In this hilarious installment of a #1 New York Times bestselling series, Rafe is finally getting a taste of the cool life—but his problems are red-hot!
Rafe Khatchadorian has never been cool. But all that changes when he becomes the guitarist in an awesome rock band and wrangles a part-time job at Hills Village’s trendiest new coffee shop slash yoga studio. No more being at the bottom of the middle school food chain—Rafe is finally going to be popular!
He just has two teeny problems: the awesome rock band is led by none other than the school bully. And the band actually isn’t awesome—they absolutely stink, and Rafe has to whip them into shape for the Best Band Competition.
With Rafe’s newfound coolness on the line, will he find a way to hit the stage in style, or is he doomed to dorkdom forever?
Middle School: Too Uncool for School is the seventeenth installment of James Patterson’s beloved Middle School series. This book once again follows Rafe Khatchadorian, a middle grader who’s always on the outskirts of school popularity. In this book, his prospect of popularity comes within reach when he’s bullied into becoming the guitarist of a rock band and secures a part-time job at Hills Village’s trendiest new coffee shop and yoga studio. Unfortunately, the band is awful, and Rafe faces the daunting task of transforming this ragtag group into a cohesive unit in time for the Best Band Competition while balancing his new job and the complexities of middle school life. The book’s short length, fast-paced narrative, witty dialogue, and animated characters make it a perfect choice to devour in a single sitting.
Rafe is an endearing and mischievous character that fans of this series have grown to love. While Rafe’s journey in this book may follow the familiar narrative of underdog tales, the unique characters such as the mysterious yogi coffee shop owner, the rockstar music teacher, and the ragtag band members keep this story fresh and engaging. Rafe’s dialogue is extremely entertaining, and he often speaks to the readers sarcastically, adding another layer of humor to the story. Rafe and his bandmates’ relationships with music teacher, Mr. Mann, are a highlight of the book. When Mr. Mann’s true identity is revealed and he helps the band improve, there are some hilarious singing and band practice scenes that follow, making the story memorable!
The book’s fast pacing, short chapters, and funny, witty dialogue will elicit smiles and bursts of laughter from readers. The book also features very meaningful themes, including perseverance, friendship, and self-discovery that are seamlessly woven into the story and provide valuable lessons for middle grade readers, without veering into preachiness. The physical book contains attractive illustrations that enhance the storytelling, and it’s a great idea to couple it with the audiobook, which is superbly voiced by acclaimed narrator Mark Sanderlin, for a fully immersive reading experience!
In summary, Middle School: Too Uncool for School is a fresh and funny story about self-discovery, acceptance, and expanding boundaries—and it’s a wonderful addition to a beloved series. If you enjoy funny middle-grade stories, animated characters, short chapters, and laugh-out-loud scenes, then this book is for you!
