WINNER: Congratulations to sisi!
Middle school is tough – especially for kids who feel like misfits even before the joys of puberty accentuate awkward feelings. Judy Blume helped past generations get through those difficult years with Deenie, Blubber, and Super Fudge. Today, books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the very direct Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life continue the tradition. In support of No Name Calling Week, January 23rd – 27th, 2012, Barista Kids would like to suggest few books that use positivity and humor to deal with feeling different and being treated harshly.
The Misfits, written by James Howe, is the book that inspired No Name-Calling Week. It focuses on a group of friends, all of whom have been called a variety of unpleasant names. They manage to stand up for themselves in both successful and unsuccessful ways – teaching their school what it means to appreciate individuality, and even celebrate it. Described as an upbeat book, The Misfits creates semi-superheroes out of everyday kids – simply for being who they are.
Dork Diaries, by Rachel Renee Russell, is written in a similar style to Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The protagonist, Nikki, is an eighth grader in a new school, and she writes about all the drama she both encounters and creates as she tries to find her place in a new environment. In addition to the sassy voice Nikki lends to her adventures, there are sketches, a recipe for “Stay Home from School Faux Vomit,” and self-deprecating commentary to help other kids enjoy and relate to the book.
Odd Girl In, written by Jo Whittemore, is a light-hearted book about a prankster named Alex – short for Alexis – who has to learn to work with her siblings and other kids despite being a self-proclaimed loner. The book starts with a flaming bag of dog poop and continues on to family drama and navigating a new environment. Kids will recognize themselves and their families in the descriptions of Alex’s adventures.
Thanks to the generosity of Simon & Schuster, one of the partners in No Name Calling Week, we have all three books to give away to one lucky Barista Kids reader.
To enter, tell us a nickname you actually *liked* being called when you were a child. One person who replies to this post by 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, January 26, 2012 will be chosen at random to win all three books. Please post only once.
No purchase necessary. Starts Monday, January 23 at 9:30 am EST and ends Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 11:59 pm. Open to U.S. residents ages 16 years and older. Void where prohibited.
Good luck!
Dorks, wimps, misfits, odd girls… Thanks for the names, that should last me all week.
Here’s a good (ie, funny) primer on name calling.
Walleroo! I like LCK as much as the next marsupial, but c’mon! And you can only enter once. I know you want the Dork Diaries for yourself.
I liked being called Bookworm, because it was true!
I was ok with being a “goody two-shoes”
I know I can’t enter, but I liked any variation on Georgette: Georgie, George, Gette. Hated being called ” a dog.” Boy, 7th grade was rough.
Unfortunately, the “Where’s Waldo” trend was popular when I was in middle school. That was really fun for a kid with a similar last name at recess time. I like what my younger sister called me: Kikin-tina. She couldn’t get the R, but it highlighted how my parents pronounced my name instead of the Americanized version.
I didn’t even enter once. But if you must know, my favorite nickname was “ffffffff…”
I never minded being called a teacher’s pet. I was kind of proud of it most of the time even though I know it bothers some people. I also used to get called J9 because of the way my name is spelled
The only nickname I recall having as a kid was one I hated “Holly Hobbie.” Still irks me! But, as an adult I got the nickname Hollster, which I love.
“Yoo-Hoo” after the popular chocolate beverage at the time which rhymed with my last name
There were two kids by the name of John in one of my classes, so the teacher used my last initial and started calling me JohnnyO. It caught on and thus my screen name.
My sister used to call me Mr. Spock. We loved playing Star Trek and I wasn’t the most emotional person.
We loved playing Star Trek and I wasn’t the most emotional person.
This is a hoot.
I was teased a lot as a kid, so wish I could say I had a fun nickname, but no such luck.
They used to called me Sisi after a princess that I can!t remember which country she lived in.