Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is a realistic fiction novel by James Patterson that serves as the beginning of Patterson's Middle School series. Published in the United States by Little, Brown and Company on June 27, 2011, the book follows sixth grader Rafe Khatchadorian as he begins middle school and "copes with the awkwardness of adolescence: crushes, bullying, family issues" as he attempts to break every school rule and collect the most points any student's ever been given. The book received critical acclaim from many reviewers and went on to spawn its sequel, Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!.
Plot
Rafe is bored at Hills Village Middle School with sixth grade at first, but he and his friend Leonardo the Silent invent "Operation R.A.F.E." (stands for rules aren't for every one), a challenge to break every rule in his middle school handbook. He also deals with problems at home. His mother constantly works double shifts at a diner and barely gets to see Rafe and his sister Georgia. He has a verbally abusive stepfather-to-be named Carl (aka Bear), who "watches" over him when his mother is not home. He finds consolation in Jeanne Galletta, who is skeptical of Operation R.A.F.E and encourages him to work on his schoolwork.
Characters
- Rafe Khatchadorian - The protagonist of the story who is a sixth grader at Hills Village Middle School which doesn't have many friends, apart from Leo the silent.
- Leonardo the Silent - Rafe's quiet, imaginary friend who gets Rafe into trouble. He was originally a real personâ€"Rafe's twin brother, Leonardo, who died of meningitis when the boys were 3 years old.
- Georgia Khatchadorian - Rafe's annoying younger sister who occasionally quarrels with her brother and often acts as the family tattletale whenever she hears a secret.
- Jeanne Galleta - One of Rafe's only friends in HVMS. She also tutors Rafe, who has a crush on her.
- Miller - AKA Miller the Killer. The school bully. He thinks Rafe is using Operation R.A.F.E. to threaten his status as the biggest troublemaker in school. He eventually pushes Rafe to a point where he beats him up.
- Jules Khatchadorian - Rafe and Georgia's mother. A character attributed for making Rafe quit his game in the middle of the story. She is divorced with her husband.
- Carl "Bear" - Jules' abusive fiance and a lazy person everyday of his life.
- Mrs. Donatello "Dragon Lady" - A teacher of HVMS who seems mean to Rafe at first, but turns out to help him.
Accomplishments
Praise
"The book's ultra short chapters, dynamic artwork, and message that ‘normal is boring’ should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit in the mold that there's a place for them, too." Publisher’s Weekly
"As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanims and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters." School Library Journal
"Incredibly detailed and imaginative illustrations... add depth and humor.... an enjoyable story that even the most reluctant readers should enjoy." Library Media Connection
Awards
The book was named a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) 2012 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers award.
Based on Middle School’s success James Patterson was nominated for the Children’s Book Council's Author of the Year award.
Commercial Success
Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life was a No. 1 New York Times best-seller and a No. 1 Indiebound best-seller. It was also made into an audiobook by Chivers Children's CDs.
Sequels
Middle School: Get Me Out of Here! was published on May 7, 2012. It follows Rafe in his new art school as he trades Operation: R.A.F.E. for Operation: Get a Life. It also featured a sneak peek at Patterson's new novel I Funny which almost serves as the series' spiritual successor in terms of style. In Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life there are the first 17 pages of Middle School: Get Me Out of Here. On March 18, 2013, another book, this time about Georgia, Rafe's little sister, called Middle School: My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar, was released. On June 24, 2013, another book called Middle School: How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill was released.
Film adaptation
A film adaptation was released by CBS Films in October 2016. Griffin Gluck played Rafe Khatchadorian.
References
External links
- http://www.middleschoolbooks.com
- http://www.jamespatterson.com
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