Middle School: Get Me out of Here! Audiobook

Quotes

• “Patterson and Tebbetts have created strong characters and relationships throughout the novel. Rafe has his triumphs and failures, but he’s a realistic kid whom readers would want as a friend and coconspirator.”

  — School Library Journal

• “Will be enjoyed by middle-grade boys, particularly reluctant readers, especially because of the deus ex machina ending.”

  — VOYA

• “Short chapters and a partially graphic format are sure to appeal. Subplots involving Rafe’s missing father; adventures with his imaginary brother and muse, Leo; and Rafe’s emerging talent as an artist are also well handled, although they create a more subdued tone than in the previous book. Maturity is on Rafe’s horizon, but hopefully readers will be able to vicariously experience his eighth-grade adventures before it arrives.”

  — Booklist

• “[The] message that ‘normal is boring’ should go a long way toward assuring kids who don’t fit the mold that there’s a place for them, too.”

  — Publishers Weekly

• “Kennedy’s youthful-sounding voice hooks listeners. He raises pitch and volume, emphasizing Rafe’s emotions, and he deepens his register for adults…and voices Rafe’s grandmother in tones that make her seem old and creaky. From diving in dumpsters for artifacts to visiting local art museums, Rafe’s escapades and mortifying adventures will appeal to kids, who will especially enjoy Kennedy’s fast-paced, occasionally overly dramatic reading. The illustrations are included in a pdf file.”

  — Booklist (audio review)

• “Bryan Kennedy perfectly voices Rafe, expertly navigating his ups and downs…This fast-paced tale of middle school mishaps and mayhem will appeal to reluctant readers and students who enjoyed Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.”

  — School Library Journal (audio review)

• “Patterson’s and Tebbetts’ vivid, accessible characters and understanding of kids’ insecurities will keep listeners laughing and engaged throughout this second Middle School series story. Kennedy’s dramatized narration occasionally overshadows and gives a forced feel to some of Rafe’s inner dialogue, but he superbly captures the snarky attitude and unsteady vocalization of a pubescent boy. Thematic connections including family relationships, making choices, bullying, friendship, and peer pressure, naturally lend themselves to age-appropriate discussions. Listeners are sure to be entertained during this humorous and thought-provoking tale.”

  — Children’s Literature (audio review)

• “Narrator Bryan Kennedy’s young-sounding voice and comic tone make the clueless hero sympathetic…Kennedy is spot-on as the puzzled outsider, especially when he sometimes talks directly to the listener. There are laughs and lots of action.”

  — AudioFile

• “Chronicle[s]—with humor—the life of loner/misfit Rafe, a gifted artist with a good heart. Tweens will relate to Rafe, his often-misunderstood intentions, and his middle school awkwardness. This book shows a mean side of school—bullies, cyberbullying, and what happens when a friendship turns sour—things that most middle school kids deal with every day. The abundant illustrations add fun and insight.”

  — CommonSenseMedia.org

• Patterson and Tebbetts have created strong characters and relationships throughout the novel. Rafe has his triumphs and failures, but he's a realistic kid whom readers would want as a friend and coconspirator.

  — School Library Journal

• Will be enjoyed by middle-grade boys, particularly reluctant readers.

  — VOYA

• Short chapters and a partially graphic format are sure to appeal.

  — Booklist

• * "As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters.

  — School Library Journal, starred review

• "A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel.

  — Los Angeles Times

• "Cleverly delves into the events that make middle school so awkward: cranky bus drivers, tardy slips, bathroom passes and lots of rules.... Hopefully, this isn't the last we hear from Rafe Khatchadorian."—The Associated Press

• It's a chatty, funny, engaging book.... filled with energetic cartoons... that will appeal to your little rebel, depicting teachers as dungeon-keepers, matadors and flying dragons. Patterson... knows how to structure a plot and builds in some surprising--even touching--twists.... Rafe is the bad boy with a heart of gold.

  — New York Times

• The book's... dynamic artwork and message that 'normal is boring' should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit the mold that there's a place for them, too.

  — Publishers Weekly

• "Incredibly detailed and imaginative illustrations... add depth and humor.... an enjoyable story that even the most reluctant readers should enjoy."—Library Media Connection

• There is substance as well as appeal here.... Patterson deftly manages the pace of revelations that take readers deeper into Rafe's fragile trust.... Readers ready for something else in the same vein but more substantive than Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Peirce's Big Nate should be introduced to Rafe.

  — The Bulletin