot involving Kara and her threatening to get Pipi's sister fired was a little over the top and actually weakened the story. As for Sarah, everyone looks at her as the paragon of good, but really she's just a bystander to bullying and she never does anything to help those that Kara hurts. Her prank/revenge on Pipi at the end is cruel and it is just brushed aside like it was not big deal. I was also disappointed with the parents in the story - they didn't seem to really have Pipi's back when she's bullied and teased by her classmates and instead just tell her to get over it. They also have allowed her to get so wrapped up in the negatives of her life rather than helping her talk through the problems. The school's complete lack of response to the way Pipi is treated by her peers also rang false.

The Humiliations of Pipi McGee by Beth Vrabel tells the story of one chronically unfortunate middle-schooler, Pipi, as she comes to terms with her repertoire of embarrassments and seeks revenge against those who contributed to them. A definite coming of age story, the book follows Pipi’s ups, downs and learning curves as she discovers who she is and what it means to be cool or uncool.

One of my favourite things about this book was its focus on representation. Pipi’s story is infused with plenty of diversity, I many forms, in a way that normalises difference. Reading the book, I was invested, entertained, included. I felt Pipi’s hurt and embarrassment. Even when I disagreed with her actions, I liked her and wanted her to seek improvement.

Overall, The Humiliations of Pipi McGee shows a lot of promise, and could be a definite middle grade favourite! In its pre-publication state, some of the writing, grammar and formatting (at least for kindle) could use some tightening, and I would have loved a slightly ‘rounder’ ending where Pipi’s relationship with friends Ricky and Tasha was concerned. I look forward to seeing what others think of this book when it releases on the 17th of September, 2019.

no one should bring up seventh grade, ever.

that said, pipi mcgee and her redemption/revenge plan is such an eight grade dilemma and i love it so much. she's a very likeable character, however vindictive. bonus points for cute blended family dynamics, sisterhood rising and the importance of forgiving your friends, but not letting mean people get the best of you. extra bonus points for the artsy nerdy kids bonding. all the former eight grade weirdos and misfits will appreciate it.

We aren't able to read/ review this book because the formatting of the file is messed up. I wasn't sure how to tell you this.

DISCLAIMER: The book is given by NetGalley, the author and the publisher in exchange of an honest review. All the review written is not related to any personal issues or connection.

TRIGGER: Typical story about middle-schoolers. Some scenes will leave you giggling and some will leave you such nostalgic feelings of embarrassment, laughter, humiliations, friendship, first beer, and maybe first love.

"I mean when you're not trying to extract revenge or being completely obsessed with bad things that happened to you, you're fun to be around."

Full review: https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2019/03/29/the-humiliations-of-pipi-mcgee-of-beth-vrabel/

Is a fun book and kind of different mostly because is a girl and not a boy who wants to change her life in school. Enjoyed it, but I thought it was a graphic book and not a novel. I would recommend this to children and any other person that enjoy middle grade books like this. I thought is good and fun, but sadly it wasn't 100% for me. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity, my excuses for the short and not so good review.

Entertaining and engaging read, plausible characters and some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. The doodle-style illustrations break up the text nicely and make the book attractive to younger readers. Some serious issues are tacled discretely within the plot e.g families evolving after a divorce, relationships between peer groups during the transition from primary to middle school. I would recommend this novel to upper Key Stage 2 children who enjoy a lighthearted and amusing read.

This was an entertaining story about a middle school student who seeks revenge on those who she believed has humiliated her in her younger years. I found some of this story to be redundant. I wanted Pipi to move on be my productive. It was a bit predictable at times. I think we have all experienced times of humiliation but don’t preform acts of revenge. I work in a middle school and the students are much kinder in reality. But the book on a whole was enjoyable. I think the YA students would enjoy it and relate to various aspects.

From kindergarten through seventh grade, Pipi McGee has been through some stuff. Mostly stuff that she defines as catastrophically embarrassing or life-alteringly cringe-y. But eight grade is going to be her year. She is going to turn her luck around and make right all of her old wrongs. Unfortunately things don't go quite as easily as planned.

Pipi is the kind of story where you really want to relate more to the lead character but she makes it a bit tough on you. With a tendency for dramatics and a bad habit of always seeing the worst in an awkward situation, Pipi can come across as whiny and a bit petulant. That said, her crew of supporting characters certainly added more depth and dimension to the story, so well done for that.

***I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review****

4.5 stars.

Summary

Eighth grade is going to be the year. The year that Pipi McGee redeems herself from her past Humilations, nose picking, drawing herself as a piece of bacon with boobs, shooting the winning point for the wrong team in basketball and then there's seventh grade...we don't talk about seventh grade. Pipi McGee has a plan to reverse her Humilations, but what happens when it goes to far?

First off,

This book is hilarious! I am definitely buying myself a copy of this when it comes out because, it was so fun to read. I was laughing from page one. I've read a few books of Beth Vrabel's and have really enjoyed both of them and this one was no different. I loved our main character, Pipi she is such a fun main character and I felt like I some aspects that I could really relate to Pipi and how she was feeling in certain situations.

Why I loved it,

This book is the perfect combination of funny, empowering, and silly. I absolutely loved it and I just couldn't put it down. This book is different from other middle grade books that I have read, it has such a unique and funny idea of this character who has had some pretty embarrassing stuff happen to her and she is determined to reverse it. This is a great book about friendship, and revenge...which some can argue is equally as awesome.

This book also has a few diverse characters, Sarah, who we later find out is gay and Eliza who is Pipi's older sister who is teen mom to four year old Annie. This book introduces these characters and portrays them in a good manner. It is always nice to see really different and diverse characters, ecspeially in middle grade.

This book is a good mix of humor and serious-ness. In the book we explore topics like bullying and friendship and we have a character who is discovering her sexuality (our characters are in eighth grade, about to transition to high school).

Age recommendation

Ages 8-13

No explicit content or swearing

Overall

I absolutely adored this book, it was funny and well written. The characters were enjoyable and we'll developed. I loved this and I can't wait to read more of Beth's work in the future!

4.5 stars.

This was a super cute book. Well Written and easy to get into. And I love the cover. I could relate to this character so much even as a grown woman I can remember vividly what Pipi is feeling. This book would be great for anyone struggling with life.

I was really liking this book but I wasn’t really a fan that pipi didn’t learn anything she was basically really mean to her friends to try to get revenge and didn’t get anything to happen to her other then that I really enjoyed the book

<blockquote>"I mean when you're not trying to extract revenge or being completely obsessed with bad things that happened to you, you're fun to be around."</blockquote>

This pretty much sums up this book for me. Pipi is a really annoying protagonist, who is so obsessed with trying to become one of the popular girls, and in everyones good graces, that she doens't notice who she is hurting around her. It is hard to feel sympathetic towards here, which is what you should feel for a main character.

But, if you can get through that, and get through the info dump at the beginning of the book, where we are introduced to her Dad, her StepDad, her teenage mother sister, and her neice of said sister, then it is a decent story.

But, I still like <em>Mean Girls</em> better, who did revenge and becoming one of the mean girls to extract revenge, better.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Penelope McGee, an 8th grader, wanted redemption and revenge for all the humiliations she suffered since kindergarten - thereby wiping the slate clean for when she moved on to high school.

This story contained a diverse group of characters including bullies and “mean girls” on all levels: students, parents, and educators. Meanness seemed to be rampant in this school environment. For example, after one particular incident when Penelope was on a school trip in fourth grade, she had a bathroom accident when her zipper got stuck. Since that time, Penelope was called Pipi. However, it was not only her tormentors who called her that name, but her best friends and family as well. Her dad’s explanation …the name was catchy. I understand why her tormentors changed her name (because that’s what they do), but had difficulty reasoning why her supposedly support group of friends and family went along with this sudden name change…a constant reminder of Penelope’s humiliation and embarrassment.

Many parts of this story were a bit over the top, but it was geared towards middle grade humor and entertainment. That being said, the smartest person in this story who seemed to know what was going on in everyone’s life, unlike some adults, was Penelope’s four year old niece, Annie. With her superior intellect, Annie offered advice and support, especially to Penelope. However, even with the advice given to her by Annie and others, Penelope found out the hard way that “hurt people hurt people”…and any middle schoolers reading this story should also be mindful of that lesson.