Book Review: Judy Moody Goes to College

Judy Moody Goes to College
By Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763628338
$15.99
Grades 2-5
In Stores

Older kids are always cool. They’ve got the freedom to do and say what they want. Youngsters envy that. To elementary school kids, college students are tops.  J. Moody, in her latest adventure, experiences college firsthand. With an entertaining storyline, “Judy Moody Goes to College” will please fans of the series, but may not be a good starting point for the uninitiated.

When Judy’s substitute teacher says she need some help in math, her parents set up a tutor. Judy is not pleased, until she finds out her tutor will be a student from the local college. On her first visit to campus she’s won over by Chloe, a suitabily free spirited collegian. Judy picks up her slang, fashion, and even some of her math knowledge. Tutoring continues, but problems arise as Judy starts to let the college life go to her head. After getting too cool for her old school, Judy must patch up things with her friends.

This book is bursting at the seams with lingo. “Ridonkulous”, “old-skool”, “peeps”, and other hip language is used. My wife, a second grade teacher, summed it up this way: Juno for kids. Not in content, but in dialog. I immediately understood what she meant. It’s when a book is so “of the times” that its dialog feels a bit dated as soon as it’s released. This is just one facet of a book with a number of positive elements, but I can’t help but wonder what kids will think when they pick up this book up five years from now. For the time being, young readers will eat it up.

When it’s all said and done, “Judy Moody Goes to College” isn’t the most outstanding entry into the much-loved series. That’s not too much of a knock considering the competition. It’s still more fun than most, and will have major appeal to Moody supporters, excited to tear into this new installment.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Filed under: Reviews