Today I'm here with Disney Publishing to share a new middle grade book!
Author: Elise Allen & Daryle Conners
Release Date: May 12th
Obtained: Review copy and Giveaway provided by Disney Publishing
About the Book
Case File: The First Unsittable
Summary: The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings (hereby known as A.L.I.E.N.) has a new member. After months of investigation, Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, has proven herself to be a babysitter extraordinaire. Her celebrity clients fly her around the country to care for their rambunctious little humans. Our spy, Associate 4118-23432B, otherwise known as Edwina, believes Gabby can be trusted with the truth: aliens are living among humans on Earth. And here at A.L.I.E.N we believe that even extraterrestrials need a babysitter now and then. No one was up to the task...until now.
After accepting the top-secret position, Edwina has paired our new associate up with her first charge, a little girl from the planet Flarknartia. The timing for associate 4118-25125A is less than ideal. It's a school day on Planet Earth, Gabby's audition for the solo part in the band is tonight, and this tiny alien is a bit more than meets the eye.
Can Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, First Sitter to the Unsittables, keep her otherworldly charge safe in the unpredictable halls of middle-school and keep A.L.I.E.N hidden?
This is just a cute book. I think any middle school girl (or guy!) that has babysat or who has a tough younger sibling will be able to relate. You see Gabby is called in to babysit those kids that other kids run screaming from! Anyone who has ever babysat knows those types of kids. I know I had my share of those kids when I babysat! And if they haven't babysat for other families with tough kids to sit for - they may have seen it in their younger brothers and sisters! What's neat though, is that these are tough "kids" to babysit for, but they aren't mean kids. They don't set out to be disrespectful or rude. They are just high energy! I thought that was great.
Next - I liked Gabby's family. They are quirky, fun and loving towards each other. Even though Gabby and her sister are so different, Gabby is nice and understanding towards her sister. In so many books, you'd see the sisters fighting and nagging at each other. These sisters aren't perfect, but at their core they treat each other respectfully. There is more to Gabby's sister, that starts to come out - but I'll let you see that in the book. I really like how it's handled though!
I found the plot kind of zany and outlandish, but it works! It's one of those stories that makes it really easy to set aside reality and just buy into the story and the events. I laughed a little, held my breath some and kept being pulled along but fun characters and lots of twists and turns!
My final take on this book is that it's fun and funny. Some of the things that happen are goofy and crazy, but it just made the book light-hearted and enjoyable to read. The pace is fast and the pages flew by. I think younger middle grade kids would agree!
My final take on this book is that it's fun and funny. Some of the things that happen are goofy and crazy, but it just made the book light-hearted and enjoyable to read. The pace is fast and the pages flew by. I think younger middle grade kids would agree!
Here's a bit about the authors
Emmy-nominated writer and New York Times best-selling author Elise Allen made a name for herself with her acclaimed young adult novel Populazzi (Harcourt), and the Jim Henson's Enchanted Sisters chapter books (Bloomsbury). In television, she has written for talent ranging from Bill Cosby to Kermit the Frog, and is currently writing for the new Disney Junior show The Lion Guard. Her dog may or may not secretly be from another planet.
Daryle Conners is an award-winning writer, filmmaker and video game designer. She writes joke and riddle books and has designed many game titles for the PC and iPhone/iPad including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Scene It? Harry Potter, Hot Wheels Slot Car Racers, and Scene It? Twilight Saga. Her non-fiction books include Lunchtime LOLZ, Nintendo DS Hot Tips, ROFLs,Video Game Secrets and Monster High Jokes, all for Scholastic. Daryle lives in Seattle, where she still babysits from time to time.
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GIVEAWAY
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Prize Provided by Disney Hyperion
OUT OF THIS WORLD prize pack
One (1) winner receives:
A copy of Gabby Duran and the Unsittables
Branded Tumbler and UFO light-up flyer.
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I will have to definitely recommend this book for my daughter, who just had her first babysitting job this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI love books that will get tweens and teens excited about reading. If I was younger I would check it out. My neice would enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. Sounds very cute. I'll pass on the giveaway. I'm just buried now.
ReplyDeleteOmg! This book sounds very amusing and so cute! I can't to read this one! I know I'll enjoy this and so is my little sis! Yay!
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