In the fifth installment of Ignatow's Popularity Papers series, Julie and Lydia return from the road trip described in the previous book, enter seventh grade, and start a rock band. They have never played guitar or drums before, but these two never let such obstacles stand in their way. Although the illustrated format of these books has grown somewhat cumbersome e wonders why and how the girls are carrying on conversations mostly through back-and-forth entries in a notebook natow's illustrations (attributed to Julie), humorous comments, and the story's sticky situations make this a gregarious addition to the series.

In this fifth installment, BFFs Lydia and Julie, about to turn thirteen, decide to learn to play music and start a band (but not to be popular). Dilemmas ensue and the girls survive various embarrassments. Told in the same lighthearted style in alternating hand-written, illustrated diary entries and internet message conversations, the girls are still relatable and the series continues to be enjoyable.

BURGIS, Stephanie . Stolen Magic . 388p. (Kat, Incorrigible Series). S &; S / Atheneum . Apr. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9451-0 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3382-3 . LC 2011042347. Gr 5-8 BYNG, Georgia . Molly Moon &; the Monster Music . 310p. HarperCollins / Harper . Mar. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-166163-1 . LC 2012952450. Gr 46 COLE, Steve . Z. Apocalypse . 276p. Philomel . 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25255-6 . Gr 69 COVEN, Wanda . Heidi Heckelbeck Is Ready to Dance! illus. by Priscilla Burris. 118p. S &; S / Little Simon . Mar. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5192-6 ; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5191-9 . LC 2011046288. Gr 13 ENGLISH, Karen . Nikki &; Deja: Substitute Trouble . illus. by Laura Freeman. 112p. Clarion . July 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-547-61565-3 . Gr 14 GIFF, Patricia Reilly . Zigzag Zoom . Bk. 8. illus. by Alasdair Bright. 80p. (Zigzag Kids Series). Random / Wendy Lamb Bks. Apr. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74275-7 ; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99075-5 ; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97703-8 ; ebook $4.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97704-5 . Gr 24 GILMAN, Charles . Teacher's Pest . Bk. 3. illus. by Eugene Smith. 176p. (Tales From Lovecraft Middle School Series). Quirk . May 2013. Tr $13.99. ISBN. Gr 68 HARPER, Charise Mericle . Just Grace and the Trouble with Cupcakes . illus. by author. 208p. Houghton Harcourt . May 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-547-87744-0 . LC 2012033824. Gr 24 HARPER, Suzanne . A Mischief of Mermaids . Bk. 3. 288p. (The Unseen World of Poppy Malone Series). HarperCollins / Greenwillow . June 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199613-9 . Gr 36 HUNTER, Erin . River of Lost Bears . 304p. (Seekers: Return to the Wild Series). HarperCollins / Harper . 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199640-5 . Gr 46 IGNATOW, Amy . The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham Chang . Bk. 5. illus. by author. 208p. (The Popularity Papers Series). Abrams / Amulet . Mar. 2013. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0536-6 . Gr 4–6 JENKINS, Emily . The Whoopie Pie War . illus. by Harry Bliss. 160p. (Invisible Inkling Series). HarperCollins / Balzer &; Bray . Aug. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-06-180226-3 . Gr 2–4 JOBLING, Curtis . Nest of Serpents . Bk. 4. 494p. (Wereworld Series). Viking . 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-78457-8 . Gr 6–8 KLISE, Kate . Hollywood, Dead Ahead . Bk. 5. illus. by M. Sarah Klise. 144p. (43 Old Cemetery Road Series). Harcourt . Apr. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-547-85283-6 . Gr 4–6 LOOK, Lenore . Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars, and Other Bumps in the Night . illus. by LeUyen Pham. 192p. Random / Schwartz &; Wade Bks . Apr. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87033-0 ; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97033-7 ; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98889-9 . LC 2012011455. Gr 2–4 MALONE, Marianne . The Pirate's Coin . Bk. 3. illus. by Greg Call. 210p. (A Sixty-Eight Rooms Adventure). Random . May 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97717-5 ; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97718-2 . LC 2012017540. Gr 4–6 MATT AND DAVE . Yuck's Pet Worm . illus. by Nigel Baines. 112p. S &; S. Apr. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-8150-3 ; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-8149-7 ; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-8151-0 . Gr 3–4 MYRACLE, Lauren . Awesome Blossom . 384p. (A Flower Power Book). Abrams / Amulet . 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0405-5 . LC 2012035668. Gr 3–6 NELSON, Peter . AeroStar and the 3 1/2-Point Plan of Vengeance . Bk. 3. illus. by Rohitash Rao. 348p. (Herbert's Wormhole Series). HarperCollins / Harper . May 2013. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-0-06-201220-3 . Gr 3–7. O'RYAN, Ellie . The Case of the Digital Deception . Bk. 5. 160p. (Club CSI Series). S &; S / Simon Spotlight . 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-7258-7 ; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-7257-0 . Gr 4–7 PEIRCE, Lincoln . Big Nate Flips Out . illus. by author. 224p. HarperCollins / Harper . 2013. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199663-4 ; PLB $14.89. ISBN 978-0-06-199664-1 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-210759-6 . Gr 2–4 RIVERS, Nathan . Phoebe. Giving Up the Ghost . 160p. (Saranormal Series). S &; S / Simon Spotlight . 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6616-6 ; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6617-3 ; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6618-0 . LC 2012938943. Gr 4–7 ROBBINS, Trina . The Bark in Space . Bk. 5. illus. by Tyler Page. 64p. (The Chicagoland Detective Agency Series). Lerner / Graphic Universe . May 2013. PLB $29.27. ISBN 978-0-7613-8166-2 ; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-0725-1 ; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-0972-9 . Gr 4–7 RYLANDER, Chris /PRODU