Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I don't usually go for graphic novels, but I actually quite liked this one. It was very cute and funny. It wasn't perfect, but it was probably one of the best graphic novels I have read. There are a few flaws, but most of them are minor. It does use the "b-word," but after the B are X's instead of the actual word. There are a few cliches, but overall it was great.
Cleanness: 4 out of 5 stars
Plotline: 5 out of 5 stars
Character developement: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Cliches: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Pace: 5 out of 5 stars
Hot or Not: Hot
Why I would recommend this book:
I would recommend this book to girls (or boys) in middle school. If you like realistic fiction or graphic novels (or both) I would recommend this book. If you liked this book, you might also like Smile, Sisters, Drama, Dork Diaries, or books like those.
Summary
Penelope (Peppi) trips and falls embarrassingly on her first day of school, but a nice boy named Jaime helps her pick up her stuff. Then they begin calling Peppi "nerder girlfriend" and in a futile effort to stop the teasing, she pushes poor Jaime away. After that she tries to apologize, but things between them are just...awkward.
Peppi and Jaime begin to bond, however, when he is her science tutor, which provides some hilariously awkward moments. They also both participate in the school's field trip, but Peppi still can't find the nerve to apologize. Finally, after going to his house, Jaime's mom tells her to apologize, and she writes him a letter and sticks it in his locker. But that's not the end, because the art club and science club (which Jaime helps) get into a fight to win the booth at the school club fair. Maribella, a proactive girl in the art club, steals the remote to the plane that she knows is sure to beat them and gives it to Peppi. Peppi feels guilty and tries to go put it in the library, but Jaime finds her and gets angry, but realizes that Peppi is trying to do the right thing. Neither club gets the booth because of their fighting, but Peppi and Jaime come up with a plan--work together. At first it's hard, but eventually they learn to get along, and they share a club booth with the amazing project they made together!