by KB Meniado

THE STORY

I hadn’t even gotten to homeroom yet and I’d already discovered five hard truths about junior high:

1. My best friend had turned pretty.
2. She didn’t know it yet.
3. It wouldn’t be long before she did.
4. That knowledge would change everything between us.
5. And there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.

It’s the first day of seventh grade. Is Jessica Darling doomed for dorkdom?

New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty’s hilarious series opener will have you laughing, cringing, and cheering for Jessica Darling as she learns that being herself beats being popular, pretty & perfect any day. Read reviews: Goodreads

WHAT I LIKED

THANK YOU, MEGAN, THANK YOU. I’m well-aware that the new JD series is the back story to the first one, but I’m SO HAPPY that Jessica is still Jessica, meaning that her snark and wit remain, albeit on a different level. And even given that, she’s more adorable (lol, angsty, really) now that we know how she was as a tween!

Speaking of tweendom, how fun was it to see younger versions of clueless Bridget, bitchy Manda, gossipy Sara and—get this!—nonchalant Hope???

I’d say VERY but not as much fun as when I met the young MARCUS FLUTIE!

NOPE, NO, NOTHING MORE. JUST GET YOURSELF A COPY.

HOWEVER…

With all the gushing I’ve done, you’re probably thinking, “What on earth could you possibly NOT like about this book?”

Well, I missed Scotty, Jessica’s supposedly first boyfriend. And while there was an allusion to Heath (Hope’s older brother who OD’d and died), I still have no idea who he is other than him being, excuse me, a Dreg. Maybe in the later books, then?

tl;dr

OMIGOD, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?

The It List series is promising and fresh. If you find it hard to enjoy reading lit for younger readers, this might change that. ☁