Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters

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Pub Date 01 Sep 2020 | Archive Date 30 Sep 2020
Lerner Publishing Group | Carolrhoda Books ®

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Description

Fun, funny, and fully heartfelt. Everyone needs true-blue friends like Lizbeth's. SuperChicken for life.
—Kristin L. Gray, author of The Amelia Six and Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge

One of those books that explores difficult topics—divorce, a new school, being dubbed a "weirdo"—with grace and good humor.
—Rebecca Petruck, author of Boy Bites Bug and Steering Toward Normal

This hilarious and heartfelt gem is moving straight to my "favorites" shelf.
—Lisa Lewis Tyre, author of Last in a Long Line of Rebels and Hope in the Holler

Twelve-year-old Lizbeth always has a plan, and those plans have usually worked—until now. No matter what she tries, she can't get rid of her dad's new girlfriend, Claire. And when she and her mom move, Lizbeth has to join a sixth-grade class already in progress, where her teacher makes her wear a name tag and she's seated with three notorious "weirdos."

When faced with mandatory participation in a school talent show, Lizbeth and the Weirdos decide to create self portraits. Reluctantly, Lizbeth finds herself becoming friends with people she thought she had nothing in common with—and coming to terms with the things she can't control.

Fun, funny, and fully heartfelt. Everyone needs true-blue friends like Lizbeth's. SuperChicken for life.
—Kristin L. Gray, author of The Amelia Six and Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge

One of those books...


Advance Praise

"Disasters averted in this realistic yet amusing take on sixth grade life."—Kirkus Reviews


"Fun, funny, and fully heartfelt. Everyone needs true-blue friends like Lizbeth's. SuperChicken for life."—Kristin L. Gray, author of The Amelia Six and Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge


"Lizbeth and her pod of "weirdos" will make you laugh then steal your heart. This hilarious and heartfelt gem is moving straight to my "favorites" shelf."—Lisa Lewis Tyre, author of Last in a Long Line of Rebels and Hope in the Holler


"One of those books that explores difficult topics...with grace and good humor." —Rebecca Petruck, author of Boy Bites Bug and Steering Toward Normal

"Disasters averted in this realistic yet amusing take on sixth grade life."—Kirkus Reviews


"Fun, funny, and fully heartfelt. Everyone needs true-blue friends like Lizbeth's. SuperChicken for...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781541596139
PRICE $17.99 (USD)
PAGES 280

Available on NetGalley

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Average rating from 38 members


Featured Reviews

This book is laugh-out-loud, read parts to your husband funny! But the real punchline is when you get hit with a left hook of seriousness. Lizbeth is one of my favorite characters ever!

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Two years later Lizbeth is still having trouble accepting her parents' divorce, and now she has to adjust to moving and starting a new school. Lizbeth has two goals: (1) make lots of new friends, and (2) get rid of Claire, her father's new girlfriend. However, none of her plans quite work out, though along the way she learns about true friendship, forgiveness, acceptance, and helps a friend dealing with bullying.

This is a very well-paced story with great characters, though it could have been a little more intentional with including diversity. Lizbeth is very funny and clever, though people don't always get her humor and she is often misunderstood. She can be very creative, though she doesn't always use her cleverness and creativity constructively, which causes conflict between her and her father (and his new girlfriend), and between her parents. The reader will laugh at some of her antics, cringe at her missteps, and empathize with her difficulties adjusting and mourning her old life, but will also cheer as she begins to deal with her emotions and build a new life. The supporting cast of characters is also well-done, especially the character of Paul.

This story encompasses many issues - divorce, moving to a new area and school, making friends, bullying, repairing relationships - and would be relatable and enjoyable to many readers, but particularly those who are dealing with change themselves. I would recommend it to readers aged 9-13 who enjoy contemporary realistic fiction with children their age dealing with typical issues.

[I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

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Many new books weave STEM activities into the heart of the action these days and lots of funding goes towards such school programs. How refreshing to have a book emphasizing the importance of Art in all our lives and having it be central to the characters growth without being too preachy! Sixth grader Lisbeth is not happy about her recent move after her parents divorce and frankly the reader may find her more than irritating as she tries to sabotage her father's new love interests by being incredibly mean and devious. Equally faulty are her plans to make a new best friend which borders on stalking. Things do not go well for her at school with one mishap after another, the worse she feels is being assigned to sit with the weird kid pod in homeroom. Plus her weird sense of humor is definitely unappreciated by her teacher and for the first time in her school career she finds herself on the disciplinary list. But things begin to look up when she gets accepted by the pod and discovers that hard honest choices can lead to beautiful life masterpieces. Just as during the hardships of Covid-19, we are rejuvenated through the Arts and thankful for their presence, the characters in this book find meaning in the Art they create.

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