The Jolly Regina is the first book in The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters series by Kara LaReau. This middle grade novel is currently scheduled for release on January 10 2017.
Meet Jaundice and Kale Bland, two sisters who avoid excitement at any cost. Together, they patiently await the return of their parents, who left on an errand years ago and have never returned. One day, the Bland sisters are kidnapped by an all-female band of pirates. They’re unwillingly swept into a high-seas romp that might just lead to solving the mystery of what happened to their parents.
The Jolly Regina is a quick, fun read. The Bland sisters like thinks simple since their parents disappeared on an errand. They need to learn how to deal with adventure and surprises, and become very good at it. There is a good amount of humor here, but it is a dry subtle style that might go over the heads of some readers. I like the semi-reliable narrators that the girls made. They are very observant, but often fail to connect the dots of the facts they face. I enjoyed the ending and the twists tossed in along the way, the coincidences were great fun. I have mixed feelings, and I think that this is one of those books that readers will love or hate with very little middle ground. the adventure is wacky and fun, but has the undertone of dry humor that can amuse and entertain.
The Jolly Regina is a fast and fun read. I think it would be a good read for those making the transition from easy readers to chapter books, and those that want reads that combine a slightly Gothic feel with a zany adventure.
