My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar

Patterson, James and Lisa Papademetriou. My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar. Book 3 of the Middle School series. 2013. 304p. ISBN 0316207543. Available at FIC PAT on the library shelves.

It’s the beginning of 6th grade, and Georgia Khatchadorian expects to excel at her new school, Hills Village Middle School. Unfortunately for her, her brother Rafe once attended HVMS and left such a legacy of pranks and rule violations that the last name Khatchadorian has become toxic. On her first day of school she meets the school bullies in the form of Missy, the school princess, and her flunkies; she runs into the loudest person ever, Rhonda, who attaches herself to Georgia; she gets a detention for eating in the courtyard; and she meets Sam, a cute boy.

Now that she’s here, no one gives her any opportunity to prove that she’s not as bad as her brother. So she makes a bet with him. She will make friends and become one of the popular girls, proving that the Khatchadorian name is not as toxic as everyone thinks.

What follows is a hilarious look at Georgia’s first few months of school, from the big dance and battle of the bands her brother signed her up for to nasty interactions with the bullies. But through it all Georgia will learn and grow to become her own person. Beautifully illustrate with funny cartoons that add information to Georgia’s narrative, this book will appeal to everyone’s funny bone. Fans of Andrew Smith’s Grasshopper Jungle and Winger, or those who enjoyed Jesse Andrews’ Me, Earl and the Dying Girl will love Georgia’s tale.