a b c Smith, Dinitia (April 27, 2006). "Novelist Says She Read Copied Books Several Times". The New York Times . Retrieved June 2, 2006. Julie Sherman Wolfe wrote the screenplay for Ali Scher’s Jessica Darling’s It List, and he does an excellent job of bringing the story to life on the big screen. Of all of the It List books, The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Stressing, Obsessing, and Second-Guessing feels the least clichéd and predictable. I don't know if that's for better or worse--on the one hand, it was nice to read something that didn't resemble a whole bunch of other middle school drama books I've read in the past, but on the other hand, all of the extensive drama about a school dance and the petty feuds felt more than a little tiresome. I have no idea if there is a seventh grade class in the world where all of that ridiculousness goes on, but it seemed too far-fetched for me, even for comedy and drama's sake. There are some differences between the book and the movie, but they are minor. For example, the movie takes place during the summer before Jessica’s freshman year of high school, while the book takes place during the school year. The movie also leaves out some of the subplots from the book, but it still captures the essence of the book in a way that is true to Megan McCafferty’s vision. Parents Guide, True Story, Locations, When It Takes Place, and Ending

It's more fun reading it after having read Jessica's later adventures (although, those titles are NOT appropriate for the middle schoolers this title is intended for), but I think 5th grade girls and up will still enjoy Jessica's misadventures and sharp wit. She's just the sort of girl who you want for a friend. Things are looking up for Jessica Darling. She has finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for Columbia University in New York City; she’s more into her boyfriend, Marcus Flutie, than ever (so what if he’s at a Buddhist college in California?); and she’s making new friends who just might qualify as stand-ins for her beloved best friend, Hope. These books don't have all that much of a plot--this one has even less than the simplistic Guide to Popularity, Prettiness, and Perfection--and it's really only forgivable because McCafferty is such an entertaining writer and Jessica is such an endearing, relatable protagonist. I'm happy to spend time in her world, even if the storyline isn't as polished or tight as it should be. In a way, that almost made this book feel true to life--things aren't neatly resolved by the end and some conflicts are ongoing. I particularly appreciated the part where Jessica admits that she's drifted away from some of her older friends and might need to build new relationships--because who hasn't gone through that? Through my academic journey, I explored the vast tapestry of film history, from the early pioneers to the contemporary auteurs. A prequel series called Jessica Darling’s IT List was released between 2013 and 2015. [14] A film adaptation, Jessica Darling's It List, was released in 2016, starring Chloe East. [15] Short story [ edit ]Jessica Darling's It List series is very much middle grade. The writing is simple, the humor is aimed for younger readers, and the characters are not very mature. However, it totally works in this case. It's set in junior high and Jessica Darling and her friends are exactly how you would expect them to be. Megan McCafferty really captured the feel of junior high with this book. If you enjoyed Megan McCafferty’s writing, you might also enjoy books by authors like John Green, Rainbow Rowell, and Sarah Dessen. These authors also write young adult fiction that explores themes like self-discovery and first love. Where to Watch Jessica Darling’s It List (2016) The mean girls in the book are just that...mean...but they don’t ever really act out cruelly which is nice. Middle school Jessica does have a lot in common with high school Jessica, which is probably not all that surprising given that they are the same person separated by some timey-wimey stuff known as life. McCafferty does a good job making the narration similar but a bit different than that of the original series. This Jessica does come across a good deal younger. She's not got as impressive of a vocabulary, though she's starting to build it because she's discovered that her English teacher will really raise her essay grades for each thesaurus phrase substituted for a normal term. Plus, middle school Jessica is a lot more naive and less confident than high school Jessica. The best part of this for me is seeing Jessica and her friends, seeing how she first encounters Hope and Marcus Flutie, two people who (we know) will be a huge part of her life going forward.

Fans of the original books will appreciate the further focus on Hope and her brother, Heath, in this installment. I personally would have liked to have seen more of Heath, particularly because I know what happens to him later on, but I can also see why that stuff might be too heavy for a middle-grade novel. Regardless, Jessica and Hope's blossoming friendship is really fun to read and made me believe in their strong connection way more than the original series ever did. Jessica Darling is probably one of the most awkward characters I've ever read about. It's probably what makes me love her so much. She recognizes her awkwardness and while it does bother her sometimes, she embraces it most of the time. She's remarkably self-assured for a pre-teen girl. She cares very little about what everyone else thinks and worries only about what she thinks. She's a great heroine for young readers to look up to.This hands-on experience has allowed me to witness the magic behind the scenes and comprehend the intricate web of creativity and craftsmanship that culminates in a finished film. Your tweens will love Chloe East and Emma Rayne Lyle! Chloe is an excellent Jessica and the audience will find her extremely likable. Emma is strong as Bridget; she never comes off too bratty or conceded, and she could have gone that way. I am glad she didn’t.

This deep dive into the cinematic landscape cultivated my critical eye and provided me with a profound understanding of the nuances that make each film a unique work of art. The kids will relate to the problems these girls share. What’s beautiful about this film is that Jessica Darling discovers she is a strong, independent girl and her persistence to be that emerges during one of the most trying times in the formation of a person’s identity: the beginning of junior high. a b c Smith, Dinitia (April 25, 2006). "Harvard Novelist Says Copying Was Unintentional". The New York Times . Retrieved May 31, 2006. That being said... How many books is this series going to have? I assumed McCafferty was going to stop at three, so I was quite surprised to find that this one ended on the biggest cliffhanger of the lot. And quite frankly, it makes me a little suspicious. How much of Jessica's journey up to Sloppy Firsts are we going to follow? This series was already unnecessary, even if it was fun and mostly harmless. But some authors just milk their stories way more than they should, and I'm concerned that this series might follow down that path. Everything's fine for now--Jessica has yet to jump the shark--but I hope that McCafferty knows when to quit while she's ahead. I love the original Jessica Darling books to a ridiculous and possibly unhealthy degree. This is a prequel to those books (which begin when she's in high school and follow her through to early adulthood) and our Jess is in middle school.

Also like that her best friend Brittney has one of those overnight transitions where she becomes beautiful and popular but for the most part, she really doesn’t let that change her too much (she does end up with a boyfriend at the very end and her relationship with Jessica clearly changes but none of that is depicted as bad...just different than before). Schonfeld, Renee (June 15, 2016). " Jessica Darling's It List - Movie Review". Common Sense Media . Retrieved April 10, 2020.

a b c Mehegan, David (April 26, 2006). "Harvard author's apology not accepted". The Boston Globe. Boston.com . Retrieved June 1, 2009. a b Crimson Staff (April 24, 2006). "Kaavya Speaks: 'I Sincerely Apologize' ". The Harvard Crimson. TheCrimson.com . Retrieved May 31, 2009. a b c d Rich, Motoko; Dinitia Smith (April 27, 2006). "Publisher Withdraws How Opal Mehta Got Kissed". The New York Times . Retrieved May 31, 2009.

Jessica Darling's It List Series Order

Left behind by her elementary school friends, who've moved on to the social elite of the "Cheer Team", Jessica forges an alliance with the founders of the rival "Spirit Squad". Counting on advice from her mega-popular older sister, Jessica navigates the treacherous waters of middle school society. I especially related to her lame attempt to weasel her way into the popular clique with an ill fated sleepover (shades of 5th grade summer!) at which she attempts to unite the rival factions. If you enjoyed the book and the movie, you might also enjoy other books by Megan McCafferty. Some of her other books include Second Helpings, Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings, and Perfect Fifths. Sequel and Similar Authors to Megan McCafferty Book is written for middle school readers so fun and easy to read with nice short chapters and a plot that keeps things moving!