Amelia's 6th-Grade Notebook    by Marissa Moss Order:  USA  Can Simon & Schuster, 2005 (2005) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Amelia of Amelia's Notebook has graduated to middle school, and she shares her reactions in this journal - from an intimidating intro to locks and lockers to a disgusting cafetaria menu translation, and more serious concerns about a teacher's prejudice against her. Amelia worries about the bane of her existence, big sister Cleo, who's now at the same school ('Our universes will collide!') and about the fact that she's not in all the same classes as her friend Carly. She lists drinking fountain hazards, explains cafetaria association rules, provides an annotated map of the school (including the staircase to an alternate universe) and mentions her notoriously mean homeroom teacher. Mr. Lambaste seems to have it in for Amelia because of a nasty trick her sibling Cleo once played on him. Amelia tries being nice, being invisible, and even considers being mean - and she wonders if she's tough enough for middle school. But her love for her art and science classes gives her an important insight. That, and advice from an old friend, help Amelia to solve her problem. Amelia's 6th-Grade Notebook is a creative presentation of middle school anxieties and of a young woman's journey through them to a stronger, more confident self. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews