Holly Kowitt

What happens when sixth-grade nobody Becca Birnbaum accidently injures the richest and most popular girl in her school? A rocking good time happens. This is probably the funniest book I have read in a long time. Becca is one of those uncoordinated, trying to find herself in the big world of middle school sixth graders. When she tries to get a volleyball over the net and inadvertently bounces it off the ceiling and into an eighth grader who ends up breaking her arm, you know you are in for an show more interesting time. Maybe I found it so humorous because I teach middle school. I understand sixth graders and how they are trying to fit in. In Becca's place she also happens to be one of the rule followers, a natural nerd. The eighth grade girl she injures is a very rich, very spoiled, very popular girl with drop dead looks that she knows how to use. Selfie earned her nickname because she likes to take selfies of herself. I kept wondering how things would turn out since you had complete opposites suddenly forced together. To try to make amends for injuring Selfie, Becca agrees to get something from the principal's office. Unfortunately the wrong bag is given to her and that begins the adventure. Selfie and Becca try to return the bag only to discover that the item in question is missing. To make matters worse someone wants to use that item in a prank. I learned what I see here at my school all the time. No matter what rung on the social ladder students are on, they all have the same insecurities and feelings. There are so many underlying lessons to be learned in this book. It is done with humor and in such a way that you can't help but love reading the book. This is an author I most definitely must put on my shelf. I will soon have a review of her book "The Loser List". I took great pleasure in telling my students they could not read the book until I finished it. Our day of reading was wonderful. I highly recommend any books by this author. show less

This was an ARC from the publisher. (And I'm pretty sure my copy says "Bra" rather than "Underwear".) I thought it was charming and funny. I particularly appreciated that the pictures were an amplification of the text rather than just a straight-up illustration - they made me laugh out loud more often than the story itself did! Would definitely read more of Becca and Selfie's adventures.

The Principal’s Underwear is Missing is a silly middle school caper. When sixth grade nobody Becca Birnbaum accidentally injures eight grade goddess Sloan “Selfie” St. Clair, she attempts to make amends by doing one small favor. When Becca means to take a confiscated shopping bag for Selfie, she mistakenly ends up taking the principal’s shopping bag with a DDD bra inside instead. Selfie loses the bra, and the odd couple race through the school to find the ‘bra-napper’ and deliver show more it back to the principal before she finds out. The comic-novel style is a good fit with Becca’s playful doodles adding more silliness to the story. This novel is a quick read but might interest fans of Dork Diaries and Big Nate. Recommended grades 4 and up.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2168808275 show less

Jake's Review: I really liked the illustrations and the way the book looks like it is journal. I think the book is more suited for an older boy who likes girls, because I thinks girls are gross. I think it's cool that he gets to go to comic book stores all the time. The book is funny but I think mom thought it was funnier because she kept snorting while reading it. I didn't like the bullies because they were really mean and they took advantage of Danny and stole stuff. I would like to read show more more books like this but with less stuff about liking icky girls.
Jake's Rating: 8/10

Mom's Review: I really enjoyed this one. I actually think I liked it better than Jake did. It made me laugh my head off (again proud of myself for not using colorful language when reviewing kids books) on many occasions. The book really comes off like it was written by a 12 year old boy (impressive since it is written by a women) and I think will really resonate with the intended audience. I love these types of books and wish they had them when my hubby was growing up, than he might have actually have learned to like books. These are great for reluctant readers and those growing out of chapter books but not quite ready for novels. The illustrations add a lot to the story without being too distracting. Moral of book done in a brilliant non mushy way so that kids don't realize they are being taught something. I loved on the Loser List where the one boy is put on the list just because he is Canadian --hmm still sensitive Americans about us sending you packing in 1812 -- just joking guys you know I love you. I also liked the set up of the book so it looks like it is being written in a notebook. I usually don't do quotes when I am doing Mom and Me Mondays -- but I just had to share this one with you

"In comics, you find a world that's wild and weird, but where the rules are very clear - unlike middle school. Superman knows he can't mess with Kryptonite. My school is weird too, but there's no rule book. You just have to stumble through, hoping you're not committing some crime you were unaware of - wearing the wrong sneakers, say, or liking bluegrass music."

Mom's Rating: 9.5/10 show less