Author: Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas
Publication Date: August 16, 2010
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Copy provided by: Author/Publisher
Summary (via Goodreads):Life seems to have it in for Franny Flanders.
Her best friends aren’t speaking, her parents just divorced, and her hippie grandmother has moved in. The only karma Franny’s got is bad karma.
Then Franny gets her hands on a box of magic recipes that could fix all of her problems. It could even change the world! Finally, life is looking up.
But Franny is about to learn that magic and karma aren’t to be played with. When you mess with the universe, it can bite back in unexpected ways.
Ouch!
Why I read this: One of the authors asked me to review this novel and I couldn't resist - it's a debut for both authors, Middle Grade, and involves some magical elements. What's not to like?
Plot: When Franny discovers how to use her grandmother's magical box of recipes, she decides to put it to good use - solving all of her problems. Let's just say there's some seriously hilarious and horrible results to this use of magic.
I really loved this book. The plot moved and had some parts that had me keeling over laughing and other parts that made me go "awww". Definitely is a great book for girls in 4th grade and through middle school.
Characters: There are so many fun characters in this book, I just cracked up. Franny is your average middle schooler - sorta clueless when it comes to doing the right thing, but with the right idea in mind. She's funny and just wants to fit in and have a stress-free 7th grade year.
Franny's grandmother is a stitch - she's kooky and has some strange extracurricular activities that includes traveling to different parts of the world.
And then all the side characters... just wow. Some normal, most of them strange and out there, and definitely all of them amusing to watch interact.
Relatability: I think anyone who has been in school can relate to this book. I'm glad I didn't grow up in Franny's school - which is overly full of cliches and no real in-betweens. Definitely a fun book and I think girls will be the main audience for this novel.
Cover Commentary: Love it, definitely think it will appeal to my 5th grade students
Rating: 5/5 Roses 
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This sounds like a lot of fun. I have been neglecting some of the middle grade books lately so this is one I will be adding to my TBR list. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review :) Sounds like lots of fun, so one more for my wishlist ;)
ReplyDeleteI love fun YA novels like this, they are such a change of pace from the heavy topics we all read in adult fiction... Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book! I'm a total believer in Karma too. I know some young adults who would love this sort of book. I will make sure to recommend it to them! Thanks for the review!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun read. I'll keep it in mind when I'm craving something fun and light that can take me back to my younger days.
ReplyDeleteI read this book and loved it too! I'm having a contest to win signed copies of the book and swag going on right now. You definitely got the characters right. My grandmother was nothing like hers, but I was a floater like her in High School. Wacky and fun. I have an interview posted right now with Stacy Kramer that's really interesting.
ReplyDeleteHeather