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Rating: 3.75/5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary/Fantasy
Release Date: 8/23/2011
About the Book: Robin's 11th birthday is not going well. She bumped into her sister and got a black eye, she can't win at her swim meet, and her sister has head lice so now she has to spend the evening having her head checked instead of having a sleepover with her best friend. It's so bad in fact that Robin wishes to be someone else. The next thing Robin knows she's Fiona from London, England. Robin has taken over Fiona's life and it seems pretty glamorous-Fiona is set to star in a professional production of Peter Pan! Robin discovers that there's a whole network of wishers-11-year-old girls who wish to be someone else. As fun as Fiona's life is, Robin misses her own home-so how can she make it back?
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Who hasn't thought about what it would be like to be someone else? For my tween self I wanted to be Anne Shirley, Laura Ingalls Wilder, or Jo March (only so I could go back and fix that horrid mistake she made by picking the wrong boy!) For tweens who share in my imaginations of being someone else (and there are many!) Bye For Now will be a magical treat!
What I enjoyed most was that the wishers all ended up in fun, unique situations. But no matter where they went, there were good things and bad things. Not everything was perfect no matter where the wisher ended up. The bad things weren't over the top bad things either, but were little things that made each girl realize that maybe they had it good all along. There's a nice message about being happy with who you are and seeing what's amazing about everyone's life, but it never feels heavy handed. I think it's done in a way that will get tween readers thinking without feeling like they sat through a lesson.
The writing is fresh and engaging and full of contemporary references that tweens will relate to. Ms. Churchyard has a background in writing scripts and it comes through in the book. The dialogue is catchy and the story moves at a fast pace. Some of the text speak was a little annoying for me, but tweens will eat it up. At times I felt like the book could easily transition into a Disney Channel movie which I think will really appeal to tween readers.
The ending leaves it open for a sequel, so we may hear more from the wishers in the future. Bye For Now is great for readers looking for a book with a bit of magic with lots of humor and heart.
Book Pairings: Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers, Help! I'm Trapped Series by Todd Strasser, The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney by Lauren Barnholdt
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from finished copy sent by the publisher
Looks cute! I would have wanted to be Daine from The Immortals Series by Tamora Pierce- I wanted to talk to animals!
ReplyDeleteThis story looks super cute! I'm not sure who I wished to be when I was younger--although I did REALLY want to visit Narnia. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this...added it to my good reads!
ReplyDeleteCute! I have a lot of cousins in this age group and I'm always on the look out for good things to pass their way.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book! Girls who are in the 9-13 range really enjoy it. My sister and I wouldn't put this book down until we were done and satisfied. I'm a little disappointing when I saw she didn't write any following book(s), though.
ReplyDeleteLoved the book! I found it mostly appeals to the 9-13 range, my sister and I ate it up. Am a little disappointed there are no following books though. We couldn't put it down!!
ReplyDeletewhoops, sorry
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