Jessie Elliot is a Big Chicken

Reviewed by: Bernie Alie - Kennebunk Free Library, Kennebunk ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 27, 2015

Review

It is the summer before entering high school, and Jessie Elliot is chronicling her last summer as a child. She reflects on things she fears, and things she's done in the past. Her best friend Julie shuns her for awhile, and she spends time with Ben, the cute boy she's known her whole life.

In the vein of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Popularity Papers series, this title is designed to look like Jessie's journal. The font is handwritten on lined paper. Frequent doodles and cartoon illustrations look like they were done with magic marker, appropriate for a young teen's journal. Very little text makes for a quick read and a less intimidating format for struggling readers.

Character development is lacking. Jessie's fears will resonate with students who recognize that they are not the "cool" kids. Yet Julie's return and Ben's companionship seem to be related to proximity rather than growth on her part, so readers facing similar issues won't receive any potential pointers on how to cope.

Instead of entering high school, Jessie's journal appears to be written by someone about to enter middle school. Younger readers and those who enjoyed the Amelia series by Marissa Moss will be the ones drawn to this title. It may only make them fear high school even more.

Overall Book Score: fair