Showing posts with label realistic fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label realistic fiction. Show all posts

Book Review: Princesses, Inc. by Mari Manscuso

Princesses, Inc. by Mari Manscuso is a middle grade novel that will also appeal to young adults. Twelve-year-old Hailey and her BFFs are all big fans of Collin Prince, a YouTube star. When the opportunity to meet him at a local Comic-Con comes up, the girls jump at the chance. The problem? The convention isn’t cheap—and the girls don’t have the money to go. But Hailey isn’t ready to give up just yet. In addition to meeting Collin at the convention, there is a young writer’s competition that she is determined to enter—and win. The girls dream up Princesses and Pirates, Inc., a babysitting service where the girls will dress up in costume to entertain their charges. Of course, they aren’t as prepared as they thought they would be to deal with bratty kids, scheming older siblings (who are less than thrilled that their own babysitting jobs have dried up), and trying to balance their new “jobs” with school. And more responsibilities means less time for Hailey to work on her contest entry. Will their plan to make it to Comic-Con pay off, or could their business end up as shipwrecked as the pirates they portray.

Princesses, Inc. is a nice story about girls taking a creative approach to reaching their goals. I liked the initiative, friendship, and passion of our main characters and think that on that level they set a good example for readers. They face problems, work toward a solution and despite stumbling blocks and some problems they found their way through, with a little help. I loved the humor and unpredictable nature of the babysitting jobs the girls undertook- as a mom and former babysitter I know that anything can, and will, happen. The balancing of activities and interests is something many tweens and teens face, and I liked the way it was tackled here. I also liked the realistic and relatable way the girls (and their families) are portrayed. I found it refreshing that the parents were parents, and said no but were not actively trying to stop the kids from following their own paths. This is a rare balance in children's literature, and I was incredibly glad to see it here. I think this is an inspiring and entertaining read for the middle grade audience.

Princesses, Inc. is a book that will appeal to readers that are already interested in youtube, comics, videogames, and writing. I liked the writing style and the initiative of the characters, but as a reader that is not overly fond of YouTube or fan fiction (but love the rest of the aspects of ComicCon) I just could not get fully engaged in certain aspects of the story. 

Book Review: This is Not the Abby Show by Debbie Reed Fischer

This is Not the Abby Show by Debbie Reed Fischer is a charming middle grade novel. Abby is twice exceptional—she is gifted in math and science, and she has ADHD. Normally, she has everything pretty-much-sorta-kinda under control. But when Abby makes one HUGE mistake that leads to “The Night That Ruined My Life" and lands in summer school. Abby thinks the other summer school kids are going to be total weirdos. And what with her parents’ new rules, plus all the fuss over her brother’s bar mitzvah, her life is turning into a complete disaster. But as Abby learns to communicate better and finds friends who love her for who she is, she discovers that her biggest weaknesses could be her greatest assets.
This is Not the Abby Show is a wonderful coming of age story about a young girl that just happens to have ADHD. She faces the family trouble and social conflicts that most children do, along with the self doubt and struggles. However, she has the added challenge of ADHD. It does not define her, but it is a part of her. I loved her personality and how hard she works to be a good person, and the best Abby she could be. I found the book to be heart warming and relatable- and I think that anyone that feels like an outsider will relate to the story as well. Young readers with ADHD might see something of themselves in Abby, but like the book points out every person, regardless of diagnosis, is different. The secondary characters felt just as real as Abby. I thought all of the situations, conflicts, and resolutions were very realistic and well done. It stayed with me long after I finished the book. 


This is Not the Abby Show is a realistic, heart warming story about a girl finding her talents and forging new friendships while facing the daily struggles of ADHD. I think this is a great read for those facing similar challenges and for those that love someone facing them. I thought the authors notes afterward were also particularly helpful for adults that want to help and understand.