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howifeelaboutbooks's review
4.0
Another great Jessica Darling prequel. I liked the story a lot, and McCafferty’s voice, but the framework of the It Lists is getting a little forced, in my opinion. It was interesting for the first book, but this time it just seemed kind of thrown in to keep the idea of the series together.
jroxy13's review
3.0
Again, fine, but it's just not adding much to the Jessica Darling universe. Marcus Flutie is okay, although this is a re-writing of canon. It's nice seeing Jessica and Hope's relationship develop. But, we could already have predicted how Jessica and Bridget grew apart, how Bethany's life trajectory developed. This isn't giving us enough color between the lines to make it worth it.
vegancleopatra's review
2.0
Honestly I am only continuing in this series due to my affinity for the Jessica Darling original series. It is nice to see the characters again, albeit at a younger age. I do think that McCafferty has morphed the characters into younger versions of themselves verses the Jessica Darling series rather well. I don't find myself questioning whether this or that character would actually grow into the ones in the other series.
Jessica Darling's It List 2 is cute and at times funny but ultimately shallow, but I did not go into these books expecting depth. I do, however, think the confusion and frustration of interactions during middle school comes across rather authentically for this time period.
Jessica Darling's It List 2 is cute and at times funny but ultimately shallow, but I did not go into these books expecting depth. I do, however, think the confusion and frustration of interactions during middle school comes across rather authentically for this time period.
reader_fictions's review
3.0
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Oh, Jessica Darling, crusher of my middle grade shippy heart. Snarky voice that makes me know you’re a kindred spirit. Judgmental nature that makes me wonder if you are in fact me. I love Jessica Darling, though I have not yet gotten the bravery to venture past book two in her original series. I know it’s weird to call myself a big fan when I didn’t even read half of it, but I am so deal with it. The middle grade Jessica books aren’t what the older ones are, which is both a wonderful and a sad thing.
The big downside of middle grade Jessica is the lack of shippiness. I live for ships and middle graders just do not ship as well as young adults. Plus, this is excellent too, because Jessica really doesn’t have a crush on anyone and it’s fun to watch her navigate that. Poor MG Jessica gets involved in a scandal, cast as the attempted seductress of a friend’s boyfriend, and it’s so funny because she wants no part of the boyfriend or any boy really. Also, just the drama level of the romantic relationships in the seventh grade cracks me up. Possible break ups are met with wailing, but the couples really have nothing to talk about ever. Dawwww, the past.
MG Jessica’s obviously herself. There’s no one quite like Jessica Darling. She’s still hilarious and rather bitchy in her head, but she’s not as bitter yet. It’s pretty evident how Jessica got this way, caught in between two warring groups of friends, all determined to have major drama. In this book, her friendship with Hope is really transforming beyond the acquaintance phase and into true BFF mode, which is super sweet.
The focus of book two, as the much too long title indicates, is friendship. Jessica’s on the borders of popularity, with four of her best friends being mega-popular, six if she counts the soccer friends but she usually does forget to. The thing is that Jessica’s not actually sure if she likes most of her friends. She does really like the soccer girls, but she kind of forgets them. So much of middle school friendship is about location, as Jessica realizes. She sees the other girls a lot and so they’re friends. Or frenemies. Or something. By the end of this book, she’s starting to really learn something about friendship and who she wants to spend her time with, but it’s going to take some more.
The Marcus Flutie moments are adorably Marcus, of course. He is by turns obnoxious, weird, adorable, and a genius. The real star of the book, though, is Gladdie, Jessica’s sassy grandmother. I’m pretty sure that Gladdie’s the person most like Jessica. She’s fabulous and should be around all the time.
What I’m struggling with here is relating this book to the teen Jessica. I can’t remember details well enough to say how things align, but I do feel like they’re a bit off. MG Jessica mostly fits, but I have trouble with the It Lists around which the plots are built. I could definitely see Jessica wanting the first one, but I have trouble seeing her taking the second list seriously. Asking for it, sure, but actually using it hoping for real assistance? I’m doubtful. Wanting a THIRD list is even more surprising. Not a huge deal in terms of entertainment, but I did cock my head to the side every time the lists came up.
The Jessica Darling’s It List books are fun and snarky middle grade contemporaries. If you grew up on Jessica Darling, they’re totally worth a read. Though I’m not sure if the final three JD books are worth a read and I definitely want to try the series again now that I’ve read this. Decisions.
Oh, Jessica Darling, crusher of my middle grade shippy heart. Snarky voice that makes me know you’re a kindred spirit. Judgmental nature that makes me wonder if you are in fact me. I love Jessica Darling, though I have not yet gotten the bravery to venture past book two in her original series. I know it’s weird to call myself a big fan when I didn’t even read half of it, but I am so deal with it. The middle grade Jessica books aren’t what the older ones are, which is both a wonderful and a sad thing.
The big downside of middle grade Jessica is the lack of shippiness. I live for ships and middle graders just do not ship as well as young adults. Plus, this is excellent too, because Jessica really doesn’t have a crush on anyone and it’s fun to watch her navigate that. Poor MG Jessica gets involved in a scandal, cast as the attempted seductress of a friend’s boyfriend, and it’s so funny because she wants no part of the boyfriend or any boy really. Also, just the drama level of the romantic relationships in the seventh grade cracks me up. Possible break ups are met with wailing, but the couples really have nothing to talk about ever. Dawwww, the past.
MG Jessica’s obviously herself. There’s no one quite like Jessica Darling. She’s still hilarious and rather bitchy in her head, but she’s not as bitter yet. It’s pretty evident how Jessica got this way, caught in between two warring groups of friends, all determined to have major drama. In this book, her friendship with Hope is really transforming beyond the acquaintance phase and into true BFF mode, which is super sweet.
The focus of book two, as the much too long title indicates, is friendship. Jessica’s on the borders of popularity, with four of her best friends being mega-popular, six if she counts the soccer friends but she usually does forget to. The thing is that Jessica’s not actually sure if she likes most of her friends. She does really like the soccer girls, but she kind of forgets them. So much of middle school friendship is about location, as Jessica realizes. She sees the other girls a lot and so they’re friends. Or frenemies. Or something. By the end of this book, she’s starting to really learn something about friendship and who she wants to spend her time with, but it’s going to take some more.
The Marcus Flutie moments are adorably Marcus, of course. He is by turns obnoxious, weird, adorable, and a genius. The real star of the book, though, is Gladdie, Jessica’s sassy grandmother. I’m pretty sure that Gladdie’s the person most like Jessica. She’s fabulous and should be around all the time.
What I’m struggling with here is relating this book to the teen Jessica. I can’t remember details well enough to say how things align, but I do feel like they’re a bit off. MG Jessica mostly fits, but I have trouble with the It Lists around which the plots are built. I could definitely see Jessica wanting the first one, but I have trouble seeing her taking the second list seriously. Asking for it, sure, but actually using it hoping for real assistance? I’m doubtful. Wanting a THIRD list is even more surprising. Not a huge deal in terms of entertainment, but I did cock my head to the side every time the lists came up.
The Jessica Darling’s It List books are fun and snarky middle grade contemporaries. If you grew up on Jessica Darling, they’re totally worth a read. Though I’m not sure if the final three JD books are worth a read and I definitely want to try the series again now that I’ve read this. Decisions.
stargirlcaraway's review
3.0
I watched the movie of book 1 last week on Netflix and loved it and was sad there wasn't more. Imagine my pleasure when I stumbled upon books 2 and 3 at the library today! Super cute and fun, but still kinda has something to say. I love juvenile fiction. Read this one cover to cover and immediately started book 3 right after
kellyhager's review
5.0
As you know, I am insanely in love with Jessica Darling and have been since I was in college. I love this whole MG series because I'll be able to give it to my goddaughter in a couple of years and my niece in 8-10 years. I'm so excited that they'll be able to grow up with her. (Although seeing as how I met her when she was in high school and we went through college and early adulthood together, you can make the case that I grew up with her, too.)
As far as the MG books go, I preferred this one to the first one. Jessica seems a lot more like herself and her friendship with Hope (and with our Marcus Flutie) is really starting to develop. I would be willing to bet that by the next book, we'll definitely see the Jessica Darling we know and love.
(Speaking of, there's a reference to the later series that seriously made me shriek and then grin like a freak.)
I love these books. You should read them if you haven't already.
Highly recommended.
As far as the MG books go, I preferred this one to the first one. Jessica seems a lot more like herself and her friendship with Hope (and with our Marcus Flutie) is really starting to develop. I would be willing to bet that by the next book, we'll definitely see the Jessica Darling we know and love.
(Speaking of, there's a reference to the later series that seriously made me shriek and then grin like a freak.)
I love these books. You should read them if you haven't already.
Highly recommended.
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