Review by Amanda Bindel, Common Sense Education | Updated August 2014
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Middle School Confidential 3: What's Up with My Family?

Get it now
  • Download from App Store

Relatable characters, situations help kids build family relationships

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
  • Health & Wellness
Skills
  • Communication & Collaboration
  • Character & SEL
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
6–8
Great for:
Common Sense says (See details)
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Not yet reviewed
Price:  $2.99
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Take a look inside

5 images
Each family's story is presented as a chapter in the graphic novel.
Chapters end with an inspirational tip and an interactive quiz.
Both right and wrong quiz answers are explained.
Info section includes easy access to each chapter and additional information and resources.
Each frame of the strip is zoomable and can be read close-up.

Pros: Scenarios in the quizzes are informative and offer relevant discussion material.

Cons: Despite an excellent range of diversity, not every family type is represented.

Bottom Line: Effective tool prompts reflection and discussion for social-emotional learning.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

The series' website includes a tech-integrated lesson plan for small groups, as well as discussion questions and activities. For middle schools with an advisory class or class period focused on SEL, this -- along with the other two books in the series -- would make an excellent unit to include. ELA teachers could incorporate the graphic novel to complement other class readings, having students compare and contrast the families in two or more works. ELA teachers could also use the chapters in the story and the tips at the end of each as writing prompts to inspire personal, reflective writing. 

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Standards:

Middle School Confidential 3: What's Up with My Family? is the third in an app-based graphic novel series written by anti-bullying activist Annie Fox and illustrated by Matt Kindt. This book continues the story of six middle schoolers with diverse racial and family backgrounds who dealt with self-esteem issues in Middle School Confidential 1: Be Confident in Who You Are and learned about friendship in Middle School Confidential 2: Real Friends versus the Other Kind. Now they learn how to get along with, and appreciate, the families they have -- warts and all. The kids work through issues involving a new strict stepdad and goofy little stepbrother, a single mom and a new relationship with an estranged father's family, a big family that's embarrassingly close, old-fashioned parents' rules and a spying little brother, a mom's pressure to lose weight, and a little sister who's always in the way.

Each of the app's eight short chapters focuses on a different tween's relationship with his or her family, and ends with a few quiz questions and an inspirational tip recognizing the challenge of each family's dynamic in a respectful way. Kids can zoom in on panels for easier reading, and skip the quizzes by swiping past the quiz title page.

Kids can learn to develop relationships and get along with others, especially those in their own families, as they read and discuss the families in the stories. They'll learn that families come in many forms, but all are important. Not every type of family is represented (notably missing are kids raised by grandparents, foster parents, or other caregivers), but most students will likely find at least one character here they can relate to. 

No option is provided to have the text read aloud, but the sound effects add to the mood of the stories, giving insight into the feelings of the characters. The takeaway message is that no one -- no family type, no parent, no kid -- is perfect, but we can all work on getting along better with those we love, and those skills can transfer into all relationships. Quiz questions present real scenarios and ask students how they'd handle them, and then explain whether and why their choice was a good one. 

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Students will likely find at least one character they can identify with, and the graphic novel format, with realistic writing and expressive illustrations, can be engaging for middle schoolers.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

In a format middle schoolers appreciate, the graphic novel uses a diverse group of kids to demonstrate how to maneuver family relationships and offers concrete ways to improve them.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Clear instructions show how to navigate the book, but it's pretty intuitive anyway. Quiz questions are thoughtful and thought-provoking, and students see explanations of both right and wrong answers.

Common Sense Reviewer
Amanda Bindel Classroom teacher
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.5.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.5.1b

    Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.

  • SL.5.1c

    Pose and respond to specific questions by making comments that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.

  • SL.5.1d

    Review the key ideas expressed and draw conclusions in light of information and knowledge gained from the discussions.

  • SL.6.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.6.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions, set specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.6.1c

    Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

  • SL.6.1d

    Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.

  • SL.7.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.7.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.7.1c

    Pose questions that elicit elaboration and respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas that bring the discussion back on topic as needed.

  • SL.7.1d

    Acknowledge new information expressed by others and, when warranted, modify their own views.

  • SL.8.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.8.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions and decision-making, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.8.1c

    Pose questions that connect the ideas of several speakers and respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant evidence, observations, and ideas.

  • SL.8.1d

    Acknowledge new information expressed by others, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views in light of the evidence presented.

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