The Popularity Papers
| Author | Amy Ignatow |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Amulet Books |
Publication date | 2015 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 208 pages |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-8109-8421-0 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang is a children's book written and illustrated by Amy Ignatow and published in 2010. It is more commonly known simply as The Popularity Papers.
To date, two sequels have been published. The Popularity Papers: Book Two: The Long-Distance Dispatch Between Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang, was released by Amulet Books in March 2011.[1] Book Three, subtitled Words of (Questionable) Wisdom from Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang was available in October 2011.[2]
Plot summary
Two fifth-grade friends, Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang, want to learn how to be popular before entering middle school. The book is their journal, documenting their misadventures to become more popular, as well as their family and school life.[3]
Format
The story is told in a journal format, written and drawn by the two main characters. The books are hand-drawn, with each of the two main protagonists having a different writing and drawing style.
In interviews with the news media,[4] Ignatow has shown that she only uses writing and drawing implements that are easily available to children, such as crayons, markers, and colored pencils.
Awards and critical reception
The first book in The Popularity Papers series was selected as a top-ten title for 2011 by the American Library Association's Rainbow Project.[5] It was a 2010 Gold Award winner by the National Parenting Publications Association[6] and selected by the Chicago Public Library as one of the 2011 "Best of the Best" books.[7]
The first book's review in the New York Times 2010 summer reading issue (June 4, 2010) called the author "hugely talented".[8] Publishers Weekly noted that the plot was "predictable", but stated that "Readers will quickly devour this hilarious, heartfelt debut."[9]
The School Library Journal's blog called the first book, "A really great book and worth a close inspection. And if I absolutely have to compare it to Jeff Kinney’s series, I’ll do it this way: This is the funniest book I’ve read for kids since discovering Diary of a Wimpy Kid."[10]
Notes
- ^ Amulet Books' official page for the sequel.
- ^ Amulet Books' official page for book three
- ^ Summary of the "About the Book" information from the official site.
- ^ See, for instance, the Scripps-Howard wire story published by the Seattle Times.
- ^ by lvs2read (2011-01-15). "2011 Rainbow Project List Announced!". American Library Association. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "NAPPA Gold Award-Winners". Washingtonparent.com. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
- ^ "Best of the Best Reading List". Chicago Public Library. 1963-09-15. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
- ^ Barbara Feinberg (2010-06-04). "Bound by Friendship". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
- ^ "Children's Book Reviews". Publishersweekly.com. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
- ^ "Review of the Day: The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow". School Library Journal.com. 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2011-03-08.