A Cast Is the Perfect Accessory: (And Other Lessons I've Learned)

by Allison Gutknecht, Stevie Lewis (Illustrator)

Overview

Eight-year-old Mandy Berr is spirited, sassy, and determined to shine—even if she’s not the center of attention!

After learning the hard way that polka dot underwear and white pants are not the best combination, Mandy Berr has gotten over that fashion faux pas, and has (almost) recovered from not being named George Washington in the recent Presidential Pageant.

But just when things seem like they might be back in her favor, her former nemesis, Natalie, manages to steal Mandy’s spotlight—again. A broken wrist for Natalie means a cool cast and the attention of Mandy’s classmates…even from Anya, Mandy’s BFF.

Can Mandy figure out a way to get back into the center of attention, win back her best friend, AND snag a pair of fancy-dancy periwinkle sunglasses?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442483958
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	03/04/2014
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,217,975
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Allison Gutknecht grew up in Voorhees, New Jersey, with three fewer siblings than Mandy Berr. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she earned her master’s degree in children’s media and literature from New York University. Allison lives in New York City with her rambunctious toy poodle, Gypsy, and her literate cat, Folly. She is a massive fan of polka dots.

Stevie Lewis grew up in Southern California and works in the animation industry as a visual development artist. She studied computer animation at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, rock climbing, baking cookies, browsing thrift shops, and drinking delicious coffee! She lives in San Francisco with her two little dogs.

Editorial Reviews

2014-01-29
Eight-year-old Mandy is back, as bossy and insecure as ever (Don't Wear Polka-Dot Underwear with White Pants, 2013). In the second installment in this chapter-book series, Mandy's friendship with Anya is in jeopardy. Goody-goody Natalie steals Mandy's thunder again—this time by breaking her wrist. Their teacher assigns Anya to be Natalie's assistant, which leaves little time for Mandy and Anya to play. Mandy's jealous reaction to seeing Anya with another friend is to retreat, pout and be, as her mother says, a "crankypants." Mandy's behavior threatens to overwhelm the book right from the beginning. In the first chapter alone, she eats a bit out of each piece of pizza in the box, calls her father a "bad babysitter," demands gummy bears and "fancy-dancy periwinkle sunglasses" of her grandmother, and calls her little brother "stupid." It's easy to see why she clings to Anya so fiercely, but this does not make Mandy any more likable. Young readers might learn a little from Mandy, but it's unlikely that they would choose her as a friend. More likely, they will empathize with poor Anya, pulled between a smothering BFF and a new buddy. The all-too-simple resolution is a relief, but it's also completely unbelievable. Even the most wayward child readers would agree that Mandy needs stronger adult direction. (Fiction. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews