Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
At long last, Robin Benway, author of one of my favorite and most hilarious YA novels, Audrey, Wait!, has come out with her sophomore novel. THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE is (what else?) extraordinarily different from her debut novel, but its mixture of witty teen angst, sibling relationships, and magic should still make this a hit with readers of all ages.
The strongest part of THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE is the witty dialogue that the sisters throw at one another. Think Gilmore Girls without as many pop culture references. Think Biancas attitude and tone from 10 Things I Hate About You--on steroids. The wit is nonstop, and if you're a lover of snark and bite, youll get a kick out of the dialogue in this book. The story switches between April, May, and June's POV, and I appreciated that, while they could all engage in the same frenetic level of verbal sparring, they were all also distinct characters and personalities.
Unfortunately, the verbal jousting can also get petty and overwhelming. Reading the Stephenson sisters' endless snapping at one another feels a bit too much like watching a married couple fight onscreen--yes, that s**t happens in real life, but no one really wants it to occur nonstop in fiction. Additionally, the wit does not make for the shakiness of the plot, which was slow, with lots of red-herring subplots. I liked the idea of the magical powers, but I fear it clashed and was eventually defeated and subdued by the hands of the overpowering characters.
Readers who enjoyed the (mostly) harmless but still sharp humor in Audrey, Wait! will certainly get a surprise if they read THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE. It lacks a sound execution, but on the whole, this unique book is a delightful blend of the contemporary and the magic, and readers will be drawn into the lives of these three different but all endearing sisters as their powers change them beyond their wildest imaginations.
The strongest part of THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE is the witty dialogue that the sisters throw at one another. Think Gilmore Girls without as many pop culture references. Think Biancas attitude and tone from 10 Things I Hate About You--on steroids. The wit is nonstop, and if you're a lover of snark and bite, youll get a kick out of the dialogue in this book. The story switches between April, May, and June's POV, and I appreciated that, while they could all engage in the same frenetic level of verbal sparring, they were all also distinct characters and personalities.
Unfortunately, the verbal jousting can also get petty and overwhelming. Reading the Stephenson sisters' endless snapping at one another feels a bit too much like watching a married couple fight onscreen--yes, that s**t happens in real life, but no one really wants it to occur nonstop in fiction. Additionally, the wit does not make for the shakiness of the plot, which was slow, with lots of red-herring subplots. I liked the idea of the magical powers, but I fear it clashed and was eventually defeated and subdued by the hands of the overpowering characters.
Readers who enjoyed the (mostly) harmless but still sharp humor in Audrey, Wait! will certainly get a surprise if they read THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, & JUNE. It lacks a sound execution, but on the whole, this unique book is a delightful blend of the contemporary and the magic, and readers will be drawn into the lives of these three different but all endearing sisters as their powers change them beyond their wildest imaginations.
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June on + 5322 more book reviews
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Robin Benway's new novel could have been just another parents' divorce and siblings try to move on type story, but she takes it over the top into some brand new territory.
April, May, and June are stair-step sisters. Life has thrown them a curveball. Their parents are divorcing, their father is moving to Texas, and they are relocating to a new place and a new school. That should be enough to test even the hardiest of souls. But wait, there's more...
The three sisters have suddenly discovered they have "super powers." April can see into the future, May can become invisible, and June can read everyone's mind. If you think you have annoying siblings, give this situation a try.
April, the oldest, is falling for Julian. Finding a way to connect with a cute boy in a new school is difficult enough, but imagine trying to figure things out when your youngest sister can read your thoughts and your other sister has trouble keeping it together enough to remain visible to the naked eye.
Middle sister, May, misses her father more than she cares to admit. Plans to visit him in Texas are postponed, causing her to wonder if he cares enough to make time for her. Her frustration with her absent father and her increasingly aggravating sisters causes May's grades to drop, and now she finds herself stuck with a nerdy history tutor whose main goal in life is to attend Stanford University.
Little June the mind reader wants to be popular for the very first time in her life. She will try just about anything to get in with the right crowd, and having the ability to read minds may definitely work to her advantage.
Filled with humor and genuine teen emotion, THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY & JUNE is just the thing for summertime beach reading. There's lots of goofy adventure, plenty of witty dialogue, and exciting close calls. Robin Benway truly hits the mark with this one.
Robin Benway's new novel could have been just another parents' divorce and siblings try to move on type story, but she takes it over the top into some brand new territory.
April, May, and June are stair-step sisters. Life has thrown them a curveball. Their parents are divorcing, their father is moving to Texas, and they are relocating to a new place and a new school. That should be enough to test even the hardiest of souls. But wait, there's more...
The three sisters have suddenly discovered they have "super powers." April can see into the future, May can become invisible, and June can read everyone's mind. If you think you have annoying siblings, give this situation a try.
April, the oldest, is falling for Julian. Finding a way to connect with a cute boy in a new school is difficult enough, but imagine trying to figure things out when your youngest sister can read your thoughts and your other sister has trouble keeping it together enough to remain visible to the naked eye.
Middle sister, May, misses her father more than she cares to admit. Plans to visit him in Texas are postponed, causing her to wonder if he cares enough to make time for her. Her frustration with her absent father and her increasingly aggravating sisters causes May's grades to drop, and now she finds herself stuck with a nerdy history tutor whose main goal in life is to attend Stanford University.
Little June the mind reader wants to be popular for the very first time in her life. She will try just about anything to get in with the right crowd, and having the ability to read minds may definitely work to her advantage.
Filled with humor and genuine teen emotion, THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY & JUNE is just the thing for summertime beach reading. There's lots of goofy adventure, plenty of witty dialogue, and exciting close calls. Robin Benway truly hits the mark with this one.
