Homeroom Diaries by James Patterson - - ADVISABLE

Patterson, James Homeroom Diaries, 251 pgs. Hachette Book Group, 2014. $18.00. Language: PG13 (25 swears 0 Fs); Violence: PG; Mature Content: PG13.  

When Maggie’s mother abandons her, the 16-year-old spends 10 days in a psychiatric hospital (to make sure she’s handling it OK) and now she goes by Cuckoo (or Kooks to her friends). Calling themselves The Freakshow, Maggie and her friends try to make their high school experience better for everyone by finding ways to make people happy; but some kids aren’t willing to change.  

Patterson bridges the gap from the middle school novels into high school with this Illustrated study of friendship, hard times and what to do when you need help.  A lot more serious than I expected from Patterson, addressing mental illness, date abuse, bullying, and foster care.  The mature content is handled delicately. This book is appropriate for either middle school or high school libraries. 

MS HS - - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian