Vintage Scholastic Children's Book Review: Irma's Big Lie by Carol Ryrie Brink

Can you remember telling fibs when you were a kid, hoping the other kids would be impressed by you and ask you to be their friend? If you didn't, you probably knew at list one notorious "storyteller" from when you were in school who had met movie stars, won beauty contests, or who had a parent that was an international spy. The central theme of "Irma's Big Lie" (aka The Bad Times of Irma Baumlein) is how tough it is on kids when they are new in school, and/or aren't getting the attention or support they need at home.

I recently uncovered this book that I have had since I was 11 years old (as Irma is in the book) when I moved. I couldn't bear to part with it; it was one of those books that just stick with you from your childhood. In reading it as an adult, I found it to be a little outdated in its use of language - as compared to what kids read these days - but I still felt it had enough value that I tried it on my 8 year-old. There were some words that I had to make sure she understood (such as the color cerulean), because at the time this book was meant for an older reader. The average middle-schooler today would probably never stop laughing at this book. However, my 3rd-grader really enjoyed it, and was on the edge of her seat wondering what horrible thing might happen to Irma the liar.

The story concerns the somewhat geeky Irma who moves to a new town, far away from the big city life of which she has been accustomed. Her mother stays behind, not interested in small-town life and her father is too busy helping out with the family department store business to be concerned with how Irma is adjusting. Irma makes friends with Judy, a simple girl from a big family who enjoys simple things such as teaching her dog Orbit tricks, and raising hamsters. This is where the trouble begins: Irma, feeling she has nothing of interest to offer, makes up a big story about something great she has that no one else does. Everything spins out of control when Judy suggests that Irma's fantastic possession be the featured item at the class booth during the school fair. Now Irma's stuck!

I would recommend this book (check e-bay and amazon) for 2nd - 4th graders. Much younger, and I don't think the message of "being yourself is good enough" will get through, and much older they will likely think it's too corny. My 8 year-old constantly bugged me to read the next chapter of "the Irma book", so it still definitely has value in the 21st century.