[note note_color=”#f1c05c” text_color=”#ffffff”]All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson • September 5, 2017 • Dial Books (Penguin)
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indigo | Library
Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she’s eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she’ll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind–she’ll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it’s not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don’t) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family’s unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment. Impy has always thought of herself as a heroic knight, but when she does something really mean in order to fit in, she begins to wonder whether she might be more of a dragon after all.[/note]
First sentence: “Our story begins here…at the beginning.”
Never been to a Renaissance Faire? Impy (aka Imogene) and her family will welcome you with opened arms. You’re in for quite a treat. The Renaissance Faire is a delightful place where you will see the most interesting sights—both in people (who are all dressed up) and activities—and encounter out of this world things. You’ll find people speaking in olden day speech and jousting and whatnot. This is the place that Impy, the main character of All’s Faire in Middle School, loves in the entire world.
FIVE THINGS TO DO AT A RENAISSANCE FAIRE
- Don’t be afraid to dress up.
You can dress up for the faire. You don’t have to dress up. Whatever you’re comfortable with. It might be a bit scary, but when you immerse yourself into the festivities (especially by dressing up), you’re experiencing something you’ve never experience before. It’s added fun. Look at Anita, a girl who goes to Impy’s school. She comes to the Faire all dressed up, and she has the time of her life! It’s fun to get out of your shell, and play pretend.
- Make sure you see the performances.
Renaissance faire will always have performances. Think amusing skits of actors speaking in Elizabethan speech or music distracting you with its melodic sounds. In All’s Faire in Middle School, it’s the jousting event that everybody looks forward to. What’s not to be excited about knights, horses, and jousting?
- Enjoy the entertainment.
Everywhere you look, you’ll find all sorts of wonderful entertainment. You’ll find lots of people in Renaissance garb speaking in olden speech, spouting about the weather or whatever festivities are happening. There may be jousting, sword fighting, juggling, archery, and so on. Impy, her parents, and their fellow Renaissance Faire lovers are experienced masters at performing riveting scenes. They’ll make you feel involved in their world.
- Visit the shops.
There are all sorts of goodies that you can purchase at a Renaissance faire. Impy’s mom sells all sorts of things at her gift shop, where Impy had once helped before she became a squire. There are stalls where you can buy, handmade jewelry, swords and tools (that were probably created by a blacksmith), candles, art, leather goods, and so much more. Visit the stalls selling food! You can buy meat pies and turkey legs that are bigger than your face. Just go and grab yourself a souvenir!
- Have fun!
Take part in all the Renaissance Faire fun! Impy will want you to. It’s an experience you’ll never forget, and I never forgot about my first Renaissance Faire visit.
Should you read All’s Faire in Middle School? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. All’s Faire in Middle School is a great graphic novel that explores going to middle school and figuring out how to fit into a world that is completely foreign. Impy attempts to figure out where she belong in this world, outside her beloved Renaissance faire.
Leave a Reply