The Truth about 5th Grade

Gr 3-6--This illustrated diary-style novel delves into the changes and frustrations fifth grade can bring, as well as the importance of listening. Charli and Alex are BFFs who are about to start fifth grade when Charli falls hard for her "True Crush Forever," Henry. Alex doesn't understand the obsession and is far more worried about surviving fifth grade and his brother finding his journal. One day, Charli is told by someone that Alex is a blabbermouth and told everyone about her forever crush on Henry. Charli is upset, but Alex is innocent. This novel alternates between Alex's and Charli's respective journal entries with doodles, comics, and more drawings to make them feel authentic. Readers have to deal with a miscommunication between the two friends that drags on at times and leads to pranks and middle school revenge schemes that ultimately fail, often to comedic effect. The characters do resolve their differences in the end; however, the diary format does not allow for much direct communication between the characters to show this resolution. VERDICT A lightly comical tale of fifth grade that fans of Diary of Wimpy Kid and similar books will enjoy.--Kylie Woodmansee

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Though everyone keeps telling them "people change," fifth grade best friends Charli Wilson and Alex Andropov, who do everything together, are certain that nothing can come between them: their mothers co-own an architecture firm, their fathers co-facilitate a poetry club, and they're next-door neighbors. But when Charli meets classmate Henry and dubs him her True Crush Forever, and learns that Alex committed the BFF crime of "BLABBERMOUTHERY" by telling someone about said crush, things begin to fall apart. Charli has never told anyone that Alex sleeps with a blankie or that he has a crush on quiet classmate Kiara, so she doesn't understand Alex's betrayal. Alternating diary entries written by Parisi (the Marty Pants series) and Tomsic (The 12th Candle) feature expressive illustrations that match the characters' personalities: doodles in the margins and dramatic line breaks personify Charli's stream-of-consciousness narration while Alex's organized paragraphs sport larger defined sketches. As the besties struggle to get on the same page, they navigate friendship rivalries, pranks, and violations of privacy via fast-paced chapters that highlight their differences--and similarities--and offer laugh-out-loud moments. Character skin tones match the white of the page. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Lively, fun, and deeply relatable.

The truth is: readers are going to LOVE this HILARIOUS he-said/she-said diary! — Sarah Mlynowski, author of the NYT Bestselling Whatever After series

The book includes plenty of humor, such as a memory of a ladybug flying up Alex's nose... The illustrations are appealing and break up the text, making it accessible to reluctant readers. ... Lively, fun, and deeply relatable. — Kirkus Reviews