All's Faire in Middle School

The library chose this graphic novel for the January 2025 middle grade book club. Because I was waiting to pick up one of the kids, and with no other reading material to hand, I started reading in on “All's Faire.”

This is a really cute book, especially if you're looking for semi-medieval insults to hurl at family, friends, and perhaps strangers. I laugh out loud at several of the insults and very much enjoyed the side characters in this book. Many of my friends from middle school ended up being involved at our local Renaissance fair and I've had the great honor to attend a few Ren Faire holiday parties (in which much velvet and corsetry are displayed), so it was nice to find a book that goes behind the scenes, so to speak.

The theme of struggling to fit in at a new school (whether you came from a homeschooled background, public school, private school, or whatever) hit home for pretty much any kid. Imogene also finds herself in hot water at home with both her parents and brother for things that many folks who have been her age can relate to. I really liked how the other dealt with the importance of being kind to others over, wanting to fit in with the popular kids, as well as being proud of who you are and where you come from.

I was also charmed by two of the characters sharing first names with my fiancée's kids.

For those who didn't know, I work at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, helping a friend of mine sell leather masks (and other leather goods). Throughout the year, I actually get to help her make them, including stitching the codpieces we sell at the Fair. So when I learned about this graphic novel set at a Renaissance Festival, I knew I had to grab it. I worked Labor Day Monday at Fair, so I popped over to the Fair's bookshop, Page After Page, and picked up the book. (They even remembered I'd asked about the book over the summer to make sure they were going to carry it!)

Once I recovered from the heat and humidity at Fair on Monday, I cracked this book open and fell into it. It's set at the Florida Ren Faire, and it captures the spirit of Rennies and the festival very, very well. One of my favorite parts was when Imogene announced she was going to middle school, and all the adults around her reply with variations of “MIDDLE SCHOOL SUCKED.” Imogene asks “Aren't adults supposed to encourage kids to go to school?” and her dad replies “You got the wrong kind of adults, kid.” Oh, Rennies. There are D&D games, and thrift stores, and going to the store in garb, and speaking in accents while doing normal mundane things - yeah. This is a book about Rennies, alright.

I was a little disappointed in the adults not understanding the kind of pressure Imogene was under as the new girl at school. They all commiserated with middle school sucking, but didn't give Imogene any slack for it, and in a couple of cases dismissed how important things were to her.

I loved seeing her go from school to Fair, and seeing the different environments contrasted. The art style is great. Each chapter begins with a page illustrated like a medieval manuscript, and a paragraph written like an epic story. “After months of preparations, including but not limited to careful outfit selection and triple-checking of school supplies, young Imogene is ready to embark on her journey into the Great Unknown. Like all explorers before her, our heroine has only one thought on her mind....”

I really loved this book. It would make a great gift for any kid headed to middle school who loves Ren Faires. (Or Rennie parents!)

You can find all my reviews at Goddess in the Stacks.