Izzy's (Almost) Epic Day

by Katie Otey, S J Winkler (Illustrator)

Overview

Pop Quiz: Who hated all of humanity enough to invent waking up early?

Answer: I'm not sure, but I'd bet 57 gabillion dollars my mom had something to do with it.

Meet Izzy McKeithen, an imaginative 11-year-old with a flair for the dramatic.

As the fourth of five kids in a chaotic household, Izzy is no stranger to drama and unexpected twists. But today, Izzy is expecting greatness! He has a secret crush who's ready to reveal themselves, an out of this world science experiment he can't wait to show off, and a chorus solo that he's sure will catapult him into instant fame. But hour by hour, Izzy's day deteriorates from potential epic greatness to a certain epic failure.

Can Izzy come out on top?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781736130377
Publisher:	Phoenix Media & Books
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Series:	Izzy McKeithen Has Arrived! , #1
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.37(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Katie Otey is an award-winning author and the founder of Phoenix Media & Books, LLC. When she isn't writing her own humorous tales or heartfelt poems, she is working hard publishing stories by other authors. You can learn more about Katie on website www.katieoteywrites.com.

Samantha (SJ) Winkler is a writer, illustrator, and mixed-media artist in love with nature, fantasy, and all-things spooky. She tailored her bachelor's degrees in English literature and art studio with an added minor in creative writing to embrace her devotion to all aspects of publishing. When she isn't reading, writing, or editing, she is drawing, painting, studying film, or finding any excuse for a nice hike outdoors or a visit to a zoo. For more information on Samantha, please visit her website at www.sjwinklerart.com.

Editorial Reviews

2024-12-17
A boy with a secret crush experiences a day of high hopes and messy mishaps in Otey’s middle-grade novel.

Eleven-year-old Izzy is sure that today will be amazing: Not only will he be singing solo in the school concert, but a girl sent him a note saying that she likes him and will reveal her identity at lunch. Izzy is certain that it will be cute Kristen; what could go wrong? Plenty, as it turns out in this funny and relatable novel about one eventful day in Izzy’s life. Relayed hour by hour, Izzy’s day begins at 6 a.m. Getting ready for school, he vies with his three older siblings for the only bathroom, where, hoping to impress Kristen, he uses an entire bottle of chocolate-scented body wash, earning his siblings’ snickers and gibes. An unsightly lump on his forehead (caused when his sister’s car hit a stop sign), and a painful dodgeball incident don’t help his appearance, and the explosive result of a vinegar-fueled science experiment leaves him smelling like a chocolate-covered pickle. Daydreaming about Kristen, Izzy just can’t concentrate. The mystery girl is a no-show; Izzy’s spirits nosedive, and his best friend Jess scolds him for spreading his “funky melted-chocolate-scented mood all around.” When the concert rehearsal starts, Izzy may have lost his voice along with his confidence. This light-hearted, empathetic observation of preteen angst ends Izzy’s day at 9 p.m., after his surprise encounter with his secret admirer, comic mayhem unleashed by Izzy’s toddler brother at a restaurant, and an understated but meaningful subplot involving Izzy’s grandfather. The interactions among Izzy and his siblings—the teasing, complaints, and squabbles—clearly rest on a foundation of familial caring: “My family is crazy and weird, but I love them,” Izzy confesses. The book’s lively young characters leap off the page, enhanced by Winkler’s black-and-white spot illustrations and design elements in the text that add emphasis. The book ends with instructions for Izzy’s science experiment and a teaser for a sequel.

Humorous and well-paced, with relatable preteen characters and an authentic family dynamic.

Kirkus Reviews