Revenge of the Flower Girls

April 7, 2014
Eleven-year-old triplets Dawn, Darby, and Delaney Brewster are horrified when their beloved older sister Lily announces she’s marrying drippy Burton Caldwell in one month. They want her to get back together with Alex, the boyfriend they believe made Lily truly happy, so they decide to do all they can to stop the wedding and reunite Lily and Alex. Wild “shenanigans” (in the words of the triplets’ divorced parents) ensue and entertain in this lively, warmhearted story of family, loyalty, and the sacred bonds of sisters. Narration switches among the triplets, and while their voices are similar, Ziegler makes each girl distinct—Delaney is the energetic one, Darby’s shy, and Dawn, the eldest likes to take charge. The parents’ divorce is presented in a matter-of-fact manner that makes it clear they are all still a family. Details like the triplets’ obsession with presidential trivia, as well as the mischievous family dog Quincy, will have readers wishing the Brewsters lived on their block. Ages 8–12. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

March 1, 2014
A superadorable story about 11-year-old triplets who conspire to foil their older sister's wedding to the yucky Burton and reunite her with her true love, her old hunky boyfriend, Alex. Parent Trap, move over. There's a new story in town, and though it has much in common with the old story, this one has triplets. The girls, cutely though confusingly named Dawn, Darby and Delaney, are quite different. Confident Dawn, who plans to be president, is decisive; Delaney, the future speaker of the House, can neither sit still nor stop talking; and shy, physically brave Darby, who wants to be the chief justice, is a peaceful dreamer. Nonetheless, the youngsters, who take turns narrating the story in the first person, are hard to tell apart as they speak in much the same voice. It's a charming voice though, and readers will be rooting for them from Page 1 (or the first fade in, as this begs to be made into a movie). What's really nice about the story is that author Ziegler makes sisterhood seem almost magical. The plot, which is full of amusing hijinks and physical comedy, has a wingding climax, Lily's bored bridesmaids add spice, and Burton's overbearing mother is a horrid hoot. Cuter than a kitten and almost as much fun. (Fiction. 8-12)

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April 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-In this breezy, contemporary read from the author of How Not to Be Popular(Delacorte, 2008), 11-year-old triplets Delaney, Dawn, and Darby Brewster need to stop their older sister from making a HUGE mistake. Sweet, wonderful Lily is marrying armadillolike, allergy-prone Burton Caldwell in a month. Burton doesn't make Lily happy, but his pushy mother is steamrolling the wedding plans. The girls are also convinced that Lily still loves her ex-boyfriend, Alex, and that the feelings are mutual.The Brewster triplets try again and again to get Lily and her fiance to call off the wedding, but to no avail. Can they create enough mayhem to stop the seemingly inevitable? This is a very light read, with stock characters (sweet older sister, friendlike Dad, enforcer Mom, perfect ex-boyfriend, wimpy fiance, etc.) and a predictable but well-paced plot with realistic dialogue. There is genuine humor in the hijinks the girls devise, and the sisters do exhibit the true bond unique to multiples. The sisters love all things presidential, but this plot device seems contrived and forced at times. All in all, this is an innocent and fun sibling adventure.-Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2014
Grades 5-7 Three heads are better than one when it comes to breaking up a wedding. Triplets Delaney, Darby, and Darcy don't approve of the dry nincompoop that their sister Lily is marrying, and they want to see her get back together with her ex-boyfriend, Alex. They hatch several plans to foil the wedding and ensure Lily's happiness, like changing all the rehearsal dinner food and putting together a very different type of slideshow. Eventually, the girls find help from some unexpected sources, and the wedding is a success in its own way. This light read feels ready-made for the Disney Channel, complete with spunky sisters, lovable parents, and a wacky dog. The plot is quick and action packed, with just enough trivia mixed in to keep readers on their toes. Recommend this book to readers who can't get enough of the meddlesome friends featured in Wendy Mass' Willow Falls series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)