Freaky in Fresno

December 1, 2019

Gr 8 Up-Ricki and her cousin Lana have nothing in common, but when a freak accident in a classic convertible causes them to switch bodies, they learn more about each other than they expected and are forced to work together. Ricki is a horror movie fanatic, working with her would-be boyfriend Jake to help restore the Starlight Drive-In Theater to its former glory-and to get a magical first kiss under the stars at the grand opening. Lana hopes to build her celebrity status at DigiFest, where her manager mom has booked her an appearance to promote her online makeup empire. Their Aunt May, hoping to reunite the girls, gifts them a classic pink convertible, which they must share, but the car only creates more dissension as each of them wants to use it at their big event that night. The car, however, has secrets of its own. The action moves quickly, taking place over just 24 hours, and is peppered with humorous dialogue alongside Ricki's laughable attempts at mastering makeup, the antics of her ferocious chihuahua and her Aunt May's wolf pups, and by the pranks pulled by Lana's sidekick and possible boyfriend, Eric. The girls' re-transformation is a bit sudden and puzzling, but results in a cinematically perfect resolution for all. VERDICT A fun rom-com with strong family themes that will introduce middle grade and YA readers to Freaky Friday, Jamie Lee Curtis, classic horror films, and the pressures endured by social media celebrities.-MaryAnn Karre, Binghamton, NY

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 Ricki is the type who loves classic horror movies, while her cousin, Lana, prefers glam and fashion. Even though they used to be like sisters, Ricki and Lana aren't close anymore, and each blames the other for their broken relationship. Their aunt hopes they will mend their relationship through sharing a classic pink convertible; however, after receiving an electric shock in the car, Ricki wakes up as Lana, and Lana wakes up as Ricki. Now they must walk a mile in each other's shoes?literally?in order to switch back and hopefully repair their broken relationship. Crompton (Pretty in Punxsutawney, 2019) draws on the trope of body swapping (popularized by movies such as Freaky Friday) to explore the relationship between her two protagonists, simultaneously infusing her novel with an enjoyable mix of old and new pop culture. The relationship between Ricki and Lana, fraught with conflict, is nevertheless endearing, and readers will enjoy witnessing their quirky journey towards reconciliation. A fun read full of romance, humor, and adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)