Book Title: Jojo vs. Middle School
Authors: Joy McCullough & Veeda Bybee
Genre / Age Range: Contemporary fiction / Middle grade (ages 8–12)
Read-Aloud or Independent Read: Independent read (or shared read for discussion)

What My Young Readers Thought
Ages: 8 and 10
Favorite part:
8-year-old: Seeing Jojo struggle with fitting in—she really related to that feeling and liked that Jojo stayed true to herself.
10-year-old: The parts about clothes, style, and being yourself—she’s very into self-expression and liked how Jojo learned to stop changing for others.
What made them laugh (or gasp or cry): The awkward school moments, and some of Jojo’s inner thoughts were funny and familiar.
What stuck with them after reading: That fitting in isn’t the same as belonging—and that real friends accept the real you.
Would they read a sequel or recommend it to friends? Yes, they’re both interested in reading more from this series or by these authors.

What I Thought as a Parent
Quality of writing and storytelling: Clear, accessible, and honest—written in a voice that feels very real for this age group.
Themes or topics worth discussing: Friendship, identity, middle school anxiety, blended families, and authenticity.
Content notes (if any): None—very age-appropriate and gentle, even while touching on big feelings.
Educational or emotional value: Great entry point for talking about peer pressure, family differences, and self-acceptance.
What I appreciated most: The different family structure and cultural dynamics were a wonderful addition—exposing my kids to different experiences helps grow empathy and understanding.

Quick Impressions
Fun and engagement: High—both kids were interested and related to different aspects
Writing quality: Solid and developmentally on point
Relatability and themes: Very strong, especially around identity and social pressure
Age appropriateness: Perfect for early middle grade readers
Re-readability: Likely—especially if we continue with the series

Would We Recommend It?
Overall impression: Yes—warm, relatable, and affirming
Who we think would enjoy it: Kids transitioning into middle school, kids navigating friendship and identity, or anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit
Best time or setting to read it: At the start of a school year, during a tricky friendship moment, or as a fun and thoughtful family book club pick
Perfect for fans of: Just Jaime by Terri Libenson, Front Desk by Kelly Yang, or The Derby Daredevils series

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great kids chapter book. The story was fun and relatable for kids. This will be a great kids book.

What a fun read about starting middle school, changes, and friends. Jojo doesn’t have a good start on the first day of middle school and when she decides to hide out in the locker room bathroom she discovers another girl there. Soon there are four of them, and they start to become friends. When a bobcat is reported to be in the school, the girls have a plan that brings them closer.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun and silly read. The opening chapters made me think more serious problems like moving and family conflict would figure much more in the narrative, but I ended up enjoying the madcap adventures in the school. The four main characters have a believable first meeting including awkwardness and shyness, but become friends quickly and showed themselves to be understanding of each other very early on. This should be a cheerful series to read.

The first book in the series. I loved this new modern take on the transition between elementary and middle school. This is a simple book. It is great for kids looking for friendship books. Not frills but kids will be entertained.