Jaclyn Hyde

Starred review from March 1, 2019
A wacky, comedic retelling of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde starring a perfectionist eighth-grader.Intelligent, mature, responsible Jaclyn Hyde's the kind of go-getter who overloads herself in an attempt to maintain her ridiculously high personal standards and buries any evidence of perceived failures in a little box. But when she multitasks a little too hard and her pet rabbit escapes, she and her friends chase it right into the local haunted house, which once belonged to a mad scientist--and there, she finds a formula for a Perfection Potion. Of course, she tries it, creating a monstrous alter ego that glories in slapstick chaos, wanton destruction, and enthusiastic sabotage, all done in the service of making Jaclyn look perfect. With the help of her two best friends, journalist Fatima and athlete Paige, both also in the know, Jaclyn struggles to contain evil Jackie at school while searching for a cure. Heightening the stakes before the big finish are an over-the-top evil principal in the vein of Miss Trunchbull of Matilda--impossible to please and quick to rage--and the big school musical's opening night. The story's kept funny by humorous sequences and jokes that seem like throwaway gags only to come back with impact. With racial and physical descriptors largely absent, most characters are presumably white (if Fatima is Muslim, she does not wear hijab).An absolutely hilarious, well-plotted comedy with huge thematic heart in dealing with the pressures and costs of high expectations. (Science fantasy. 8-12)

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May 1, 2019

Gr 3-5-Fans of Bondor-Stone and White will not be disappointed by this character-driven reimagining of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Jaclyn Hyde strives to be perfect. One day, when everything happens to go wrong and she is feeling utterly imperfect, Jaclyn stumbles across a recipe for perfection potion. The potion transforms Jaclyn into Jackie, her goblin alter ego. Jackie will do anything to ensure Jaclyn is perfect, even if that means mistreating others. With the help of her loyal friends, Fatima and Paige, Jaclyn learns that being the best version of yourself is better than being perfect. Readers of all ages will find Jaclyn relatable and redeemable even after Jackie comes to life. Jaclyn's parents and idolized older sister inadvertently push Jaclyn to strive for perfection, while her friends help ground her in reality. Although the plot may be predictable for older readers, the mini-mysteries and comedic elements balance the conflict and make it all worthwhile. VERDICT This modern take on a classic focuses on friendship, family, community, and being your best self; recommended for fans of "The Spiderwick Chronicles," Hotel Transylvania, and Roald Dahl.-Hilary Tufo, Columbus Metropolitan Library-Reynoldsburg

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2019
Grades 3-6 The obsession with perfection is familiar to us all, and Bondor-Stone and White's people-pleasing protagonist Jaclyn Hyde embodies this sentiment to the final painstaking detail. In fact, it's her fear of mistakes that drives her to consume a Perfection Potion that transforms her into her goblin-like alter ego, Jackie, who's willing to do the extreme to secure the spotlight. Before Jaclyn knows it, Jackie is damaging a classmate's artwork, stealing brownies from innocent sixth-graders, and sabotaging the school play, all for the sake of being viewed as perfect by her peers. This clever and imaginative rendition of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde does a valiant and ambitious job of exploring how unhealthy and destructive one's obsession with perfection can become. By the story's conclusion, both Jaclyn and the reader are left with the resounding message that, contrary to popular opinion, it's our imperfections that make us beautiful. Readers will enjoy the witty and loyal characters in addition to the well-executed plot that is wrapped up with a satisfying bow on top.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)