Augusta has had a rough year, her parents got a divorce and she has started 6th grade in middle school. Both cause lots of life changes. She has to split her time between her mother's and father's homes, and money is tight, so the promised contact lenses are out of the question. Her sister Louise is in 4th grade and is always asking Gus what middle school is like, and this novel is a letter from Gus to her sister describing her first few months. One of Augusta's teachers challenges the kids to "find their tribe". Her best friend Layla is going to a different middle school and has already made new friends. Other kids changed over the summer and have different friend groups, so Gus is on her own to make new friends or find old friends she had taken for granted.

Does Kristin Mahoney teach middle school? She's got this, the representations of all the different kids, the kind teachers and the strict ones, what happens in the halls, problems with lockers and lunch - a well rounded representation of middle school with a great story line. I liked that each chapter introduced another character, some stayed with the story and others didn't, but that wasn't a problem. I think this will be liked more by upper elementary, but I'm certainly buying a copy for my 7-9 middle school.

Middle school is such a confusing time for kids but this book will make a great recommendation for kids as a reminder that even if things change, they'll still be great!

Fun book and format. Sweet story where every chapter is the story of a different character. I really liked the format. Keeps it interesting.

Ugh. I feel terrible saying this, but I found this book to be both gimmicky and boring. The idea of seeing a school through the eyes of many different kids is intriguing, but, to me, it just felt scattered and shallow. To be fair, I didn't finish the book, but that in itself says a lot.

More than any other stage in life, middle school seems to mark a turning point for most kids. Middle school is when they try on new personalities, when some turn mean and others loose their nerve. There is no shortage of books that explore the complex nature of relationships in the middle school years. It can be hard for an individual book to distinguish itself. Mahoney presents us with a strong effort here. The format is unique, presented as a list while still maintaining a linear narrative. The personal and school relationships are interwoven well. The issues associated with the divorce mix with the issues Gus experiences at school. A solid read for young readers, especially those struggling with the middle school transition.

Mother/Son Book Review!⁣
⁣
As my son closed out 8th grade, one of his Language Arts assignments was to buddy read a book and discuss it with an adult. Of course I jumped all over that! I had recently received an advance copy of The 47 People You’ll Meet In Middle School and I thought it was a fitting book for us to read and reflect on as he closed out his middle school years.⁣
⁣
This middle grade book is written in letter format by Gus to her little sister. It serves as a guide of sorts to navigate her middle school years, in lessons Gus learned in her first year of middle school.⁣
⁣
My thoughts: This was a realistic portrayal of the fears that every middle school student has as they begin this journey. I work in a middle school and found this book to be relatable and endearing. The main themes are to find your tribe, everyone is in the same boat, don’t judge a book by its cover, and most of all- everything will be ok.⁣
⁣
His thoughts: This is more for female students, but there is something for everyone to relate to. It has more girl problems though. It’s an easy read but good information, not a lot of fillers. ⁣
⁣
Overall, we would recommend this book to students entering middle school years. We both feel like it would diminish their fears and allow them to see that all kiddos are in the same boat. For me, I give it 4/5 stars and my son gives it 3.5/5. Thank you @randomhouse for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Mahoney's story of Gus' first year in Middle School is told as a "guide" for Gus' younger sister. While the overall story was cute and entertaining, it was also very dated and reflects an experience that many may not have, which doesn't make it a bad read. I liked the single person chapters and they had a Wayside School vibe to it.

Overall this was a fun read that will appeal to many young readers.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.

I enjoyed the letter format of the book. I thought this was well thought out and intend to purchase my soon to be middle schooler a copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Augusta is starting middle school without her best friend, Layla, and feels a bit unprepared. She tells her story in the form of a letter to her younger sister, Louie, whom she feels she ignored during the first few months of school, and starts each chapter with a different person she has met at school, starting with the assistant principal who tells her that she is at the wrong entrance for 6th graders. We also meet Nick, who went to her elementary school and is pleasant to her; Amber, who has a crush on Nick and pumps Gus for information; Sarah, a soccer player who becomes a new friend, Marcy, who was constantly by Gus' side in elementary school but now hangs out with the popular girls; and many other teachers and students at school. We also see glimpses of Gus' home life; her parents are divorced, and she has to coordinate which house she will be at. There are some unfortunate incidents, like the Binaca challenge in her homeroom class, a boy who pinches girls' bottoms, and her ongoing quest to get contact lenses, but the biggest problem is a graffiti incident at the school dance for which Gus and her friends are blamed. Live everything else in middle school, this is eventually cleared up, and Gus realizes that surviving middle school won't be so bad after all.

Strengths: I loved the format of telling the story by different people, and Mahoney has definitely spent some quality time in middle school to identify the people so well. Gus' family situation is realistically drawn, and her treatment of her younger sister is very sweet-- most tweens both love and are irritated by their families, and this is shown brilliantly. The shifting friendships and the discovery of different types of people, as well as learning how to deal with them, are really what middle school is all about. Sometimes I wonder why we both with academics at all! (There are many days when I feel that homework and tests are really just a way to teach students to turn things in on time! It really doesn't matter what the content is.)

Weaknesses: I was a little leery of the "person per chapter" format, but found it a surprisingly interesting way to tell the story, so was somewhat disappointed when the plot took over and the format went by the wayside a little. Still a good story! Also, I was glad that the "Gooser" was dealt with, but surprised he was able to get away with his behavior for so long. While I'm not often a violent person, I told my daughters that if boys touched them inappropriately, they had my permission to slug first and ask questions later, and I would deal with the resultant suspension!

What I really think: This is perhaps the most realistic and balanced look at middle school I've seen. Most books buy into the adult preconception that middle school will be horrible (parents really get more bent out of shape than students do!), but this settles firmly on the concept that middle school is all over the place, and while you will most likely embarrass yourself horribly at some point, there's usually as much good as bad. Definitely purchasing.

In letter format, Gus tells her little sister, Louie, about her experiences in middle school, and the people she encounters there. As well as being in a new building without her best friend, she's dealing with her parents' separation, changes in her sort of friend Marcy, and being teased for wearing glasses. Throughout her first year of middle school, she tries to avoid The Gooser, learns to open her locker more quickly, and discovers her tribe.
This book is an enjoyable read about the trials and tribulations of middle school. While some of it seemed somewhat standard, I like Gus's voice, and found myself really caring about what happened to her. One small quibble: do people really get teased for wearing glasses nowadays? That felt like a throwback to earlier years. Thanks to NetGalley for this digital ARC.

47 People You Meet in Middle School by Kristin Mahoney is just a sweet little read about what to expect in middle school. It's told as a letter from an older sister (August or Gus) to her younger sister Louie. As she goes through the experience, she realizes that she can help her sister know more than she did when she began the overwhelming experience that is middle school. As the title indicates, the story is told through those that Gus encounters. I'm more than a few years removed from middle school, so I'm far from the target demographic. However, I could see how this was carefully structured so that it really has some great advice to those who are about to be there. I really dug how the advice was helpful, but not in a way that made it seem like an after school special. Side Note - Kids today will have no idea what that reference means. Anyway, in addition to navigating middle school, including making friends, dealing with problematic folks, and working with teachers, the book is about Gus and Louie navigating their parents' divorce. This layers on complications, and as she writes, Gus also realizes how much this has impacted the sisters, and how much they need each other. This was just one of those books that had a heaping helping of heart. Even with all the characters and layers of the middle school story, there is Gus in the middle committed to figuring it all out, doing what's right, and meeting some neat people along the way. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to check this gem out.

This is such a sweet story. It starts out as just the story of Gus' first year in middle school, as told to her younger sister, Louie. But is more than that. It is also how Gus got used to making new friends, and having to live in two houses, and not being as nice to her younger sister as she could be.

And yes, each chapter is really about someone from the middle school. It could be the Gooser, the boy who likes to pinch girls bottoms, or it could be the principal.

As Gus writes this letter to Louie, she also realizes that it isn't just Gus that is suffering from the divorce, but Louie is as well.

Well written. A tear jerker. and very full of love and warmth. I throughly enjoyed this, and think it would sit well with all middle schoolers as they get used to their new school and new friendships.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I received this ARC from the publisher through the Middle Grade Magic Virtual Conference in exchange for an honest review.

I had a bunch of books to read and review and I kept putting this one off, because despite the adage, I can't help but judge a book by its cover. I was expecting the book to be much lighter than it was. I think Gus's experience in middle school is a pretty realistic one for a lot of kids and think many starting out in middle school will truly love this book. I loved how the book was a letter toward her younger sister Louie. What a sweet story of dealing with a tough transition to middle school.