Genre: Fiction, Children's Novels
Release: September, 2011
Rating: 4/5
Description: This year, instead of celebrating Thanksgiving in the family's traditional way by eating pizza in their pajamas, nine-year-old Katie wants to create the perfect holiday and be just like a "real" family. But by Thanksgiving Day, Katie has invited guests Dad didn't expect, festooned the house with what may be poison oak, and set the sweet potatoes on fire. Ultimately everyone sits down to a most unusual dinner--one that succeeds because it comes from the heart.
Review: Nine year-old, Katie, does not have what we'd call a "normal" family. Her mom is off chasing her country star dreams, so it's just Katie, her dad, and her three year-old brother, Tyler. It is a tradition in the household to order pizza, stay in their pajamas, and watch football all day on Thanksgiving. The perfect Thanksgiving for Katie until now. Her supposed best friend, Claire, who lost her mother in a car accident the year before, keeps bragging about how she and her dad were going to have the perfect Thanksgiving. Suddenly, pizza and football doesn't sound so perfect compared to what Claire says they'll have. So, Katie works to come up with a perfect and normal Thanksgiving. But the more she thinks of, the more her plans go awry. Will Katie's Thanksgiving turn out to be the best - or worse - Thanksgiving?
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- Claire was annoying, but that's how it was supposed to be. Her character fit in.
WHAT I LIKED
- I liked how the single dads were represented in this book. There are plenty of children's books with single moms, but not enough with single dads. It was awesome to see them well represented.
- I liked the message - that because your family may not be a "normal" family doesn't mean it isn't a real family.
- I loved the family tradition of pizza, pajamas and football! Sounds awesome.
- I can picture what was happening in the book as well as feel what Katie was feeling.
This is a cute book with an awesome message about family. Perfect for your 2nd or 3rd grader.
11 comments:
You make an excellent point regarding the representation of single dads. And usually, it's due to a mom dying, not the "mom's off chasing her dreams" kind of thing so that is different as well. Thanks for the review
Exactly. Made me like the book even more! :D
Great comments. Thank you! I want readers to know that Katie's story continues in "Tails of Spring Break" and "Bittersweet Summer," which just came out. I, too, love those dads.
I just came across this book yesterday. It must be a sign that I need to get it for my daughter.
Great to meet you!
Laura Barnes @ LauraBWriter
Aww, this sounds so cute! Thanks for the rec. :)
Thanks for your comments! It is a cute book.
And how cool is it that the author commented?! #TotalBookNerd :D
Hooray for good, single daddies!
Elizabeth
A to Z co-host
That sounds like a fun book. Great meeting you, Rae.
Nice holiday book! A little different than the typical Thanksgiving story!!!
Hi Rae, stoppin gin from the A to Z challenge to say hello! Thanks for the review. I'll check it out for my kids.
Thanks for commenting. It is a great book. And yes, yay for single daddies. My brother is a single dad, so I have a soft spot for single dads. :D
Post a Comment