Tag: Jen Calonita

REVIEW: The Retake by Jen Calonita

REVIEW: The Retake by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Delacorte Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Zoe gets back from her family’s summer vacation, she discovers her best friend, Laura, has moved on without her. New friends, new in-jokes, new interests. And Zoe is left to negotiate the start of 7th grade watching Laura from the sidelines.

Zoe is convinced if she was only cooler, if she did things Laura likes, then they can get back to being best friends. And a mysterious new app on her phone gives her the chance to test this theory.

The app lets Zoe go back in time to key moments in her friendship with Laura and get a do-over. And it works! But not in the ways Zoe was hoping for….

Review

This is another fun twist on the time travel/do over story. No time loop in this one, which is refreshing, but Zoe does get to do a few moments of the last year over. The set up of this story is clever and fun.

It was heartbreaking to see how much of herself Zoe is willing to sacrifice in her efforts to hang onto Laura – who was not a great friend in the first place. Zoe’s sister has Laura figured out from the start, but Zoe has to walk the journey to see those things for herself. And it was satisfying – although cringe-worthy – to watch her work through the issues and decide how she wants to move forward.

This would be terrific as a classroom read aloud or a book group selection. My review copy didn’t have discussion questions, but I think they almost write themselves. Kids could get a lot out of digging into the friendship dynamics of the kids in the book. And the discussion of moments readers might choose to do over would be fascinating. Don’t miss this friendship story with a science fiction/time travel twist from Jen Calonita.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Conceal, Don't Feel by Jen Calonita

REVIEW: Conceal, Don’t Feel by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Elsa is the 18-year-old princess of Arendelle, and she is being trained to someday take over the running of the kingdom. As an only child, there were no other kids in the castle to play with when she was growing up. She’s lonely, focused always on her studies and the work of the kingdom.

Anna is the 15-year-old adopted daughter of the village baker in Harmon, a small town up the mountain from Arendelle. She’s an energetic, talkative girl who makes amazing snowman cookies. And she longs to head to the city for an adventure. When her mom’s best friend, Freya, comes to visit every couple of months, she tells Anna about the city. At her last visit, she said it might be time for Anna to visit Arendelle and meet Freya’s husband and 18-year-old daughter.

After Elsa’s parents die in an accident, she discovers magic hidden in her hands that is leaking out because of her grief. She’s been trying to control it for a few years, but in a moment of panic before her coronation, her life and kingdom are changed forever. And while Elsa’s world is icing up and falling apart, Anna can’t help feeling like someone in Arendelle desperately needs her help.

Review

This is book 7 in the Twisted Tale series, but it’s the first one I have finished. The story is maybe 75-80% the original Frozen movie. But one moment in the story, one thread of the tale, is changed. That leads to a small set of changes in how and where the girls are raised. That in turn changes how Kristoff, Olaf, and Prince Hans figure into the story.

I enjoyed this version of the story. I’m not sure it fundamentally changes anything. The twist doesn’t have any impact on Hans or Kristoff of course, so their characters are consistent with the movie. I don’t feel like I walked away from this book with new insights into the characters or Elsa’s magic. Frankly, I think the movie is stronger in the ways it addresses the emotions of the conflict – Elsa’s trapped feelings, her struggle for control, Anna’s desperation to help her sister, etc. This may present a stronger case than the movie for how essential Anna is to Elsa and to her control of her magic.

Fans of Frozen may enjoy spending time with the characters again or debating the merits of each version of Elsa’s story – I did. But readers looking for NEW content about Elsa and Anna, or new dimensions to their relationship might be disappointed. It seems like the folks at Disney didn’t give the author a lot of wiggle room to change the movie plot in any significant way. Readers might instead find something new to enjoy in some of the Frozen II books that released earlier this month.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Misfits by Jen Calonita

REVIEW: Misfits by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

In the world of the Fairy Tale Reform School there is another school for fairy tale-related characters – the Royal Academy. And Devinaria Nile of Cobblestone Creek has been invited to attend. The headmistress is the famous fairy godmother, Olivina. Devin has less than no interest in princess training. She has a special gift for communicating with animals and feels her calling is creature care. But the Royal Academy, Olivina, and Devin’s mother won’t take no for an answer.

Devin is in way over her head! She hasn’t done any of the required reading, so she doesn’t know the rules and expectations for the Royal Academy. She doesn’t have the right clothes for all the balls and princess-y activities. And her gift for talking to animals and her drive to take charge and care for her friends have put her at risk for expulsion. But something about the Royal Academy is just not right. The question is whether Devin will fall in line with Olivina’s rules or if she’ll keep digging until she finds the truth.

Review

This was excellent! This has strong characters like the ones I loved at the start of the Fairy Tale Reform School series. I love the princess-saves-herself attitude from Devin. And Olivina’s efforts to squash it were infuriating. But there’s so much more going on that we still don’t understand even after the first book wraps up. I can’t wait to get to book 2! It’s been awhile since I wanted a middle grade sequel so badly.

Devin and her friends are characters you want to cheer for. Even when tensions arise as Devin’s choices lead to trouble for her friends, and they push her away, you know they will stand together when it truly matters.

This book does a terrific job of establishing the characters and the setting while teasing at the mysteries of the series. I am thrilled with how the author balanced those pieces. I never felt like the character pieces were drawn out or filler to drag out the mystery/questions of the plot. And there’s a ton of action and plot in this but only hints at what’s really going on. This is delightful and redeems all of my frustration at the last couple Fairy Tale Reform School books. Highly Recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Switched by Jen Calonita

REVIEW: Switched by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Rumpelstiltskin was run off, but he’s not gone for good. Gilly’s sister, Anna, and a bunch of other kids have followed him, ready to do his bidding as he tries to take over Enchantasia. And while Gilly has school and her friends to distract her, she is desperate to get Anna back.

One of the exciting things at Fairy Tale Reform School (FTRS) this term is a new library and the librarians coming to run it – Prince Sebastian (Beast) and Princess Beauty. Of course, since this is Enchantasia, some of the books are magic – and some are dangerous.

Gilly is convinced that if she can find a book on Rumpelstiltskin in the library, it will tell her what she needs to know to defeat him and rescue her sister. She’s certain that her past adventures mean she can handle whatever a simple book could throw at her. But villain origin stories can be more dangerous than Gilly can imagine.

Review

I have enjoyed this world since book one, Flunked. It feels a little like the Ever After High series, but without an over-reliance on fairy tale puns. I enjoy Gilly and her group of friends. The addition of Beauty and the Beast’s daughter, AG, and her personal development in the story was my favorite part of the book. I have high hopes for her character in the continuation of the series.

I was disappointed in Gilly in this book, though. At the beginning of the series, she’s such a terrific, tough and determined character. This time, she’s completely consumed with the rift between her and her sister and with rescuing Anna. She loses all rational thought. She ignores her friends – and her own past experience – in favor of voices that tell her what she expects and wants to hear. And that robs her of some of the strength she has had in the past that made me enjoy the character so much.

I think fans of the series will be content with this new installment, but they may miss the more adventurous action and tone of some of the early books. There’s going to be a new series in this world called the Royal Academy Rebels. Book one, Misfits, will release in fall of 2018. I’m looking forward to seeing what that adds to the world of Enchantasia.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Turn It Up! by Jen Calonita

REVIEW: Turn It Up! by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Bradley Academy boasts two a capella groups on campus – the all-boys group, the Kingfishers and the all-girls group, The Nightingales. While the Kingfishers are at the top of their game, the Nightingales have had a string of bad luck. New co-captains (and best friends) Lidia and Sydney are hoping to end the five-year slump.

But before the school year even starts, the best friends are barely speaking. Sydney was supposed to be getting to know Lidia’s crush, Griffin, so she could point him in Lidia’s direction. But Griffin falls for Sydney instead, and Lidia sees him kiss Sydney. When Sydney tries to play it off as no big deal, hoping Lidia will get over it so they can get back to a capella, Lidia quits the Nightingales.

The girls’ huge fight is a distraction the Nightingales don’t need. It keeps people from auditioning and leaves Sydney with a rival as her “co-captain.” Can the Nightingales pull it together or are they doomed for good?

Review

It took me awhile to get into the rhythm of this one. I was frustrated with Sydney and didn’t have a lot of sympathy for her in the fight with Lidia. But I loved that the fight gave Lidia a chance to find her own path away from the Nightingales. That path had seemed chosen for her in some ways. I was thrilled that they author let Lidia follow a new course all the way through the story. Lidia’s storyline kept me reading.

This is a fairly simple plot. The tension and suspense is minor. The conflicts are, too. The biggest stakes were Julianna’s stage fright and the future of the Nightingales. But every story doesn’t need a life or death conflict.

This is a fun, clean and simple friendship story with a side of light romance (kissing, holding hands). I could hand this to any kid in 5th grade and up without hesitation. There are some open ended threads that could be woven into a sequel, and I would readily read it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Tricked by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Since Gilly’s been “reformed,” she’s back home with her family as are many of her friends from FTRS (Fairy Tale Reform School). She should be happy to be home…. But training to be a cobbler and make shoes is NOT the life she wants for herself. She misses her friends and the adventures she had at FTRS. And she’s tired of watching her sister, Anna, hang out with criminal troublemakers like Hansel and Gretel. But Anna won’t listen to Gilly’s advice and soon she is arrested and sent to FTRS like Gilly once was.

But FTRS has changed a lot since Gilly left. Rumpelstiltskin has taken over the school and cut off communication to the royal princesses or even to the families of his students. He’s up to no good and seems to be magic-ing people into compliance with his plans. Gilly and her friends are going to have to get thrown back into FTRS if they’re going to have a chance to rescue Anna and the other students from Rumpelstiltskin’s plans.

Review

I received an early electronic copy of this book from the publisher, Sourcebooks, in exchange for an honest review. As a huge fan of this series, I’m grateful for the chance to review Tricked, book 3 in the Fairy Tale Reform School series after book 1, Flunked, and book 2, Charmed.

I love Gilly and her friends and the way they have learned to work together and trust each other through their past adventures. Even their teachers and the princesses are trusting them to help save the school from Rumpelstiltskin. I am a HUGE fan of any sort of fractured fairy tale type story so these are a great fit for me.

And Rumpelstiltskin is real trouble! (And hard to type!) This book only hints at everything he is plotting. While the adventure in this book is satisfying but seems to serve as a set up for a larger story yet to come.

It’s been awhile since I read the other books in this series. At the end of this book, Gilly says she and most of her friends are 12. I would have guessed more in the 14-15 range. The target audience is closer to an average of 12 (this would work for readers anywhere from 9 or 10 up to 15 or so, depending on the reader and his/her interests), but the maturity of the characters at times and the deeper questions of purpose and destiny strike me as fitting an older teen than questions 12-year-olds generally ponder.

This book is a great fit for upper elementary and middle school readers. I recommend reading the series in order for maximum enjoyment of the characters and the evolution of the relationships in the story as well as the development of the villains. Readers who have enjoyed the Ever After High books or the Whatever After series, or even the Wide Awake Princess books might enjoy the Fairy Tale Reform School series. Thanks again to Sourcebooks for the chance to read and review Tricked!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥