As I'm drafting this post, I am waiting for my husband to jump out of a plane. Our friend turned 30 in May, and has decided to experience something new EVERY day of his 30th year. Follow his adventures at: Never365. He's done some amazing things in just a couple of months. Annnd here's hoping everything turns out okay, because our one-year anniversary is in a couple of weeks...
So! Kat McGee and the Halloween Costume Caper is the second in the Kat McGee series, and is written by Kristin Riddick. I haven't read the first yet...it's called Mrs. Claus and the School of Christmas Spirit, and is by Rebecca Munsterer.
Kat McGee is a spunky girl. She isn't the smartest or most athletic, but she is the BEST at Halloween! She looks forward to it all year; but this year, Mr. S is threatening to take the day away. Kat is magically transported to Treatsville, where Halloween costumes live for the rest of the year. But someone has been kidnapping the costumes there. With the help of the sweet witch Dolce, her cat deLeche (yep, they went there) and her costume pals, Kat faces a series of tests to prepare her to take on the evil Snaggletooth. As she is tested, she learns to face fears, and that she's a winner- not just on Halloween.
I love that this book encourages young girls to be inquisitive and to work together. It teaches girls to take their fears head on, and that it's okay to make mistakes.
Kat's quest reminded me a bit of Sarah's quest in The Labyrinth- I kept expecting Hoggle to pop out of the Haunted Forest somewhere. I could definitely see this being made into a Nick or Disney made-for-TV movie (like the Halloweentown series!) There's also a hint of the Bailey School Kids series- if anyone remembers those...
I was a bit put off by Snaggletooth's accent- it was just inconsistent. Sometimes Boris-y, sometimes Pepe Le Pew-y, sometimes...I don't know. But! If that kind of thing doesn't bother you- and for the ages this was written for, I'm sure it won't be an issue- it was a really cute story. Kat is a great character for young girls to look to; she faces problems like bullying and feeling insignificant, but she's strong, courageous, and a leader.
Note: My husband is safe and sound, and has a certificate to prove it!
Kat McGee and the Halloween Costume Caper is published by In This Together Media. Digital ARC provided by the publisher.
Released: 09.01.2013
Ah...I needed this.
In This Together Media is an awesome publishing company that publishes books about real girls [insert Pinocchio joke here]. But seriously, when I was contacted to review the book, and started reading about this company- how could I not get behind it! Girls need to know they can be smart and strong, and also that they don't need to see each other as competition- we should build each other up. So! Follow the link! Learn more!
Personal Statement by Jason Odell Williams is a hilarious satire on the college admission "game." Emily, Rani and Robert are from upscale Connecticut, and all have motives to be the best. Not just the best grades, but also philanthropy. When a Class 3 hurricane makes its way to the New England coast, they jump on the opportunity to make themselves stand out! Told from the perspective of the three teens, and a 20-something observer who's already been through it all, Personal Statement takes a look at the dirty underbelly of college admissions...competitive volunteering.
This...this was everything I wanted the movie Admission to be. Coincidentally, I got the e-mail asking to review the book as I was setting up our overly-complicated physical media-playing system to watch Admission. I figured it was a sign. [Note: Admission was good! Just not what I expected humor-wise.]
The cast is refreshingly diverse! Smart and snarky, real, and not a WASP among them (says the WASP reviewing...). I was laughing from page one at the humor, but also at the truths revealed about college, admissions, debt, etc. I was nodding with a "So true!" every few pages. And, lots of pop culture references!
Also, jealous of these lucky New Englanders. Whenever I say I'm from Maine I have to follow up with "but the town was kind of King of the Hill-ish...but with Downeast accents. Not really what you see on postcards." These kids are postcard people.
This was an original, hilarious satire. Anyone who has been through the college admissions process, or is about to go through it, should probably read this. I kind of want it to be made into a movie, and then shown at school assemblies. I'm also going to take a look at the other books from In This Together Media...you probably should, too.
Personal Statement is published by In This Together Media. Review copy graciously provided by the publisher.
Released: 08.01.2013
