All's Faire in Middle School

The library chose this graphic novel for the January 2025 middle grade book club. Because I was waiting to pick up one of the kids, and with no other reading material to hand, I started reading in on “All's Faire.”

This is a really cute book, especially if you're looking for semi-medieval insults to hurl at family, friends, and perhaps strangers. I laugh out loud at several of the insults and very much enjoyed the side characters in this book. Many of my friends from middle school ended up being involved at our local Renaissance fair and I've had the great honor to attend a few Ren Faire holiday parties (in which much velvet and corsetry are displayed), so it was nice to find a book that goes behind the scenes, so to speak.

The theme of struggling to fit in at a new school (whether you came from a homeschooled background, public school, private school, or whatever) hit home for pretty much any kid. Imogene also finds herself in hot water at home with both her parents and brother for things that many folks who have been her age can relate to. I really liked how the other dealt with the importance of being kind to others over, wanting to fit in with the popular kids, as well as being proud of who you are and where you come from.

I was also charmed by two of the characters sharing first names with my fiancée's kids.