The Sisters Club

September 1, 2009
Gr 4-6-In this follow-up to "The Sisters Club" (Pleasant Co., 2003), the two oldest Reel girls, Alex, 13, the actor in the family, and Stevie, 11, the singer, clash when they both try out for the lead role in a school production of "Once Upon a Mattress". As in the earlier title, Stevie is the main narrator, in standard chapters; Alex's sections are in the form of scripts, complete with stage directions; nine-year-old Joey keeps a journal and makes lists, which she illustrates with doodles. The story is believable, as are the sisters' interactions. The different styles add to the fun and help move the plot along quickly. Fans of Meg Cabot's Allie Finkle and graduates of Judy Moody will enjoy this offering."Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
The Reel sisters, Joey, Stevie, and Alex, are also close friends. But when Stevie and Alex both try out for the lead in the school play, the Sisters Club appears to be in trouble. This entertaining story is realistic in its representation of sibling rivalry and all the accompanying drama while also maintaining a sense of humor.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

August 25, 2003
The creator of the Judy Moody novels introduces a trio of similarly spunky girls, three sisters—ages eight, 10 and "123/4"—whose parents are both actors. Their mother lands a job as the host of a TV cooking show (though she has no culinary skills) and their father spends much of his time creating sets for a local theater. In this novel divided into four acts (plus an intermission), the three siblings take turns playing the role of narrator. The eldest, aspiring thespian Alex, offers her take on the goings-on through scripts sprinkled with sometimes acerbic asides. Joey, the youngest, relays her side of the story through chatty notebook entries, which include such sidebars as a list of her favorite stuffed animals and the reasons why she loves Jell-O. Occupying center stage is Stevie (whose only acting experience to date was a short, disastrous run as a human piñata) who reveals her fears that her position as middle child renders her invisible and calls herself "Plain old boring vanilla." Yet her father likens her to the vanilla middle of an Oreo ("You're the creamy center of the cookie that holds it all together. You're the glue"), and she proves him right. Stevie assumes the role of family chef (with comically calamitous results), acts as peacemaker and fills in for Alex on stage when she breaks her foot mid-performance. Featuring many madcap moments, McDonald's family comedy is both affecting and believable. Ages 10-up.