Series

The first novel in the series, Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang, was published on April 1, 2010. After receiving initially positive reviews, Ignatow completed the second edition of the series The Long-Distance Dispatch Between Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang, which was published on March 1, 2011.^[2] The third novel in the series was published only seven months later (October 1, 2011), entitled Words of (Questionable) Wisdom from Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang.^[3] On April 1, 2012, The Rocky Road Trip of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang was published,^[4] the only sequel released in 2012. The 5th edition of the series was published on March 5, 2013, The Awesomely Awful Melodies of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang.^[5] The final two novels in The Popularity Papers series were called Love and Other Fiascos with Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (published on October 8, 2013)^[6] and The Less-Than-Hidden Secrets and Final Revelations of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang (published on September 9, 2014),^[7] respectively.

Themes

One of the many perennial themes in literature is bildungsroman, a story set during, or about, the coming of age of the protagonist(s). The Popularity Papers, as a novel about two middle school girls, certainly qualifies as such. In their many expeditions to determine the essence of popularity in junior high, Julie and Lydia have a multitude of complex subjects and adult concepts foisted upon them, which lead them to "growing up," or at least to begin realizing what the adult world has in store for them. Among the most prominent and complicated for the two girls are romance, particularly when a young Norwegian boy confesses his love, and friendship, which they soon discover can be fragile.^[11] Their endeavors lead to plenty of comical events, as well, such as when their effort to obtain phones from their parents ends poorly. This realization that their budding independence might conflict with their parents is yet another instance where the girls begin to comprehend that their world is changing as they continue to grow up, a crucial tenet of a bildungsroman storyline.

Reception

The first book in The Popularity Papers series was selected as a top-ten title for 2011 by the American Library Association's Rainbow Project.^[12] It was a 2010 Gold Award winner by the National Parenting Publications Association^[13] and selected by the Chicago Public Library as one of the 2011 "Best of the Best" books.^[14]

The first book's review in The New York Times 2010 summer reading issue (June 4, 2010) called the author "hugely talented".^[15] Publishers Weekly noted that the plot was "predictable", but stated that "Readers will quickly devour this hilarious, heartfelt debut."^[16]

The School Library Journal's blog called the first book, "A really great book and worth a close inspection. And if I absolutely have to compare it to Jeff Kinney’s series, I’ll do it this way: This is the funniest book I’ve read for kids since discovering Diary of a Wimpy Kid."^[17]

Controversy

The Popularity Papers was listed by the American Literary Association as being a frequently challenged book in the children's genre.^[18] These challenges originate from the inclusion of two homosexual fathers of one of the girls in the comic series. Despite having little to do with the plot or the themes of the novels, the novel and its supporters were forced to defend it in the public sector. For example, in 2013, a Washington state middle school social studies teacher contested the use of the novel for class reading citing the presence of a major political debate, referring to homosexuality, thus classifying the series as age-inappropriate. The school board did not follow the teacher's suggestions.^[19] The Popularity Papers has since been commonly viewed as a challenged novel in children's literature.